MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Royal Navy displays abilities in the Solent during four-day high profile exercises

HMS Bulwark simulated a landing of marines onto hostile shores (RN)

The full gamut of the Royal Navy's abilities was on show in the Solent last week, during a series of high-profile action-packed demonstrations. The Solent separates the Isle of Wight from mainland England and is the access to Southampton.

Around 1,000 sailors and Royal Marines from across the Naval Service took part in the Maritime Combat Power Visit, showing what the Royal Navy does, to more than 300 students from the advance command and staff at the Forces' college at Shrivenham, plus senior officers, academics, the media, MPs, affiliates and other interested parties.

The four-day Maritime Combat Power Visit - formally known as the Staff College Sea Days - is aimed at demonstrating what the RN can do, and indeed does, around the globe.

After a day of rehearsals on Monday, the demonstrations kicked off in earnest on Tuesday, concluding on Thursday, all choreographed by the Navy's training organisation, FOST.

The Commando Helicopter Force, also known as the 'Junglies', and Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines staged a mock boarding, leaping from a Sea King helicopter and roping onto HMS Bulwark's deck to show how they can take down pirates/terrorists.

RFA Black Rover demonstrated the tricky art of replenishing at sea, while HMS Sutherland showed how to deal with the threat of submarines, and HMS Bulwark showed how the Navy can put men and material onto hostile shores by sending her embarked Royal Marines and their kit onto Browndown Beach in Gosport, Hampshire.

Demonstrating the Navy's abilities at this year's event were: flagship HMS Bulwark; • landing support ship RFA Mounts Bay; Type 23 frigate HMS Sutherland; tanker RFA Black Rover; patrol boat HMS Raider; Sea King helicopters from 846 Naval Air Squadron; Commando Lynx from 847 NAS; Lynx helicopters from 815 NAS; surveillance Sea Kings from 849 NAS; Hawk jets; green berets from the Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines, and the amphibious skills of 539 Assault Squadron RM. (Defence News)