British Royal Navy sailors will receive their first training this week on how to use the new Glock 17 pistol, as the new weapon replaces the Browning as the pistol of choice for the UK military.

Pistols complement a wide range of weapons available to front line troops and are vital in a close combat situation.

The Glock 17 Gen 4 – to give the new pistol its full title – is much lighter than the Browning and is also more accurate.

Its magazines can carry more bullets – 17 compared with its predecessor’s 13.

It is the first new pistol to be introduced into the military for more than 40 years and is being supplied under a £9million deal with Viking Arms in Harrogate.

In total, 25,000 Glock 17s have been ordered and troops deployed to Afghanistan were among the first to use the new weapon.

Read more at ThisIsPlymouth.co.uk.