A SPECTACULAR display of military might was showcased in Weymouth Bay ahead of the Olympics.

But security bosses say they are ‘supporting, not starring in’ the Games.

Senior officials gathered on board the warship HMS Bulwark after three days of testing as part of Exercise Olympic Guardian, which will now continue with events in London.

The nation’s flagship boat was described by Captain Alex Burton as the ‘most technically advanced deployment command control facility owned by this country’.

It will return to the borough in July to act as a bronze level command base during the London 2012 sailing events.

Assistant Chief Constable of Dorset Police Adrian Whiting said: “I want to make absolutely clear this is a sports event with some safety and security around it, not a security operation with an inconvenient bit of sailing in the middle.

“We’re looking forward to a very successful summer of sport with a hugely successful Olympic and Paralympic sailing competition. People shouldn’t be put off by the presence of the police or navy, we’re just here to make sure everyone’s safe.”

Dorset Police, together with the Ministry of Defence and other organisations, are preparing for a ‘severe’ to ‘critical’ threat level, although the country’s current threat level is lower. Issues they are preparing to encounter include shipping emergencies, poor weather, protesters intent on disrupting the Games and ‘people who might aim to attack others.’ Mr Whiting said: “This is the largest and most complex operation Dorset Police have ever run on operational record.

“We’ll be policing 50 square miles of seawater for 65 days, which is a little bit unusual for us. In keeping with other police forces at Olympic venues, we’ve been planning against a national threat level of severe.

“While the UK threat level is not as high as that, it’s prudent that in Dorset we make sure we’ve got the capabilities to deal with a severe or critical level.”

A gold strategic police command centre will be based at the force headquarters in Winfrith, aided by a series of bronze commands including one on board HMS Bulwark. Unlike previous Olympic sailing events, borough waters will not be closed to water users during the Games, but the fields of play will be controlled by marshals, aided by police and navy personnel.

Mr Whiting said maritime police officers from 26 to 27 forces around the UK, including Northern Ireland and the Ministry of Defence Police, would be involved with officers on rigid inflatable boats and jet skis.

He said there would be ‘a small proportion of armed police officers’ on board, with Royal Navy crews transporting police officers and vice versa.

General Sir Nick Parker, senior military commander for the Olympics, said: “We have a supporting role, designed to provide niche capabilities for police.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime event, you would expect us to help out on these sorts of occasions. In order to be ready we need to test our systems to the limit to prepare for every eventuality. Over the next week we’re testing our systems ... when we are confident we can react to anything we’ll fade into the background.”

CAPTAIN of HMS Bulwark Alex Burton, pictured, from the Royal Navy said that it was a great honour to be part of the security effort for the Games.

He said that as part as the security force there would be two Merlin class helicopters, with anti-submarine capabilities and sniper teams deployed on them.

Added to that there would be off-shore raiding craft and naval craft.

He said: “This is the culmination of 12 months of exercises we have done. We are providing support to the police-led security operation for the Olympics.”

He added: “It’s a great pride to myself and the ship’s crew that we are involved with the Olympics.”

Capt Burton said that after the Olympic exercises were over they would be returning to Plymouth for maintenance work and then the crew would be going on leave so that they would be ready for the summer.

He said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

The 18,500 tonne HMS Bulwark can accommodate an Embarked Military Force of 350 troops with an overload of a further 405.

It has a vehicle deck capacity for up to six tanks, a floodable well-dock for landing craft and a two-spot 64m flight deck, which is able to take two support helicopters and stow a third.