Q&A ยท 1:42:28-1:42:56

Why Royal Navy crews still trained for boarding and fighting ashore

A question about boarding practice connects the Altmark action to the Royal Navy's interwar experience with landing parties and ship defence.

Question

Were Royal Navy crews deliberately trained for boarding actions?

Short answer

Yes; boarding, rifle drill, landing parties, and defence of the ship remained part of naval training.

Notes

Royal Navy crews were not improvised infantry, but they received substantial small-arms and boarding instruction. Interwar deployments had also required repeated operations ashore, while even modern crews retained training for defending their own ship against a boarding attempt.