Her Majesty's Naval Base (HMNB) Devonport (HMS Drake), is one of three 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. It is the largest naval base in Western Europe and is the sole nuclear repair and refuelling facility for the Royal Navy. The adjacent Royal Dockyard is owned and operated by Devonport Management Limited (DML) and 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 largest ship in the Royal Navy HMS Ocean.
History
With 14 dry docks (Docks Numbered 1 to 15, but there is no 13 Dock) , four miles (6km) of waterfront, 25 tidal berths, five basins and an area of 650 acres (2.6 km²) the Royal Navy Dockyard is the largest naval base in Western Europe and 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.
Today
Many ships are based at the port, 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 Navy, the Trafalgar-class submarines and a substantial number of Type 22 and Type 23 frigates.
Devonport FlotillaHMS Ocean Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH)
HMS Albion Landing Platform Dock (LPD)
HMS Bulwark LPD Amphibious Ships
HMS Campbeltown
HMS Cornwall
HMS Chatham
HMS Cumberland Trafalgar class submarines
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.
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