The largest gathering of student training boats in a decade took place in rather lumpy seas off Portsmouth as the budding sailors went through their summer exercise period.

Two of the ships taking part in the Aurora 04 deployment turned their transatlantic mission into charity gold, putting their hearts and muscles into collecting cash.

Blue skies and glorious sunshine greeted the ship’s company of HMS Manchester when they exercised the freedom of the namesake city.

Two of the survivors of the sinking of the destroyer HMS Wakeful in May 1940 have come face-to-face with two reminders of the day they cheated death.

Type 23 frigate HMS Norfolk had the honour of flying the flag for Britain at this year’s principal celebration of the sea – the French maritime festival at Brest.

Type 42 destroyer HMS Newcastle has been involved in three weeks of training and exercising in the Black Sea region.

Government plans for defence announced yesterday mean the Royal Navy will lose 1,500 jobs and 12 ships – although the defence budget will rise in real terms by 1.4 per cent a year until 2008, with an extra £3.7 billion from the Treasury.

Mine countermeasures vessel HMS Cattistock has been formally accepted back into the Fleet following a £2.5 million refit.

Accident prevention and road safety initiatives have brought Devonport Naval Base two safety awards.

Clyde Naval Base put itself on show to the public at the annual Faslane Fair – though as usual it had to do so at the nearby town of Helensburgh.

Survey ship HMS Echo is making her presence felt in the Northern Arabian Gulf.

Several of the Navy’s biggest warships, plus their escorts, are due back in their home ports this week at the end of a series of exercises in the United States.

A new regulation is to be introduced which stipulates that promotion and advancement will be dependent on a person being ‘in date’ for their RN Fitness Test.

Sailors from two Devonport-based ships have been helping to restore historic burial grounds at opposite ends of the earth.

If you blink you may miss the latest addition to the Royal Navy’s publicity machine – it could pass you at around 160mph.

The original was lost to the nation in 1900, but the Nelson Society sees 2005 as the ideal time to restore to the public one of Nelson’s Naval Gold Medals – albeit a reproduction in gold, silver gilt and bronze gilt.

Normally the passageways and messes resounded to the noise of Naval banter and the cold urgency of conflict, simulated or genuine.

HMS Bangor’s return to the Fleet was heralded by the sound of the flute – played by her Commanding Officer, Lt Cdr David Wilson.

Carpets, camels, couscous, concubines and Casablanca all made for an eventful visit to Morocco for the crew of HMS Liverpool.

A new Rebalancing Lives initiative is cutting the number of watchkeepers needed when a mine countermeasures vessel (MCMV) is in her base port over a weekend.

From tonight the Royal Navy will be making the first of what they hope will be many visits to your own home.

The newest addition to the Navy’s amphibious arsenal is due to be handed over to the Fleet this month.

What do you get if you combine Flipper, jet skis, helicopters, ships, boats and men in black?

Lobbing shells, firing rifles, sending patrol craft tearing up rivers and putting tanks ashore to roam around at will in the United States is not normally to be advised.

Investigations into paranormal activities at Devonport Naval base have reminded a former Blue Jacket of the strange goings-on at Chatham in the late 1950s – and the Ghost of St Mary’s.

Survey ship HMS Scott took a break from charting the oceans to visit one of the most remote islands in the western hemisphere.

The ship’s company of HMS York are over a barrel at the arrival of their latest piece of kit – a new 4.5in main gun.

What do former newspaper editor Andrew Neil, BBC newsreader Darren Jordan, EastEnder Ian Beale and Britain’s van drivers all have in common?

Royal Navy destroyer HMS Exeter has carried out trailblazing exercises with the Chinese Navy in the Yellow Sea.