History
Cranes at the Rosyth Dockyard
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.[1]
First World War
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 1,184 acres of land, 285 acres of foreshore, and the main basin would be 52.5 acres. Large enough for 11 battleships or 22 if doubled up. The first ship to dry dock there was the pre-dreadnought battleship HMS Zealandia on 28 March 1916.[2]
Interwar years
Rosyth Dockyard in 1986
Privatisation
The new Goliath crane at the Dockyard, used for the current assembly of the Royal Navy's new 65,000 tonne aircraft carriers.
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.[3]
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.[4]
Nuclear submarine decommissioning
Seven nuclear submarines were stored at Rosyth in 2007:[5]
Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers
HMS Queen Elizabeth under construction at Rosyth (alongside HMS Illustrious)
The Royal Navy's two Queen Elizabeth-class carriers are being constructed across six UK shipyards, with final assembly at Rosyth.[6]
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
Included:[7]
- 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.[8]
Note: These officers reported to the Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland
External links
Coordinates: 56°1′14″N 3°27′12″W / 56.02056°N 3.45333°W / 56.02056; -3.45333
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- Admiralty Area Cash Offices
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- Council of Naval Education
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- Department of Radio Equipment
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- Department of Aeronautical and Engineering Research
- Department of Miscellaneous Weapons Development
- Department of Naval Assistant (Foreign) to Second Sea Lord
- Department of Naval Education
- Operational Research
- Department of Personal Services and Officer Appointments
- Department of Physical Research
- Department of Physical Training & Sports
- Department of Radio Equipment
- Department of Research Programmes and Planning
- Department of Superintendent of de-magnetisation
- Department of the Admiral of the Training Service
- Department of the Chief Inspector of Naval Ordnance
- Department of the Chief of Naval Information
- Department of the Chief Scientist
- Department of the Civil Engineer-in-Chief
- Department of the Comptroller of Steam Machinery
- Department of the Comptroller of Victualling and Transport Services
- Department of the Controller of the Navy
- Department of the Controller-General of Merchant Shipbuilding
- Department of the Controller for Navy Pay
- Department of the Deputy Controller for Auxiliary Shipbuilding
- Department of the Deputy Controller for Dockyards and Shipbuilding
- Department of the Director Contract-Built Ships
- Department of the Director-General Aircraft
- Department of the Director-General of Manpower
- Department of the Director-General, Supply and Secretariat Branch
- Department of the Director of Aircraft Maintenance and Repair
- Department of the Director of Contract Labour
- Department of the Director of Dockyards
- Department of the Director of Electrical Engineering
- Department of the Director of Manning
- Department of the Director of Merchant Shipbuilding
- Department of the Director of Merchant Shipbuilding and Repairs
- Department of the Director of Merchant Ship Repairs
- Department of the Director of Naval Construction
- Department of the Director of Naval Equipment
- Department of the Director of Naval Recruiting
- Department of the Director of Naval Weather Service
- Department of the Director of Personal Services
- Department of the Director of Physical Training and Sports
- Department of the Director of Torpedoes and Mining
- Department of the Director of Transports
- Department of the Director of Underwater Weapons
- Department of the Director of Unexploded Bombs
- Department of the Director of Warship Production
- Department of the Director of Welfare and Service Conditions
- Department of the Director of Wreck Dispersal
- Department of the Flag Officer Sea Training
- Department of the Engineer in Chief
- Department of the Paymaster Director-General
- Department of the Inspector of Anti-Aircraft Weapons
- Department of the Inspector of Dockyard Expense Accounts
- Department of the Inspector-General of Naval Hospitals and Fleets
- Department of the Medical Director-General of the Navy
- Department of the Physician of the Navy
- Department of the Physician General of the Navy
- Department of the Storekeeper-General of the Navy
- Department of the Surveyor of Buildings
- Department of the Surveyor of Dockyards
- Directorate-General, (Naval Manpower and Training)
- Directorate General Training
- Dockyards and Fleet Maintenance Department
- Dockyards Branch
- Dockyard Expense Accounts Department
- Dockyard Schools
- Electrical Engineering Department
- Engineer Branch
- Engineering Department
- Experimental Department
- Fire Control Group
- Greenwich Hospital Department
- Inspector of Telegraphs
- Inspector of Repairs
- Medical Consultative Board
- Medical Examining Board
- Historical Section
- Hydrographic Department
- Marine Pay Office
- Materials and Priority Department
- Medical Consultative Board
- Medical Department
- Medical Examining Board
- Movements Department
- Nautical Almanac Office
- Naval Artillery and Torpedo Department
- Naval Engineering College
- Naval Equipment Department
- Naval Historical Branch
- Naval Construction Department
- Naval Intelligence Department
- Naval Medical Service
- Naval Law Division
- Naval Mobilisation Department
- Naval Ordnance Department
- Naval Ordnance Inspection Department
- Naval Ordnance Stores Department
- Naval Publicity Department
- Naval Reserve Department
- Naval Security Department
- Naval Stores Department
- Naval Training Department
- Naval Works Department
- Navy, Army and Air Force Institute
- Navy and Army Canteen Board
- Navy Works Department
- Navigation Department
- Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope
- Office of the Admiral Commanding Coast Guard and Reserves
- Office of the Admiral Commanding, Reserves
- Office of the Admiral Superintendent, Chatham
- Office of the Admiral-Superintendent, Devonport
- Office of the Admiral-Superintendent, Malta
- Office of the Admiral-Superintendent of Naval Reserves
- Office of the Admiral-Superintendent, Pembroke
- Office of the Admiral-Superintendent, Plymouth
- Office of the Admiral-Superintendent, Portsmouth
- Office of the Admiral-Superintendent, Rosyth
- Office of the Admiralty Chemist
- Office of the Adviser on the Naval Construction to the Board of Admiralty
- Office of the Assistant Controller
- Office of the Assistant Controller Research and Development
- Office of the Clerk of the Journals
- Office of the Deputy Controller of Navy
- Office of the Deputy Controller Production
- Office of the Director Woman’s Royal Naval Nursing Service
- Office of Extra Naval Assistant to Second Sea Lord
- Office of the Inspector Gun Mountings
- Office of the Keeper of Records
- Office of the Senior Psychologist of the Navy
- Office of the Translator of French and Spanish Languages
- Office of the Vice Controller Air
- Office of the Vice Controller of the Navy
- Organisation and Methods Department
- Packet Service
- Regional Organisation for Merchant Shipbuilding and Repairs
- Royal Corps of Naval Constructors
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- Office of the Chaplain of the Fleet
- Royal Naval Academy
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- Royal Naval College, Dartmouth
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- Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
- Royal Naval War College
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- Royal Observatory, Greenwich
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- Scientific Research and Experiment Department
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- Superintendent of De-magnetisation
- Torpedoes and Mining Department
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- Undersurface Warfare Department
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- Volunteer Boys and Cadet Corps
- Weapons Department
- Wireless Telegraphy Board
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