HMS Enterprise is actually the tenth ship in the Royal Navy to have that name, and it is a “multi-role survey vessel” – one of two of the class in the fleet.
The vessel first appeared in Guernsey waters this morning, and was seen out in front of Herm.
Enterprise‘s crew consists of 72 personnel, with 48 on board at any one time, working a cycle of 70 days on, 30 days off. Its primary survey roles are hydrographic and oceanographic, and it is armed with two 20mm cannons, three miniguns and two GPMGs.
She was also one of the first ships to be fitted with Azimuth Thrusters, to provide better mobility and control. The ship first came in to service in 2002.