Between Friday 6th and Sunday 8th March the Royal Navy’s HMS Biter made a courtesy visit to King’s Lynn mooring up at the pontoon on the town’s South Quay.
The 20 metre long vessel is one of 14 small craft of this type that make up the Royal Navy’s Patrol Boat Squadron.
On the Saturday invited groups welcomed aboard included the Sea Cadets of Lynn’s T S Vancouver, who’s Headquarters was only 30 metres away across the quay, and cadets of 42F (King’s Lynn) Squadron, Air Training Corps. The cadets were given a detailed tour of the boat by its Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Matthew Smith, and also met other members of its crew.
They learned that the squadron conducts a wide range of activities throughout the UK and northern Europe including navigation training for Royal Navy navigators and embarked University Royal Navy Unit Students providing them with valuable sea training. These inshore patrol vessels can reach areas other larger ships can’t.
Following the visit 42F’s Commanding Officer, Flight Lieutenant Pauline Petch said “The visit was both enjoyable and very informative. I know our small air cadet group that toured the boat gained much from their time on board and from the information given them by Lieutenant Smith”.
In an earlier press briefing Lieutenant Smith said “I am delighted to be able to visit King’s Lynn, a town with an extensive and rich maritime heritage spanning nearly 1000 years. I and my ships company are looking forward to showing the public of King’s Lynn a small taste of life in the 21st Century Royal Navy”