Fighting fires, rescuing casualties, boat handling and coping with extreme conditions were among the skills practised by 50 Royal Naval Reservists on Exercise Northern Star.
The Royal Navy (RN) exercise was staged at HMS Calliope, its Gateshead base on the Tyne, and at various nearby regional training facilities, including the Marine Offshore Safety Training Centre (MOST) in South Shields.
As per an RN press statement, the recent drills were the first staged in northern England for many years. They culminated in a combined practical exercise “designed to test teamwork, leadership and operational readiness.”
The reservists honed their skills when confronted with a range of scenarios, taking in blazes, abandon-ship and sea survival drills, and lifeboat and boat handling exercises.
They even got the chance to face simulated storm conditions via MOST’s environmental pool with wave machine, akin to ones installed at the RN’s Havoc/Phoenix damage-control facilities.
HMS Calliope’s Commanding Officer Commander David King commended “the resources, talent and experience we have in the Northeast,” adding: “This weekend demonstrates exactly what Royal Navy Reserve units are designed to do: bring people together from across the region and deliver challenging, relevant training that directly supports the Royal Navy’s operational needs.”
- You can read more details on the Royal Navy website