HC Deb 23 June 2003 vol 407 cc543-4W
Mr. Soames

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what locations naval gunfire support training takes place. [120499]

Mr. Caplin

Shore-based, simulated training for the Royal Navy is undertaken at the Maritime Warfare School, based at HMS Collingwood and HMS Dryad, both near Portsmouth. In addition, there are four United Kingdom-based sea ranges as follows:

  • Cape Wrath (north Scotland)—sea to land range firings;
  • Dodman Point (off Plymouth)—buoy firing;
  • Wembury Point (off Plymouth)—buoy firing; and
  • St. Alban's Head (off Dorset coast)—buoy firing.

There are also a number of Notified Danger Sea Areas around the UK (mostly in the English Channel), within which non-explosive firings take place against a floating target which is recovered on completion.