Special access granted to see inside Royal Navy fast patrol boat

The crew line up on the Royal Navy patrol boat, HMS Biter, moored at King's Lynn's South Quay. From left, Commanding officer, Lt Matthew Smith; CPO Adam Cooper, executive officer (EO); CPO Graeme Hinton, marine engineering officer (MEO); LET Thomas Parry, deputy MEO; AB Simon Longstaff, navigator's yeoman. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

The HMS BITER, a Royal Navy P2000 class fast patrol boat, visited King's Lynn over the weekend as part of a routine visit whilst being transported up the east coast.

The 20m-long vessel is one of 14 ships of the same type that make up the Royal Navy's First Patrol Boat Squadron.

The squadron conducts a wide range of activities throughout the UK and northern Europe, promoting UK interests abroad and conducting navigation training and University Royal Navy Unit students.

HMS BITER's commanding officer, Lieutenant Matthew Smith welcomed members of the public onboard.

Commanding officer, Lt. Matthew Smith, in the enclosed bridge on board the Royal Navy patrol boat, HMS Biter, moored at King's Lynn's South Quay. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

He said: "This is the first visit by the Royal Navy to King's Lynn in several years and so my ship's company and I looked forward to showing the public onboard".

It was stationed at the town's pontoon opposite Marriott's Warehouse in South Quay.

Saturday, March 7 the Sea Cadets of Lynn's T S Vancouver, whose HQ is 30 metres away across the quay, and cadets of 42F King's Lynn Squadron Air Training Corps were invited onboard.

The cadets were given a detailed tour of the boat by its crew and learned about the various roles it undertakes.

A shark mascot on the Royal Navy patrol boat HMS Biter, as their crest is a shark with a spear in its mouth. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

42F's Commanding Officer, Flight Lieutenant Pauline Petch said: "I know our small air cadet group that toured the boat gained much from their time onboard and from the information given them by Lieutenant Smith".

The Royal Navy patrol boat HMS Biter's crest, a shark with a spear in its mouth. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

The galley on board the Royal Navy patrol boat, HMS Biter, moored at King's Lynn's South Quay. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

Commanding officer, Lt. Matthew Smith, in the ward room of the Royal Navy patrol boat, HMS Biter, moored at King's Lynn's South Quay. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

Looking up at the radar arch on the Royal Navy patrol boat, HMS Biter, moored at King's Lynn's South Quay. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

The Royal Navy patrol boat, HMS Biter, moored at King's Lynn's South Quay. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

The jack (flag) at the bow of the Royal Navy patrol boat, HMS Biter. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

CPO Adam Cooper, executive officer (EO), on board the Royal Navy patrol boat, HMS Biter, moored at King's Lynn's South Quay. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

The Royal Navy patrol boat, HMS Biter, moored at King's Lynn's South Quay. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)

The Royal Navy patrol boat, HMS Biter, moored at King's Lynn's South Quay. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2020)