HMS Osprey, Portland

Last updated

The site of the main complex of HMS Osprey is seen where the rubble now remains. King's Pier, East Weares, Portland - geograph.org.uk - 449466.jpg
The site of the main complex of HMS Osprey is seen where the rubble now remains.

HMS Osprey was an anti-submarine training establishment located at the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. It was active between 1924 and 1941, and again from 1946 to 1999. The helicopter station RNAS Portland formed part of the establishment from 1959 to 1999.

In 1948 Osprey took over (from HMS Boscawen) as parent ship of the naval base as a whole, with responsibility for pay, movement, administration and accounting. [1] Subsequently all Portland-based naval personnel were borne on HMS Osprey, up until 1999 when Osprey was decommissioned.

History

Incline Road led down into the establishment site. Admiralty Incline, Isle of Portland - geograph.org.uk - 945273.jpg
Incline Road led down into the establishment site.

With the development of anti-submarine equipment such as depth charges, howitzers and hydrophones during World War I, HMS Osprey was born from the increasing need for anti-submarine training and research. The establishment at Portland was commissioned as an independent shore command and parent ship of the First Anti-Submarine Flotilla on 1 April 1924. [2] [3] It was responsible for training personnel in the use of anti-submarine equipment and the development of experimental equipment, including ASDIC and later sonar. [4]

HMS Osprey moved ashore in 1927 as a shore-based establishment. [2] [3] Following a major rebuild, King Edward VIII made an official visit to view the establishment in 1936. [5] Due to HM Naval Base Portland being a prime target of the Luftwaffe during World War II, [6] Osprey was transferred to Dunoon in Scotland in 1940, [7] leaving Portland's shore-base to become HMS Attack (a Coastal Forces base). [1]

HMS Osprey returned to Portland in 1946, as did the experimental section (which had been relocated separately to Fairlie for the duration of the war). The latter retained its independence after the war, evolving into HM Underwater Detection Establishment (HMUDE) in 1947. [8] In 1959-60, HMUDE merged with a number of other establishments to become the Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment (AUWE). [9] Owing to the highly classified work carried out there during the Cold War, the AUWE became the centre of worldwide attention in 1961 after the discovery of espionage infiltration. This became infamously known as the Portland Spy Ring, a Soviet spy ring that operated in England from the 1950s till 1961 when the core of the network were arrested by the British security services.

1959 also saw the establishment of RNAS Portland as part of HMS Osprey; it was responsible for developing helicopters in an anti-submarine role, including the training of crews. [2] From 1968, HMS Osprey was one of the designated locations for plan PYTHON, the plan for continuity of government in the event of nuclear war. [10]

The end of the Cold War and subsequent defence budget cuts resulted in the closure of HM Naval Base Portland in 1995, as well as the AUWE research establishments, by then operated by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA). [11] RNAS Portland's closure followed on 31 March 1999. The former air station site has now been redeveloped as an industrial and recreational site, Osprey Quay, while the HMS Osprey complex at East Weares was demolished in 2004-05 by Portland Port Ltd, the new owners and operators of the harbour. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland Harbour</span> Port in Dorset, England

Portland Harbour is located beside the Isle of Portland, Dorset, on the south coast of England. Construction of the harbour began in 1849; when completed in 1872, its 520-hectare (1,300-acre) surface area made it the largest human-made harbour in the world, and it remains one of the largest in the world today. It is naturally sheltered by Portland to the south, Chesil Beach to the west and mainland Dorset to the north. It consists of four breakwaters: two southern and two northern. These have a total length of 4.57 km (2.84 mi) and enclose approximately 1,000 ha of water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commander-in-Chief Fleet</span>

The Commander-in-Chief Fleet (CINCFLEET) was the admiral responsible for the operations of the ships, submarines and aircraft of the British Royal Navy from 1971 until April 2012. The post was subordinate to the First Sea Lord, the professional head of the Naval Service. In its last years, as the Navy shrank, more administrative responsibilities were added.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castletown, Dorset</span> Village in Dorset, England

Castletown is a small village in Underhill on the Isle of Portland in Dorset. It is located close to Fortuneswell, on the shores of Portland Harbour, and includes a sandy beach, as well as one of Portland's notable highlights; Portland Castle, while the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy is also located nearby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southwell, Dorset</span> Human settlement in England

Southwell is a small coastal village in Tophill on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. As Portland and Dorset's southernmost village, it lies between Portland Bill and the villages of Easton and Weston. Though close to the Bill, the village is sheltered by hills on three sides. It is the only village on Portland not to be designated a conservation area.

RNAS Culdrose (HMS <i>Seahawk</i>) Royal Naval Air Station in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom

Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose is a Royal Navy airbase near Helston on the Lizard Peninsula of Cornwall UK, and is one of the largest helicopter bases in Europe. Its main role is serving the Fleet Air Arm's front line AgustaWestland Merlin helicopter squadrons.

RNAS Portland (HMS <i>Osprey</i>) Former Royal Naval Air Station in Dorset, England

RNAS Portland was an air station of the Royal Navy, situated at the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. It was established in 1917 on the western edge of Portland Harbour as HMS Sarepta. From 1959 the station shared the name HMS Osprey, the anti-submarine establishment based at Portland, with helicopters used for research and development in anti-submarine techniques. RNAS Portland remained operational until 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland Spy Ring</span> Soviet spy ring that operated in England

The Portland spy ring was an espionage group active in the UK between 1953 and 1961. It comprised five people who obtained classified research documents from the Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment (AUWE) on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, and passed them to the Soviet Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Admiralty Mining Establishment</span>

The Admiralty Mining Establishment originally known as the Mine Design Department was a technical department of the British Royal Navy responsible for both the design of naval mines and the development of suitable countermeasures from 1915 to 1951

HMS <i>Verulam</i> (R28) V-class destroyer converted to Type 15 frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Verulam was a V-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service during the Second World War.

Five ships and a shore establishment of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Osprey, after the bird of prey the Osprey:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Admiralty Research Establishment</span>

The Admiralty Research Establishment was formed on 1 April 1984 from various Admiralty establishments. It became part of the Defence Research Agency on 1 April 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment</span>

The Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment was an Admiralty research department dedicated to underwater detection systems and weapons. It was formed at the Isle of Portland in 1959 and later became part of the Admiralty Research Agency (ARE) in 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">737 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

737 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was initially active during 1943 as an amphibious Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron. Reactivated in 1944 it operated as an ASV Training Unit until 1945. It was active again between 1949 and 1957. From 1959 it was the Anti-Submarine Warfare school at RNAS Portland. It operated Westland Wessex HAS.3 rescue helicopters from their land base at RNAS Portland, Dorset.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blacknor Fort</span>

Blacknor Fort is a 20th-century fort on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. It is located at Blacknor Point on the western side of Portland, close to Weston village.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Naval Cemetery</span> Cemetery in Dorset, England

Royal Naval Cemetery is a cemetery on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. The site overlooks Portland Harbour, and is found below the main entrance to the Verne Citadel. As the name suggests, the graveyard holds deceased servicemen and officers of Portland's Royal Navy which was stationed at the island until 1995. The cemetery holds 140 identified casualties in total to date, and is owned by the Ministry of Defence. There are other cemeteries designated the "Royal Naval Cemetery" at various other locations associated with the Royal Navy, such as the Royal Naval Cemetery on the island of Ireland, location of the Royal Naval Dockyard in the Imperial fortress British Overseas Territory of Bermuda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southwell Business Park</span> Business park in Dorset, England

Southwell Business Park is a business park on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. It is housed at the former Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment, which closed in 1995 and became the Southwell Business Park in 1997.

In 1989 the Royal Navy was under the direction of the Navy Department in the UK Ministry of Defence. It had two main commands, CINCFLEET and Naval Home Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gunnery Division (Royal Navy)</span>

The Gunnery Division was a Directorate of the Admiralty Naval Staff of the Royal Navy responsible for the tactical use of naval weapons and the training of naval personnel in relation to operational requirements. It was established in 1920 when the Gunnery and Torpedo Division was separated into an independent Gunnery Division and Torpedo Division. It existed until 1964 when the Department of Admiralty was abolished and replaced by a new Ministry of Defence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torpedo Experimental Establishment</span> Research department, British Royal Navy

The Torpedo Experimental Establishment (T.E.E.) also known as the Admiralty Torpedo Experimental Establishment was a former research department of the British Department of Admiralty from 1947 to 1959. It was responsible for the design, development and production of torpedoes for the Royal Navy. In 1959 its work and staff merged with the Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment. The department was administered by the Superintendent, Torpedo Experiment and Design.

References

  1. 1 2 "HMS Osprey". The Portland History Website. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Legg, Rodney (1999). Portland Encyclopaedia. Dorset Publishing Company. p. 82. ISBN   978-0948699566.
  3. 1 2 "Why Portland's naval base was called HMS Osprey (From Dorset Echo)". Dorsetecho.co.uk. 17 August 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  4. ↑ Franklin, George (2004). Britain's Anti-submarine Capability 1919-1939. Routledge. ISBN   1135774285.
  5. ↑ Morris, Stuart (1985). Portland: An Illustrated History. Dovecote Press. p. 141. ISBN   978-0946159345.
  6. ↑ "World War 2". Geoffkirby.co.uk. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  7. ↑ Scribbles. "Royal Navy Pay and Conditions". Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  8. ↑ "Dstl's History" (PDF). assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  9. ↑ "Admiralty and Ministry of Defence: Underwater Weapons Establishment, later Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment: Reports and Technical Notes | The National Archives". Discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  10. ↑ "If nuclear war had broken out between Russia and the west, HMS Osprey on Portland would have been a remote hideaway for the government". Dorset Echo. 28 January 2017.
  11. ↑ "A Portland Success Story | Dorset Life - The Dorset Magazine". Dorset Life. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  12. ↑ "YOI and Caves on Portland, Dorset". Geoffkirby.co.uk. Retrieved 23 June 2015.

50°32′37″N2°27′14″W / 50.54356°N 2.45381°W / 50.54356; -2.45381

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.