HMS Clyde

Military experience

Lieutenant Commander Will Peters was born in Kendal and educated at Sedbergh School, Cumbria before joining the Royal Navy in 1990.

Following initial training at Britannia Royal Naval College and Fleet Training in the fishery protection vessel HMS Jersey, he gained a BA in Russian and Philosophy at the University of Exeter, graduating in 1995. Early seagoing appointments included completion of Fleet Training in HMS Gloucester, Gunnery Officer of the minehunter HMS Cattistock and Communications Officer of the destroyer HMS Nottingham.

Between sea appointments he qualified as a Russian linguist, following a year’s intensive training at the Defence School of Languages in Beaconsfield.

Appointed Navigating Officer of the frigate HMS Westminster in late 2000, he experienced 6 months with NATO’s Standing Naval Force Atlantic, including deployments to the Caribbean and Baltic. With the introduction of Electronic Charting Systems in the Royal Navy, he oversaw the transition to the first “paperless” Bridge.

In May 2002 he was appointed Officer in Charge of the University of London Royal Naval Unit and Commanding Officer of its training ship HMS Puncher. During his 18 months in command he was responsible for providing URNU Midshipmen with experience of the Royal Navy. This included shore-based training in London and sea experience in HMS Puncher with regular sea weekends and short deployments in north European waters.

Principal Warfare Officer (PWO) Course at HMS Collingwood followed and, graduating in mid 2005 as an Anti-Submarine Warfare specialist, he was appointed as PWO and later Operations Officer of the destroyer HMS Southampton. A busy programme ensued with regular periods of Operational Sea Training interspersed by deployments to the South Atlantic, West Africa and the Caribbean.

From mid 2007 to late 2009 he enjoyed a productive period with the Joint Tactical Exercise Planning Staff, based at the Northwood Headquarters, where his responsibilities included planning advanced ASW exercises and bespoke amphibious, mine countermeasures and diving training as part of the bi-annual Joint Warrior Exercises.

From July 2010 to January 2012 he commanded HMS TYNE, a River Class Offshore Patrol Vessel of the Fishery Protection Squadron, during which time the Ship enforced compliance with fishing legislation in UK and EU waters and participated in a range of regional engagement visits around the UK and north Europe.

He assumed Command of HMS CLYDE in February 2012.