A delegation of three from the Indian Navy has visited HMS Raleigh, Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) and HMS Collingwood to share best practice and ideas. The delegation, who head up the equivalent training schools in India, were given an insight into the recruitment procedures, training methods and saw the facilities available for initial and specialist training for officers and ratings.

At HMS Raleigh, in Cornwall, the visitors were able to witness elements of the 10-week basic training course, including an initial military fitness sessions; a disciplined method of fitness which focuses on developing co-ordination and individual physical strength and endurance. They were also shown around the multi-million pound sinking ship simulator, which rocks from side to side and fills with water to teach sailors vital skills to deal with floods at sea.

Moving onto BRNC, the home of Royal Navy Officer training in Devon, the visitors were briefed on the 30-week initial training programme and were shown the facilities on the River Dart, which are key to the delivery of the maritime element of the course. Officer Cadets regularly train in the small craft on the River Dart, learning basic seamanship skills before moving on to taking Command of a vessel, when they are assessed on their leadership abilities during their final exercise.

In Portsmouth the delegation visited the Maritime Warfare School at HMS Collingwood. There they joined a group of officers in the second stage of their training and saw how they were taught and tested on individual specialisations, including navigation, aviation, warfare and astro-navigation.

The visitors were also shown around the simulators which deliver high-resolution warfare training in realistic scenarios and saw a group of trainees being assessed in HMS Collingwood’s bridge simulator, which can replicate challenging weather, navigation and warfare conditions.

Lieutenant Commander Mike Hilton, one HMS Collingwood’s Training Support Officers, said “It is a great opportunity to share some of Collingwood’s training methodologies, initiatives and innovations with our Indian Navy visitors, and to demonstrate first-hand how best practice is enabling the Royal Navy to prepare its trainee engineering and warfare officers and ratings for their first compliment sea billet and future naval careers.”

The Royal Navy regularly hosts visitors from foreign Navies and defence forces to build and strengthen pre-existing relationships.