RAF fly for a day at Sea with HMS Example

On a crisp January morning, HMS Example played host to an eager team from Royal Air Force College Cranwell, during an inter service cross pol.

The inter service visit allowed the RAF visitors to experience a day on one of the Royal Navy’s fast inshore patrol boats, and build an understanding of the Maritime environment the ships operate in.

The five strong RAF cohort each took turns at steering the ship as the QM, and as part of the Man Overboard Recovery team during a practise evolution alongside.

HMS Example’s Commanding Officer, Lt Duncan Napier said “The whole day was a valuable opportunity for Royal Navy and Royal Air Force personnel to interact and for the RAF team to learn about the different challenges we have on-board a ship and the way we operate. 

“We enjoyed having them on-board and would certainly welcome them back.”

It was for many of the visitors the first time they have ever been on board an RN ship, and there were certainly some surprises, including how far afield the P2000s deploy (as far as St Petersburg in the past), and how many people can fit on-board (20, and she is only 20m long!).

One of the RAF visitors said ‘We had a great day, and really enjoyed the fantastic opportunity to get out and about with the ship and the crew.’

The day was a resounding success and allowed the crew and the visitors to cement new inter-service links.

With a core crew of five she is a part of the 1st Patrol Boat Squadron. She undertakes a wide variety of tasking ranging including wider fleet tasking and Maritime Security operations around the UK coast, deployments overseas in support of NURNU and local area engagements such as sea cadet sea days.

You can follow her on Twitter @HMSEXAMPLE