UK: HMS Collingwood Gets New Commanding Officer

Sailors and staff at HMS Collingwood said goodbye to Commodore Mike Mansergh CBE and welcomed Captain Steve Dainton CBE as he officially took Command of HMS Collingwood and the Maritime Warfare School.

Commodore Mansergh handed over the 200-acre Fareham establishment together with the wider aspects of the MWS – the training elements of HMS Excellent and HMS Temeraire and the Defence Diving School – to Captain Steve Dainton CBE Royal Navy, the new Commanding Officer, and former Chief of Staff of the Maritime Warfare School.

On assuming Command Captain Dainton said:

“It is a great privilege to take Command of HMS Collingwood and the Maritime Warfare School.

“The Royal Navy is globally deployed and involved in a number of challenging and disparate operations.

“Our job in the Maritime Warfare School is to ensure that our sailors are trained and prepared for any eventuality.”

Meanwhile, departing commanding officer, Commodore Mansergh said:

”It has been a huge privilege and great honour to have commanded such a fine establishment, where the combined military and civilian team works so well to prepare trainees at every level for operations on the front line and to support the many different units operating within the establishment.

“Impressive progress continues to be made within the Maritime Warfare School, developing first class training in a modern learning environment, with highly sophisticated training facilities.

“I look forward to continuing supporting this work in my role as Commander Operational Training.”

Commodore Mansergh will assume his role as Commander Operational Training (COMOT), based with his small staff in Vernon Building, HMS Collingwood, with responsibility for the delivery of Phase 2 to Tier 2+ individual and collective training through the Maritime Warfare School (MWS), Flag Officer Sea Training (South), Flag Officer Sea Training (North), Captain Joint Tactical Exercise Planning Staff (JTEPS) and with direct linkage to Tri-Service training providers, including the Defence School of Maritime Engineering (DSMarE) and the Defence Maritime Logistics School (DMLS).

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Press Release, August 30, 2013; Image: Royal Navy