UK: Liverpool URNU Students Tour HMS Talent, Training Facilities

A tour of a Royal Navy nuclear powered submarine and the facilities used to train the people who operate them were the highlights of a three-day visit to the South West for members of the Liverpool University Royal Navy Unit (URNU).

The group of seven students, who signed up for the URNU during their first year at Liverpool University, were invited onboard the submarine HMS Talent, alongside at Devonport Naval Base in Plymouth.

While onboard the visitors were given a look around the submarine’s main control room, the sound room and manoeuvring room as well as the living accommodation and galley.

In each compartment one of the crew was on hand to give a comprehensive brief and explain how each area feeds into the role of the submarine as a whole.

Midshipman Fred Flood said:

 “It was fascinating to be onboard a nuclear submarine and catch a glimpse into the lifestyle and working environment of Royal Navy submariners.”

Earlier in their visit to the South West the group were given a tour of the Royal Navy Submarine School based at HMS Raleigh in Cornwall.

There they were shown how teams of submariners are taught how to safely load torpedoes and missiles using a full size weapons handling training facility which mirrors the equipment found onboard the submarine.

Midshipman Pratteek Bathula, aged 19, who was inspired to join the URNU following his experience as a Cadet at school, is studying aerospace engineering at university. He said:

 “We’ve had lectures at university on the theoretical side of combat systems, so coming to a facility like this and seeing the real world application has helped to make sense of all the complicated formulas.

“The fact that you are able to work on these systems as an Engineering Officer in the Royal Navy makes it an enticing career prospect, but for the moment I want to concentrate on graduating before deciding my next step.”

The students also visited the Type 23 frigate HMS Sutherland, the Military Training Unit at HMS Raleigh and Britannia Royal Naval College during their stay in the South West.

Lieutenant Ian Critchley, the Commanding Officer of the Liverpool URNU, said:

“The URNU is all about introducing the Royal Navy to students during their time at university, not necessarily as a career option, but to give them an understanding of the Service which they can take with them in the future.

“A visit such as this is extremely valuable in giving the students first-hand experience of operational ships and submarines and the training resources available to the Royal Navy.”

Liverpool URNU is one of 14 located around the UK supporting the countries’ leading universities in England, Wales and Scotland.

Each URNU is commanded by a RN Lieutenant who is responsible for 51 undergraduates. The students join the URNU as RN Reservists for their three years at University and are given the honorary rank of Midshipman.

Training is conducted one evening a week in shore units at or near the university and at sea, over the weekends and during the vacations, by a dedicated Archer Class P2000, 20 metre patrol craft.

The Liverpool URNU’s dedicated P2000 is HMS Charger.

In recent years the unit, which draws its members from Liverpool University and Liverpool John Moores along with Chester and Lancaster Universities, has undertaken deployments around the UK, Northern Europe and as far out as the Baltic.

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Naval Today Staff, February 14, 2013; Image: Royal Navy