Royal Navy enters the Metaverse with new Virtual Reality simulators

The Royal Navy is embracing Virtual Reality to train sailors of tomorrow in cutting-edge new navigation simulators.

Sailors will don headsets to take them into a naval ‘metaverse’ immersing them in key – and sometimes dangerous – manoeuvres, all from the safety of a naval base.

The VR headsets will be just one facet of new state-of-the-art replica ship’s bridges, with software capable of recreating the entire fleet, harbours and waters around the globe, and challenging weather conditions by day and night.

HMS Collingwood in Fareham, home of warfare training, Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, spiritual home of naval officers, and the home of the Submarine Service in Faslane will all receive the new trainers.

The investment is part of the modernisation of Royal Navy training by Project Selborne – a 12-year programme overseen by Capita to update and deliver a raft of training across many naval disciplines and branches.

The Navy’s existing simulators have trained thousands of navigators, officers of the watch and bridge teams for two decades.

They’ve received regular updates and undergone enhancements to keep pace with seafaring and technological changes in that period – such as the Fleet’s switch from paper to digital charts to navigate the Seven Seas.

Three full mission bridge simulators and two smaller ones will be installed at Collingwood and Lieutenant Commander Mark Raeburn, who’s in charge of Navigation Training there, said the advent of the new facilities meant more sailors could be trained and earn more practical experience rather than spend time in the classroom.

www.royalnavy.mod.uk