Puncher operates from HMNB Portsmouth conducting navigation training in and around the Solent. She also regularly deploys out of area, often in the company of other P2000s, with the task of providing practical navigation and seamanship training to the ship's students. Recent deployments have included the Baltic and Northern Europe. Puncher attended Kieler Woche ("Kiel Week") in 2011 with her sister ship and ships from several navies.
As of the 2020s, 14 of the Navy's 16 Archer-class vessels are assigned to the inshore division of the Coastal Forces Squadron. In this capacity, they can be assigned deployments further afield. In June 2024, Puncher and her sister ship, embarked personnel from the Navy's the Mine and Threat Exploitation Group and deployed for exercises in the Baltic Sea. The vessels operated an IVER 3 autonomous vehicle and a Video Ray Defender remotely operated vehicle to find mines on the seabed.[3]
Puncher has a permanent crew of five regular Royal Navy personnel, one officer and four ratings, who fulfil the minimum necessary seagoing complement of the vessel. The ship's company is also regularly boosted by up to 12 (more typically 10) URNU officer cadets and midshipmen who are normally accompanied by a Royal Naval Reserve training officer. Alternately the berths may be used by any other personnel who are required to live aboard.
Like most Royal Navy ships, Puncher is affiliated with various organisations and a port:[4]