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
- ↑ "Stories from our archive". Wharfedale Observer. 7 October 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
- ↑ "North Yorkshire County Council DE Forest Moor Cultural Heritage Assessment DRAFT" (PDF). Archaeology Data Service. Jacobs. October 2008. p. 13. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
- ↑ "Estate Baseline 2009" (PDF). gov. Ministry of Defence. 3 July 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
- ↑ "North Yorkshire County Council DE Forest Moor Cultural Heritage Assessment DRAFT" (PDF). Archaeology Data Service. Jacobs. October 2008. p. 14. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
- ↑ Hayes, Julie (22 July 2010). "MoD site sold to become special needs school". York Press. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
- ↑ "Special school in pipeline at HMS Forest Moor site". Harrogate Advertiser. 12 February 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
- ↑ "Foremost School in Harrogate renamed Forest Moor School". BBC News. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
External links
Coordinates: 54°0′42″N 1°43′16″W / 54.01167°N 1.72111°W