Torbay Plays Host As Royal Navy Warship Is Put Through Its Paces
Royal Navy warship HMS Portland will anchor in Torbay next weekend (10-12 October 2008) for a high profile twist on the Royal Navy’s sea training.
Under the watchful eye of the Navy’s Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) staff, every aspect of Portland’s procedures and routines will be scrutinised over Saturday and Sunday.
The 4,800 tonne Type 23 frigate, the first Royal Navy ship to have visited the area for a couple of years, will be judged on her performance handling a real life series of public events, including entertaining local students and civic dignitaries, hosting presentations and capability demonstrations and allowing the general public to visit the ship.
Whilst at anchor in Torbay, the ship will be open to the general public on Sunday, 12 October from 11.00am to 4.00pm. This is a chance for visitors to learn more about life on the ocean waves and what it is like to live and work onboard a warship. The boat ‘Liberty Lass’ will run from Beacon Quay Pontoon Bridge to the ship in the Bay. Admission is free but access will be via a ticket scheme. Tickets are available from the Tourist Information Centre in Torquay.
The Commanding Officer of HMS Portland, Commander Tim Henry, will host a lunch for local and civic dignitaries on Saturday and among the guests will be the Mayor of Torbay, Nick Bye, and the Chairman of Brixham Town Council, Chris Bedford.
But undoubtedly one of the highlights of the four-day visit for the 190-strong crew will be a chance to host groups from schools throughout the region as well as potential recruits to the Royal Navy from the Devon area. Students from colleges including North and South Devon and Paignton will be given a unique demonstration of the capabilities of HMS Portland, one of the Royal Navy’s most advanced warships.
The aim of the demonstration is to both entertain and educate. A warm Naval welcome is combined with a ship’s tour which involves a series of ‘live’ stances telling an operational story, for example boarding a suspect vessel in a high threat environment and explaining the ship’s role and procedures in carrying out this mission.
Commander Henry said: “This visit to Torbay is an essential element of the meticulous preparations needed prior to our forthcoming deployment”.
“The training is designed to test the ship’s company to its limits, both physically and mentally, and prepare us to successfully respond to all situations, whether it is defending ourselves, boarding a merchant ship in support of United Nations sanctions or carrying out humanitarian assistance in the event of natural disasters”.
“And we are delighted that we are able to combine this very important training with hosting the people of South Devon, and look forward to welcoming them on board over the weekend.”
Powerful and versatile, with the capability to operate anywhere in the world, the Type 23 frigate is the mainstay of the modern surface fleet. The 13 Type 23 frigates form 50% of the total frigate/destroyer force in the Royal Navy. Originally designed for the principal task of anti-submarine warfare, they have evolved into multi-purpose ships with the capability to operate anywhere in the world.
The effectiveness of these ships is enhanced by their stealth design, which reduces their radar signature significantly. In addition to the war-fighting roles described above, the ship is trained to conduct a wide range of other tasks. These include embargo operations using boarding teams inserted from the ship's boats or helicopter, disaster relief work and surveillance operations.