HMNB Devonport
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Her Majesty's Naval Base (HMNB) Devonport (HMS Drake), is one of three UK operating bases for the Royal Navy (the others being HMNB Clyde and HMNB Portsmouth). HMNB Devonport is located in Devonport, in the west of the city of Plymouth in Devon, England. It is the largest naval base in Western Europe[1] and is the sole nuclear repair and refuelling facility for the Royal Navy. The collocated Royal Dockyard is owned and operated by Babcock Marine (BM) who took over the previous owner Devonport Management Limited (DML) in 2007. The BM operation is commonly called Devonport Dockyard.
In 2006 the Ministry of Defence announced that a review would be undertaken to examine the future of the three naval bases. The Naval Base Review is seeking to examine the long term future needs of the Royal Navy, with the most likely outcome being either retaining the three current naval bases, but with reduced capacity in each, or closing one of the two on the south coast of England. The results of the review, released in 2007, have stipulated no base closures.
HM Naval Base Devonport is the home port of the Devonport Flotilla which includes the largest ship in the Royal Navy HMS Ocean and the Trafalgar Class submarines.
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[edit] History
In 1689 Prince William of Orange became William III and almost immediately he required the building of a new dockyard. The town of Plymouth he dismissed as inadequate. A few miles around the coast from Plymouth, on the Hamoaze, which is a section of the River Tamar, a suitable plot of land was identified in the parish of Stoke Damerel (a.k.a. Devonport). Construction of 'Dock in Hamoaze' began in 1691.
[edit] Today
The Royal Navy Dockyard consists of 14 dry docks (Docks Numbered 1 to 15, but there is no 13 Dock) [2], four miles (6km) of waterfront, 25 tidal berths, five basins and an area of 650 acres (2.6 km²). It is the base for seven of the Trafalgar class nuclear powered hunter killer submarines and the main refitting base for all Royal Navy nuclear submarines. Work was completed by Carillion in 2002 to build a refitting dock to support the Vanguard class Trident missile nuclear ballistic missile submarines.
Locals and tourists have long been able to visit the Dockyard during "Navy Days," a three day event where visitors can tour the facility, go on active naval ships and watch various displays of naval prowess. Among the most popular attractions is the nuclear powered submarine HMS Courageous, used in the Falklands War.
Devonport serves as headquarters for Flag Officer Sea Training, which is responsible for the training of all the ships of the Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, along with many from foreign naval services.
[edit] Devonport Flotilla
Ships based at the port are known as the Devonport Flotilla. This includes the Navy's assault ships HMS Ocean, HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark. It also serves as home port to most of the hydrographic surveying fleet of the Royal Navy and a substantial number of Type 22 and Type 23 frigates.
[edit] Amphibious Ships
- HMS Ocean Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH)
- HMS Albion Landing Platform Dock (LPD)
- HMS Bulwark LPD
[edit] Type 22 frigates
[edit] Type 23 frigates
[edit] Trafalgar class submarines
[edit] Navy Days
Navy Days happens once every two years when for three days at the end of August a large percentage of Devonport dockyard is open to the general public. There is an opportunity of view the facilities at the naval base as well as the large number of Royal Navy vessels present. There are a large number of stands and displays present which provide a large amount of information on some the less well know aspects of the Royal Navy, for example the Royal Navy submarine rescue service.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- HMNB Devonport web page
- Devonport management Ltd., the owner of the dockyard
- Official 10 Downing Street Petition to save HMNB Devonport from possible closure.
- www.PlymouthNavalMuseum.com
- The Devonport Field Gun Association Website
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