PAUL FITZGERALD, of Seymour Drive, Dartmouth, writes:

Johnny Chick's recent letter in the paper cannot go without a comment or two. He mostly and plainly doesn't have a clue what he is talking about. He is correct in saying that a royal jubilee should have a naval review. And yes, because there are now a lot less ships than in the past, then not enough could be used for a review. But do not forget in past reviews ships have been pulled out of reserve just to line up. Reviews have also been bolstered by foreign navies. But the normal naval workload must carry on with the government's wishes. At present there does not seem to be any lessening of commitments.

I recently attended the Royal Naval Association's annual conference in Newcastle. The conference was opened by the present Flag Officer of Scotland and Northern Ireland. He told us what the navy is up to, now and in the future. It was amazing. Here are a few snippets.

Who do you think is doing hurricane watch and chasing drug runners in the Caribbean? Who do you think is guarding oil terminals in the Persian Gulf? Who do you think is chasing and catching pirates in the Gulf of Aden and off the Horn of Africa? Who do you think is providing a presence in various Nato squadrons? Who is carrying out fishery protection duties around the UK? Who do you think is patrolling the South Atlantic, including the Falklands? Who do you think is still making the Persian Gulf safe and free of mines?

We have had four minesweepers based in Bahrain for several years. Who do you think is providing the UK's nuclear deterrent and have been for the last 50 years or so? The navy is constantly training so that they are ready for any task. Like Libya for instance or Afghanistan. Major amphibious training is carried out ever year.

How many people know that at any one time of the total personnel engaged in Afghanistan, 40 per cent are RN/RM. In fact when the royal marines are there that figure can reach 60 per cent. There are helicopter squadrons, medics, logisticians and a host of other naval augmentees. Sometimes even a royal marine band (and not just to play music). That is just the main tasks.

We have not got that many ships but what we have got and will have are world beaters. But they are very busy. Our new type 45 destroyers are world beaters. Four are at sea, two still to come. Our minesweepers have the best equipment. Our frigates have the best submarine hunting equipment. Our new nuclear powered hunter killer submarines will be the most up to date in the world. Now that the government has switched back to jump jets we will have our two new giant aircraft carrier two years earlier. That is just a broad picture. We are an island and 90 per cent or more of what we need to carry on must come by sea. Hence the obvious need for a navy.

Moving on to the future of Britannia Royal Naval College , or HMS Dartmouth as it should be known, Mr Chick is unaware of the various caveats that would come into play if the college was ever sold. I will not go into them but they would prevent any of his suggestions happening. The pattern of training at the college has been greatly improved of late so that more use is made of time and the facilities.

It is the best Naval Officer training college in the world. That is why so many foreign countries send their young officers there. This of course brings in a lot of money to the MOD.

It is really good to have controversial letters in the paper so that replies can be made. But I think Mr Chick should stick to what he does best, selling whatever he does sell from his little glass cubicle and also giving the council a hard time. BRNC and the Royal Navy are just fine thank you.