French Flavour To Portsmouth Navy Days 2010!
A foreign warship has just confirmed its attendance at Portsmouth Navy Days this summer, adding a French flavour to the line-up of attractions at Portsmouth Naval Base and Historic Dockyard.
The French Navy’s patrol vessel FS Cormoran will be open to visitors throughout all three days of the event which runs from July 30 – August 1.
The vessel was launched in 1995 and commissioned into service two years later. She has a ship’s company of 19 and is based at Brest naval base.
Robert Bruce, chief executive of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard which is staging Navy Days with Portsmouth Naval Base, said: “We are delighted that the French Navy will be joining us at Navy Days. Foreign navies always add something special to these events and give the public a unique opportunity to not only see the operational navy and the Historic Dockyard working together and complementing each other, but also how they work alongside their counterparts.
“There''s nowhere else in the country that you can see such a great mix of attractions ashore, afloat and in the air and we''re expecting it to be the highlight of this summer on the south coast."
Also just confirmed for the three days are fast-roping displays over the harbour by the Royal Marines, demonstrating the daring techniques involved in boarding suspect vessels.
And the skies will also resonate to the sounds of the RN Historic Flight and a flypast by Hampshire and IW Air Ambulance. The Black Knights Parachute Display Team and a demonstration by a coastguard helicopter and Portsmouth lifeboat will add to the action over the harbour.
Visitors can also get a close-up look at the new formidable Type 45 destroyers HMS Daring[i] and Dauntless, Type 23 frigates HMS Richmond and Westminster and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Argus – an aviation training and casualty reception ship.
They will be joined by Portsmouth-based minehunter HMS Cattistock, fishery protection vessel HMS Tyne and inshore survey craft HMS Gleaner, which measures just 14.8m and has a crew of five, she uses advanced sonar techniques to compile detailed pictures of the seabed.
Deputy Naval Base Commander, Captain Paul Lemkes, said: “Navy Days is a fantastic opportunity for the Royal Navy to be able to show the public, close up, the capabilities it contributes to UK Defence. The line-up of ships will give visitors a true feel of the wide variety of tasks carried out and I am particularly delighted that we have two Type 45 destroyers on show in their home port so that visitors will be able to see how the Royal Navy is maintaining its place at the forefront of maritime operations with this cutting edge class of warship.”
Navy Days 2010 promises to be one of the most popular events on the South Coast this summer, featuring serving warships of the Royal Navy, ships of foreign navies, thrilling naval displays, historical re-enactments and the world-class attractions of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, including HMS Victory and HMS Warrior 1860.
For the adventurous and active visitor there is the chance to see if they have the skills to join the senior service on challenging displays, simulators and climbing tower in Action Stations. Whilst there, they can also see Carrier Strike, an interactive exhibition detailing the aircraft carriers of the future.
Further information, including ticket details, is available from the Navy Days website – www.navydaysuk.co.uk or by calling 023 9283 9766.
[i] HMS Daring will be unavailable to the public on Friday 30th July
