UK

Dockyard celebrates Royal Navy past

The 50th anniversary of the last Royal Navy submarine to be built and launched at Chatham dockyard in Kent is being marked in the spring.

HM Submarine Ocelot was the last warship built there. Her launch in 1962 also marked the end of more than 400 years shipbuilding at the Royal Dockyard.

A special Submariners’ Day, OCELOT 50, is to be held at The Historic Dockyard Chatham on Saturday 12th May 2012.

All submariners - past and present - together with ex-Chatham dockyard workers involved with the construction or refit of submarines are invited to enjoy free admission for the day with special discounted tickets available for accompanying family and friends.

There will be a service in the Royal Dockyard Church to celebrate and commemorate the last warship and those who served in her and the wider submarine service.

This will be followed by a parade led by the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines CTCRM, Lympstone with the salute being taken at the head of HMS Ocelot, now in dry dock at The Historic Dockyard.

All submariners are welcome to participate in the parade. There will be an Ocelot contingent and Submariner Association Standards to take the lead behind the band.

After the parade a new submarine exhibition will be opened on the dockside adjacent to HMS Ocelot.

In the early evening there will be a separately ticketed Beat Retreat and Ceremonial Sunset featuring the Band of HM Royal Marines together with other bands. Association Standards are invited to take part in the final muster parade.