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Twinning formula – BRNC continues link-up with German counterpart
21 November 2024
The long-standing formal ties between the Officer Corps of the Royal and German Navies have been renewed for five more years.
The heads of the academies which turn civilians into junior naval leaders – Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth and Marineschule Mürwik – put their signatures to a document which not merely continues the agreement but extends cooperation in the cultural, professional, sporting and social realms.
Exchange programmes for both cadets and instructors are already run on both sides of the North, but as a result of the latest agreement – signed by Rear Admiral Jens Nemeyer, Mürwik’s Commandant, and Captain Andrew Bray, Captain BRNC – there will be more joint activities in future including.
- BRNC staff and cadets using Mürwik’s hi-tech simulators
- Joint staff rides/battlefield tours for students/staff from both colleges, run by BRNC
- Leadership development provided by BRNC to a small number of German cadets every year
- An annual BRNC-Mürwik football match
The agreement was signed as German corvette FGS Braunschweig undergoes rigorous training off Plymouth in the hands of FOST staff, while UK flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth is hosting Germany’s military and political leaders in Hamburg.
Since learning from and with each other is the key to ensuring an enduring cohesion between our Nations especially in challenging times, I regard the renewed signing of the Twinning Agreement as a strong signal for reiterating our mutual commitment.
"As Commander of the German Naval Academy I highly value the close ties and the exceptional friendship that we have established between Mürwik and BRNC,” Adm Nemeyer said.
“Over the years we have fostered our cooperation for the benefit of our Navies in general and our future leaders in particular.
“Since learning from and with each other is the key to ensuring an enduring cohesion between our Nations especially in challenging times, I regard the renewed signing of the Twinning Agreement as a strong signal for reiterating our mutual commitment.“
Captain Bray, who visited Mürwik to renew the twinning arrangement, added: “It was fantastic to visit Germany and sign this agreement with Marineschule Mürwik. Building upon the strategic Trinity House agreement, the bond of friendship formed by junior Officers of the Royal Navy and Bundeswehr will strengthen out Navy to Navy relationship and boost Europe’s security. Navies that train together are stronger together.”
Located on the outskirts of Flensburg on the German-Danish border, the academy is a near mirror image of BRNC – both were built around the same time, in a similar style (inside and out), with the goal of training officers for one of the world’s premier navies.