HOME

WELBECK NEWS

HOW TO APPLY

OPEN DAYS

PROSPECTUS

COLLEGE INFORMATION

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

ACADEMIC INFORMATION

COLLEGE FACILITIES

CAREER PATH

MILITARY AND CCF

SPORTS

SOCIAL LIFE

TRIPS AND EXPEDITIONS

SUPPORTING CHARITIES

MEDIA LIBRARY

OLD WELBEXIAN ASSOCIATION

STAFF VACANCIES (0)

WELBECK PRIVATE SCHEME (WPS)

  Welbeck RSS Feed

HMS Sultan Familiarisation Visit (February 2010)

On February 2nd, the Royal Navy students and half of the DESG students visited HMS Sultan in Gosport. The purpose of this visit was to introduce to us the nuclear technology the Navy uses, to inform us further about our career paths and to familiarise us with the opportunities available in nuclear engineering within the MOD.

We set off after breakfast at 0600 hours with the majority of the journey spent sleeping to catch up on lost rest. When HMS Sultan came into view we all remembered the familiar base from our selection boards, and after much discussion and story telling we pulled up outside Sultan’s Nuclear Department.

Firstly we were taken into a lecture room where a senior member of the Defence Engineering Science Group informed us of the advantages to working as a civilian in the MOD. It really encouraged many of us as we were told “The MOD is best because we get some really good toys to play with!” and, another welcome fact that “we are very well paid”!

Then, we had another talk from some engineering officers who had served aboard submarines for many years. These were valuable lessons and very informative - especially as none of the students considering joining the submarine service knew their training would take twelve years!

We were then divided into 3 groups for separate activities. The first group headed to the simulator room where a large screen showed a complete working simulation of a nuclear reactor in a submarine. It was a hands-on activity and we learnt much about the reactor and how delicate it is. After destroying the reactor twice we realised that perhaps the twelve years of training was necessary! Nevertheless, we were shown into another simulator room – this time a wallpaper of buttons and switches greeted us. The room was an exact replica of a submarine’s control room, precisely how it would appear on a real vessel. We then had to apply the knowledge from the software simulator to save the submarine.

Meanwhile, the second group were in the Chemistry lab where an experiment was set up to demonstrate how the water purification system works on a submarine. It involved lots of drop counting and measuring, with a valuable lesson being learnt.

Group 3 were in the Physics lab. After their Professor had finished arguing with the Chemistry teacher about whose branch of science was more relevant, the class were taught about radiation. Much to our amazement, there remains background radiation from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, even in HMS Sultan. The state of the art equipment managed to show us exactly what we were looking for and also showed us the dangers of radiation. We were then taught how nuclear submarines block background radiation to protect the crew.

After each group had completed each task, we had a buffet lunch with a selection of the Officers who were on site. This gave us the opportunity to ask many questions and get the real, front line answers from the people who work in the submarines themselves. The food was also top class, giving us a taste of what was to come when we arrive at Sultan to do our systems training in the future.

At the end of the day, we thanked our hosts for a fantastic day and a very informative visit. Everyone got their heads down on the coach back to College, arriving back just in time for Prep.

Sam Homer, Stirling 09E
Hamish Cooper, Stirling 09E

---

Privacy and Cookies | Contact Us | © 2007-2012 Welbeck DSFC