RM Condor

RM Condor
RNAS Arbroath (HMS Condor)
Near Arbroath in Scotland

Entrance to RM Condor
RM Condor
Shown within Angus
Coordinates 56°34′56″N 002°37′31″W / 56.58222°N 2.62528°W / 56.58222; -2.62528Coordinates: 56°34′56″N 002°37′31″W / 56.58222°N 2.62528°W / 56.58222; -2.62528
Type Royal Marines Base
Site information
Owner Ministry of Defence
Operator Royal Navy
Site history
Built 1971 (1971)
Built for Admiralty
In use 1971-present
Garrison information
Occupants 45 Commando
Airfield information
Elevation 49 metres (161 ft) AMSL
Helipads
Number Length and surface
00 50x50m Concrete

RM Condor is a large Royal Marines base located near Arbroath in East Angus, Scotland. The base also houses 7 (Sphinx) Battery Royal Artillery, part of 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery.

History

The base was first constructed as a Fleet Air Arm base in 1938, when it was known as RNAS Arbroath (HMS Condor). It was opened on 19 June 1940. From the outset it was a training base, primarily involved in the training of naval aviators. A purpose-built 'aircraft carrier' sized landing area was constructed on the airfield and it, along with another similar facility at nearby East Haven, Angus, HMS Peewit was used to train aircrew in deck landing operations. In October, 1940, the base was attacked by Luftwaffe He-111 bombers, operating from Norway, which resulted in minor damage (then valued at £1000) being sustained to some Squadron buildings. Throughout the war years the base was additionally used as a rest area. Operational Squadrons from aircraft carriers would take it in turn to spend rest periods whilst their ships were undergoing maintenance at Scottish Naval ship repair facilities.

Flying stopped in 1954 and the base became the home of the Royal Navy Aircraft Engineering Training School which had transferred from HMS Daedalus at Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire. It continued in this role until 1 April 1971 when the base became the home to 45 Commando Royal Marines, a part of 3 Commando Brigade.[1]

The base was thereafter known as RM Condor or Condor Barracks and remains an operational base to this day.[2]

Units

The following units have been here at some point:[3]

Based units

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Plans for Arbroath's RM Condor marine base described as 'best of a bad deal'". The Courier. 19 July 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  2. ↑ "RM Condor". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 2 February 2009.
  3. ↑ "Arbroath". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "Royal Marine is held 'as he takes holiday trip to fight against ISIS': Commando quizzed over claims he was planning to join up with Kurdish forces". Daily Mail. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  5. ↑ "Royal Naval Air Station Arbroath". Control Towers. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  6. ↑ "2 (City of Dundee) Signal Squadron" (PDF). The Wire. December 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
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