DIO delivers top of the range training facility in Clyde
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has delivered a state-of-the-art, purpose-built training facility for Royal Navy, Royal Marines,Ministry of Defence (MOD) Police and Reservists.
Costing just under £4 million, the development took 16 months to complete and was officially opened with the unveiling of a commutative plaque.
The building boasts fully equipped classrooms, complete with smart boards to aid instructors in teaching the theory aspects of handling firearms and a giant firearms simulator – known as a Dismounted Close Combat Trainer (DCCT).
The DCCT is a top of the range device that allows trainees to practice their responses to hostile environments in safe surroundings.
The building is fitted with solar panels and contains shower and drying rooms for those returning to the centre after training in the field.
Run by a team of five firearms instructors, the Naval Base’s Firearms Training Centre offers a variety of courses for military personnel, tailored to suit the different situations the modern Armed Forces may encounter.
Chief Petty Officer Stephen Maclennan, the officer-in-charge of the centre said:
“In my twenty-four years as a Gunner this is quite simply the best firearms training facility I have come across.
“I think what makes all the difference is that training staff were consulted during the design and during the construction. The results speak for themselves; we now have a fully equipped facility which is ideal for purpose and a huge asset to military training.”
DIO awarded the building work to Turner Estates Solution who, in turn, sub-contracted to Henry Brothers Scotland.
Elaine Hamilton, DIO’s Project Requirements Manager based at Clyde, said:
“DIO’s priority is to support our Armed Forces as they prepare for operations. A lot of hard work and careful management has gone in to the creation of this facility. To see it through from start to finish offers us an enormous sense of satisfaction and to witness the simulator in use was fantastic.
“Everyone involved in this project is immensely proud to have contributed to the next generation of military firearms training.”
The new building will be named “Richie VC Building” after Victoria Cross winner Henry Peel Ritchie.
ENDS
Further information:
Press enquiries to Tony Moran, Senior Communications Officer 0121 311 3879 or email tony.moran572@mod.uk. DIO website: www.mod.uk/DIO
Notes to editors:
1. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) is part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). It is responsible for managing and maintaining land and properties to meet the current and future needs of the MOD and personnel at home and abroad, and to support current operations.
2. Our work includes providing, supporting and improving: operational units; single living and service family accommodation; training areas and historic military sites. DIO actively manages these to ensure the needs of Defence are met, value for money is achieved, our heritage is protected and to achieve our environmental goals.
3. Commodore Michael Mansergh CBE, Commodore of the Royal Navy’s Maritime Warfare School, and the MOD Police’s Deputy Chief Constable Gerard McAuley, unveiled a commemorative plaque and met with instructors and students.
4. The state-of-the-art simulator allows those under instruction to use a number of weapons, from the British Armed Forces’ standard SA80 rifle to twin mounted General Purpose Machine Guns. Projectors beam the simulation onto one wall of the giant room, with the trainees taking up positions at the opposite end with their specially adapted firearms. What follows is akin to the world’s largest games console, with students firing at the simulation and adapting as the scenario plays out.Sophisticated software measures elements such as breathing and trigger squeeze and even recreates factors like wind speed, temperature and humidity – all of which can make a vital difference to accuracy.
5. On 28 November 1914, the Edinburgh sailor led a search and demolition raid on the German harbour at Dare-es-Salaam in East Africa. Although severely wounded several times his fortitude and resolution allowed him to continue his duty until his eighth wound rendered him unconscious. The heroic action saw him receive the first Victoria Cross awarded to naval personnel during the First World War.
Photo captions:
1. Picture from left: The Ministry of Defence Police’s Deputy Chief Constable Gerard McAuley and Commodore Michael Mansergh of the RN’s Maritime Warfare School officially open the facility. Please credit "Crown Copyright/MOD 2012”
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