Navy Days is being held at Devonport Naval Base, Plymouth on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th September 2009 – the first time since 2006.

The theme of this year's Navy Days is first and foremost about ‘connecting' with the public – ‘Meet Your Navy 09'. It is all about giving Devonport Navy Days visitors the opportunity to see inside Western Europe's largest and most high tech nuclear naval base, as well as visit the units and exhibitions representing current and future capabilities.

A wide variety of Royal Navy ships and submarines will be at Navy Days, together with Royal Fleet Auxiliary and ships from foreign navies.

The Future Navy exhibits will allow visitors to find out about the Navy's newest and most impressive Type 45 destroyers, the future aircraft carriers and the next generation of submarines.

Captain King said the Royal Navy was taking into account the economic climate and keeping pre-booked ticket prices at 2006 prices: “We are sympathetic to the financial constraints everyone is under with the credit crunch and therefore, are keeping prices for certain tickets the same as three years ago. We are dedicated to giving visitors value-for-money and, as the public are paying, it is our duty to make the most of tax payers' money.”

Getting On Board for Navy Days

With less than two weeks to go to Navy Days, the final arrangements are being made to make entry into Devonport Naval Base as easy as possible. Visitors to Navy Days are being advised to plan their travel arrangements carefully as restrictions will be put in place to prevent traffic gridlock in and around Devonport Naval Base.

Car
Entry for vehicles will be through Camels Head Gate on Western Mill Drive , Plymouth . Navy Days will be signposted from the A38. Parking will be available at the cost of £5 or £4 in advance. Parking places are limited and drivers are advised to book ahead. Disabled parking will be available. Visitors are also advised that dogs will not be allowed into the Dockyard, with the exception of Guide Dogs.

Park and Ride
Visitors to Navy Days are being encouraged to use Plymouth 's three park and ride sites at Milehouse, Coypool (Sunday only) and the George Junction. They will be available from 8.45am until 7pm with buses dropping off and picking up passengers at the St Levan's gate pedestrian entrance.

Bus
First buses will be running regular services to Navy Days from Royal Parade at stop A3. The normal timetable will run on Saturday via the Railway Station. On Sunday buses will run with an extra 15 minute frequency. Visitors from Plymstock and Mount Batten will be able to use the 7A route via Royal Parade, St Budeaux and Barne Barton, which will drop off at St Levan's Gate. Route 11 will run from Royal Parade stop A2 to Devonport via Crownhill and Derriford. For more information call: 0870 6082608.

Pedestrians
Pedestrian access to Navy Days will be via St Levan's Gate and Camels Head Gate.

Taxis
The setting down point for taxi passengers arriving at Navy Days is St Levan's Gate.  Taxis will not be permitted within the Navy Days site.  Taxi ranks are situated across the road from St Levan's Gate.

Cycle and motorcycle
Free parking is available at Camels Head Gate for motorbikes and cycles.  

Coach and minibus
There is only limited space available and advanced coach/minibus booking is essential; forms can be obtained by phoning 01752 555145.  Separate coach and minibus parking is available at Camels Head Gate.  Parking for organised coach and minibus tours is free.

Disabled access
As well as priority parking, Plymouth Shopmobility and Community Transport will be providing a number of wheelchairs and motorised scooters at the Camel's Head Gate entrance. These will be free to use and available on a first come – first served basis. A ‘Hail & Ride' shuttle bus for those of restricted mobility will operate throughout the day with pick-up points at St Levan's and Camel's Head Gates, dropping-off at various points throughout the site. HMS Northumberland will be open for visitors who are of restricted mobility with priority access being given for wheelchair users from 09:40am to 10:40am and 3:30pm to 4:30pm on Saturday 5 September and from 10:15am to 11:15am and 4:00pm to 5:00pm on Sunday 6 September.

Attractions Lining up for Navy Days

A huge range of Royal Naval ships will be heading into Plymouth to take part in Navy Days 2009 over the weekend of the 5th and 6th of September.

The ships on show will range from the largest in the fleet to one of the smallest. Devonport ships taking part include the 22,500 tonnes HMS Ocean and the Amphibious Flagship HMS Bulwark. They will be joined by HMS Northumberland, HMS Somerset, HMS Chatham and HMS Roebuck. Portsmouth ships include the Navy's state of the art Type-45 Destroyer HMS Daring also HMS Mersey and HMS Tracker, at 21 meters one of the smallest ships in the Royal Navy.

The submarine HMS Trenchant and Devonport's permanent visitor attraction the former nuclear-powered submarine HMS Courageous will also be open for visitors. Visits to the submarines will be fully ticketed. These will be free and available on a first come, first served basis on the day.

The man leading the Navy Days team, Commander Neil Trathen, said: “Ships and submarines will form the centrepiece of a unique family day out, alongside spectacular air, river and arena shows. We are also finalising plans for a major exhibition by the Royal Marines of 42 Commando, who have recently returned from Afghanistan , which we will be announcing soon.”

Frontline Royal Marines to attend Navy Days

Royal Marines from 42 Commando, based at Bickleigh Barracks in Plymouth , will be demonstrating their special skills in counter piracy operations at this years Navy Days on 5th and 6th of September in Devonport.

The Royal Marines will be taking part in river displays which will demonstrate how the Royal Navy and Royal Marines carry out counter piracy operations. This is their routine business whilst deployed to places like the Gulf and the Indian Ocean.

Other ships and aircraft taking part in the display are HMS Tracker; SERCO vessel ‘Hercules'; Royal Marines' Offshore Raiding Craft (ORCs) and Sea King, Lynx and Merlin Helicopters. During the display a party of Royal Marines will board a boat in a mock situation to rescue pirate-held hostages. As the pirates try to fend off the fire-power of the Royal Navy, the Royal Marine Commandos will fast-rope from a helicopter onto the pirate boat, storming the bridge and rescuing the hostage.

There will also be an extensive exhibition of the up-to-date equipment used by the Royal Marines and the opportunity to meet the men from 42 Commando and other Plymouth units, Royal Marines of 539 Assault Squadron and soldiers from 29 Commando Royal Artillery who use this equipment. The exhibition will include the Viking (armoured all-terrain vehicle); the Jackal (high-mobility weapons vehicle; the Landing Craft Air Cushion (hovercraft) and examples of the heavy weapons and reconnaissance equipment used.

Lt Col Charlie Stickland, Commanding Officer of 42 Commando, said: “The presence of the Royal Marines at Navy Days is never more appropriate, as we are an integral part of the Royal Navy and the teeth of the Service.

“Whilst underpinning the maritime capability with our amphibious roots, boarding parties and maritime snipers, we are also trained to fight in the harshest of environments. These environments include the expanses of southern Afghanistan , from which we have just returned, to the extremes of mountain, desert, arctic and jungle warfare.

“It is this versatility and the Commando ethos which make the Royal Marines so special as a fighting force. Allowing the public a glimpse of what we do is hugely positive for us, as it reinforces the strong links we so enjoy with the communities of the south west region and affirms our part in ongoing operations by land and sea.”

Since their return home, the Royal Marines of 42 Commando have enjoyed a long overdue period of leave and are now working up to be the UK's Contingent Battlegroup and are returning to their roots refining their amphibious skills and coastal and river manoeuvre skills. They will be taking time out from this to appear at Navy Days.

Navy Days set for take off with Stunning Air Displays

A stunning air display will be an eye opener for visitors to this year's Navy Days in Devonport on 5th and 6th September. As well as seeing the Royal Navy's Black Cat helicopter display team, visitors will be able to witness an exciting display by the Black Seahawks.

The Royal Navy's Black Cats, based at RNAS Yeovilton were formed in 2001. The team use Lynx helicopters to perform their display that demonstrates the precision and aerobatic capabilities of the craft. The helicopters are normally found flying from the decks of operational warships but at Navy Days crowds will see them perform high-speed crosses, close formation work and opposing manoeuvres that have won the skilled team numerous awards.

The Black Sea Hawks, based at RNAS Culdrose, near Helston are part of the Royal Navy Fleet Requirements and Air Direction Unit (FRADU). Their task is to provide realistic airborne threat simulations to a variety of Royal Navy and NATO ships to enhance their training scenarios. The Black Sea Hawks display at Navy Days will involve 4 BAE Hawk fast jets conducting high speed manoeuvres and flypasts.

“The air display will be a real crowd puller” says Lieutenant Rebecca Filtness who has been coordinating this year's display. “It will be a chance to see the Fleet Air Arm demonstrating their capabilities and skills in this, the centenary year of Naval Aviation. From the vantage points on the flight decks of the ships at Navy Days the public will get an amazing view of the displays and demonstrations.”

Along with other Fleet Air Arm aircraft on show on the day, the Royal Navy Historic Flight will also be taking to the skies showing off its Sea Hawk and Sea Fury aircraft and frontline helicopter squadrons will be demonstrating their roles above the waters of the Hamoaze in Plymouth.

Mariners advised over Navy Days traffic restrictions

Mariners in and around the Hamoaze are being advised of upcoming restrictions due to this weekend's Navy Days 2009.

The event includes a spectacular river display which will be rehearsed this Friday, 4th September. Free passage of the Hamoaze will be suspended from 1.15pm to 3.00pm. Non-participating vessels in the Tamar will be directed to remain north of a line joining Carew Point and Bull Point and south of the Torpoint Ferries.

The same timings will apply for the river display taking place during Navy Days itself on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th September.

Spectators in recreational craft wishing to view the main air and river displays from afloat may anchor north of Yonderberry Jetty and south of Looking Glass Point keeping close inshore to the west. Any such vessels must be in position before the traffic restrictions are activated and will be unable to proceed until the displays are complete.