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HMS Sultan (shore establishment)

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Coordinates: 50°48′10″N 001°09′39″W / 50.80278°N 1.16083°W / 50.80278; -1.16083
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(Redirected from RAF Gosport)
For other ships with the same name, see HMS Sultan.

HMS Sultan
Gosport, Hampshire in England
Caledonia Gate to HMS Sultan
HMS Sultan is located in Hampshire
HMS Sultan
HMS Sultan
Shown within Hampshire
Coordinates50°48′10″N 001°09′39″W / 50.80278°N 1.16083°W / 50.80278; -1.16083
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
Operator Royal Navy
Site history
Built1914 (1914)
In use1914–1945 (as RAF Gosport)
1945–1956 (as HMS Siskin)
1956–present (as HMS Sultan)
Airfield information
Elevation7 metres (23 ft) AMSL

HMS Sultan is a shore base of the Royal Navy in Gosport, Hampshire, England. It is the primary engineering training establishment for the Royal Navy and home to the Network Rail Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme and the EDF Energy engineering maintenance apprenticeship.

The site was originally RAF Gosport it was then transferred to the Royal Navy during 1945 as HMS Siskin (Hence a nearby school being named Siskin School) it was then renamed HMS Sultan on 1 June 1956 when the airfield side was closed down and a Mechanical Repair Establishment was moved here from the Flathouse area by Portsmouth Dockyard.[1]

Cancelled closure

[edit]

A Better Defence Estate, published in November 2016, indicated that the Ministry of Defence intended on disposing of HMS Sultan by 2026. It was proposed that Submarine Engineer Training would move to HM Naval Base Clyde in 2024, Mechanical Engineering Training to HMS Collingwood in 2025 and the Admiralty Interview Board to HM Naval Base Portsmouth in 2026.[2] In March 2019, the Ministry of Defence announced that closure would be delayed to 2029 at the earliest.[3]

However, in December 2022, the Ministry of Defence announced that the closure had been reversed and HMS Sultan was to remain open. An MOD spokesperson said: "We can confirm that we are retaining HMS Sultan for which we have an enduring requirement."[4]

First World War

[edit]
Units
  • No. 1 Squadron RNAS[20]
  • No. 1 Training Squadron was disbanded here on 2 August 1917 and merged with No. 27 Training Squadron and No. 55 Training Squadron to become School of Special Flying, Gosport[21]
  • No. 1 School of Special Flying from 18 May 1918 until 1 July 1918 when the unit became the Southwestern Area Flying Instructors School RAF[22]
  • 7th Wing Royal Flying Corps[20]
  • Anti-Aircraft Special Defence Flight formed here during October 1918 but was disbanded during December 1918[23]
  • Southwestern Area Flying Instructors School was formed here on 1 July 1918 and disbanded here on 26 February 1919[24]
  • No. 10 Training Squadron[20]
  • No. 17 (Training) Group[20]
  • 17th Wing Royal Flying Corps[20]
  • No. 27 Reserve Squadron[20]
  • No. 27 Training Squadron[20]
  • No. 55 Training Squadron[20]
  • No. 59 Reserve Squadron[20]
  • No. 62 Reserve Squadron[20]
  • No. 70 Training Squadron[20]
  • No. 87 (Canadian) Reserve Squadron[20]
  • No. 91 (Canadian) Reserve Squadron[20]

Inter war years

[edit]
Units
  • No. 1 Coast Artillery Co-operation Flight formed here on 14 December 1936 using the Hawker Hart, Hawker Osprey III and Fairey Seal until 1 June 1937 when the unit was disbanded and became No. 1 Coast Artillery Co-operation Unit. It was redesignated back to its old name on 18 May 1941 but reverted to the newer name on 12 January 1942[29]
  • No. 17 Group Communications Flight was formed here during August 1938[30]
  • The Coastal Defence Development Unit was formed here on 1 April 1935 and was disbanded on 14 December 1936[31]
  • The Coast Defence Training Flight was disbanded here on 1 August 1933 to become No. 1 Coastal Defence Training Unit
  • The Coastal Battery Co-operation Flight was formed here on 23 December 1919 and was disbanded here during September 1921[32]
  • The Coastal Battery Co-operation School Flight was formed here during September 1919 and disbanded here on 23 December 1919 to become the Coastal Battery Co-operation Flight[32]
  • The Development Squadron, Gosport was formed here on 17 August 1918 and disbanded on 31 December 1918. It was merged with elements from No. 185 Squadron RAF to become No. 186 (Development) Squadron[33]
  • The Eagle Trials Flight was formed here on 1 April 1920 and was disbanded during October 1920[34]
  • The School of Aerial Co-operation with Coastal Defence Batteries was formed here on 31 January 1918 and was disbanded during September 1919 to become the Coastal Battery Co-operation School[35]
  • The Torpedo Development Flight was formed here during 1925 and disbanded during November 1938 to become the Torpedo Development Section[36]
  • The Torpedo Development Section (1938-39) became the Torpedo Development Unit[20]
  • The Torpedo Development Unit RAF was formed here on 22 June 1939 and disbanded on 15 September 1943 to become the Aircraft Torpedo Development Unit[36]
  • The Torpedo Training Squadron[20]
  • The Torpedo Training Unit RAF was formed here during February 1936[36]
  • Royal Air Force Base Gosport was formed here on 1 October 1921 and had five different flights:[37]
    • 'A' (Army and Navy Co-operation) Flight
    • 'B' (Telegraphist and Air Gunner) Flight
    • 'C' (Deck Landing) Flight
    • 'D' (Torpedo Training) Flight
    • 'E' (Experimental) Flight
  • No. 409 (Fleet Fighter) Flight formed here on 7 October 1932[38]
  • No. 420 (Fleet Spotter) Flight formed here on 1 April 1923[38]
  • No. 421 (Fleet Spotter) Flight formed here on 1 April 1923[38]
  • No. 422 (Fleet Spotter) Flight formed here on 1 April 1923[38]
  • No. 423 (Fleet Spotter) Flight formed here on 21 November 1923[38]
  • No. 445 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight disbanded here on 3 April 1933[38]
  • No. 446 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight disbanded here on 3 April 1933[38]
  • No. 450 (Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance) Flight disbanded here on 3 April 1933[38]
  • No. 460 (Fleet Torpedo) Flight was formed here on 1 April 1923[38]
  • No. 461 (Fleet Torpedo) Flight formed here on 1 April 1923[38]
  • No. 462 (Fleet Torpedo) Flight formed here on 31 May 1924[38]
  • No. 463 (Fleet Torpedo) Flight formed here on 1 September 1927[38]
  • No. 464 (Fleet Torpedo) Flight formed here on 1 September 1927[38]
  • No. 465 (Fleet Torpedo) Flight formed here on 20 March 1931[38]
  • No. 466 (Fleet Torpedo) Flight formed here on 31 March 1931[38]

Second World War

[edit]
Units

Cold War

[edit]
  • No. 163 Gliding School was disbanded here during May 1948[44]

Additional units posted to HMS Sultan

[edit]
Royal Navy

The following units were also posted here at some point:

  • No. 401 Air Stores Park[20]
  • No. 401 (Fleet Fighter) Flight[20]
  • No. 402 (Fleet Fighter) Flight[20]
  • No. 403 (Fleet Fighter) Flight[20]
  • No. 404 (Fleet Fighter) Flight[20]
  • No. 405 (Fleet Fighter) Flight[20]
  • No. 406 (Fleet Fighter) Flight[20]
  • No. 407 (Fleet Fighter) Flight[20]
  • No. 408 (Fleet Fighter) Flight[20]
  • No. 421A (Fleet Spotter) Flight[20]
  • No. 421B (Fleet Spotter) Flight[20]
  • No. 440 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight[20]
  • No. 441 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight[20]
  • No. 441 (Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance) Flight[20]
  • No. 442 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight[20]
  • No. 442 (Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance) Flight[20]
  • No. 443 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight[20]
  • No. 443 (Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance) Flight[20]
  • No. 443A (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight[20]
  • No. 446 (Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance) Flight[20]
  • No. 447 (Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance) Flight[20]
  • No. 448 (Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance) Flight[20]
  • No. 449 (Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance) Flight[20]
  • No. 3206 Servicing Commando[20]
  • The Fleet Air Arm Maintenance Unit[20]
  • The School of Air Sea Rescue RAF[20]

Current use

[edit]

It is the primary engineering training establishment for the Royal Navy. It is also home to the Network Rail Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme and the EDF Energy engineering maintenance apprenticeship.

It is home to:[1]

Cadets

[edit]

HMS Sultan is home to a number of units of the Volunteer Cadet Corps:[80]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "History". Royal Navy (RN). Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  2. ^ "A Better Defence Estate" (PDF). GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence. 7 November 2016. p. 15.
  3. ^ "Joy as HMS Sultan closure is put on hold". Portsmouth News. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  4. ^ "HMS Sultan survives closure as campaign to retain Royal Navy base sees success". Forces Network. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  5. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 25.
  6. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 26.
  7. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 28.
  8. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 29.
  9. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 31.
  10. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 32.
  11. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 34.
  12. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 35.
  13. ^ a b c Jefford 1988, p. 38.
  14. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 39.
  15. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 43.
  16. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 44.
  17. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 48.
  18. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 49.
  19. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 51.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw "Gosport (Fort Grange)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  21. ^ Lake 1999, p. 162.
  22. ^ Lake 1999, p. 183.
  23. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 30.
  24. ^ Lake 1999, p. 187.
  25. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 24.
  26. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 66.
  27. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 70.
  28. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 73.
  29. ^ Lake 1999, p. 48.
  30. ^ Lake 1999, p. 121.
  31. ^ Lake 1999, p. 50.
  32. ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 49.
  33. ^ Lake 1999, p. 57.
  34. ^ Lake 1999, p. 58.
  35. ^ Lake 1999, p. 179.
  36. ^ a b c Lake 1999, p. 282.
  37. ^ Lake 1999, p. 174.
  38. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Lake 1999, p. 81.
  39. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 41.
  40. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 77.
  41. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 99.
  42. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 104.
  43. ^ Lake 1999, p. 27.
  44. ^ Lake 1999, p. 115.
  45. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 26.
  46. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 28.
  47. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 30.
  48. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 31.
  49. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 41.
  50. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 49.
  51. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 81.
  52. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 91.
  53. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 99.
  54. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 122.
  55. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 125.
  56. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 131.
  57. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 135.
  58. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 138.
  59. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 152.
  60. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 158.
  61. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 162.
  62. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 166.
  63. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 168.
  64. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 171.
  65. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 199.
  66. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 204.
  67. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 207.
  68. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 209.
  69. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 213.
  70. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 219.
  71. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 242.
  72. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 261.
  73. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 275.
  74. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 306.
  75. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 312.
  76. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 322.
  77. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 327.
  78. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 357.
  79. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 359.
  80. ^ "Meet our units". Volunteer Cadet Corps. Retrieved 27 January 2021.

Bibliography

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