 HMS Express berthed at Penarth Marina, February 2020
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Express |
| Operator | Royal Navy |
| Builder | Vosper Thornycroft |
| Commissioned | 1988 |
| Identification |
|
| Status | In active service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Archer-class patrol vessel |
| Displacement | 54 tonnes |
| Length | 20.8 m (68 ft 3 in) |
| Beam | 5.8 m (19 ft 0 in) |
| Draught | 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Propulsion | 2 shafts, Rolls-Royce M800T diesels, 1,590 bhp (1,190 kW) |
| Speed | |
| Range | 550 nmi (1,020 km) |
| Complement |
|
| Sensors and processing systems | Decca 1216 navigation radar |
| Armament | |
HMS Express is an Archer-class P2000-type patrol and training vessel of the Royal Navy.[1][2]
Initially assigned to the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service, her hull was black rather than the grey colour normally used for Royal Navy warships. On transfer to the Royal Navy she retained the black colour until 2005. She is assigned to the Wales University Royal Naval Unit (URNU) from Cardiff, Swansea and South Wales Universities. The students are given the rank of officer cadet in the Royal Navy Reserve.
Up to 10 students from Wales URNU can be accommodated on board, as well as 5 permanent ships company drawn from the Royal Navy.
