HMS Exploit is an Archer-class (or P2000) patrol vessel of the British Royal Navy, built in Woolston by Vosper Thornycroft and commissioned in 1988.[1][2] She is assigned to the Royal Navy Coastal Forces Squadron, carrying out a range of activities both in the U.K. and overseas.
The ship's company consists of a permanent staff of the commanding officer, two senior rates and two junior rates, but can take up to twelve students with training officers usually embarked when conducting navigational training. Whilst at sea, students are able to put into practice navigation and seamanship skills they have learnt in the classroom during weekly training nights. These include chart planning, acting as Officer of the Watch, using the ship's radar and carrying out seamanship evolutions from anchoring to securing alongside. Instruction is given in engineering, firefighting, damage control and ship handling. The ship is based in HMNB Portsmouth.
Operational history

Royal Naval Auxiliary Service
XSV Exploit was originally ordered for the now defunct Royal Naval Auxiliary Service (RNXS) and had a distinctive black hull like other RNXS vessels.
On 19 March 1994, a serious machinery space fire occurred on Exploit approximately 30 miles off Lundy island as she was being transferred to Portsmouth from Greenock as part of the managed run down of the service by RNXS crew. The Padstow lifeboat and the RAF SAR Helicopter from Chivenor, were scrambled, and a tanker on route to Milford Haven was diverted to help, but were not needed. The fire was later attributed to a major mechanical failure of the starboard main engine, resulting in a large hole in the sump casing. The fire spread quickly to the air ducts, igniting various rubber coolant pipes causing thick acrid smoke.[3]
Royal Navy
In June 2017, Exploit, in company with HM Ships Smiter, Ranger and Archer, deployed to the Baltic to take part in the NATO BALTOPS exercise, the first time that Royal Navy P2000s have been involved in such an exercise.[4]
In the early 2020s, Exploit, along with other Archer-class vessels, was given a more operational role as part of the reconstituted Coastal Forces Squadron. In early 2024, Exploit and three of her sister ships deployed to northern Norway as part of the NATO exercise "Steadfast Defender".[5]

This weekend I decided to give my plastic kit conversion of the Vosper MTB an outing. I uploaded details of the kit, my conversion of it and some build photos to my harbour previously, when I first joined this site.

"Just for fun" - we aim to share pics/clips from other clubs / activities.
Many thanks to Website "Webmasters" Graham and Rob at both our featured clubs - Links below.
https://buxtonmodelboatclub.co.uk/
https://himbc.co.uk/
https://model-boats.com/

I built this about 40 years ago, quite a rarity now I believe. Has not been in the water for about 30 years. I plan on bringing it up to date with speed controller and lipos as it used to use large heavy batteries and manual speed controller powered by servo. 👍

A short video to celebrate sailing 3 x 1/24 scale Fairmile D's as well as a Vosper 73' Type 1 at the same time.
Graham's boats are scratch-built onto fibreglass hulls.
My boats are totally scratch-built.
it is best viewed on a larger screen in HD.

Back at Towne Lake for more fun and friendship. Had a good time, we saw 2 subs in the water, a few tugs, launches, working boats and an old MRP deep vee and a Micro Magic. I had a great time as I finally got my Italeri Vosper handling decently even in the windy conditions we had. A little more tweaking and she’ll be spot on, but I’m pleased with her for now.
Cash

A Friend ran his Brave Borderer today at Hamilton bay area

This very large Vosper RTTL was active at the Oxford Model Boat Club open day on the 7th July. At aprox 6 feet long, it is the work of Terry Gregory (hull and electronics) and Paul Izzard( superstructure). It is a spectacular performer and beautifully finished though the enormous wake means that it is normally run solo on the water.

I recently bought this boat as a part built project. it was started by the previous owner in 1973 but then put in the attic in 1974 and stayed there till this year. Sadly many of the plastic parts have become very brittle or are missing so having to source replacements plus the fittings were made to british standards and are now made in metric sizes, but getting there slowly

I bought this boat as a renovation project, almost finished now

Well this started off brushless but it had no soul or character, I bought an Os 40 fourstroke and converted it to be water cooled, I then made my own reverse gearbox and clutch assembly and fitted a water pump so the engine will keep cool while stationary. it has nav lights and a working searchlight that I can move while running.

This is what I wish to build at 1/48 scale. The island class cutter is 110 feet long and serves with the United States Coast Guard Service, there are about 35 still in service and it is based on a Vosper Thornycroft design.