With a journey stretching nearly half way across the world ahead of them, a fearless team of three Royal Naval adventurers are putting the finishing touches to their preparations.

Starting off on the Mongolian Rally route, which takes in huge swathes of Eastern Europe, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia, the Fleet Air Arm team – consisting of Lieutenants Will Scown, Jon Ford and Chief Petty Officer Adam Marshall, from RNAS Culdrose and RNAS Yeovilton – will cover close to 10,000 miles before reaching their journey’s end at Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia. They hope to complete the challenge in four weeks.

A large part of team Mongkes-Fist’s route will be on dirt tracks and un-metalled roads that are susceptible to flash floods and freak weather conditions.

Not that the sailors are taking the easy option with any part of their journey. Rather than rely on modern GPS equipment and orbiting satellites, they are set to use traditional methods with map and compass, sticking with navigation techniques that even Admiral Lord Nelson would have approved of.

Will Scown, who normally controls aircraft around the skies of Cornwall from the tower at Culdrose, said: “It’s quite easy to forget how large some of these countries are – Kazakhstan for example is bigger than Western Europe combined.”

Setting off from Culdrose on Friday, July 12, their vehicle of choice will not be a 4x4 off road, specially equipped wonder rally car, but a standard blue Nissan Micra.

Not content with some distinctive sponsorship logos, their rally car will also be sporting a rather fetching “fist” specially made and installed for the journey.

Adam Marshall joked that they had got their priorities in order as the start gets closer.

“We should be putting a sump guard on the car, or building a roof rack or adding a snorkel,” he said: Instead we’ve constructed a giant flag-carrying fist for the top of the car. It should do a lot to raise our team profile – and drag down our miles per gallon!”

Crossing rivers, ravines, mountain ranges, deserts and no less than 15 national borders, the international Mongolian Rally is designed to test the courage and initiative of teams involved.

Supported by the Mongolian government, which stipulates that all competing vehicles must be less than ten years old, the Royal Navy team will be raising money for Royal Navy and Royal Marines charities, Operation Smile and the Heel & Toe Children’s Charity, which provides free therapy to children with cerebral palsy and dyspraxia.

Jon Ford said: “Our main concern is whether our tiny car will survive such a difficult journey across inhospitable terrain. It certainly wasn’t designed for it. One thing we all agree on is even if we have to drag it to the finish with a donkey that car will make it to Mongolia.”