Stone Frigates

[norwichpaul]

Stone Frigates - Shore Bases



Ship's Name

Function
Location & details
Commissioned
Paid Off




HMS Abatos






Pluto Training Establishment. Assembly of pipework & valve gear
Norfolk House, Rex House & Supermarine HQ building Woolston, Southampton
21-09-43
00-03-46



HMS Aeolus





Kite & Balloon Repair Depot repair of weather balloons.
High Street, Tring, Herts. Main Depot (now Metcalf & Sons) Premises also at corner of Akeman Street & Albert Street and a Nissen hut at the corner of Mortimer Hill & Brook Street within an existing garage site.

01-12-42
01-03-46




HMS Aggressive






Coastal Forces Base
Newhaven, the Paris Hotel & East Quay MTB base
1940
16-04-45




HMS Allenby






Combined Operations Base. Folkestone Base Transferred to War Office
Folkestone
14-03-44
10-04-45




Almondbank






RNAS Aircraft Repair Yard
Almondbank, Perth
Unknown
Unknown




Amersham






Combined Operations Base (not a ship)
Amersham, Bucks






HMS Appledore






Naval Base and Combined Operations Training Establishment To USN 24-07-43 & became USN Advanced Amphibious Base returned to RN 25-05-44
Appledore Docks, North Devon also Fremingham Camp, appledore

01-08-42
23-04-48




HMS Appledore II






Combined Operations Base
Ilfracombe (might have been HMS Excellent II originally) moved to Collingwood Hotel, Illfracombe during October 1943

17-09-43
30-11-46




HMS Ararat






Combined Operations Training Centre
Castle Toward, Dunoon, Argyll

01-06-42
Unknown




HMS Arbella






Combined Operations Landing Craft Training Establishment
RN requisitioned Boston Workhouse, Boston Lincolnshire
21-01-43
09-08-45




HMS Archnacarry






RN Commando Training Assessment School
Archnacarry, Inverness-shire
Unknown
Unknown




HMS Ariel






RN Air Radio & Air Mechanics Training Establishment
Warrington, Risley. Moved (Equipment & Trials Section) to Worthy Down 01-07-52

08-10-42
01-07-52



HMS Ariel II






RNAS
South Camp in use after the AR&AM moved to Worthy Down

01-07-52
00-12-52



HMS Ariel






RNAS/RN Air Electrical School
Worthy Down, Hampshire

01-07-52
c.1959




HMS Ariel II






RNAS/RN Air Electrical School
South Camp Worthy Down. Absorbed into new HMS Ariel II
01-07-52
00-10-59



HMS Ariel II






Air Electrical School
After the main school component moved to Lee-on-Solent, the remaining section became HMS Ariel II

31-10-59
00-12-60



HMS Ariel






Air Electrical School. Re-named HMS Ariel when ground training wing moved there from Worthy Down. Renamed HMS Daedalus
Lee-on-Solent. HMS Daedalus



31-10-59





04-10-65









HMS Armadillo






Combined Operations Camp & RN Beach Commando School for the formation and training of RN Beach Commando units. Site was transferred from War Office control 12-10-42

Ardentinny, Glenfinnart, Loch Long



05-11-42







30-09-45







HMS Attack






Coastal Forces Operational Base & Repair Centre
Portland used the former premises of HMS Osprey

15-01-41
31-12-45




HMS Attentive II






Dover Patrol Shore Base?
Dover Harbour
1914
31-10-19



HMS Attentive



Command Base for Portland
Portland
01-09-39
Unknown




USN Amphibious Supply Base






United States Navy's main Amphibious Supply Base in Europe (95 acres) during WWII. Construction began by US Navy Construction Battalion (the Sea Bees) on 12-10-43. Handed over to RN 1946 and used as a storage facility until 31-03-97 when it was paid off.
Topsham Road, Exeter. Also included sub-depots at Hawkerland Valley (60 acres) and Winslade Park (15 acres)

03-02-44 1946
c.1946 31-03-97




HMS Bacchante






Aberdeen Base (Rosyth Command)
Station Hotel, Aberdeen
11-09-39
31-12-45




HMS Badger






Minesweeper Base. HQ FO-in-C Harwich underground Operations Block below Hamilton House car park

Hamilton House Parkstone Quay, Harwich

13-09-39
21-10-46



HMS Beaver





RN Base Grimsby
Grimsby Dock
26-12-39
12-03-46



HMS Beaver II




RN Base Immingham
Immingham Dock
00-12-39
11-03-46




HMS Beaver III






Coastal Forces Base - Motor Launches
Immingham Dock
01-05-41
01-04-42



HMS Bee





Coastal Forces Base. (Western Approaches Command) A 'working up' base. On moving to Holyhead, the base became HMS Grasshopper in preparation for Operation Neptune
Weymouth. Used old Contraband Control Base, Edward & Alexandra Gardens Theatre, Pavilion Theatre & various hotels Moved to Holyhead in October 1943.
01-09-42
18-10-43




HMS Bee






Coastal Forces and Minesweeper Base
Holyhead
18-10-43
21-07-45




HMS Beehive






Coastal Forces Base - Motor Torpedo Boat & Motor Gun Boat. This is one of the original two WWII CF bases (1st Flotilla, Felixstowe). Felixstowe Dock RN Depot. Air Sea Rescue duties shared with the RAF station
Boomer Hall, Felixstowe. Also used hangar at RAF Felixstowe, the Pier Hotel (now 'Little Ships') functioned as the Wardroom, Cliff Hotel WRNS accommodation.
01-07-40
18-10-45



Bickleigh Camp





RM Commando Training Establishment

Bickleigh, Plymouth
1940
c.1946



HMS Birnbeck




Experimental Station (Directorate of Miscellaneous Weapons)
Brean Down Fort, Birnbeck Pier which links the mainland with an Island
02-10-42
31-01-46




HMS Blackcat






Combined Forces Base - came under HMS Drake IV
Devonport No.13 Wharf
26-12-43
16-07-45




HMS Blackcap






RNAS Stretton former RAF Station
Stretton, Warrington
01-06-42
04-11-58



HMS Blazer



Training Establishment & Gunnery Range
Isle of Wight
00-04-44
01-04-46



HMS Boscawen





Portland Naval Base formally HMS Victory XI
Portland
01-07-32
31-12-47




HMS Brighton






RN W/T Unit Training School
29 Queen's Road, Brighton

27-04-42
Unknown




HMS Bristol






RN Training Establishment
Muller's Orphanage (ex War Office), Ashley Down Road, Bristol. Now Bristol College
00-10-42
01-01-43




HMS BristolI






RN Training Establishment.

Muller's Orphanage (ex War Office), Ashley Down Road, Bristol. Now Bristol College
15-02-43
28-12-43




Bristol






University Royal Naval Unit







HMS Britannia






College, Dartmouth Renamed Dartmouth to release this name for Royal Yacht. The title Britannia Royal Naval College used from 1953.
Dartmouth. In WWII cadets sent to Eaton Hall, Eaton Cheshire and Howstrake Camp IoM until 21-09-46
00-09-05
01-07-53




HMS Britannia II






Dartmouth Trawler Base
Dartmouth, Re-named Dartmouth
00-06-40
23-12-43




HMS Britannia III






Dartmouth Coastal Forces Base - Motor Torpedo Boat & Motor Gun Boat
Dartmouth. Re-named HMS Dartmouth II
01-05-41
23-12-42




HMS Brontosaurus






No.2 Combined Operations Base. Initial training of officers & crews of large landing craft
Toward Point, Castle Toward, Dunoon, Argyll
07-08-42
31-07-46




HMS Bruce






Boy's Training School, formally HMS Jackdaw
RNAS Crail, Fife
29-04-47
25-10-49




Royal Marines Burmer Camp






RM Commando Seamanship Training Camp
Llwyngwry

Unknown
Unknown




HMS Bunting






Auxiliary Patrol Base
Harwich & Ipswich

25-02-40
10-11-44




HMS Buzzard






Temporary RNAS Base
Lympne Airport, Closed then re-opened as HMS Daedalus II 03-11-39 handed over to RAF 22-05-40
01-07-39
25-09-39




HMS Cabbala






RN Coding School. Tortworth Camp transferred to War Office 25-09-42. School then transferred to Lowton. Also included Higham Court (ex HMS Ganges), Gloucestershire which was vacated 09-11-42 and transferred to Brox Fare, Nottingham
Tortworth Court, Falfield, Gloucestershire. Lowton St Mary's Leigh, Lancashire

01-03-41
25-09-42



HMS Cabbala






RN Coding School
Lowton, Warringon

25-09-42
00-11-46



HMS Cabbala






RN Educational & Vocational Training School. Ex Fledgling
Millmeece, Eccleshall near Stafford
00-11-46
00-02-48



HMS Cabot






Training School Site now Wetherby Borstal
Bristol (Muller's Orphanage) then moved 15-09-42 to No.2 Hostel Thorpe Arch Royal Ordnance Factory.

13-07-40
15-07-44



HMS Cabot






Training School (Stewards & Cooks). Re-named HMS Demitrius, then HMS Ceres. Moved to Chatham. c.1958
Wetherby, York Road (opposite the Racecourse). Now a Borstal

15-09-42
c.1958



HMS Cadmus




Port of Avonmouth Base
Name selected not used?

01-09-39
15-10-45




HMS Caledonia






Oban Base

Originally called HMS St Andrews

01-07-43
30-09-45



HMS Caledonia





RN Apprentice Training Establishment. Formally Mechanical Training Establishment Moved to HMS Sultan. HMS Caledonia then became the main support base for RNRosyth (see below)
Rosyth

c.1939 01-12-46
17-12-85



HMS Caledonia






RN Support Establishment. Satellite to HMS Cochrane until it closed then HMS Caledonia became part of the Defence Lands Organisation. HMS Scotia is now a lodger unit
The old Caledonia building Rosyth
17-12-85
01-04-96



Cambria






RNR HQ Unit
Sully near Barry former married quarters and new building c.1980
c.1947
Extant



Cambridge







RN Gunnery Range
Wembury near Plymouth
09-08-56
1999?



Cambridge






University Royal Naval Unit Cambridge University Air Squadron
2 Chaucer Road, Cambridge

c.1994
Extant



HMS Camperdown






RNR Training Establishment. Closed as part of 'Options for Change'. Building demolished.
Marine Parade, Dundee
00-08-69
29-07-94



HMS Calliope







Tyne Port

01-09-39
23-02-46



HMS Calliope






RNR Training Establishment
Gateshead, South Shore Road
06-67
Extant



RAF Calshot






Combined Operations Training - gunnery, navigation, signals & aircraft recognition courses for Petty Officers. Roll taken over by HMS St Barbara, Bognor.

RAF Calshot, Hampshire

Unknown
00-09-43



HMS Caserne Bir Hacheim






Free French Drafting Depot
Emsworth, Hampshire
Unknown
Unknown



HMS Caserne Birot






Free French Naval Establishment
Greenock
00-08-42
08-03-46



HMS Caserne Surcouf






Free French Naval Establishment
Clapham Common
Unknown
Unknown



HMS Celebrity







RN Trawler Base
Milford Haven
20-11-40
16-07-45



HMS Celtic






Royal Marine Boom Control Detachment
Oban Details unknown

Unknown
Unknown



HMS Centurion






RN Central Drafting Depot
Lythe Hill House, Haslemere. Transferred to Gosport 1970
05-04-57
00-06-70



HMS Centurion






RN Drafting Depot/Pay & Accounting Centre
Grange Road Gosport. Formally HMS Haslemere. Moved to HMS Sultan
16-10-70
31-03-94



HMS Ceres






RN Training Establishment
Weatherby, York Road. Formally HMS Demetrius. Moved to Chatham Barracks (HMS Pembroke) 01-04-58
01-10-46
01-04-58



HMS Ceres







RNR Communications Training Centre. Closed as part of 'Options for Change'
Yeadon, Harrowgate Road, Leeds. This is the site of the Leeds ROC Bunker
01-10-84
31-07-94



Ceres Division






RNR Training. Newest & smallest RN shore establishment. Is a tender to HMS Sherwood
Carlton Lodge, Carlton Barracks, Leeds

c.2000
Extant



HMS Cicala






Coastal Forces Base - Motor Torpedo Boat & Motor Gun Boat. Formally known as HMS Dartmouth II
Royal Hotel, Dartmouth

01-08-43
31-12-44



HMS Cicero






RN Training Ship & Rehabilitation Centre
Formally Wallington Camp, Fareham
23-10-47
19-04-48



HMS Claverhouse






(Rosyth Command) Coastal Forces Base Motor Launches
Port of Leith
01-09-39
13-08-45



HMS Claverhouse






RN Forth Reserve Division
Granton Square Edinburgh
01-10-46
00-03-59?



Claverhouse II






RN Mine Sweeper Base

Granton
08-06-41
1945



HMS Clio






Barrow-in-Furness Port
Barrow-in-Furness
29-08-39
1945



HMS Cochrane






Renamed Rosyth Naval Base 1962 (Rosyth Command).
Rosyth

01-06-38
1962



HMS Cochrane II






RNAS Donibristle
Used as Barracks
01-12-62
28-02-63



HMS Cochrane Ii






RN Supply & Accounting Base
Rosyth
1940
1945



HMS Cochrane III






RN Educational & Vocational Training School
Rosyth Primrose Camp
1942
1947?



HMS Cockfosters







RN Port Party Transit Camp and holding depot for personnel going to and returning from Germany. Replaced by HMS St Clement III
Exact location unknown
12-06-44
12-09-45



HMS Collingwood






RN Ports Training School, RN Special Reservists, Radar & Electrical Ratings, RN Weapons Engineering School
Fareham, Hampshire
10-01-40
Extant



HMS Collingwood II






RN Pay Centre
Southampton, South Western Hotel . Renamed HMS Victory
1941
Unknown



HMS Colonsay






RN Mine Sweeper Base
Grimsby

01-08-40
31-07-45



HMS Condor






RNAS airfield Absorbed Training Wing from Gamecock 11-11-58. Became RM Barracks
Arbroath Extant as RM Barracks
19-06-40
01-04-71



HMS Condor II






RNAS (WWI) aerodrome (opened 1912) became Marine Craft Base
Stannergate, Dundee
15-07-41
15-06-44



HMS Cook






RNZN Depot
Halifax House, Strand London. Re-named HMS Maori
Unknown
01-04-45



HMS Copra






Combined Operations Pay & Drafting Office
Commissioned at Chelsea Court, SW7, moved to Southend, then to Largs 05-10-45.
30-08-43
15-01-47



HMS Cressy






(Rosyth Command)






Crete Camp






RM Commando Practical Handling Camp (Landing Craft)
Barmouth
Unknown
Unknown



HMS Cricket






RN/RM Landing Craft Base. After the war the base became known as 'Cricket Camp' housing victims of the bombing of Southampton/Portsmouth
Burseldon, Manor Farm, Hampshire (now Manor Farm Country Park)
15-07-43
15-07-46



Royal Marines Fort Cumberland






Fort constructed 1803 RM Amphibious School
Portsmouth - now largely demolished
c.1803
Unknown



HMS Curlew






RNAS airfield, formally HMS Vulture, closed for flying 14-12-53
St Merryn, Cornwall
01-01-53
10-01-56

[norwichpaul]

HMS Daedalus







RNAS Aerodrome & Airfield. Transferred to RAF 01-04-18, handed back to RNAS 24-05-39. Renamed Ariel 31-10-59 but HMS Daedalus retained for HQ at Wykeham Hall. Re-named HMS Daedalus 05-10-65
Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire
1917
31-07-96




HMS Daedalus II





RNAS Temporary airfield
Lympne, Kent
01-01-40
00-05-40




HMS Daedalus II





RNAS Seaplane Base
Lawrenny Ferry, Pembroke
01-02-42
24-10-43




HMS Daedalus II





RN Aircraft Training Establishment. Formally Lympne
Old Bank House, Penhill Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
00-05-40
31-01-46




HMS Daedalus III





Camp Release Centre
Opened as Bedhampton Camp, named HMS Daedalus III 29-09-45
00-09-43
01-02-47



Dalditch Camp





RM Commando Training Camp
Dalditch, Budleigh Salterton, Devon
Unknown
Unknown




HMS Dalriada





RN Reserve HQ Unit. Reserve Training Centre Formally at HMS Inverkip (1969-1980 located in an underground Operations Block)
Navy Building, Eldon Street Greenock.
30-04-65
Unknown




HMS Dartmouth





Dartmouth Base. Formally Britannia II
Dartmouth
01-02-43
01-10-45




HMS Dartmouth II





Dartmouth Coastal Forces Base - Motor Torpedo Boats, Motor Gun Boats & Motor Launches. Formally HMS Britannia III, renamed HMS Cicala 00-08-43
Dartmouth
23-12-42
00-08-43




HMS Dartmouth III





Combined Operations Training Establishment. Renamed HMS Effingham 19-07-43
Dartmouth College & Eaton Hall
01-02-43
19-07-43




HMS Dauntless





WRNS Training Establishment from Westfield College NW3, then called HMTE Dauntless. Training transferred to Raleigh
Burghfield near Reading
11-12-53
14-08-81




Royal Marines Depot Deal





Former Army Barracks, became RM Depot in 1861. Royal Marines Band from 1950-1996
Deal, Kent. Site now waiting for re-development?
c.1861
c.1996




HMS Defiance






Devonport Training Establishment
Devonport
1954
20-04-59




HMS Defiance






Formally Fleet Maintenance Base. 12-03-81 became HMS Defiance. Absorbed into Drake
Devonport
21-04-78
31-03-94




HMS Demetrius






Accountant Branch & Supply & Secretariat Training Establishment. Renamed HMS Ceres 01-10-46
Wetherby, York Road opposite Racecourse, site now Borstal
15-07-44
01-10-46




HMS Dartmouth, HMS Britannia






Formally Britannia RN College
Dartmouth
01-07-53
Extant




HMS Diligence






Reserve Fleet Base
Hythe
03-03-53
30-04-63




HMS Dinosaur I






HQ for tank and landing craft training. Landing Craft Gunnery School
Troon, Ayrshire






HMS Dinosaur II






Landing Craft Base & Repair Centre (Western Approaches Command)
Irvine, Ayrshire. Renamed Fullarton

31-12-44




HMS Dipper






RNAS Airfield. Became a tender to HMS Heron & then reopened as satellite to HMS Heron Finally closing on 01-10-51
Hensdridge, Dorset
01-04-43
11-11-46




HMS Dolphin






Submarine Depot and School. Site taken over from RE in 1904, becoming a command on 31-08-12. Training only by 00-12-93.
Fort Blockhouse, Gosport Became an accommodation unit for Army Medical College. School transferred to HMS Raleigh 17-09-97.
1904
30-09-98




HMS Dolphin II






Accommodation for Dolphin. Became part of HMS Hornet
Gosport
Unknown
Unknown




HMS Dolphin III






Accommodation for Dolphin.
Gosport






HMS Dorlin






Combined Operations Base, No.3 Combined Training Centre, site formally used by RN Special Training Establishment - Battle Training for RN Beach Signals & Royal Signals sections.
Dorlin House, Acharacle, Argyll House now demolished Large training area also included the following camps: Glencripesdale Camp, Glenborrodale & Roshven Camps
23-03-42
28-11-44




HMS Dotterel






RNAS East Haven airfield
Ex Peewit
01-05-43





HMS Dragon






RN Communications Training Centre
King's Dock, then moved to Customs House, Cambrian Place, Swansea
01-10-84
30-06-94




HMS Dragonfly






Combined Operations Base. Became Mobile Landing Craft Advanced Assembly Depot and Landing Barge Base
Hayling Island
07-06-43
15-01-46




HMS Drake






Devonport Barracks & Base. Began as HMS Vivid, renamed HMS Drake 01-01-34. Incorporated Defiance from 01-04-94 Devonport is Plymouth's naval dockyard and is sited on the Hamoaze, overlooking Cornwall. It is the largest ship repair yard in the UK. There is a modern Submarine Refit Facility which opened in May 1980, this has two dry docks & a wet berth
Devonport plus Plymouth Airport from 00-09-39 to 01-05-42. Overflow camps at Yealmpton, Cornwood and Roborough plus Signal School at Glenholt
Unknown
Extant




HMS Drake I






Accounting Base
Devonport
c.1943
01-11-61




HMS Drake II






Accounting Base
Stoke Damerell School
c.1940
c.1958




HMS Drake IV






Accounting Base (Tenders)
Devonport
00-08-39
31-12-46




HMS Drake V






Royal Australian Navy Accounts
Devonport/Tavistock. Port Library
13-01-41
07-09-41




HMS Drake X






RN Reserve Fleet
Pembroke Dock
00-02-48
c.1952




HMS Dryad






Originally located at Portsmouth Harbour after the school transferred ashore in 1906. The Navigation & Direction School then moved to Southwick Park, Hampshire. The House became the Forward Planning and Operational HQ of the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force. The plywood map still hangs in the Wardroom. Closed in 2004 the School of Maritime Operations moved to HMS Collinwood.
Portsmouth Harbour - Naval Academy Building. Moved to Southwick Park and re-commissioned there on 27-09-41 The park is now the Defence Police College
01-01-06
2004




HMS Duke






RN Training Establishment. Became Royal Signals and Radar Establishment
Great Malvern
27-05-41
31-03-46




HMS Dundonald






Combined Operations Training Centre Holding & Training Base for RN Beach Commandos
Gailes Camp, Auchengate, Troon, Ayrshire
01-04-42
16-09-46




HMS Dundonald II






Combined Operations Signals School. School transferred to Fremlington House, Barnstaple
Located at Galies Camp on the Forth of Clyde
01-04-42
30-06-46




HMS Eaglet






Port of Liverpool & RN Training Establishment - Merchant Navy Defence Course. Western Approaches Command
Port of Liverpool
04-12-39
28-02-46




HMS Eaglet II






Birkenhead Base Formally known as HMS Irwell. Name changed back to HMS Irwell 15-08-42
Port of Birkenhead
20-09-39
15-08-42




HMS Eaglet III






Central Depot and Accommodation Establishment. Renamed HMS Mersey 24-12-40
David Lewis Northern Hospital Liverpool
20-09-39
24-12-40




HMS Eaglet






Liverpool RNR HQ
Princess Dock, Liverpool, then moved to new premises?
Unknown
Extant




Royal Marines Eastney






Royal Marine Barracks, constructed from 1862 Officers Mess now RM Museum
Eastney, Portsmouth. Included hutted camps: Portsmouth Gun Battery (renamed Melvile Camp 1960). Comacchio Camp.
Unknown
Closed




HMS Effingham






Combined Operations Base, formally HMS Dartmouth III. Transferred to HMS Westcliff 31-12-43
RN College Dartmouth
19-07-43
31-12-43




HMS Elfin






Submarine Base. Amalgamated with Dolphin (Rosyth Command)
Blyth
22-12-39
21-09-45




HMS Elfin II






Coastal Forces Base
Blyth
01-12-41
26-10-42




HMS Essex






Communications Training Centre
Shoeburyness, Ness Road
01-10-84
31-01-92




HMS Europa






Patrol Service Central Depot. Formally known as HMS Pembroke X this was the main admin HQ for motor fishing vessels, motor launches, & motor minesweeper vessels. Closed 01-06-46 then re-commissioned briefly as tender to HMS Pembroke IV until 27-08-46
Sparrow's Nest, Lowestoft Port
25-08-39
01-06-46




HMS Europa II






Overflow Camp to HMS Europa
Bungay
25-09-45
31-05-46




HMS Evolution






London Port Operations Base. Renamed HMS Odyssey 01-11-43
London Chelsea Court
17-09-42
01-11- 43




HMS Excalibur






New Entry Seaman Training Establishment (six week course). Formally HMS Tiger's Whelp Royal Marine MT Driver's Training
The Bunds Alsager, Stoke-on-Trent . Now Excalibur Trading Estate
22-12-42 00-05-46
31-12-47




HMS Excellent






RN Training Establishment & HMS Fraser Gunnery Range. Established 01-01-1869. Re-commissioned 01-05-1891. Oldest RN shore base
Whale Island
01-04-94
Extant




HMS Excellent II






Accounting Base.
Moved to Bournemouth, Westcliffe Gardens 01-05-42. Became Appledore II 17-09-43 and transferred to Ilfracombe
Unknown
17-09-43

[norwichpaul]

Exton Camp






Royal Marine Training Establishment, in 1941 became Depot RM Lympstone and in 1970 Commando Training Cam Royal Marines
Lympstone, Devon
c.1939
Extant




HMS Ferret






RNR Training Establishment Defence Intelligence Staff Branch
Chicksands, Bedfordshire
Unknown
Extant




HMS Fervent






Coastal Forces Base - Motor Torpedo Boat Motor Gun Boat & Motor Launches & Air Sea Rescue Launches
Royal Temple Yacht Club Ramsgate
10-10-39
17-09-45




HMS Fervent II






Details unknown
Ramsgate
00-04-41
00-10-45




HMS Fieldfaire






RNAS Airfield & RN Aircraft Repair Yard
Evanton, Ross-Shire
00-09-39
01-12-46




HMS Firebrand






Stranraer Base
Stranraer
16-09-39
31-07-45




HMS Firework







Barrow-in-Furness






HMS Fledgling






Tender to HMS Daedalus II. Training of WRNS's as aircraft mechanics (airframe & engines, electrical & ordnance fitters. After decommissioning it was replaced by Educational & Vocational Training facility, HMS Cabbala was set up training released servicemen for the return to civilian life. This was decommissioned in February 1948.
Newcastle under Lyme, Millmeece, Eccleshall, Staffs. A Workers Hostel Camp on the west side of the Swynnerton ROF became Fledgling
15-04-43
21-01-46




HMS Flora






Invergordon Port (Rosyth Command)
Invergordon Aultbea, Loch Ewe Base
01-10-39
16-10-45




HMS Flora II






Coastal Forces Base - Motor Launches
Invergordon
01-09-42
04-11-43




HMS Flowerdown






Former RFC school & Radio Station. RN 30-09-29
Flowerdown near Winchester
c.1916 10-01-43
Extant?




HMS Flycatcher I & II






Former RAF Station
Ludham, Norfolk
04-09-44
16-02-45




HMS Flycatcher






Former RAF Station
Middle wallop, Hampshire
16-02-45
10-04-46




HMS Flying Fox






RNR HQ Unit
Winterstoke Road, Bristol
1972
Extant


HMS Foliot



Accommodation Camp for personnel on special service. Became HMS Foliot IV
Plymouth, Tamerton, Foliot

27-07-42
31-03-46




Foliot I






Combined Operations Landing Craft Accounting Base & Special Service HQ. From HMS Albatross. Hutted camp paid off 15-03-46 which then became an overflow barracks
Plymouth, Tammerton Foliot and Calstock
c.00-03-44
31-03-46




HMS Foliot II






Combined Operations Landing Craft Repair Base
Efford, Plymouth
c.00-07-43
c.00-12-44




HMS Foliot III






Combined Operations Landing Craft Base & holding base for personnel.
Brickleigh, Plymouth
c.00-07-43
c.00-10-46




HMS Foliot IV






Landing Craft Accounts
Granby Barracks, Plymouth
02-04-46
12-08-46




HMS Foral






HQ Force L
Southwold. Moved to St Felix School, Southwold
Unknown
c.00-06-44




HMS Forest Moor






Radio Station, former Army Camp
Darley, Harrowgate
03-10-60
c.1996




HMS Forte






Falmouth Naval Base
Falmouth
24-08-39
31-01-46




HMS Forte II






Falmouth Naval HQ
Tregwynt, Falmouth
10-05-41
Unknown




HMS Forte III






Unknown
Taylor's Garage, Falmouth
10-05-41
Unknown




HMS Forte IV






Coastal Forces Base - Motor Launches
Falmouth
07-08-41
06-11-44




HMS Fortitude






Ardrossan Base (Western Approaches Command)
Ardrossan
20-04-40
30-09-45




HMS Fortitude II






Coastal Forces Base
Ardrossan
07-05-41
Unknown




HMS Forward






The 5th HMS Forward was an underground Naval Intelligence Operations Centre built by 172nd Tunnelling Company, RE
On B2109 at South Heighton. Newhaven, East Sussex. Entrance used to be through Denton House (demolished 1996)
c.1941
31-08-45




HMS Forward II






Coastal Forces Base - Motor Torpedo Boats re-named HMS Aggressive
London and Paris Hotel
04-03-41
04-11-42




HMS Forward






RNR Communications Training Centre Regional Training Centre, Small Heath Birmingham University Royal Naval Unit
Birmingham. At Broad Street, then Sampson Road North, Camp Hill from c.1986 until 1999. New building built at Small Heath (opposite Birmingham City Football Club)
01-10-84
Extant




HMS Fox






Lerwick Base
Lerwick
25-08-39
30-09-45




HMS Fox II






Coastal Forces Base - Motor Torpedo Boat & Motor Launches
Lerwick
20-07-42
31-03-44




HMS Fullarton






Landing Craft Base. Formally HMS Dinosaur I
Irvine, Ayrshire
01-01-45
30-11-46




HMS Fulmar






Lossiemouth former RAF Station. Returned to RAF 29-09-72
Lossiemouth, Morayshire
02-07-46
29-09-72




Fulmar II






RNAS Twatt airfield
Twatt, Orkney
Unknown
00-09-46




HMS Galatea






RNR Drill Ship
Hedon, Hull, Earles Road
21-10-38
31-03-58




HMS Gamecock






Bramcote former RAF Station Naval Air Mechanic Training. Unit transferred to Arbroath 01-11-58. Site transferred to Royal Artillery Gamecock Barracks
Bramcote, Nuneaton, Warwickshire
12-12-46
25-03-59




HMS Ganges I & II






RN Training Establishment. Took name of Ganges in 1927 previously Shotley. RN Boys' Training School. In 1940 transferred to HMS St George, IoM, replaced by Hostilities Only Training. Re-opened as Boy's Training Establishment 00-07-45 until 1976
Shotley, Felixstowe Higham Court Camp near Gloucester used as overflow
04-10-05
00-10-76




Gibraltar Camp






RM Commando Basic Seamanship Training Camp (not a ship)
Llanegryn
Unknown
Unknown




Glasgow






Glasgow University Royal Naval Unit
Glasgow University Campus
c.1972
Extant




HMS Glendower






Seamanship Training Establishment
Pwlheli - New Butlins Camp
01-10-40
01-09-46




HMS Godwit






RNAS Hinstock, former MAP Satellite Landing Ground
Ollerton/Hinstock, Salop
14-06-43
28-02-47




HMS Godwit II






RNAS Weston Park, former MAP Satellite Landing Ground
Weston Park, Shropshire
c.1944
c.1945




HMS Godwit II






RNAS Peplow, former RAF Station
Peplow, Salop
c.1944
c.1945




HMS Goldcrest






RNAS Angle, former RAF Station. Name transferred to Dale, Angle then handed back to RAF
Angle, Pembrokeshire
15-05-43
07-09-43




HMS Goldcrest






RNAS Dale, former RAF Station. Transferred from Angle
Dale, Pembrokeshire
05-09-43
31-10-48




HMS Goldcrest II






RNAS Brawdy, former RAF Station. RN used it as satellite to Dale. Became HMS Goldcrest 04-09-52 until 01-04-71 then transferred back to RAF
Brawdy, Pembrokeshire. Also included a relief airfield at St Davids lent by the RAF 1947-1961
01-01-46
01-04-71




HMS Gordon






RNR Nautical Sea Training College for ratings going into Merchant Navy. Formally HMS Gamebird. Renamed HMS Gordon, then HMS General Gordon on 01-12-43. Reverted back to original name before being paid off.
Gravesend, Kent
27-01-41
30-11-44




HMS Gosling






New Entry Training Establishment for airframe fitters, radio mechanics, RM trainees & RNAS Defence Force. Became General Service Training Establishment 01-03-46
Risley, Warrington, Lancashire
01-07-42
21-10-47




HMS Grasshopper






Combined Operations Base for Operation Neptune, on site vacated by HMS Bee
Weymouth, including Alexandria Gardens Theatre, various hotels & Pavilion Theatre
15-10-43
28-04-44




HMS Great Nore






Thames Fort AA Tower under Army Control
Thames
00-08-43
Unknown




HMS Haig






Combined Operations Base
Rye, Isle of Wight
20-08-43 22-02-44
15-09-43 10-01-45




HMS Hallam






RNR Communications Training Centre Closed as part of 'Options for Change'
Claremont Crescent, Sheffield
01-10-84
31-01-92




HM Royal Hospital Haslar














HMS Headingley






WRNS Training Establishment
Wesley College, Headingley Leeds
27-01-44
14-01-46




HMS Helder






Combined Operations Base, formally at Nemo
Brightlingsea, using the Martello Tower and a camp at St Osyth






HMS Helicon






(Western Approaches Command) Aultbea Base
Loch Ewe
14-06-41
06-08-45




HMS Heron






RNAS Yeovilton airfield Included Charlton Horthorne & RAF Merryfield 21-11-56 - 1990
Yeovilton, Somerset.
18-06-40
Extant




HMS Heron II






RNAS Haldon, former civil airport
Haldon near Bishopsteighnton, Devon.
c.1941
c.1946




HMS Heron II






RNAS Charlton Horthorne
Charlton Horthorne, Somerset
26-05-42
01-04-45




HMS Heron II






RNAS Hensdridge
Hensdridge, Dorset
11-11-46
c.1957




HMS Hornbill






RNAS Culham RN Aircraft Receipt & Despatch Centre
Culham, Oxfordshire
01-11-44
c.1959




HMS Hornbill II






Former RAF Halesworth
Halesworth, Beccles, Suffolk. Includes Bungay airfield
01-07-45
18-07-53




HMS Hornet






Coastal Forces Depot - Motor Torpedo Boat - one of the original WWII CF bases and the last one to close. Became Joint Service Adventurous Training Centre which commenced on 23-05-64
Gosport, now Hornet Sailing Centre
19-04-21 20-12-39
Unknown 30-09-57




HMS Humming Bird






RNAS Zeals, former RAF Station
Zeals, Somerset
18-05-45
1502-46

[norwichpaul]

HMS Icarus




RNAS Houton Bay & Caldale, Scapa Flow Stations Central Depot for Air Services, Orkney
Orkney
01-10-17
c.1918




HMS Iolaire




Auxiliary Patrol Base

26-09-15
19-05-19




HMS Iron Duke




Coastal Forces Base - Motor Launches
Scapa Flow






HMS Jackdaw




RNAS Crail. After closure re-opened as HMS Bruce University Flying Squadron, Storage Depot & Joint Service Linguistic School
Crail, Fife
01-10-40
28-04-47




HMS Jackdaw II




RNAS Dunino, former RAF station. Became HMS Merlin III on 01-10-45
Dunino, Fife
01-12-42
c.1946




HMS James Cook




Combined Operations Beach Training Establishment Naval Beach Pilotage Training Establishment
Glen Caladh Castle, near Tighnabruaich, Bute
11-11-42
30-09-45




HMS Kestrel




Telegraphist Air Gunner School, School of Aircraft Maintenance, Educational & Vocational Training. Included airfields at Bush Barn, Haslemere, Somerford & Thorney Island Became HMS Ariel
Former RAF Worthy Down, Winchester.
24-05-39
00-07-52




HMS King Alfred




Training Establishment for Hostilities Only Ratings. Various sections (1943): HMS King Alfred (H) Main Building Kingsway HMS King Alfred (L) Lancing College, Shoreham-by-Sea (Admiralty Selection Board) HMS King Alfred (M) Mowden School, The Droveway, Hove.. Transferred to Exbury House 07-01-46. Ex RNR HQ. Drill Hall became HMS Forward
Hove Battery, Hove Marina, Sussex. Also used South Victoria Terrace. Municipal Swimming Baths, Underground Car Park at Hove Marina, Langfords Hotel (Third Avenue), Lawns Hotel (Kingsway) & a house called 'San Remo' used as WRNS accommodation. Exbury House, Southampton
14-09-39?
00-08-46




HMS King Alfred II




Training Establishment for RNVR Officers for Combined Operations HMS King Alfred (M) by 1943
Mowden School, The Droveway, Hove
c.1940
c.1944




HMS King Alfred




Training Establishment for RNVR Officers Moved from HMS King Alfred, Hove 07-01-46 and closed 05-08-46. Re-opened 10-08-46 as HMS Hawke
Exbury House, Southampton
07-01-46
05-08-46




HMS King Alfred




Training Establishment for RNVR Officers. At this time Hove became King Alfred II
Whale Island
01-06-94
Extant




HMS Kingfisher




Auxiliary Patrol Base. Amalgamated with Lowestoft 20-09-19 and then closed
Great Yarmouth
23-08-15
30-11-19




HMS Kredemnon




Degaussing Establishment
Weymouth College, Weymouth
01-06-40
12-07-40




HMS Landrail




RNAS Campbeltown, former Airport. Re-named HMS Landrail II when Machrihannish became parent station
Campbeltown
01-04-41
c.1945




HMS Landrail




RNAS Machrihannish. Transferred to Air Ministry 27-05-63
Machrihannish, Argyllshire
15-06-41
Extant




HMS Leigh




Southend-on-Sea Base.. Also included WRNS Signals Unit, Hampton, Beehive Lane, Great Badow near Chelmsford and a Naval Party at Holehaven Creek
Southend-on-Sea, Essex Southend Pier used as an assembly point for convoys. Pier badly damaged by fire in 1976
01-10-41
31-10-45




HMS Leigh II




Combined Operations Training Base
Princess, Haslemere & Kingsway Hotels. Butts Baltic Wharf, Aldrington Basin, Shoreham
07-10-42
31-12-45




HMS Lizard




Combined Operations Landing Craft Base Landing Craft Maintenance Base Shoreham Base
Shoreham, Haslemere Hotel, John Brown's Wharf
07-10-42
31-12-45




HMS Lochailort




Combined Operations Training School for Boat Officers. Former Infantry Training School
Inverailort Castle






HMS Lochinvar




Minesweeper Training Base 21-11-39 (Rosyth Command). Operational Minesweeper Base 00-01-41 until 00-03-46. Port Edgar re-named HMS Hopetoun Fishery Protection Squadron (19-03-63 - 01-09-75) moved to HMS Cochrane
Port Edgar/Granton
00-09-17
00-12-75




HMS Lochinvar II




Accounting Base
Granton/ Edgar
Unknown
Unknown




London




Combined Operations Command HQ (not a ship)
Admiralty House June to August 1940 then moved to 1a Richmond Terrace






HMS Lucifer




Swansea Base (Western Approaches Command) Name also included Cardiff, Avonmouth, Barry and Newport
Swansea Port
01-11-39
31-03-46




HMS Lynx




Dover Base, included Dover College
Dover Port
17-09-39
30-11-46




HMS Lynx II




Dover Landing Craft Base
Dover Port
01-01-45
09-08-45




HMS Manatee




Landing Craft Base & Combined Operations Base
Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, Norton & Savoy Camps & Malta Cottage - known as the Savoy Holiday Home
15-11-42
00-09-44




HMS Mantis




Coastal Forces Base - Motor Torpedo Boat, Motor Gun Boat & Motor Launches. Formally HMS Minos II
Lowestoft
26-07-42
30-06-45




HMS Maori




RNZN HQ in UK, formally known as HMS Cook
London
Unknown
Unknown




HMS Marryat




Admiralty Signal Establishment Extension. Formally HMS Sherbrooke
Glasgow
18-02-46
30-06-46




HMS Martello




Auxiliary Patrol Base & Minesweeper Base
Lowestoft
31-05-40
22-10-46




HMS Mastodon




Combined Operations Base - A holding base for crews
Beaulieu, Exbury House, Exbury, Hampshire
06-05-42
06-07-45




HMS Medina




FAA overflow Camp (Tender to HMS Daedalus) & Combined Operations Landing Craft Base
Puckpool, near Ryde, Isle of Wight
15-11-39
31-07-42




HMS Menace




RM Ports Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisation
Unknown
03-12-41
c.1943




HMS Menestheus




Combined Operations (Western Approaches Command)







HMS Mentor




Minesweeper Base (Western Approaches Command)
Stornoway
16-09-39
15-11-44




HMS Mentor II




Coastal Forces Base
Stornoway
24-06-41
00-09-43




HMS Mercury




HM Signal School School of Maritime Operations. Communications & Navigation. Included RN W/T School, St Bedes near Eastbourne and WRNS Training Establishment at Soberton Towers. Closed under 'Options for Change'
Leydene House, East Meon near Petersfield. There was also an Experimental Section at Lythe Hill House, Haslemere and Production & Development Section at Whitwell Hatch Hotel, Haslemere.
16-08-41
00-08-93




HMS Mercury II




Experimental Signal Establishment Formally a Signal School set up in 1917 at Eastney. Moved to Lythe Hill House 1941.
Lythe Hill House, Haslemere Also Labs/workshops at King Edward School, Whitley, Valve Section at Waterlooville, Aerials at Nutbourne and Trials at Tantallon, near North Berwick.
25-08-41
c.1952




HMS Mercury II




Admiral Signal & Radar Establishment
Portsdown
c.1952
Unknown




HMS Merganser




RNAS Rattery Torpedo Bomber, Reconnaissance Aircrew School Naval Observer School
Crimond/Rattery, Aberdeenshire. Site sold c.1963, but c.1973, 484 acres bought back for use as a W/T Station
03-10-44
Extant (part)




HMS Merlin




RNAS Donibristle. Former WWI RNAS station and later used as an RAF station. RN Aircraft Repair & Storage Yard.
Donibristle, Fife. Also included RN Ancillary Repair Depot Dunfermline, RN Component Recovery Depot Forthbank, Alloa, RN Aircraft Propeller Works Dundee & Engine Storage Depot at Alloa.
24-05-39
23-10-59




HMS Merlin III




RNAS Dunino, formally Jackdaw
Dunino, Fife
Unknown
Unknown




HMS Midge I &HMS Midge II




Coastal Forces Base - Motor Torpedo Boat, Motor Gun Boat & Motor Launches
Great Yarmouth
01-01-41
21-07-45




HMS Minerva




Sheerness Reserve Fleet
Sheerness Dockyard
01-07-50
01-04-53




HMS Minos




Naval Base, Harbour Defence Base
Waveney Road, Lowestoft
01-07-40
30-09-45




HMS Minos II




Coastal Forces Base - Motor Torpedo Boat, Motor Gun Boat & Motor Launches. Re-named HMS Mantis
Waveney Road, Lowestoft
01-05-40
Unknown




HMS Miranda




Minesweeper Base
Great Yarmouth
16-10-40
21-07-45




HMS Mirtle




Mine Investigation Range
Disused quarry close to Vernon
Unknown
Unknown




HMS Monck I & HMS Monck II




Landing Craft Base Largs (Western Approaches Command) HQ Combined Operations Training, Largs Landing Craft Base Port Glasgow for the assembly & repair of troop landing craft.
Largs/Port Glasgow/Greenock.. The locations varied from Largs to Port Glasgow.
01-04-42?
30-09-46




HMS Mylodon




Combined Operations & Landing Craft Tank Base, RM Commando Training Establishmrent
Lowestoft/Great Yarmouth (sites taken over from Arbella)
19-01-43
28-06-43

[norwichpaul]

HMS Nabhurst




Mobile Naval Air Base X
Middle Wallop
01-09-45
12-10-45




HMS Nelson




RN Barracks, formally HMS Victory
Portsmouth
01-08-74
Extant?




HMS Nemo




Auxiliary Patrol Base
Brightlingsea, Essex
01-07-40
16-05-45




HMS Neptune




Chatham Reserve Fleet
Chatham
01-07-50
11-05-60




HMS Neptune




Submarine Base
Faslane
10-08-67
Extant




HMS Newt




Combined Operations Training Base Newhaven Base
West Quay, Newhaven
15-10-42
22-06-45




HMS Nighthawk




RNAS Drem, former RFC/RAF Station. Initially a tender to HMS Merlin, commissioned 01-06-45 as HMS Nighthawk. Returned to RAF 15-03-46. RAF Macmerry (on loan) was satellite to Drem
Drem, E Lothian
21-04-45
15-03-46




HMS Nightjar




RNAS Inskip Became Radio Station 1958
Inskip. Lancs
15-05-43
02-07-46




Nimrod




Training Establishment (Western Approaches Command). Tender to HMS Osprey
Campbelltown
01-03-40
28-02-46




HMS Niobe




Royal Canadian Navy Depot, formally Dominion. Moved to Smithston Institute, Greenock. Re-commissioned 09-02-46 at Haymarket London, paid off 31-08-65
Plymouth, Albert Road
01-03-41
01-04-46




HMS Northney




Landing Craft Training Establishment Combined Operations Camp. Landing Craft Base & Maintenance Facility
Hayling Island
15-06-40
01-01-46




HMS Northney II & HMS Northney III




Landing Craft Base assembly base for Landing Craft mobile units. Camp III Holding Base
Hayling Island
06-04-42?
21-01-46




HMS Northney IV




Sunshine Camp, formally Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisation Base
Hayling Island
25-11-42
21-01-46




HMS Nuthatch




RNAS Anthorn. RNAS Receipt & Despatch Unit. Became NATO Radio Station 27-11-64
Anthorn, Cumberland
07-09-44
28-02-58 Extant?




Northumberland




University Royal Naval Unit







HMS Northwood




RNR HQ, formally at Warrior. To Brackenhill House 28-03-88
Northwood, Middlesex
06-05-57
Extant




HMS Odyssey




Naval Party Accounting Base, formally HMS Excellent II
Collingwood Hotel, Ilfracombe
01-11-43
31-05-46




HMS Onset




Combined Operations Base. Landing Craft Receipt & Despatch and Storage. Transferred to HMS Irwell
Birkenhead
31-05-45
04-03-46




HMS Orlando




Accounts (Western Approaches Command)
Greenock
01-04-40
01-08-45




HMS Osborne




Cowes Base - merged with HMS TormentorII to form HMS Vectis
Cowes, Isle of Wight
00-01-42
08-06-42




HMS Osborne




Ryde Base parent base for all establishments on the Island
Ryde, Isle of Wight
01-10-42
15-08-45




HMS Osea




Motor Boat Base
Osea Island, Clacton-on-Sea
19-06-18
19-04-21




HMS Osprey




Combined Operations Base (Western Approaches Command)
Inveraray






HMS Osprey




Training Establishment, became Portland Base when Boscawen was paid off.
Portland Base
01-04-24
31-03-95




HMS Owl




RNAS Fearn, formall RAD Fearn
Fearn Ross-Shire
01-08-42
02-07-46




Oxford




University Royal Naval Unit







HMS Paragon




Minesweeper Base (Rosyth Command)
Hartlepool
27-10-39
30-11-45




HMS Paragon




RNR Communications Training Centre
Stockton, Finkle Street. Moved to Linthorpe Road, Middlesborough c.1989
01-10-84





HMS Pasco




Combined Operations. Landing Craft Signals School, formally PoW Camp
Glenbranter Camp, Strachur (Loch Fyne)
14-12-42
c.00.10-45




HMS Patrol




Lyness Scapa Flow Base
Lyness, Orkney Islands
c.1939
Unknown




HMS Peewit




RNAS Easthaven
East Haven, Angus
01-05-43
15-08-46




HMS Pellew




RNR Communications Training Centre
Sidewell Street/Dryden Road, Exeter
01-10.84
29-07-94




HMS Pembroke




RN Barracks
Chatham
30-04-03
c.1983




HMS Pembroke I




RN Accounting Base
Chatham
25-02-40
c.1960




HMS Pembroke II




RNAS Eastchurch. Transferred to RAF
Isle of Sheppy
00-06-13
01-04-18




HMS Pembroke II




Accounting Base
Chatham
25-2-40
c.1957




HMS Pembroke III




WRNS Accounting Base. Merged with HMS President I (1952). Also at New College (Oxford), Westfield College, Wesley College Leeds & Burghfield
London Mill Hill, including Chelsea Court, Soho, Barkeston Gardens Earls Court, Crosby Hall (Highgate) & Woodford Green
31-03-42
c.1952




HMS Pembroke IV




Chatham Accounting Base
RN Barracks Chatham & Gordon House, Star Hill Rochester
c.1919
20-03-46




HMS Pembroke V




Station X Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park but also Stanmore, Eastcote, Woburn Abbey, Stockgrove Park, Wavendon House, Wavendon Park Farm, Crawley Grange, RNSQ Crawley, Walton Hall, Walton Rectory, Gayhurst Manor & Steeple Claydon
c.1941
c.1942




HMS Pembroke VI




Chatham Accounting Section
Chatham
28-11-19
Unknown




HMS Pembroke VIII




Naval Humber Base, formally Wallington
Unknown
01-01-20
c.1921


Pembroke X
RN Patrol Service HQ. Became Europa
Lowestoft, Sparrow's Nest
21-120-39
14-03-40




HMS Peregrine




RNAS Ford, formally RAF Ford. Handed back to RAF, then re-commissioned
Ford, Sussex
24-05-39 15-08-45
30-09-40 13-11-58




HMS Phoenix




RN School of Chemical Warfare, formally Damage Control School. Became Naval Atomic Bacteriological, Chemical & Damage Control School. Tender to HMS Excellent
Stamshaw. Also Anti-Gas School Tipner
c.1946
Unknown




HMS Phoenix




Tipnor Ports Training Establishment. Re-opened as NBCD School, HMS Pheonix Whale Island on 31-08-93
Stamshaw
01-03-67
23-07-93




Port ZA




Formally known as Port B. Became HMS Trelawney 11-06-40 (Western Approaches Command)
Lochalsh Base
00-07-40
11-06-40




HMS President




RN Accounting Base
Various addresses in London including Royal Victoria Yard, Deptford, also Furze House
c.1918
Extant?




HMS President I




RN Accounting Base
Various addresses in London including Royal Victoria Yard, Deptford, also 18 Mardol Shrewsbury, Chelsea Court, London
c.1918
Unknown




HMS President II




RN Accounting Base
RN Barracks Chatham, moved 1940 to Lower Regent Street, then to Queen Ann's Mansion SW1
c.1916
Unknown




HMS President III




RN Accounting Base
Clark's College, 15 Whiteladies Road Bristol, moved to Dedworth Manor Windsor, then to Hodgson House Eton College (1945). Moved to Chelsea Court (1947) & merged into President I
c.1939
c.1946




HMS President IV




RN London Accounting Base
Unknown
c.1918
c.1926




HMS President V




RN Training School for Accounting Branch. Moved to Wetherby & merged into Demetrius
Highgate School, N6
01-11-41
14-07-44




HMS President




RNR HQ Unit
72 St Katherine's Way, London
Unknown
Extant




HMS Proserpine




Minesweeper Base
Scapa Flow
09-09-39
c.1946




HMS Purbeck




Dorset Range Clearance Establishment
Studland Bay
01-02-46
Unknown




HMS Pyramus




Minesweeper Base
Kirkwall, Orkney
06-09-39
31-07-45




HMS Pyramus II




Northern Patrol
Kirkwall, Orkney
29-01-40
00-06-42




HMS Quebec




Combined Operations. Training (Western Approaches Command). Training in landing operations.
Lamlas. Inveraray, Argyllshire Largge training area & includes the following: Chamois Camp, Kilbride Camp, Avenue Camp, Town Camp, Dukes Camp, Castle Camp & Shire Camp.
01-09-40
01-07-46




Quebec II




Combined Operations HQ Northern Patrol.
Hollywood Hotel, Largs
12-09-41
31-03-42




Quebec




Royal Canadian Navy Summer Camp
Farnham
Unknown
Unknown




Raleigh




Raleigh is the 6th ship to carry this name. It was built as a Training Establishment for men called up under the Military Training Act of 1938. RN Special Reservists (1940). In 1944 the base was handed over to forces of the USA and used as an embarkation base. Handed back to RN on 24-07-44. Stoker's TE (1947) when HMS Imperieuse closed. New Entry TE (1958). WRNS Part 1 Training was added following the closure of HMS Dauntless. In September 1983 the RN Supply School from HMS Pembroke came under Raleigh and the New Entry Training Artificer Apprentices transferred from HMS Fishguard.
Torpoint, Cornwall
09-01-40
Extant




HMS Rameses




Depot Ship for Minelaying Vessels
Rameses House, Grangemouth
01-01-18
03-03-19




Raven




RN School of Medicine
Eastleigh, Southampton also a lodger unit at RAF Christchurch
01-07-39
30-04-47




HMS Red Sands




Thames Fort
Thames
1942
Unknown




Rinaldo




Glamorgan Base
Barry
08-09-39
01-01-45




HMS Ringtail




RNAS Burscough
Burscough, Ormskirk, Lancashire
01-09-43
15-06-46




HMS Ringtail II




RNAS Woodvale, formally RAF Woodvale
Woodvale, Formby, Lancashire
07-04-45
28-01-46




HMS Roberston




Fleet Mail Office
GPO Reading
c.1942
Unknown




HMS Robertson




Combined Operations Base, formally a WWII Jewish Refugee Camp but originally it was a WWI Transit Camp
Kitchener Camp, Richborough, Kent
23-06-43
31-08-46




HMS Robin




RNAS Grimsetter, formally RAF Grimsetter
Grimsetter, Kirwall, Orkneys
15-08-43
31-07-45




HMS Rodent




Special Boat Unit HQ - Controlled RN Boom Commando (RM Boom Patrol Detachment) units, Pilotage Parties & Special Boat Sections
Coldhayes, Liss, Hampshire
30-10-43
17-02-44




HMS Romola




Minesweeper Base
Lowestoft
07-11-39
14-03-40




HMS Rooke




Boom Defence Central Depot
Rosyth
09-04-40
30-06-46




HMS Roseneath




Combined Operations Base, formally HMS Louisburg. Became USN Base Two (29-09-42). Re-commissioned 12-01-43 & paid off 19-08-43 before returning to USN as US Base Two until 05-05-45. Re-commissioned as a tender to HMS Monck to become Main Holding Base for UK Combined Operations personnel
Roseneath, Dumbartonshire
03-08-42 12-01-43 13-06-45
03-10-42 19-08-43 c.1948




HMS Rosmarkie




Landing Craft Base
Fortrose, Ross & Cromarty
01-12-43
25-04-44




HMS Roughs Fort




Thames Fort
Off Harwich
08-02-42
Unknown




HMS Royal Arthur




Central Reception Depot, formally Butlins Holiday Camp
Skegness
22-09-39
c.1946




HMS Royal Arthur




Petty Officers' Leadership School. After paid off, the name transferred to Petty Officer Camp Kingsmoor (from 16-03-50) which closed 05-03-93
Lypiatt Camp, Corsham, Wiltshire. Site now derelict
12-01-47
15-03-50




HMS Royal Charter




Minesweeper Base
Grimsby
04-06-40
18-08-41

[norwichpaul]

HMS Safeguard






Boom Defence Depot, formally HMS Rooke
Rosyth
01-07-46
c.1969




HMS St Andrew





Oban Base, renamed Caledonia
Oban
01-03-41
01-07-43




HMS St Barbara





AA Range. Task transferred to Dinosaur
Bognor Regis
10-09-43
14-06-45




HMS St Christopher





Coastal Forces Training School
Fort William
31-10-40
31-12-44




HMS St Clement & HMS St Clement I, II & III





Combined Operations Base.
Coal House Fort Tilbury, Essex St Clement I at Perrys, Tilbury
07-09-43
20-01-46




HMS St George





Boy's Training Establishment for boys evacuated from HMS St Vincent & HMS Caledonia
Douglas, Isle of Man
09-09-39
31-12-45




HMS St George & HMS St George II





Training School for Short Service Ratings open on the closure of HMS St George in the IoM. Transferred to HMS Raleigh c.1948 and barracks to War Office
Gosport
01-01-46
c.1948




HMS St George





Fraser Gunnery Range, formally Experimental AA Battery. Officer Training School
Eastney Portsmouth
16-09-63
01-08-68




HMS St Mathew





Combined Operations Training Base. Task transferred to HMS Quebec
Burnham-on-Crouch
08-11-43
31-10-45




HMS St Vincent





Boys' Training Establishment. Boys then evacuated to IoM and replaced by: Air Branch Officer's TE Signal School & Torpedo Training School. Reverted back to Boys' TE 01-12-45
Forton Barracks, Gosport
01-06-27
02-04-69




HMS St Vincent





WRNS Accommodation
Queen's Gate Terrace, London
c.1985
31-03-92




HMS St Vincent





Whitehall Communications Centre. Became part of HMS St Vincent
Whitehall, London
01-04-92
31-03-98




HMS Salcombe





Combined Operations Base, became HMS Tennyson (1944)
Salcombe Hotel & Imperial Hotel, Exmouth
17-07-43
10-01-44




HMS Sanderling





RNAS Abbotsinch, formally RAF Abbotsinch. Handed over to Ministry of Aviation
Abbotsinch near Glasgow
20-09-43
31-10-53




HMS Sanderling II





RNAS Machrihanish
Machrihanish
Unknown
Unknown




HMS Sandfly





Combined Forces Base
Peterhead
05-05-41
25-10-43




Sarepta





Experimental Hydrophone Establishment
Portland
01-03-18
c.1919




Satyr





Sunderland Base
Sunderland Port
01-09-39
15-09-45




HMS Scotia





Signals Training Establishment
Lowton St Mary's, Warrington
06-01-42
19-01-48




HMS Scotia





RNR HQ Unit
Rosyth, lodger unit at Caladonia
Unknown
Extant




HMS Seahawk





Coastal Forces Anti-Submarine Training School
Adrishaig
01-01-41
04-11-44




HMS Seahawk





RNAS Culdrose
Culdrose, Helston, Cornwall
17-04-47
Extant




HMS Sea Serpent





Combined Operations Base, formally Combined Operations 'Suspense Base'. Landing Craft Base. Former Ideal Holiday Camp & Gibson's Camp Bracklesham Bay, Bracklesham Hotel
Bracklesham Bay & Birdham, Chichester.
20-10-42
30-06-45




HMS Sefton





Combined Forces Base also known as HMS Forward II & HMS Aggressive
Newhaven
Unknown
Unknown




HMS Sentinel





Fife Base
Methil
01-09-39
15-11-45




HMS Sherwood





Communication Training Centre Reserve Training Centre
Nottingham, Carrington Street to 1986, then Chalfont Drive
01-10-84
Extant?




HMS Shivering Sands





Thames Fort
Thames
c.1942
Unknown




HMS Shotley





Shotley Port adjacent to Ganges
Shotley Gate, Suffolk
Unknown
Unknown




HMS Shrapnel





Southampton Base. Also included Government Training Centre Letchworth
Southampton Port
09-06-42
03-09-46




HMS Siskin





RNAS Dounreay, formally RAF Dounreay
Dounreay, Caithness
c.00-04-44
Unknown




HMS Siskin





RNAS Gosport. Became Sultan
Gosport
01-08-45
31-05-56




HMS Skirmisher





Milford Haven Base
Milford Haven Dock
12-09-39
31-08-45




HMS Skirmisher II





Coastal Forces Base
Pembroke Dock
01-05-41
11-11-44




HMS Southwick Fort





RNR HQ
Southwick, Fareham
11-06-58
31-03-94




HMS Sparrowhawk





RNAS Hatston
Hatston, Kirkwall, Orkney
02-10-39
01-08-45




HMS Sparrowhawk





RNAS Halesworth, formally RAF Halesworth. Transferred back to RAF
Halesworth, Suffolk
05-08-45
15-03-46




HMS Spartiate





Glasgow Base (Western Approaches Command)
Clyde Port
03-09-39
31-03-46




HMS Spartiate II





WRNS Training Establishment
Tullichewan
29-05-43
06-12-44




HMS Squid





Combined Operations Tank Landing Craft Repair Base. Merged into Shrapnel. Also made use of Elmfield Court, Oakville Mansions, Devonshire Buildings & Southern Railway Depot were all used by HMS Squid
Harland & Wolff 'B' Works, Southampton.
01-09-42
01-02-46




Squid II





Combined Operations Staff HQ
Westcliff Hotel, Hythe
26-02-44
19-04-45




HMS Standard





Naval Labour Corps Camp
Keilder Camp, Hexham, Northumberland
15-01-42
13-07-45




Stanger Head













Staines





Combined Operations Base (not a ship)







HMS Stopford





Combined Operations Base Landing Craft Base for 'working up' prior to operations. Passive Defence School & Balloon School
Bo'ness, West Lothian. Used the LNER Docks as its Landing Craft Base as well as Bo'ness Hosiery factory as quarters
18-04-42
15-09-45




HMS Sultan





Marine Engineering Training Establishment School of Aircraft Handling
Gosport, Hampshire
01-06-56
Extant




HMS Sunkhead Fort





Thames Estuary Defence Unit No.2
Off Harwich
01-05-42
c.1945




HMS Sussex





RNR HQ
Maxwell's Wharf, Hove, Sussex
28-04-51
31-03-94




HMS Sussex





University Royal Naval Unit
Shoreham
c.1990
Extant




HMS Tadpole





Coastal Forces Base. Merged with HMS Turtle
Sydenham's Yard, Pool also premises at Royal Motor Yacht Club, Sandbanks
24-05-44
30-11-44




HMS Temeraire





RN School of Physical Training. A modern complex constructed 1988. The name was first used for a shore base in 1955, at the former Yardman's Training School at Port Edgar. In 1960 this college closed and a HMS Temeraire Training Division was established at the Britannia Naval College, Dartmouth. When this college closed the name remained unused until 1971 when the RN Naval School of Physical Training was re-commissioned as HMS Temeraire at Pitt Street, Portsmouth which remained there until 1988 when it moved to its present site.
Portsmouth, Burnaby Road
22-09-10
Unknown




HMS Tennyson





Landing Barge Base, formally Salcombe
Imperial Hotel, Exmouth
10-01-44
24-07-45




HMS Tern





RNAS Twatt
Twatt, Orkney
01-01-42
20-10-45




HMS Tern II





RNAS Skaebrae satellite airfield to Sparrowhawk, formally RAF Skaebrae
Skaebrae
Unknown
Unknown




HMS Thunderer





Engineering College. Founded at Keyham on 01-07-1880, opened at Manadon 07-05-40. Keyham closed 09-05-40
Keyham & Manadon, Plymouth
01-12-46
15-09-95




HMS Tongue Sand Fort





Thames Estuary Defence Unit No.3 - this was the only fort to have sunk an enemy vessel
Thames
17-06-42
c.1948




HMS Torch & Torch II





(Western Approaches Command) Coastal Forces Base & Minesweeper Base
Hollyhead
11-09-39
c.1945




HMS Tormentor





Combined Operations Base Landing Craft Maintenance Base
Former Household Brigade Yacht Club, Hamble, Southampton
12-08-40
31-03-46




HMS Tormentor II





Training Camp. Amalgamated with HMS Osborne to form HMS Vectis, Isle of Wight
Cowes, Isle of Wight
00-05-42
08-06-42




HMS Tower





London Auxiliary Patrol Base
Unknown
10-01-41
31-07-45


Towyn Camp



RM Commando Training Group HQ. Formerly RAF Towyn
Towyn
Unknown
Unknown




HMS Treawney





Formally Port ZA & Motor Launch Base (Western Approaches Command)
Lochalsh
11-06-40
16-07-45




HMS Triphibian





Training Establishment, former War Office Camp
Squires Gate Camp, Lytham St Annes
01-11-43
22-02-44




HMS Triphibian II





Training Establishment
Uniacke Barracks, Harrowgate
18-11-43
29-02-44




HMS Tullichewan





Holding Base for Combined Operations personnel. Camp used by WRNS 1942-1944 for training
Tullichewan Castle Camp, Ballock
10-03-45
10-06-46




HMS Tunsberg





Norwegian Naval Depot
Liverpool Docks
18-12-41
Unknown




HMS Turnstone





Training Establishment. Preliminary Training of Air Fitters at Watford
Watford & Fulham
01-01-44
18-08-45




HMS Turtle





Combined Operations Training Establishment, Landing Craft Base & Assault Gunnery School. Absorbed HMS Tadpole during 1945
Shaftsbury Homes, Pool & Lake Camp Hamworthy (former BOAC HQ and Terminus)
07-10-42
01-03-46




HMS Valkyrie





Radar Training Establishment
Regent Camp, Douglas, Isle of Man
21-07-41
31-12-46




Valkyrie II & IV





Training Establishment
Central Camp, Douglas, Isle of Man
00-10-43
26-03-45




HMS Vectis





Combined Operations Base - formed by amalgamating HMS Tormentor and HMS Osborne Isle of Wight Base HQ Landing Craft Base. Formally known as HMS Osborne and HMS Tormentor
Seaview, Isle of Wight
08-02-42
20-05-45




HMS Vector





Radar Training Establishment. Merged into HMS Wildfire
Sheerness
c.1946
c.1948




HMS Vernon





Coastal Forces Base
Portsmouth






HMS Vernon





Torpedo & Underwater Weapons Training. Associated with the development of mine disposal and underwater countermeasures.
Portsmouth, Gunwharf, The site is now known as Gunwharf Quays and is the location of the Spinnaker Tower. Also at Roedean Girls School, Brighton (03-05-41 to 11-06-45) (known as HMS Vernon (R) (also a former Army Camp)
01-10-23
01-04-96




HMS Victory





RN Barracks, renamed HMS Nelson 1974

1903
01-08-74




HMS Victory I & Victory II





Accounting Base
46 Commercial Road, Goodings near Newbury
04-09-40
00-09-44




HMS Victory II





Training Depot
Crystal Palace
1914
21-03-19




HMS Victory III





Accounting Section. Merged with HMS Victory IV 1939 & transferred to Wooley Park, Wantage. Moved to Newbury 00-12-44. Task absorbed by HMS Victory II 1947
Wooley Park, Wantage
01-10-39
31-03-47




HMS Victory IV





Accounting Section
London & Petersfield
Unknown
Unknown




HMS Victory V





Southampton Base, formally HMS Collingwood II Renamed Shrapnel 1942
South Western Hotel, Government Training Centre, Redbridge & Gas Light & Coke Shop Fulham.
05-04-41
09-06-42




HMS Victory V





Ports Combined HQ
Unknown
30-06-44
Unknown




HMS Victory VI





Depot for RN & RNR Divisions
Crystal Palace
1914
21-03-19




HMS Vivid





Devon RN Barracks (the first shore barracks in the RN)
Mount Wise Plymouth
1889





HMS Vivid





RNR HQ Unit
Underground Operations Room, Mount Wise, Plymouth moved 1996 into Staff Officers' Mess
1957
Extant




HMS Vivid II HMS Vivid III





Accounting Base
Plymouth
1914
1918




HMS Vivid V





Accounting Base
Milford Haven
1919
07-10-21




HMS Volcano





Bomb Disposal Training Establishment
Holmbrook, Ravenglass, Cumberland
31-01-42
00-10-45




HMS Vulture





RNAS St Merryn. Renamed HMS Curlew 01-01-53
St Merryn
10-08-40
Unknown




HMS Vulture II





RNAS Treligga, Bombing & Gunnery Range
Treligga, Cornwall
1939
1955




HMS Wagtail





RNAS Heathfield, former RAF Ayr
Heathfield near Ayr
06-09-44
10-03-46




HMS Wallington





Auxiliary Patrol Base
Immingham Docks
06-11-15
01-01-20




HMS Warren





No.4 Combined Training Centre (senior officers) Combined Operations Base (Western Approaches Command) (Rosyth Command) Aircraft Recognition School
Hollywood Hotel, Largs. Included RAF Vanduara (Hotel Vanduara) located in Largs this building became HQ Combined Operations and is extant
12-10-42
31-12-46




HMS Warnford





Combined Operations Base (not a ship) Repair Base & Combined Operations Pilotage Parties Training Establishment
Warnford?
Unknown
Unknown




HMS Warrior





Fleet HQ/Joint Service Unit Northwood Name assumed 30-04-63 (the 7th ship) Formally HQ RAF Coastal Command
Eastbury Park Estate, Northwood, Middlesex
30-04-63
Extant




HMS Wasp





Coastal Forces Base
Lord Warden's Hall, Dover
02-09-40
14-11-44




HMS Watchful





Minesweeper Base
Great Yarmouth Port
01-09-39
31-07-45




HMS Waterrail





RNAS Campbeltown
Campbeltown
Unknown
Unknown




HMS Watford I





Government Training Centre RN Aircraft Training Establishment
Hempstead Road, Watford
09-06-42
Unknown




HMS Watford II





RN Air Fitter's Training Establishment
Hempstead Road, Watford
09-06-42
Unknown




HMS Waxwing





RN Camp
Townhill, Dunfermline, Fife
01-07-42
00-09-46




HMS Wellesley





RN Training Establishment
Royal Southern Hospital (part destroyed 00-05-41
08-05-40
31-01-46




HMS Wessex





Due to open 21-10-39 but overtaken by mobilisation. RNVR Solent closed and re-opened 00-06-46
South Western Hotel, moved to Royal Southern Yacht Club
00-06-46
01-03-94




HMS Westcliff





Combined Operations Base. Training element from HMS Effingham when this college transferred to USNR. Main Holding Base for Combined Operations personnel.
Southend-on-Sea
17-11-42
21-01-46




HMS Westcliff II





Combined Operations Holding Base
Southend-on-Sea
WWII
Unknown




HMS Westcliff III





Combined Operations Landing Craft Base
Burnham-on-Crouch
WWII
Unknown




HMS Western Isles





Work Up Base
Tobermory
17-07-40
03-11-45




HMS Wildfire





Sherness Base. Amalgamated with HMS Vector 04-11-47 to become Radar Plotter Training School
Sheerness Base
01-04-1889 16-02-37
00-03-33 01-0450




HMS Wildfire





Communications Training Centre & Reserve HQ Unit
Khyber Road, Chatham
10-09-64
02-09-94




Wildfire II





Accounting Base for Auxiliary Minesweepers
Sheerness Base
01-10-39
29-02-40




Wildfire III





Combined Operations Base. Tender to HMS Wildfire Motor Torpedo Boat, Motor Gun Boat & Motor Launches
Sheerness Base
07-12-42
15-10-46




HMS Wildfire





RNR Training Establishment
Brackenhill House, Northwood
Unknown
Extant




HMS Woolverstone





Combined Operations Landing Craft Base & Training Establishment
Ipswich/Harwich/Southwold various locations including Harwich Yacht Club, grounds of Woolverstone Hall, Harwich & St Felix School, Southwold
01-01-43
20-02-46

[norwichpaul]

Please Note that it has proved impossible to edit this list, no matter how hard I try, I cannot get all the names to line up centrally.

[Bigbear]

A post that is very close to my heart!

A couple of updates to the list:

HMS Callope is misspelled it is HMS Calliope, is still extant and is a Reserve Training Unit
HMS Sherwood is also still extant and is a Reserve Training Unit
Ceres division was officially opened in 2005 and is no longer a tender to HMS Sherwood
You can also add HMS Hibernia (Lisburn) Lodger at Thiepval Barracks. The RNR unit formally HMS Caroline moved there when HMS Caroline decommissioned in 2009

[norwichpaul]

Thanks Bigbear, unfortunately it is extremely difficult to edit tables here, every time you attempt an edit, so the table boxes slip in the entire post. It makes Word look positively brilliant!

[tigger]

Thanks Bigbear, unfortunately it is extremely difficult to edit tables here, every time you attempt an edit, so the table boxes slip in the entire post. It makes Word look positively brilliant!

mmm....not sure about that last part Paul. It's Word that is messing up the original html that causes your tables to be displayed incorrectly on here. If Word was outputting correctly formatted html your tables would be easy to edit on here (possibly...vbulletin is also a bit unusual in some respects) and would also have the correct four (or is it five?) column layout!

[norwichpaul]

Thanks Tigger I am sure your quite correct - I take back every positive thing I have said of Word, having chatted to Carnaby, I dont know why I said Word is brilliant. Now back to Stone frigates.

[canberra]

Im amazed by how youve managed to find all this information. But youve missed out HMS Palatine, it was an RNR training centre on Hartington rd in Preston, it closed round about 93-94 after options for change.

[Canberra Man]

Hi.
At the tender age of 14, I was a Naval Messenger on the Grimsby Naval base, HMS Beaver 1944 to 1946. I was based at the Fleet Mail Office next to the NAAFI canteen.

Ken Garner

[Granite]

HMS Fisgard - Artificer Apprentice establishment at Torpoint Plymouth(which used to be over the road from HMS Raleigh - now an industrial estate) appears to be missing from the list and is incorrectly spelled as Fishgaurd in the HMS Raleigh post !

[Ray Hayward]

A few more to add - Memories of my National Service days 1949-50 -

HMS Gannet -Royal Naval Air Station Eglinton, Londonderry. Home to Operational Flying School (Fireflies and Seafires} 815 Squadron (Barracudas)

HMS Shrike - RNAS Maydown - Satellite for Eglinton.

HMS Sea Eagle - Ebrington Barracks, Londonderry - Joint Anti-Submarine School.

[mbriscoe]

The definitive guide to these is:

Shore Establishments of the Royal Navy (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0907771734?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creativeASIN=0907771734&linkCode=xm2&tag=g8eprpyemuseu-21) https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/02/associates/network/08-ui-elements/icon-offsite._V192222193_.gif
Ben Warlow

It has dates - many moved around several times and details of each shore establishment's Nominal Depot Ship.

I just read a book by someone who was in the RN 'Y' Service in WWII, he went to Southmead several times for training. I see that in Warlow it is shown as an outstation of HMS Pemboke III which was an accounting base for the WRNE. Just makes me wonder if the other places listed as outstations were also 'Y'Service?

[Carnaby]

The definitive guide to these is: Shore Establishments of the Royal Navy (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0907771734?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creativeASIN=0907771734&linkCode=xm2&tag=g8eprpyemuseu-21) https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/02/associates/network/08-ui-elements/icon-offsite._V192222193_.gif Ben Warlow
That was the source for the original list - an excellent book. He mentions that there are a lot of anomalies (why should the Navy be any different from the RAF :grin: ?)