HMNB Portsmouth
Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 5:35 pm
Now known as HM Naval Base Portsmouth, it is the oldest naval base of the Royal Navy.
The first recorded dry dock in the world was built in Portsmouth by Henry VII in 1495. The first warship built here was the Sweepstake of 1497; of more significance were the carracks Mary Rose of 1509 and Peter Pomegranate of 1510—both were rebuilt here in 1536.
Following the establishment of Chatham Dockyard in the mid-1500s, no new naval vessels were built here until 1648, but ships from Portsmouth were a key part of the fleet that drove off the Spanish Armada in 1588. There are no on-site remains of the Tudor Dock and Yard. Naval shipbuilding at Portsmouth recommenced under the English Commonwealth, the first ship being the eponymous Fourth-rate frigate Portsmouth launched in 1650.
In 1800, the Royal Navy had 684 ships and the Dockyard was the largest industrial complex in the world.
HMS Andromeda was the last ship to be built in Portsmouth's Dockyard in 1967.
Construction of modules for the Type 45 destroyers and Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers took place here, latterly under BAE Systems Maritime – Naval Ships; but in 2013 it was announced that shipbuilding in Portsmouth would cease as of 2016 the former shipbuilding complex is being used for repairing minehunters and other small craft.
Part of the site is now home to the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and is open to members of the public. This has its own section on our Forum.
Some photos of the dockyard area
Many thanks to contributors on the old Forum, where some of these photos first appeared.
The first recorded dry dock in the world was built in Portsmouth by Henry VII in 1495. The first warship built here was the Sweepstake of 1497; of more significance were the carracks Mary Rose of 1509 and Peter Pomegranate of 1510—both were rebuilt here in 1536.
Following the establishment of Chatham Dockyard in the mid-1500s, no new naval vessels were built here until 1648, but ships from Portsmouth were a key part of the fleet that drove off the Spanish Armada in 1588. There are no on-site remains of the Tudor Dock and Yard. Naval shipbuilding at Portsmouth recommenced under the English Commonwealth, the first ship being the eponymous Fourth-rate frigate Portsmouth launched in 1650.
In 1800, the Royal Navy had 684 ships and the Dockyard was the largest industrial complex in the world.
HMS Andromeda was the last ship to be built in Portsmouth's Dockyard in 1967.
Construction of modules for the Type 45 destroyers and Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers took place here, latterly under BAE Systems Maritime – Naval Ships; but in 2013 it was announced that shipbuilding in Portsmouth would cease as of 2016 the former shipbuilding complex is being used for repairing minehunters and other small craft.
Part of the site is now home to the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and is open to members of the public. This has its own section on our Forum.
Some photos of the dockyard area
Many thanks to contributors on the old Forum, where some of these photos first appeared.