Navy News
Direct from the front-line, the official newspaper of the Royal Navy, Navy News, brings you the latest news, features and award winning photos every month.
Royal Navy engineers increase capability to support frontline warships
17 December 2025
Royal Navy engineers increase capability to support frontline warships
The Fleet Support Units, which represent the largest pool of shore-based engineers in the service, are also working on a number of sustainable projects, all aimed at contributing to the retention of valuable resources.
The laser alignment system enables cost-effective, in-house support for pump and motor exchanges, reducing the reliance on external contractors, while motion amplification cameras provide advanced vibration analysis by visually amplifying otherwise imperceptible movement, which allows for the precise measurement of deflection, displacement and vibration.
The two systems support early fault detection and predictive maintenance, helping prevent equipment downtime.
The engineers are also now using new 3D printing machines, which offer a significant upgrade over their older machines and include a static 3D scanner to reverse-engineer components for manufacture
The FSUs, which have launched a new strategy to underpin the development of the organisation over the next five years, are also working on emerging products:
• Flexible Hose Assembly Machine: This represents a substantial saving in lead times. Lt Stirling Moss is currently leading the bid to procure a manufacture and testing machine to enable FSUs to supplement the standard stores system.
• Metal Additive Manufacture: Two machines have been bought and will be part of new hubs to be established at HMNB Devonport and HMNB Portsmouth.
• Stock Reclamation Project: Lt Cdr ‘Troy’ Hindmarch is leading the FSU contribution to a wider stock reclamation initiative aimed at recovering precious metals, where feasible, with the FSU Brunel ‘Scrap Squad’, working with the Royal Mint, successfully reclaiming valuable materials from old WE cabinets, contributing to sustainability and resource retention across Defence.