HMS Wildfire (2000 shore establishment)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Wildfire.

History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Wildfire
Commissioned	May 2000
Status	Currently operational
Badge
General characteristics
Class and type	Stone frigate

HMS Wildfire is a Royal Naval Reserve unit in Northwood, North West London. Training over 100 reservists, HMS Wildfire is located within a purpose built training facility inside the national military tri-service HQ and NATO base.

History

Descended from a long a line of HMS Wildfires since the 1760s, ^{[1] [2]} the current unit was commissioned as HMS Northwood in 1957 to support the growing NATO headquarters of Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Atlantic Area (CINCEASTLANT) at Northwood. ^[3]

Housed initially within Northwood Headquarters, the unit occupied a series of huts until in 1988 the unit moved to Brackenhill House, an Edwardian mansion situated 250 yards (230 m) from the main gate of Northwood Headquarters/HMS Warrior. ^[3] In May 2000 HMS Northwood decommissioned and was commissioned as HMS Wildfire. ^[4]

As part of the redevelopment of the base HMS Wildfire returned to the main base into a modern purpose built facility. On 11 June 2011, the Ships company formally marched from Brackenhill House to the Northwood base behind the RM Band Portsmouth and was inspected by Commander-in-Chief Fleet, Admiral Sir Trevor Soar. ^[3]

Commanding Officer

The current Commanding Officer of HMS Wildfire is Lieutenant Commander Ian Dorward. ^[5]

References

1. Short history of HMS Wildfire one to seven
2. "Short history of HMS Wildfire eight". Archived from the original on 2016-12-28. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
3. Royal Navy Reservists move back into Northwood Headquarters Watford Observer, 15 June 2011
4. Royal Naval Reserve Unit marched back to Northwood Headquarters after 23 years Archived 2013-12-27 at the Wayback Machine Reserves News, June 2011
5. "HMS Wildfire on Facebook". Facebook . Archived from the original on 2022-04-27.^{[ user-generated source ]}