The Artificers (1974)

The Artificers is a recruitment film produced for the Royal Navy by the Central Office of Information. Features footage of artificer apprentices at HMS Fisgard and outward bound training.

Followed by footage of marine engineering artificer training at HMS Caledonia and aboard HMS Amazon (a newly built Type 21 frigate at this time).

Followed by footage of air engineering training at HMS Daedalus with decriptions of 3 types of air artificer and extensive footage of the Lee-on-Solent Search and Rescue flight.

Followed by footage of electrical and weapons engineering training at HMS Collingwood, some tricky problem solving aboard a nuclear submarine, followed by firing the ASW mortar on HMS Argonaut (Leander-class frigate).

New project for the New Year: US Navy archive movies

A new project for 2016. I’ll be uploading US Navy documentary and training films from the archives to YouTube. I’ve created a new YouTube channel for this, US Navy Movies, which will keep the content separate from my Royal Navy channel.

Here are a few samples.

First 4 women in history complete US Marine infantry training

Score one for equality.

Here Are The First 4 Women In History To Complete Marine Infantry Training

via Instagram

Every Marine knows Opha Mae Johnson, the first woman who ever enlisted in the Marine Corps.

Now almost 100 years later, the first four females in history have completed the grueling 59-day infantry evaluation course, three of which are graduating Thursday at the Marine Corps School of Infantry in Camp Geiger, CNN reports.

Delta Company’s Harlee “Rambo” Bradford [pictured middle] and these three other female Marines started as a group of 15 enlisted women, the first to volunteer for a Marine Corps pilot course. The group comes as a result of the announcement made in January from Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and General Martin Dempsey, to integrate women into previously closed combat jobs across all service branches.

For the duration of training, the female students were required to meet the same standards as their males counterparts. The women’s physical strength as well as their ability to keep up with men on the battlefield were highlighted on what many consider the most demanding course event — a 12 1/2 mile march in combat gear.

The hike lasted no more than 5 hours while each student hauled almost 90-pounds of gear, at nearly a 4 mph pace (almost a jog), rifle included.

The women still must pass a Combat Fitness Test with male scoring in the next two days, but the test is largely superficial for the women, despite being officially scored. Every Marine in every job field usually takes both a basic Physical Fitness Test and CFT at the beginning and end of their course curriculum.

These women have already passed both tests with male standards upon entry to the course.

Unfortunately, qualifying doesn’t mean entry into the infantry ranks quite yet. These four are just part of a 100-Marine pilot program aimed at testing the viability of women in Infantry training.

“The women who graduate from infantry training on Thursday will not be assigned to infantry units, nor will they earn an infantry occupational specialty. They will report to their originally slated schoolhouses to earn a non-combat MOS,” Capt. Carey of SOI-East wrote via email.

The Corps plans to send more female Marines through this pilot course within the next year. Currently there are 11 women in Echo Company and 8 in Alpha Company, the two companies behind Delta in training.

Women in other sister service branches are also excelling in their combat training. By the end of this year, six women sailors are expected to become the first formally assigned to a Riverine combat company.

(UPDATE: Bradford reportedly incurred an injury to her leg this past weekend. The injury prevents her from taking the basic fitness tests, a requirement for Marines prior to heading to their next command. Though she has completed the coursework, Bradford will heal up, take the test, and graduate will a following company, sources tell us.

An earlier version of the story said 4 Marines would graduate this week. Because of Harlee’s injury, that number has been revised to 3.)

EDIT: We have removed the names of two of the women.

We think this is an awesome historic accomplishment, which is why we originally included the names. But our determination was that unless they wanted to introduce themselves, we’d let them publicize their success on their own terms.

http://www.businessinsider.com/four-female-marines-pass-infantry-training-2013-11

New US Navy submarine firefighting trainer is first of three to be built

You have to be a special kind of person to commit yourself to serving in the confinement of a submarine. You have to be a special kind of person to run towards a fire instead of a away for it. Now imagine combining the two…

Trial By Fire: NASNI Builds Navy’s First Submarine Firefighting Trainer

SAN DIEGO (NNS) — Smoke bellows out the ventilation ducts. The glow of the blazing fire emanates down the passageway. Firefighters move with precision and purpose, pausing to unleash a torrent of water towards the fire as they kneel before it. Such was the scene at the Navy’s first submarine firefighting trainer, located at Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) Oct. 29.

131024-N-ZU025-076 SAN DIEGO (Oct. 24, 2013) Nick Lugue Jr., a welder with Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, welds a new firefighting trainer into place at Naval Air Station North Island. The trainer is the first of 4 new trainers the Navy is building that will simulate potential fire hazards aboard submarines. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Todd C. Behrman/Released)

Commander, Navy Installation Command (CNIC) approached Kidde Fire Trainers almost one year ago in response to the incident on the USS Miami, in which a fire caused over $400 million of damage to the submarine.

Numerous issues arose from the incident, primarily firefighter response and the readiness of base firefighters to deal with fighting shipboard fire. The need for additional training resources was identified in order to train base fire departments on what they’ll encounter when fighting fires in the tight quarters of a submarine.

Kidde Fire Trainers is scheduled to build three other modular trainers at Naval bases around the country in addition to the NASNI trainer, and has also currently stationed mobile training units at Naval Bases in Kings Bay, Ga. and New London, Conn. The new firefighting trainer at NASNI is the first of the four permanent modular trainers to be built.

The other three trainers purchased by CNIC will be located at Portsmouth, N.H.; Norfolk, Va. and Bangor, Wash. These trainers, located in four different regions, will allow federal firefighters, emergency services and outside agencies access to a proper trainer to increase operational capabilities in the event that a live incident or fire occurs on a ship, said David Salerno, Assistant Fire Chief with Southwest Region Fire and Emergency Services.

“The major problems we have in ships or submarines is figuring out where the fire is internally, figuring out where you are, and being able to deal with the horizontal and vertical passages that aren’t typical,” said Salerno, who is also the NASNI training center manager and San Diego metro area training officer.

The accuracy of the submarine’s representation in the new trainer will provide firefighters the best possible training available. “The way this has been designed with the specifics in it that replicate the interior of a submarine, with submarine hatches, they can drill and train on those specifics and get their skill level up so if they do have to respond in the dockyard they’ll be ready for it,” said Cumming.

In addition to the hatches, the trainer has scuttles, grates, a galley, a main space, electrical panels, cable trays and simulated wires throughout bulkheads, said Mike Tenney, a captain with Federal Fire Department San Diego stationed at Naval Base Point Loma Fire Station 111.

“This gives our firefighters an opportunity to figure out ahead of time, before they’re actually in a real fire, how to navigate their way through a ship,” said Salerno. “It provides a large measure of realism that will be taken with each of those firefighters when they go to the real fire.”

Tenney, a former damage controlman in the Navy, understands the difficulty of navigating through a ship or submarine without previous shipboard experience.

“A lot of the guys haven’t been on ships, they haven’t been in the Navy, so this is going to teach them the tactics needed in assisting the ship’s crew with shipboard firefighting,” Tenney said. “This is going to give great awareness to people that don’t have much experience.”

When fighting a fire in the dockyard, typically, the ship’s force begins the process. They determine where the fire is, set their boundaries, and start the fire attack. However, if they realize they need more resources to deal with the incident, the base fire departments are called in and respond to the situation, said Salerno.

“Now that we have this trainer we have something that’s specific to our needs, something we can internally develop training objectives to and then train to those objectives on a schedule that works for us on a regular basis,” said Salerno. “It will make us infinitely more effective when we’re actually fighting a fire on a ship.”

Training in the new facility has already begun, with scenarios designed to push the capabilities of the trainees. Two classes of firefighters completed a two-day course on Oct. 29 and Oct. 31, respectively, to become instructors on the new trainer, familiarizing themselves with the various operations and safety features of the facility.

While the firefighters continue to train and acclimate themselves to the unique challenges of shipboard firefighting, the Navy will reap the benefit of having its base and local fire departments better equipped to handle ship and submarine fires thanks to its new firefighting trainers.

http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=77429

“How to save a sinking ship” Royal New Zealand Navy damage control (2012)

Royal Canadian Navy Damage Control School (2012)

Russia to stop using carrier-based pilot training site in Ukraine

Well, either the Russians are giving up on naval aviation entirely, and the blueprints for those Nimitz-style nuclear-powered carriers will be consigned to dustbin of history (unlikely), or the new facility at Yeysk is really going to be opened in 2014 and training will continue at a shiny new stretch of concrete near the Black Sea (probable).  Either way, they’re not going to pay to do it in Ukraine any more. Hmm… do you think the Chinese will take up the lease?

МИД Украины подтвердил отказ России от использования полигона НИТКА

Ранее сообщалось, что Россия официально проинформировала украинскую сторону о том, что, начиная с 2014 года, больше не планирует использовать полигон НИТКА для подготовки летчиков в интересах авиации Военно-морского флота (ВМФ) РФ.

© Фото: Украинский споттерский сайт Аэровокзал

КИЕВ, 10 сен — РИА Новости, Максим Беденок. Министерство иностранных дел Украины подтверждает отказ России от использования полигона по подготовке палубной авиации “НИТКА” с 2014 года, сообщил во вторник директор департамента информационной политики МИД Украины Евгений Перебийнис.

“В ходе шестого заседания подкомитета по вопросам безопасности украинско-российской межгосударственной комиссии, которая состоялась 4 сентября в Москве, российская сторона сообщила о том, что начиная с 2014 года она не планирует использовать полигон”, — сказал Перебийнис журналистам.

Он также сообщил, что такое решение российской стороны было ожидаемым для Украины, поскольку РФ вводит в эксплуатацию неподалеку от Ейска аналогичный объект.

Перебийнис добавил, что с учетом сложившейся ситуации украинская сторона принимает меры по определению направлений дальнейшего использования данного полигона, поскольку украинская армия не нуждается в нем.

Ранее об отказе России использовать полигон “НИТКА” РИА Новости сообщил высокопоставленный источник в Минобороны РФ. Читайте подробнее >>

Авиационный комплекс “НИТКА” (наземный испытательный тренировочный комплекс авиационный) используется для подготовки летчиков палубной авиации. Единственный созданный в СССР тренировочный авиакомплекс находится на аэродроме Новофедоровка (близ города Саки в Крыму). После распада СССР он перешел к Украине. Соглашение между правительствами Украины и России об использовании полигона было подписано в феврале 1997 года.

Каковы функции полигона НИТКА

Авиационный комплекс НИТКА (наземный испытательный тренировочный комплекс авиационный) используется для подготовки летчиков палубной авиации. Единственный созданный в СССР тренировочный авиакомплекс находится на аэродроме Новофедоровка (близ города Саки в Крыму). После распада СССР он перешел к Украине. Соглашение между правительствами Украины и России об использовании полигона было подписано в феврале 1997 года.

Кто может арендовать полигон в Крыму

Ранее украинское оборонное ведомство заявляло, что прорабатывает возможность предоставления полигона для летчиков палубной авиации НИТКА в Крыму по согласованию с РФ для учений вооруженных сил других государств. При этом отмечалось, что использование украинского полигона третьими странами возможно в том случае, если Россия откажется от его использования.

Сообщалось, что в аренде комплекса заинтересованы Индия и Китай. Однако конкретных договоренностей по этому вопросу еще не достигнуто.

http://ria.ru/defense_safety/20130910/962242483.html

Britain ‘must have two aircraft carriers to be global player’

This really has nothing to do with being a “global power” or “punching above one’s weight” or any of the the other trite reasons so often given by politicians and civil servants who don’t understand the fundamental and abiding reason that Britain requires a strong, capable navy. It is not about the Prime Minister playing with toy boats in a global bathtub and having something shiny to hang his bunting on during national holidays. It is this: Britain is an island nation dependent upon international trade and all of those lovely trade goods arrive by sea in 2013 just as they did in 1913. If you want the shipping lanes to be safe and secure then you need a strong, capable navy. Otherwise the nation starves. That’s it. Nothing to do with the capability to lob cruise missiles into Syria, nothing to do with threatening to stick one up the Iranians, nothing to do with being better than the French. Just life-or-death trade. Karl Dönitz understood that. Winston Churchill understood that. The Chinese understand it. So should the pillock who currently rents 10 Downing Street.

Britain ‘must have two aircraft carriers to be global player’

Britain must have two working aircraft carriers if it wants to be a global military player, a Foreign Office parliamentary aide has said.

Mr Ellwood said: “The UK either needs a carrier capability or it does not.” Photo: REUTERS

A Government cost-cutting proposal to mothball or sell one of two carriers being built would be a poor use of public money, Tobias Ellwood MP said in a report for a military think tank.

Trying to rely on a single carrier would also undermine the UK’s ability to cope with international crises.

Mr Ellwood said: “The UK either needs a carrier capability or it does not.

“If it does, then a minimum of two are required in order to have one permanently available.”

Running both carriers would cement Britain’s position as “a global player with a military power of the first rank,” he said.

The Government has yet to decide the fate of the two 65,000 ton Queen Elizabeth class carriers currently being built, but the 2010 defence review proposed selling one or keeping it mothballed to save money.

Mr Ellwood, in a report for the Royal United Services Institute, said: “A £3-billion carrier waiting in ‘suspended animation’ in Portsmouth to be activated has political consequences, as does the selling of a ship at a loss.

“Neither option is a sensible use of taxpayers’ money. Indeed, the latter should be firmly disregarded.”

He said the lack of British carriers during the 2011 Libya campaign had meant that RAF Tornadoes and Typhoons had been forced to fly a 3,000 mile round trip from the UK to hit Col Gaddafi’s forces.

Even when a base became available in Italy, he said air raids were still four times more expensive than if they had been launched from a carrier in the Mediterranean.

Mr Ellwood, a former Army officer, said: “The carrier’s agility and independence means it is likely to be one of the first assets deployed to any hotspot around the globe.”

He said a single carrier would only be available around 200 days per year because of maintenance work.

Last week backbenchers on the Public Accounts Committee warned the aircraft carrier programme faced further spiralling costs.

The project remained a “high risk” because technical problems had not been resolved and there was potential for “uncontrolled growth” in the final bill.

The committee also said a decision to change the type of planes to fly from the carriers had wasted tens of millions of pounds.

The Ministry of Defence had originally opted for jump jet versions of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, then switched to the carrier variant, only to return to the jump jets again last year when costs soared.

Philip Hammond, Defence Secretary, said no decision would be made on what to do with the two carriers until the 2015 strategic defence and security review.

But money saved by reverting to the jump jet F-35s meant there was the possibility of having two operational carriers.

He said: “Of course there are operational cost implications of holding two carriers available rather than one, but we will weigh very carefully the benefits of that and the costs of that in the review.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/10297397/Britain-must-have-two-aircraft-carriers-to-be-global-player.html

Royal Navy and Royal Marines try out Glock 17, replacement for venerable Browning

Sad to see the Browning go, but I suppose it had to happen. Let’s hope the Glock was the right choice.

Training begins on new pistols at Raleigh

Sailors preparing for operations have been trained to use the new Glock 17 pistol during a training course run at HMS Raleigh’s Military Training Unit.

The new pistol replaced the Browning as the pistol of choice in all three Services earlier this year.

During the first Glock course held at HMS Raleigh, a group of 17 sailors were taught how to safely fire and maintain the pistol over three days. The course culminated in a formal assessment to ensure that each sailor could use the weapon competently and accurately.

Royal Marine Colour Sergeant (CSgt) Kevin McBain, one of the instructors, said:

“The Glock 17 is a more modern combat weapon. It’s lighter than its predecessor and has a higher magazine capacity.

“It’s a very nice pistol and a very comfortable weapon to fire. The hand grip is good and there’s not too much recoil.

“With the students a lot of emphasis is placed on coaching and pistol marksmanship, so that they can gain confidence in their own abilities and produce the goods when required.”

While the Royal Marines typically use the pistol in close-quarters fighting, Royal Navy aircrew, divers and sailors involved in boarding operations carry the pistol.

The Glock carries 17 bullets compared with its predecessor’s 13.

All Royal Marines and Royal Navy personnel deployed to Afghanistan are pistol-qualified.

PO Alex Tilbury, who is currently serving onboard HMS Westminster, said:

“The course has been really good. It’s the first time I’ve fired a 9m pistol. The Glock seems to be relatively easy to use. The instructors were good too and helped us with every aspect of the course.”

The Glock 17 Gen 4 – to give the new pistol its full title- is part a wide range of weaponry available to front line troops. Pistols are vital in a close combat situation. CSgt McBain said:

“The pistol is a short-barrelled weapon, so it’s a complementary sidearm to the primary weapon system, which could possibly be the rifle. There is still a need for a very good Service pistol and that’s where the Glocks come in.

“The Browning has served us well throughout the years. It was first brought into service in 1967, but it’s now proving difficult to maintain so it’s time for a replacement.

“The Glock came out trumps on the trial, so that’s the pistol the Armed Forces have adopted. ”

The Glock carries 17 bullets compared with its predecessor’s 13.

It is the first new pistol to be introduced into the military for more than 40 years and has being supplied under a £9m deal with Viking Arms in Harrogate In total 25,000 Glock 17s have been ordered and troops deployed to Afghanistan were among the first to use the new weapon.

The contract with Viking also includes more than 25,000 holsters.

All Royal Marines and Royal Navy personnel deployed to Afghanistan are pistol-qualified.

The Military Training Unit at HMS Raleigh provides cutting edge weapons training for Naval Service personnel at all levels, ensuring that they are fully prepared to protect themselves or their units on operations at sea and ashore.

The unit is currently training over 1,000 people a year to deploy in support of land operations, principally in Afghanistan. The MTU has the most up to date facilities available to the Royal Navy, including computer simulators, outside ranges and multimedia classroom.