MEET YOUR NAVY, PORTSMOUTH 2008
The aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious – star of Channel 5’s hit ‘Warship’ programme – heads up an impressive list of ships which have committed to Meet Your Navy in Portsmouth in July.
Illustrious will be open to visitors throughout the three days of the event at Portsmouth Naval Base from July 25 – 27. Her recent mission to the Indian Ocean is attracting more than 1.5 million viewers on the weekly Warship programme screened on Monday evenings.
Meet Your Navy and discover the past, present and future of the Royal Navy.
You will be able to access areas not normally open to the public, see the ships and meet the crews of the modern fleet, marvel at the dynamic (and sometimes daring!) displays and be entertained by a host of characters.
She will be joined at Meet Your Navy by seven other RN ships also open to visitors:
Type 42 destroyer HMS Gloucester; Type 22 frigate HMS Campbeltown, Type 23 frigates HMS Argyll, Westminster, and Richmond; minehunter HMS Hurworth and survey vessel HMS Enterprise.
They will be joined by one of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s newest vessels – the landing ship Largs Bay
Naval Base Commander, Commodore David Steel, said: “The variety of ships open to the public will give a good representation of what today’s Royal Navy is all about and show that it is as busy and relevant today as at any time in its long history. And I am delighted to be welcoming our friends from the foreign navies who will add something extra special to Meet Your Navy.”
For much more information visit the official Meet Your Navy website.
The FA Cup, won by Portsmouth FC will be on show throughout the three days of Meet Your Navy at Portsmouth Naval Base.
Visitors can have their photo taken with the cup which will be part of a display by the club’s youth academy where Pompey’s stars of the future will demonstrate their skills and techniques.
Football fans will be in for another treat as a giant replica Portsmouth FC shirt, measuring 180 ft by 120 ft, will be flown above the Meet Your Navy site.
The three-day Meet Your Navy event provides a memorable opportunity to tour up to 20 naval ships, witness arena events, air displays and rub shoulders with the men and women of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Fleet Auxillary and other members of Britain’s armed forces.
The ticket also includes free entry to all the historic ships and museums at the Historic Dockyard.
There is a park and rail service operating from Hilsea Halt during the event, click here for more details.
