HMS Raleigh (shore establishment)
Encyclopedia
HMS Raleigh is the modern-day basic training
facility of the Royal Navy
at Torpoint
, Cornwall
, United Kingdom
. It is spread over several square miles, and has damage control
simulators and fire-fighting training facilities. Its principal function is the delivery of both New Entry Training & Basic Training.
In 2007, phase one training for all new Royal Navy recruits was increased to nine weeks (from eight) of their career at the base, which also provides courses in military training, seamanship
, logistics
and submarine
operations. It also delivers training for crews preparing for operational deployment
s. HMS Raleigh is also the home of Defence Maritime Logistics School (DMLS) providing training for the Royal Navy's Logistics Officers, chefs, stewards, pay clerks (referred to as writers), and supply chain ratings, the Seaman Specialist School, the Submarine School and HM Royal Marines Band, Plymouth
.
.
During the Second World War, 44 sailors and 21 Royal Engineers were killed when a German bomb hit the air-raid shelter they were in at Raleigh on 28 April 1941. In 1944, the United States Navy
took over the base to use as a embarkation centre prior to their attack on the Axis powers
on the French coast. Raleigh was transferred back to the Royal Navy in July 1944 to continue training seamen.
The base was modernised through the 1970s, and in the early 1980s, Raleigh took on the Part I training for the Women's Royal Naval Service
, and Artificer Apprentices as well as adding the Royal Naval Supply School. These had previously taken place at HMS Dauntless
, HMS Fisgard
and HMS Pembroke respectively. In 1990, the training of male and female recruits was merged, and over the following ten years the base absorbed the Cookery School (from the Army Catering Corps headquarters) and the Submarine School from HMS Dolphin.
Basic Training
Basic Training may refer to:* Basic Training, a 1971 American documentary directed by Frederick Wiseman* Basic Training , an American sex comedy* Recruit training...
facility of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
at Torpoint
Torpoint
Torpoint is a civil parish and town on the Rame Peninsula in southeast Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated opposite the city of Plymouth across the Hamoaze which is the tidal estuary of the River Tamar....
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is spread over several square miles, and has damage control
Damage control
Damage control is a term used in the Merchant Marine, maritime industry and navies for the emergency control of situations that may hazard the sinking of a ship...
simulators and fire-fighting training facilities. Its principal function is the delivery of both New Entry Training & Basic Training.
In 2007, phase one training for all new Royal Navy recruits was increased to nine weeks (from eight) of their career at the base, which also provides courses in military training, seamanship
Seamanship
Seamanship is the art of operating a ship or boat.It involves a knowledge of a variety of topics and development of specialised skills including: navigation and international maritime law; weather, meteorology and forecasting; watchstanding; ship-handling and small boat handling; operation of deck...
, logistics
Logistics
Logistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
and submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
operations. It also delivers training for crews preparing for operational deployment
Military deployment
Military deployment is the movement of armed forces and their logistical support infrastructure around the world.-United States:The United States Military defines the term as follows:...
s. HMS Raleigh is also the home of Defence Maritime Logistics School (DMLS) providing training for the Royal Navy's Logistics Officers, chefs, stewards, pay clerks (referred to as writers), and supply chain ratings, the Seaman Specialist School, the Submarine School and HM Royal Marines Band, Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
.
History
HMS Raleigh was commissioned in 9 January 1940 as a training establishment for Ordinary Seamen following the Military Training Act which required that all males aged 20 and 21 years old were called up for six months full-time military training, and then transferred to the reserveMilitary reserve force
A military reserve force is a military organization composed of citizens of a country who combine a military role or career with a civilian career. They are not normally kept under arms and their main role is to be available to fight when a nation mobilizes for total war or to defend against invasion...
.
During the Second World War, 44 sailors and 21 Royal Engineers were killed when a German bomb hit the air-raid shelter they were in at Raleigh on 28 April 1941. In 1944, the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
took over the base to use as a embarkation centre prior to their attack on the Axis powers
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
on the French coast. Raleigh was transferred back to the Royal Navy in July 1944 to continue training seamen.
The base was modernised through the 1970s, and in the early 1980s, Raleigh took on the Part I training for the Women's Royal Naval Service
Women's Royal Naval Service
The Women's Royal Naval Service was the women's branch of the Royal Navy.Members included cooks, clerks, wireless telegraphists, radar plotters, weapons analysts, range assessors, electricians and air mechanics...
, and Artificer Apprentices as well as adding the Royal Naval Supply School. These had previously taken place at HMS Dauntless
HMS Dauntless
Five ships and one Shore Establishment of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Dauntless:* HMS Dauntless was an 18-gun sloop launched at Hull, England in November 1804...
, HMS Fisgard
HMS Fisgard
Three ships and a shore establishment of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Fisgard or HMS Fishguard after the coastal town of Fishguard in Pembrokeshire, Wales, the scene of the defeat of the last invasion attempt on Britain, by a French force in 1797 during the French Revolutionary Wars.*HMS...
and HMS Pembroke respectively. In 1990, the training of male and female recruits was merged, and over the following ten years the base absorbed the Cookery School (from the Army Catering Corps headquarters) and the Submarine School from HMS Dolphin.