Head of US Navy Supply Corps Visits Royal Navy

Rear Admiral Mark Heinrich and his senior team paid a two day visit to the Royal Navy training base in Torpoint.

They were briefed on the role of both HMS Raleigh and the DMLS in preparing personnel for service in the Royal Navy and the way that training is evolving to meet the future requirements of the Navy.

The visitors were shown the Heavy Replenishment at Sea (HRAS) facility, currently under construction, where they were able to see for themselves the scale of the new facility.

Initially the facility will be used to trial new equipment for the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers and future support shipping.  It will then provide a permanent state-of-the-art training facility to teach Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel how to safely transfer vital stores and equipment from ship to ship while at sea.

Rear Admiral Heinrich and his team were also given a tour of the Fire and Damage Control Schools where they were briefed on the roles Logistics personnel play at sea in the event of an emergency.

The US Navy visit concluded with a tour around the decommissioned minesweeper HMS Brecon which, as well as being the seamanship training vessel, is also used to give Chefs and Stewards their first taste of working in a confined galley and dining facilities at sea.

Commander Heber Ackland, Commandant of the DMLS, said:  “It was a great pleasure to host the head of the US Navy Supply Corps and members of his staff at HMS Raleigh.  Our links with the US Navy remain as strong as ever and are vitally important in gleaning information on operating the sorts of large vessels that the RN will be introducing into service over the next few years.  We have a US Navy Supply Officer joining the staff here in June and we look forward to developing our links with the US Navy Supply School at Rhode Island in the future.”

Accompanied to HMS Raleigh by Rear Admiral David Steel, the Royal Navy’s Chief Naval Logistics Officer, the visit formed part of a week long visit to the UK by Rear Admiral Heinrich and his senior officers.

Although based at HMS Raleigh, the DMLS is part of the wider Defence College of Logistics and Personnel Administration.  As well as providing training to Royal Navy personnel, the DMLS trains members of the Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel and the Sea Cadet Corps.

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Naval Today Staff, May 02, 2012; Image: royalnavy