NAVAL crews provided a fitting build-up to a weekend where a naval base will open its doors to the public.

Field gun crews at Fareham naval base HMS Collingwood competed against each other for the 12 Pounder Cup.

The base’s A and B teams challenged each other in front of an audience of personnel and other visiting gun crew teams.

This was ahead of the annual Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity Field Gun competition taking place today.

The A crew won with a time of 1.23.50 seconds with an additional six seconds of penalty points, with B crew managing 1.34.80 seconds also with an additional six seconds of penalty points.

Today the base will hold its annual open day, when 22 teams are set to compete for the prestigious Brickwoods Trophy with some coming from as far as Naples and Gibraltar.

The 18-man teams must run, dismantle, reassemble and fire their gun in the shortest possible time.

The open day, from 9.30am to 5pm, also features displays from the Royal Navy Raiders Parachute Display team and the Tiger Motorcycle display team.

Visitors can get an insight into a naval career, with a chance to look at some of the training equipment and have a go at steering a ship on the bridge simulator or having a go at the High Ropes Challenge.

A kids area will offer a fun fair, bouncy castle and children’s entertainers.