The Royal Navy’s ultra-modern Type 45 destroyer, HMS Dauntless, pays a much anticipated visit to Newcastle, her affiliated city, today.
One of the Senior Service’s newest ships, HMS Dauntless, was due alongside at Northumbrian Quay in North Shields this morning at 9am. She remains in port until Monday, departing at approximately 10am.
Although not open to the public on this occasion, a number of youth groups, as well as potential local Royal Navy recruits from across the area will have the opportunity to go along in pre-arranged tour groups. These include Sea Cadet units from Wallsend, Chester-le-Street, Newburn and Whitley Bay, catering students from Sunderland College, who will help with meal preparation on board alongside the ship’s chefs, and uniformed services course students from Tyne Metropolitan College.
Civic dignitaries and other invited guests will visit the ship on Friday evening for a capability demonstration on board and a number of the ship’s company will be guests of the Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Councillor Margaret Wood, for a special lunch at the Mansion House on Sunday.
Members of the ship’s company will also pay their respects at the funeral of Sapper Adam Moralee on Friday.
Commander Adrian Fryer, Commanding Officer of HMS Dauntless said: “
The Royal Navy has long had strong bonds with Newcastle and HMS Dauntless has really been taken to the heart of the city. Although we are unable to open to the public on this occasion, we have strived to accommodate as many pre-arranged groups as we can and hope the people who are making the journey to visit us will leave having had an interesting time on board.”
The ship is affiliated with the Percy Hedley Foundation (percyhedley.org.uk) and the Children’s Ward, Royal Victoria Infirmary, and sailors will visit them on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
During her visit, a ship’s team will also play a friendly football match against Whitley Bay FC on Friday 28 March – the kick off is at 7.30pm.
Other energetic crew members are undertaking a 301 mile cycling challenge whilst alongside in Newcastle.
HMS Dauntless, the second of the Type 45 destroyers, joined the Fleet in November 2010, shortly after being the first of the class to fire the new Sea Viper missile.
[mappress] Press Release, March 27, 2014; Image: Royal Navy