HMS Raleigh

For many young sailors of the 1970s, HMS Raleigh was where naval service truly began. Situated near Torpoint in Cornwall, the Royal Navy's New Entry Training Establishment welcomed recruits from every corner of the United Kingdom and transformed them from civilians into disciplined members of the Fleet. Here, the traditions of the Royal Navy were combined with modern methods of instruction, preparing each recruit for the challenges and responsibilities that lay ahead.

Life at Raleigh was demanding, structured and purposeful. Days were filled with drill, physical training, seamanship, firefighting, weapons instruction, kit musters and classroom lessons, all designed to instil discipline, teamwork and self-reliance. High standards were expected from the very beginning, and recruits quickly learned that success depended not only on individual effort but also on working together as a division.

For those who passed through its gates during the 1970s, HMS Raleigh was far more than a training establishment. It was where lifelong friendships were formed, confidence was developed and the foundations of a naval career were firmly laid. This section explores the history, routines, buildings and memories of HMS Raleigh during a decade that shaped thousands of young sailors before they joined ships and establishments throughout the Royal Navy.