Royal Navy’s Plymouth-based frigate HMS Portland gave youngsters from a Cornish school a special treat when they were given a taste of life on a warship.
The six and seven-year-olds were given the chance of a lifetime to learn about the life of sailors on board an operational warship and learn about life in the Navy.
The special guests were shown the ship’s bridge, operations room, a ‘mess’ deck where junior ratings (sailors) live whilst onboard and the galley, which feeds 180 people three meals a day.
For most of them it was their first time onboard a warship – leaving them wide-eyed with excitement. They particularly enjoyed operating fire hoses, seeing the spray and rainbow generated in the mist it gave off.
Sailors also showed the children fire-fighting and sea-survival equipment and some of the ship’s armament.
At the end of the visit the children had lunch in the Captain’s cabin. The children also took the opportunity to salute the armed forces in the run up to Armed Forces Day on 26th June 2015.
HMS Portland is one of 13 Type 23, Duke Class frigates serving in the Royal Navy. The Type 23 frigate is the mainstay of the surface fleet in the modern Royal Navy.
Image: Royal Navy