A collection of web pages about Royal Naval historical matters

The Royal Navy Research Archive aims to provide access to a range of web pages related to RN ships, establishments, units, and personnel, from the start of World War Two through to the post-war years and into the 21st century. Content will include articles, short histories and the reminiscences of the men and women who served in the Royal Navy, WRNS, and Royal Marines.

Links marked †  are to material  produced by others but hosted by the Royal Navy Research Archive.
 

Web Sites:

• The MONAB Story - a history of the Mobile Naval Air Bases of the Royal Navy
  [Last updated  29 August 2009]

• Royal Navy Escort Carriers - the histories of the 45 vessels of this type to serve with the Royal Navy
  [Last updated  10 December 2009]

• The British Pacific & East Indies Fleets - the story of the  units of the British Pacific & East Indies Fleets
  [under reconstruction - last updated  19 January 2010]

• HMS SLINGER † - John Lawson's pages devoted to the WW2 escort carrier on which he served during WW2
  [Last updated 23 August 2010]

Short Unit Histories & Articles :

• HMS VERNON (R) - the story of the Torpedo, Mine & Electrical training establishment  at Roedean, Brighton during WW2

  [Last updated 03 May 2009]

• HMS KING ALFRED -  the story of the RNVR Officer training establishment at Hove, East Sussex during WW2
  [Last updated 24 January 2010]

• HMS LIZARD - a brief account of the Combined Operations Landing craft base at Shoreham, East Sussex during WW2   

• The Avro Lancaster Bomber in RN Service - an account of the handful of Lancaster bombers operated by 780 Squadron from Royal Naval Air Station Peplow, Shropshire during 1946.

• “The Forgotten Cruise” †
  An account of HMS Triumph and the 13th Carrier Air Group, the first Royal Navy Carrier Force in the Korean War

Reminiscences:

• ABLE SEAMAN JAMES HART, LONDON DIVISION RNVR
   "My Part In the Great War" An account of his time with the Royal Naval Division fighting ashore as an infantryman during the First World War.

• TELEGRAPHIST ANTHONY BALCH - memories of the Destroyer Depot ship HMS TYNE.

MORE...
 

People:

• Lieutenant Patrick Corfe Cother, RNVR DSC A brief account of his  WW2 career with Atlantic escort  groups.

• Wren Anne McCormick  A brief account of an accident in 1943 which claimed the lives of 8 WRNS ratings and how one is still remembered today.

• Leading Seaman Kenneth Oakley Royal Navy Commando †
  A tribute page and gallery about Ken's time as an assistant to RN Beach Masters on invasion beaches during WW2.

• Telegraphist (S) Clifford Dennison  **NEW**
  Trained as a specialist Telegraphist Clifford found himself at a remote radio station in India working as part of the naval signals intelligence organisation based at HMS Anderson in Colombo, eavesdropping on Japanese morse code transmission.
   

Miscellaneous photographs:

• A collection of pictures showing HMS Warspite on  D-Day
   

• 
  Veteran returns to former HMS SIMBANG, 65 years on. **NEW**

Short histories of individual vessels or details of flotillas, fleets or Task Forces.

The histories of Naval shore bases around the globe, from Air Stations to Naval bases and dockyards.

The stories of men and women who served at home and abroad in all branches of the RN and RM.