Organisers are reported to be happy with the attendance figure of almost 50,000 who turned up to see the Senior Service in action at Devonport Navy Days – and are already turning their attention to the next event, in 2006.

British and foreign warships threw open their doors to visitors who wanted the opportunity to find out about life within the Naval services. Before midday on the first day more than 2,000 people had ventured on board Naval frigate HMS Norfolk.

Real-life challenges, from the taking of Iraqi port Umm Qasr, had been fed into the dramatic river display, a centrepiece that featured a full range of Naval capabilities.

A Search and Rescue Sea King pulled a man from the river, and Royal Marines on raiding craft launched from HMS Albion to fight off terrorist attackers.

Led by minehunter HMS Bangor, Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose glided down the Hamoaze to fire her gun in support of the Marines in simulated battle.

Overhead the Navy's Black Hawks display team played cat and mouse with pursuing Sea Harriers.

Helicopter downwash ruffled the river’s waters as Lynx, Gazelle and Sea Kings hovered over the action.

Capt Tony Johnstone-Burt, commanding officer of HMS Ocean – the largest ship at Navy Days and the focus of much popular attention – said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to show the British public what amphibious warfare and expeditionary warfare is all about.

“I’m thrilled to bits, and the ship's company are pleased to show their ship off. We see ourselves as the spearhead of the future Navy.

“It’s really important that we do this. For too long we have been in the shadows.

“Notwithstanding that we have played a central role in recent events, this is a time where our very best assets are our people – our sailors and Royal Marines. There’s nothing like the experience of meeting a sailor face to face.”

Capt Johnstone-Burt said that he was delighted with the affiliation now established with Russian assault ship RFS Minsk, one of the many foreign ships that attended Navy Days.

He added: “This is the first time that HMS Ocean has taken part in Navy Days because she has been so busy operationally over the last four years.

“She has taken part in every form of operation from humanitarian missions in Honduras to full war in Iraq.”
Landing craft carried people out to visit Albion, and barely a child escaped from the assault ship without being daubed in Royal Marines camouflage paint.

Efforts were made to ensure Navy Days was as inclusive as possible, with Type 23 frigate HMS Portland specially kitted-out to be accessible to disabled visitors.

A major draw was the chance to see inside the UK's submarine fleet, which drew long queues for a limited number of tickets. Two Trafalgar-class submarines were open to visitors, as well as the former HMS Courageous in the South Yard.

Appearing for the first time at Navy Days, rescue submersible LR5 pulled in inquiring visitors who remembered its role in the attempted rescue of Russian submarine Kursk.

Organisers had focused on making the whole event a success for all their visitors from start to finish, and an integrated network of transport links had been established to bring event-goers to Navy Days by train, bus, ferry and car in as smooth a process as possible.