Campaigners protest in city
Patrol vessels swap protecting ‘The Rock’ for HMS Collingwood recruits
TWO gun boats that once protected Gibraltar are now being used to train the future sailors of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth.
Patrol boats HMS Sabre and Scimitar, relieved from their role defending ‘The Rock’, are now providing recruits from HMS Collingwood with their first taste of life at sea.
The two vessels’ new role comes after the Fareham naval establishment was expanded to provide initial training to some 1,000 new sailors this year, supporting the likes of HMS Raleigh following a sudden boom in recruitment.
Trainees from each fortnight’s intake at Collingwood will now embark on the boats for a day for seamanship drills.
Recruits tackle everything from replenishments at sea and line handling, to ceremonial and coxswain duties.
Also providing training in the Solent for the upturn in Royal Navy recruits is the sailing vessel TS Tenacious.
Infection control regulations mean only four additional personnel can embark Sabre or Scimitar each day they take trainees.
Lieutenant Tim Clouter, Sabre’s skipper, said: ‘The feedback we have received from their training staff is that the recruits have really been enthused by the day, both because this is their first experience of life at sea andachancetogetoutof the classroom.’
A dedicated seamanship school has stood up to support this phase of training, which is being provided by the Portsmouth-based coastal forces squadron, parent unit of Sabre and Scimitar.
As well as a day of practical seamanship, the transit out of Portsmouth Harbour from the moorings of HMS
Excellent on Whale Island provides a first chance to see the ships many will be joining in the near future.
On top of helping improve recruits’ skills, the 12 Archerclass and two Scimitar-class boats of the coastal squadron are increasing their support to the surface fleet, expanding both operational and training roles to great effect.
This includes support to the Wildcat helicopter crews of 847 Naval Air Squadron, Fleet Operational Sea Training and Ministry of Defence Police during Queen Elizabeth-class carrier movements.