A former Royal Navy senior rate has helped strengthen links between the RN and the Japanese navy, the Maritime Self-Defence Force, by providing a bell rope for a historic battleship which was built in the UK.

Ex-Chief Petty Officer Alan Stewart worked in the Sail Loft of HMS Raleigh at Torpoint in Cornwall to produce the bell rope for the Japanese warship Mikasa.

First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Alan West had offered a Royal Naval replacement when he visited the Japanese ironclad battleship last year.

When Type 42 destroyer HMS Liverpool visited Tokyo during the Naval Task Group 2003, deployment to the Far East her Commanding Officer, Cdr Martin Ewence, was invited on board by the Mikasa Preservation Society to view the newly-installed rope.

The Japanese are extremely proud of the heritage of the Mikasa, and see many parallels between her and the preservation of HMS Victory at Portsmouth.

On board the Mikasa they display a model of Nelson’s flagship showing comparative statistics with their own historic ship.

Both vessels were built in England, albeit 136 years apart, and both were designated first class battleships.