HMS Bulwark is ready to assume the mantle of the nation's flagship after completing six months of gruelling training.

The assault ship is ready after completing more than two months of exacting training – the last hurdle in six months of trials, tribulations and tests following a £30m refit.

Given the unique nature of an amphibious ship with its ability to deliver troops and kit from the sea directly to the shore, in addition to all the usual OST tests such as fire, flood, air, sea and submarine attack, and disaster relief, the FOST instructors also assess Bulwark’s sailors and marines on their adeptness at choreographing all the machinery of war from the ship to a beach, before moving inland.

The immediate future includes being the largest attraction at Southampton Boat Show from September 22nd-25th.

From there the ship sails to Brest in Brittany to pick up around 100 French Marines before heading north to the Clyde to take part in the second of this year’s Joint Warrior exercises, a combined air-sea-land war game run from Faslane.