Rosyth Dockyard
{{Short description|Naval dockyard}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
File:Rosyth Dockyard - 1975 - geograph.org.uk - 1494842.jpg
Rosyth Dockyard {{IPAc-en|audio=Rosyth.ogg|r|ə|ˈ|s|aɪ|θ}} is a large naval dockyard on the Firth of Forth at Rosyth, Fife, Scotland, owned by Babcock Marine, which formerly undertook refitting of Royal Navy surface vessels and submarines. Before its privatisation in the 1990s it was formerly the Royal Naval Dockyard Rosyth. Its primary role now is the dismantling of decommissioned nuclear submarines. It is also the integration site for the Royal Navy's newest aircraft carriers, the {{Sclass|Queen Elizabeth|aircraft carrier|4}} as well as the Type 31 Frigate.
History
File:Rosyth Dockyard - geograph.org.uk - 147138.jpg
Construction of the dockyard by civil engineers Easton, Gibb & Son commenced in 1909. At the time, the Royal Navy was strengthening its presence along the eastern seaboard of Great Britain due to a naval arms race with Germany.{{cite web|url=http://www.nas.gov.uk/about/0708013.asp |title=Records from Rosyth Royal Dockyard show machinery of 250 and 100 ton cantilever cranes |publisher=National Archives of Scotland |access-date=19 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414023208/http://www.nas.gov.uk/about/0708013.asp |archive-date=14 April 2016 }}
=First World War=
- {{HMS|Russell|1901}}
In 1903 approval was given with an estimated cost of £3 million for "works" and £250,000 for machinery spread over 10 years. The site consisted of {{convert|1184|acre}} of land, {{convert|285|acre}} of foreshore, and the main basin would be {{convert|52.5|acre}}. This was intended to be large enough for 11 battleships or 22 if doubled up.
The yard gained in size and importance during the First World War, with No. 6 Division of the Metropolitan Police set up to patrol it on 1 January 1916 (the Metropolitan Police then provided police for UK dockyards). The first ship to dry dock at Rosyth was the pre-dreadnought battleship {{HMS|Zealandia}} on 28 March 1916.{{cite book |first=David K |last=Brown |title=The grand fleet : warship design and development, 1906-1922 |publisher=Seaforth Pub |location=Barnsley |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-84832-085-7}}
=Interwar years=
- {{HMS|Magnificent|1894}} as an ammunition store ship between October 1918 and 4 February 1920.
- HMS Crescent (1899) as a harbor depot ship between 1 May 1920 and 17 September 1921.
- {{HMS|London|1899}} as a minelayer between February 1918 and January 1919.
=World War II=
{{expand section|date=October 2020}}
=Privatisation=
File:Rosythaircraftcarrierworks.jpg
Babcock Thorn, a consortium operated by Babcock International and Thorn EMI, was awarded the management contract for Rosyth dockyard in 1987; with Rosyth Dockyard becoming a government owned, contractor run facility. This contract was awarded in parallel with Devonport Management Limited's contract to run Devonport Dockyard, Plymouth. In 1993 the Ministry of Defence announced plans to privatise Rosyth. Babcock International, who had bought out Thorn's share of the original Babcock Thorn consortium, was the only company to submit a bid and after protracted negotiations purchased the yard in January 1997.{{cite web|url=https://assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/media/555de3c840f0b669c40000d1/Babcock.pdf|title=Completed acquisition by Babcock International Group plc of Devonport Management Limited|publisher=Office of Fair Trading|access-date=19 March 2016}}
=Nuclear submarine refitting=
In 1984 Rosyth was chosen as the sole location for refitting the Royal Navy's nuclear submarine fleet (a role it was already specialising in), and in 1986 extensive rebuilding commenced to facilitate this new role. However, in 1993, the government switched the refitting role to Devonport Dockyard.{{cite news | first = David | last = White | title = Shrinking navy prompted great nuclear race: David White tracks the two-year highly politicised battle for the contract to refit Trident submarines| work = The Financial Times| page = 8 | date = 25 June 1993 }}
=Nuclear submarine decommissioning=
Seven nuclear submarines were stored at Rosyth in 2007.{{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070125/text/70125w0009.htm#subhd_87 |title=Parliamentary Business 27 Jan 2007 |publisher=Hansard |access-date=26 July 2014}} In 2018, the Public Accounts Committee criticised the slow rate of decommissioning of these submarines, with the Ministry of Defence admitting that it had put off decommissioning due to the cost and is currently due to be finalised in 2035.
- {{HMS|Churchill|S46|6}}
- {{HMS|Dreadnought|S101|6}}
- {{HMS|Resolution|S22|6}}
- {{HMS|Repulse|S23|6}}
- {{HMS|Renown|S26|6}}
- {{HMS|Revenge|S27|6}}
- {{HMS|Swiftsure|S126|6}}
=Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers=
File:HMS Queen Elizabeth alongside HMS Illustrious.jpg)]]The Royal Navy's two {{Sclass|Queen Elizabeth|aircraft carrier|0}} carriers were constructed across six UK shipyards, with final assembly at Rosyth.{{cite web|url=https://www.theengineer.co.uk/two-carriers-take-shape-at-rosyth/|title=Two carriers take shape at Rosyth|date=1 September 2014|publisher=The Engineer|access-date=19 March 2016}}
Today
Today, a Ministry of Defence site is based at the former dockyard, MoD Caledonia, which holds a small naval garrison.{{Cite web|title=MOD Caledonia - Rosyth|url=http://wikimapia.org/20893798/MOD-Caledonia|access-date=6 May 2021|website=wikimapia.org|language=en}} It was due to close by/in 2022, but its future has now been assured.[https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2023/march/31/230331-caledonia]Rosyth site secure after transfer back to Royal Navy Babcock are currently building the type 31 frigates at the dockyard.{{Cite web|title=MP says closure is 'still on the cards' at HMS Caledonia|url=https://www.dunfermlinepress.com/news/18839685.closure-still-cards-hms-caledonia/|access-date=6 May 2021|website=Dunfermline Press|date=3 November 2020 |language=en}}{{Cite web|title=MOD Caledonia|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2018-03-08.131725.h|access-date=6 May 2021|website=TheyWorkForYou|language=en}}
Administration of the dockyard
The admiral-superintendent was the Royal Navy officer in command of a larger Naval Dockyard. The appointment of admiral-superintendents (or their junior equivalents) dates from 1832 when the Admiralty took charge of the Royal Dockyards. Prior to this larger dockyards were overseen by a commissioner who represented the Navy Board.
=Admiral-Superintendent, Rosyth=
- Rear-Admiral Sir Henry H. Bruce: June 1915 – April 1920
- Vice-Admiral Sir John F. E. Green: April 1920 – June 1923
- Rear-Admiral Colin Cantlie: September 1939 – April 1944
- Rear-Admiral Henry C. Bovell: April 1944 – April 1947
- Vice-Admiral Sir Angus Cunninghame-Graham: April 1947 – August 1951
- Rear-Admiral John H. F. Crombie: August 1951 – November 1953
- Rear-Admiral Peter Skelton: November 1953 – September 1956
- Rear-Admiral Peter D.H.R. Pelly: September 1956 – November 1957
- Rear-Admiral Walter Evershed: November 1957 – September 1960
- Rear-Admiral Ian G. Aylen: September 1960 – September 1963
- Rear-Admiral John G. Watson: September 1963 – September 1966
- Rear-Admiral William T.C. Ridley: September 1966 – September 1971
=Port Admiral, Rosyth=
- Rear-Admiral William T.C. Ridley: September 1971 – February 1972
- Rear-Admiral Peter White: February 1972 – April 1974
- Rear-Admiral Anthony J. Monk: April 1974 – January 1976
- Rear-Admiral William T. Pillar: January 1976 – November 1977
- Rear-Admiral John R.D. Nunn: November 1977 – January 1980
- Rear-Admiral James E.C. Kennon: January 1980 – August 1981
- Rear-Admiral John C. Warsop: August 1981 – August 1983
- Vice-Admiral Robert R. Squires: August – December 1983
In the Royal Naval Dockyards, admiral-superintendents ceased to be appointed after 15 September 1971, and existing post-holders were renamed port admirals.{{cite web|title=House of Commons 27 July 1971|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1971/jul/27/royal-dockyards|date=27 July 1971|website=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)}}
Note: These officers reported to the Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland.
References
{{reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{cite book |last= Burt |first= Walter |year= 2016 |title= Rosyth Dockyard and Naval Base: Through Time |location= Stroud, Gloucestershire |publisher= Amberley Publishing |type= Paperback |isbn= 9781445648965}}
External links
{{Commons category|Rosyth Dockyard}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080924224407/http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/articles/1/22011 'Graveyard' fear as sub's hull is holed], Dunfermline Press, 3 April 2008
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{{Royal Navy shore establishments}}
{{Admiralty Department|state=collapsed}}
Category:Ports and harbours of Scotland
Category:Royal Navy bases in Scotland
Category:Organisations based in Fife
Category:Royal Navy submarine bases
Category:1909 establishments in Scotland