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After months of intense planning and preparation a unique event at Portsmouth Naval Base, which allows the British public a glimpse behind the scenes of the Royal Navy, opens its doors this weekend.  539 Assault Squadron will be taking part in the Maritime Assault display every day at around 1600 hours in Portsmouth Harbour over the Meet Your Navy weekend 25-27 July 2008
[Picture: via MOD] 'Meet Your Navy' provides a rare opportunity for the general public to not only experience life in the modern day force, but also to travel back in time as well as into the future. The rich history of the 'Navy Days' has returned to Portsmouth with the help of Tudor and Victorian era sailors, who transition through to displays that revisit the wartime navies of the Second World War and the Falkland Islands conflict. To illustrate the Navy in the present day, visitors can get up close and personal with a wide variety of modern warships, including visiting vessels from overseas fleets as far away as Japan and Chile. In addition plans for new carriers and models of ships which have yet to be built will show the public what the Royal Navy will be like in the future. Over 400 personnel will man the event over the weekend and it's expected that in excess of 15,000 visitors will attend each day. The event's Project Manager, Lieutenant Commander Nigel Ward, explained what it has been like pulling the various strands of the evnt together: "This event will help to bring the Navy base alive to the members of the public and provide them with the opportunity to meet the people behind the Force," he said. "This is a chance to meet the people who protect our shores and our waves. "It has been a huge undertaking with thousands of people expected to attend each day and hundreds of uniformed Naval personnel and civilian staff on hand to make it as enjoyable as possible." 'Meet your Navy' has been created by the Royal Navy, alongside Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, BVT Surface Fleet and the Aircraft Carrier Alliance, and runs from 25-27 July 2008. News Source: http://www.mod.uk |
