Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment

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Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg
Department overview
Formed1959
Preceding Department
Dissolved1984
Superseding agency
Jurisdiction Government of the United Kingdom
Headquarters Fort Southwick
Portsdown Hill, England
Parent Department Admiralty
Ministry of Defence, Navy Department

The Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment (ASWE) and later known as the Admiralty Research Establishment (ARE) was a department of the British Admiralty and later Navy Department (Ministry of Defence) responsible for research and development, into the design and testing of devices, equipment, and techniques in-regard to naval communications, electronic counter-measures, radar missile control and other related fields it was based at Portsdown Hill, Hampshire, England [1] from 1959 to 1984. [2]

Contents

History

In 1959 the Admiralty Gunnery Establishment (AGE) and Admiralty Signals and Radar Establishment (ASRE) were merged to form Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment (ASWE), [2] [3] this was due to advances in missile technologies research. It was responsible for research and development in relation to naval communications, missile control systems by use of radar, and electronic counter-measures. [2] In 1971 as the ASWE was expanding its work it assumed responsibility for navigational compass development, this resulted in the Admiralty Compass Observatory becoming its Navigation Division within this department. [2] In 1984 as part of a further centralisation of R & D work being undertaken by the Ministry of Defence, it was merged with two other departments the Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment (AUWE) and Admiralty Marine Technology Establishment (AMTE) to form the Admiralty Research Establishment (ARE). [2]

Timeline

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References

  1. "Former radar site is finally demolished". The Portsmouth News. Johnston Publishing. 6 October 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment and predecessors: Records". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. National Archives, U.K, 1918-1983, ADM 220. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  3. Harding, Richard (2005). The Royal Navy, 1930-2000: Innovation and Defence. Hove, Sussex, England: Psychology Press. p. 274. ISBN   9780714657103.