Forces Plymouth HMNB Devonport Community Information Portal

HMNB Plymouth - HMS Drake

Sitting in one of the worlds biggest and most spectacular natural harbours the City of Plymouth has an extraordinary blend of the old and new. To the north of Plymouth is Dartmoor National Park with beaches and sea to the south.

Predominately a Naval town, Plymouth establishments include HMS Drake Naval Base at Devonport, 42 Cdo at Bickleigh Barracks, 29 Cdo at the Royal Citadel, 30 Commando (formerly UKLF CSG) at Stonehouse RM Barracks and at 539 Sqdn at Turnchapel, HMS Raleigh Training Centre at Torpoint and TA Centres located at Derriford and Millbay.

HMS Drake is the main and largest service establishment and provides excellent facilities which include: gymnasium, flood lit pitch, squash and tennis courts, swimming pool, education centre, leisure hire facilities, club activities include: car club, boxing training, canoe club, sub aqua club and the Plymouth Command Golf Society.

The West Country and the Royal Navy go back a long way. The ships that defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588 sailed from the mouth of the River Plym, The memory of Sir Francis Drake, Mayor of Plymouth as well as Great National hero is kept alive in the name, HMS DRAKE, which was recently extended to the whole of Devonport Naval Base.

Devonport is the largest Naval Base in Western Europe, covering over 650 acres and has 15 dry docks, four miles of waterfront, 25 tidal berths and 5 basins. The civilian and Service Personnel are committed to the Naval Base Mission 'Supporting the Fleet Worldwide'. Devonport is the base port of the largest ship in the Royal Navy, HMS Ocean that is 21,000 tones and also the smallest vessel in service HMS Gleaner a 25 tonne surveying motor launch. There are fourteen Type 22 and Type 23 frigates, seven Trafalgar class submarines and four of the five hydrographic ships forming the Royal Naval Surveying squadron under the command of Captain (H) who is also the Hydrographer of the Navy.

Alongside its surface ship refitting facilities, Devonport is the only site in the UK equipped to conduct nuclear submarine refits, including those for the Vanguard class.






The information on this site has been compiled from various sources accessible on the internet:  acknowledgements are due to MOD Website,  RN & RM websites,  HIVE website, & Wikipedia. 
The site is intended to be an impartial and useful source of information about the Forces Base and surrounding area for members of HM Armed Forces, their families and civilians working on the Base. There should be nothing of a sensitive nature as everything here is readily available on the internet.  If you spot anything that is out of date or just plain wrong, please contact us.