Dutch Warship Gets Ship-Shape In Cornwall

UK Ministry of Defence, A Dutch warship, Her Netherlands Majesty's Ship (HNLMS) Rotterdam has been undergoing an intense period of operational sea training by staff from the Flag Officer Sea Training Organisation, (FOST), based in Devonport Naval Base, Plymouth. 
 
As part of her training as a landing ship HNLMS Rotterdam has been taking part in a training exercise off the South Coast known as 'South West Lion'. 
 
The training took place in and around Plymouth Sound and Mevagissey Bay and off the North Coast of Devon. During the training Dutch Marines from 2nd Battalion Royal Netherlands Marine Corps conducted amphibious landings near Whitsand Bay, Porthkerris, Braunton and at RM Chivenor. 
 
This training is vital to ensure that the ship is ready to act in support of Dutch and United Nations military tasks around the world. It involved landing craft and helicopters landing Royal Marines for simulated attacks on Pentewan and Dean Point and also Bideford Bay. 
 
As the ship approaches her final phase of training, her crew have been rehearsing scenarios such as rescuing communities from natural disaster, to defending themselves and other ships against enemy attack from aircraft, warships and submarines. 
 
The final phase of the exercise saw FOST staff surprising the ship with a range of unplanned incidents to test whether the ship can carry out her primary role under distractions of fire, flood or enemy action. 
 
HNLMS Rotterdam's commanding officer, Captain Kees Boelema-Robertus said: 
 
“HNLMS Rotterdam is now nearing the end of her training and FOST training ensures the ship's company is ready to meet the many situations that we could potentially face. The coast of Devon and Cornwall provide fantastic opportunities to train and we appreciate the support that we get from the local communities.” 
 
Flag Officer Sea Training is a world-renowned centre of excellence that trains all Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships. The training lasts for up to eight weeks and includes foreign navies from Germany, Netherlands, Chile, Turkey, Greece, Portugal, Poland, Sweden and Romania who come to Devonport to be trained by the Royal Navy.