WORK is progressing on the construction of a new training facility at HMNB Clyde, with the steel frames now in place.
Last year the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) awarded a contract worth £100 million to Kier Graham to deliver the works, which are expected to complete in early 2022.
The Submarine Training Facility (SMTF) building will provide training for submariners on the new UK-designed and built Dreadnought Class submarines. Training currently based at the Royal Naval Submarine School (RNSMS) at HMS Raleigh and the Defence School of Marine Engineering (DSMarE), the Nuclear Systems Group and Nuclear Department (ND) at HMS Sultan will also transfer to the new facility.
The works are part of a wider plan to create a Submarine Centre of Specialisation located at HMNB Clyde.
Steven O’Connor, DIO project manager, said, “DIO is proud to be leading on the development of this essential facility at HMNB Clyde and to support the development of the centre of specialisation. This will ensure that Royal Navy personnel can train in a state-of-the-art environment for many years to come.”
Captain Iain Breckenridge, captain of submarine training with the Royal Navy’s Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) organisation at HM Naval Base Clyde, added, “These are exciting times for all submariners. With training delivery being reshaped to provide modern and highly realistic training in classrooms, simulators, by virtual and synthetic means, as well as online, it means Submariners no longer have to travel to different locations to train. Everything will be delivered at HM Naval Base Clyde helping to improve their career and domestic balance.
“The Submarine Training Facility project is the final piece in the creation of a Submarine Centre of Specialisation at HM Naval Base Clyde. All future training, from the Submarine Qualifying Course to the world-renowned ‘Perisher’ Command Course, will now be based on the Clyde along with the Royal Navy’s entire fleet of submarines.”
