Public Launch of The National Museum of the Royal Navy
The National Museum of the Royal Navy was today launched with a broadside of 64 cannons from HMS Victory.
Speaking at the launch, Baroness Taylor (Under Secretary of State and Minister for International Defence and Security) stated:
“In a society where direct experience of Service life and culture has naturally diminished over the years, our military museums increasingly represent the public face of the Services, informing and educating the public of the history, achievements and traditions of our Armed Forces.”
Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope KCB OBE ADC (Chief of the Naval Staff and First Sea Lord) said:
“The bringing together of the museums will allow all of us to understand better our cultural identity as an island nation - one with a seafaring tradition, dependent on maritime trade and the freedom of the seas. It creates a single focus for the preservation and show-casing of our naval heritage and better illustrates how closely linked are the fortunes of the Navy and the nation it serves.”
Dr Caroline Williams (Chairman of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard) said:
“The Board of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard warmly welcomes and supports the launch of the National Museum of the Royal Navy as a unique and important opportunity to enhance and promote naval heritage and acknowledges that there are considerable potential benefits to be gained from this. The Board therefore are committed to working with the National Museum to support the development of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and will be looking to take an active part, including integration where appropriate, in support of this common aim.”
The rolling broadside from HMS Victory officially launched the National Museum of the Royal Navy, Commanding Officer, Lt Cdr ‘Oscar’ Whild said “Although HMS VICTORY was fitted with 104 guns with 52 on each side during the Battle of Trafalgar, modern technology allows us to increase the number of shots fired to make a really impressive display. What is particularly astounding, after watching the broadside today, is that the amount of gunpowder we have just used was less than the gunners onboard at Trafalgar would have used for a single shot!”
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE ROYAL NAVY (NMRN)
The creation of the National Museum of the Royal Navy, an initiative fully supported by the Navy Board, embraces the four existing Naval Service museums (the Royal Naval Museum (Portsmouth), the Royal Marines Museum (Southsea), the Royal Navy Submarine Museum (Gosport) and the Fleet Air Arm Museum (Yeovilton)) and is the culmination of over two years’ work. It is a core objective of the Naval Heritage Strategy, the aim of which is to ensure that naval heritage as a whole is deployed to its full potential in promoting the Naval Service and that the full range of our heritage assets are appropriately resourced, managed and employed in a coherent manner.
The new body will build on the strengths of the existing museums, which will themselves retain a strong individual identity, to improve the profile of naval heritage within the broader heritage sector and establish one which properly reflects the wealth and breadth of the naval collection. Creation of the National Museum will provide a clear strategic focus and enable synergies and efficiencies to be harnessed for the wider benefit of naval heritage.
The establishment of the NMRN is a significant milestone in the RN’s continuing efforts to make the most of its unique heritage holdings. The National Museum is now the body to which the Department – and the Royal Navy – will look for leadership on naval heritage matters.
Photo: Stephen Courtney
