A WEST Devon Royal Navy Officer has been appointed as the second-in-command of HMS Raleigh, the Royal Navy's largest South West training establishment.

Cdr Steve Layland, from Mary Tavy, has relieved Cdr Mick Harris in the role of Commander at HMS Raleigh, the deputy to Steve Murdoch, the Commanding officer of the Torpoint-based establishment.

Cdr Layland's responsibilities will include the day to day running of the base, which provides initial training to the Royal Navy's new recruits and a diverse range of specialist courses.

Cdr Layland, 51, said: 'I'm delighted to be joining HMS Raleigh which has a well deserved high reputation for the quality of training provided to recruits and many others in the service.'

Cdr Layland joined the Royal Navy as a Seaman Officer in 1983. His first ship was the minesweeper HMS Brecon. He has served on board four other warships, including HMS Lancaster as the executive officer and HMS Invincible during two deployments to the Adriatic in support of operations in the former Yugoslavia.

Ashore, Cdr Layland has worked on the staff of Flag Officer Sea Training and later at the Joint Forces Headquarters during Operation Telic, the name for UK operations in Iraq beginning in 2003.

Returning to single service assignments, Cdr Layland commanded HMS Excellent in Portsmouth and then became the Queen's Harbourmaster Plymouth.

Prior to joining HMS Raleigh, he completed a nine month tour to the Falkland Islands. 

Cdr Layland lives with his wife Claire. The couple have one son, who is undertaking a PhD at Nottingham University.

Cdr Mick Harris joined HMS Raleigh in 2009 and is moving on to his final appointment in the Royal Navy at Worthy Down in Wiltshire.