HMS Forest Moor

HMS Forest Moor aerial
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Forest Moor
Commissioned: October 1960[1]
Decommissioned: November 2003
Status: Decommissioned
General characteristics
Class and type: Stone Frigate
Notes: 40 acres (16 ha)

HMS Forest Moor was a Royal Navy land base located in Nidderdale in the borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England.[2]

History

The establishment was first used as one of the Second World War intelligence units, or Y-stations.[2]

In 1960 it became the Royal Navy's major high frequency (HF) receiver station,[2] its primary function was to route HF signals from locations abroad to military bases and command centres in the UK.[3] The base was manned by a small group of Royal Naval radio operators and electricians (approximately six to a shift).

This centre provided HF comms receiver links to bases in the Indian Ocean, Mediterranean, Canada and a RATT ship/shore receiver link to warships at sea. Transmitters were located at HMS Inskip in Lancashire.

It also had a small ships company (including an RPO, a PO Caterer and chefs) for the day-to-day running of the establishment, including three civilian drivers. This station was a popular 'draft' for many of the sailors who served there being out of the gaze of 'Big navy' because of the remote location, Harrogate being a popular 'run ashore' destination.

HMS Forest Moor was also the setting of a short-lived YTV comedy Thundercloud' starring James Cosmo as the MAA.

In 2003 it was transferred to VT Communications (now Babcock International) under a PPP contract to provide HF communications to the Ministry of Defence via the Defence Communication Services Agency. It is now operated by civilian personnel, from a 190-acre (78 ha)[4] site on Meagill Lane adjacent to the old Forest Moor site.[5]

It has been disposed of by Defence Estates to North Yorkshire County Council for £47 million.[6] The site has been converted to a school for children with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties.[7][8]

References

  1. ↑ "Stories from our archive". Wharfedale Observer. 7 October 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "HMS Forest Moor is Decommissioned". Navy News. 17 November 2003. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  3. ↑ "North Yorkshire County Council DE Forest Moor Cultural Heritage Assessment DRAFT" (PDF). Archaeology Data Service. Jacobs. October 2008. p. 13. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  4. ↑ "Estate Baseline 2009" (PDF). gov. Ministry of Defence. 3 July 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  5. ↑ "North Yorkshire County Council DE Forest Moor Cultural Heritage Assessment DRAFT" (PDF). Archaeology Data Service. Jacobs. October 2008. p. 14. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  6. ↑ Hayes, Julie (22 July 2010). "MoD site sold to become special needs school". York Press. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  7. ↑ "Special school in pipeline at HMS Forest Moor site". Harrogate Advertiser. 12 February 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  8. ↑ "Foremost School in Harrogate renamed Forest Moor School". BBC News. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2016.

Coordinates: 54°0′42″N 1°43′16″W / 54.01167°N 1.72111°W / 54.01167; -1.72111

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