Dorset Marine and Coastal Topic Paper Series 2010 Military Activity There is a long history of military use of Dorset’s coast. Historically, the most significant site has been the naval base at Portland, established in the 1840s. The port is now privately owned and managed by Portland Harbour Authority Limited however the Royal Fleet Auxiliary are a major user of the port and other military activities continue including magnetic ranging at Newton’s Cove, Weymouth and noise, ranging off Grove Point, Portland. Three significant military facilities, the Army Gunnery School based at Lulworth, the Royal Marines landing craft training wing based at Poole and the Wyke Regis Training Area, remain long term commitments. Offshore, the coastal seas are used for some naval exercises. This topic paper summarises the current position of military activity on the Dorset Coast. Use by the Armed Forces the afloat activity takes place within Poole UK defence policy demands the Harbour, although Studland Bay, Lulworth maintenance of capable armed forces, Cove, Worbarrow Bay and Portland Harbour under the responsibility of the Ministry of may be used for exercises. Defence (MoD). In meeting this requirement, the military require residential One of the new unit's roles is to parent all the bases, and access to adequate facilities for Royal Marine Assault Squadrons: 6 Assault exercise and training. Dorset continues to squadron Royal Marines (ASRM) in HMS play its part in fulfilling the MoD’s Albion and 9 ASRM in HMS Ocean. requirements by hosting three significant military establishments, which represent Historically, the first military development on long-term commitments: the site at Poole was in 1942, with the creation of Royal Air Force Hamworthy, DTE – Lulworth Gunnery School provides Coastal Command. In 1944 the site live firing and tactical training to meet the transferred to Transport Command and was needs of the Army. The ranges cover more Lulworth Ranges taken from Portland. Copyright: then handed over to the Royal Navy. RAF than 2,830 hectares of land to the east of Dorset Coast Forum Station Hamworthy formally ceased to exist Lulworth, and a defined sea danger area on 1st May 1944 and during the Second which extends up to six nautical miles Assault Group Royal Marines, based at Poole World War the site was known as HMS offshore between Lulworth Cove and St. RM Poole is the home of the Landing Craft Turtle and was used by the Royal Navy for Aldhelm's (St Alban's) Head. Lulworth Specialisation and 148 (Meiktila) Forward training personnel for the D-Day Landings. In Ranges have been a feature of the coast Observation Battery Royal Artillery. Their job is 1954 the site was taken over by the Royal since the First World War. to direct from ashore gunfire from Navy ships to Marines. ensure maximum accuracy. Royal Marines of all ranks come to Poole to be taught how to operate The Wyke Regis Training Area is part of the boats of the Royal Marines Commandos. the Defence Training Estate South West. It The wing use 7.4 metre, fast Rigid Raiders and comprises three sites: Landing Craft of 13.5 and 27.4 metres. Most of Dorset Marine and Coastal Topic Paper Series 2010 Military Activity 1. A small-arms range on the northern the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency exercises was relocated to Plymouth in 1995 side of the Fleet with a safety area (DERA) is now undertaken by QinetiQ, a Public after over 40 years at Portland. The base that extends across Chesil Beach Limited Company which operates the MoD Test closed in 1996 and was sold to Portland and out to sea. The range is typically and Evaluation Ranges under a 25 year Long Harbour Authority Limited (PHAL). The Navy used for 150 days per year and Term Partnering Agreement (LTPA) with the handed over harbour authority responsibility sentries are posted when it is live to MoD. QinetiQ, an international defence and to PHAL on 1 January 1998. police the footpaths and offshore security company has offices at Hurn, Winfrith, area. Christchurch, Bincleaves in Weymouth, Grove 2. A camp and rifle range at Chickerell Point (Old Coastguard Lookout) and Portland Bill which is used for markmanship training on the Isle of Portland. The Winfrith offices and for basic fieldcraft and patrolling operate the MoD Acoustic and Magnetic Sea exercises. Ranges within the limits of Portland Harbour and 3. Verne Yeates on Portland which is used a The Land Magnetic Facility at Portland Bill. for bridging and signals training. QinetiQ was also involved in sonar and other maritime defence equipment development, but Substantial offshore areas are marked on this aspect has now been transferred to Atlas charts as Navy exercise areas. Dorset’s Elektronik, which retains an interest in the Short coast has been used for naval training for and Acoustic Ranges on the breakwater in many years but the closure of the Naval Portland Harbour. Base and relocation of the Navy’s sea training unit has led to a substantial Navy at Portland: A brief history and Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ship at Portland decrease in use. The Navy advises that current position Harbour. Copyright: Dorset Coast Forum surface use by warships is much reduced, Portland offered a natural anchorage for sailing and the main focus for exercise is now off warships since the late 1500s but acquired Portland Harbour is still used by the military. South Devon and Cornwall extending out to greater strategic significance in the mid 19th The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service (RFA), a the Atlantic. Ships will be found on passage century when the French naval base at civilian manned fleet owned by the Ministry and continue to conduct independent Cherbourg was extended. The first of the of Defence, supply warships of the Royal exercises off the Dorset coast. The Navy breakwaters was constructed in 1872 and then, Navy at sea with fuel, food, stores and advise that submarine exercises are now the remaining two were completed in 1894. The ammunition. The RFA Wave Ruler, RFA extremely rare off the Dorset Coast and improved shelter provided by the breakwaters Bayleaf and other ships are regularly berthed consider that this aspect can be discounted. made Portland harbour an increasingly popular for maintenance and to collect supplies. anchorage, particularly for the Channel Fleet. Defence research The base remained important throughout the RFA Sir Tristram, an ex-navy warship Aside from direct use by the armed forces, 20 th century until the 1990s, when the Navy support vessel, is now permanently moored parts of the Dorset Coast have been used opted to close it due to budgetary pressures. in Portland Harbour and is used by the for defence research and testing for many Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) organisation, military for helicopter, diving and ordinance years. This work previously undertaken by responsible for co-ordinating the Navy’s sea operations. Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) Dorset Marine and Coastal Topic Paper Series 2010 Military Activity Divers Branch have used RFA Tristram for the most effective means of avoiding part of a course specialising in Underwater Limited public access and reduced agricultural possible conflicts. Outside the harbour RM Force Protection (UWFP) & Search activity within the ranges has had some wildlife Poole give rise to limited impacts in the techniques, where they learnt how to lay benefits through reduced disturbance. A range areas where they operate. MoD consider that and carry out underwater searches. conservation committee meets on a six-monthly the most significant impact is from loading basis to advise the MoD on management and unloading of vehicles from landing craft. The Noise and Magnetic/ Degaussing practises. However such operations are rarely carried Ranges are within the Harbour limits . out in Dorset. Good liaison arrangements exist between the Wyke Regis Training Area Managing the Impact of Military and Chesil and the Fleet Nature Reserve. Activity Past military activity has had a significant Integrating Military Activity within impact on the coast. Reclamation to build Dorset’s Coastal Zone the Portland Tank farm was at the expense Military activity need to be integrated with the of the Mere, an area of tidal mudflats. The other uses and activities within the Coastal history of use of hazardous materials means Zone where possible. Its potential impacts, that possible contamination of land and and the key questions they raise are: sediments remains an issue, although intrusive Land Quality Assessment Reports • Archaeology - The abandoned village of and Explosive Ordnance investigations Military boat in Weymouth Harbour. Copyright: Tyneham within the Lulworth Ranges is a have been routinely carried out by the MoD Dorset Coast Forum uniquely interesting site. The use of prior to the sale or release of sites in recent munitions, the clearance of some wrecks years. The sea danger areas restrict recreational and other military material from the Where military activity continues it has the boating and fishing during weekdays outside the seabed and exercises in general, can potential to impact significantly on the coast. main holiday periods, and during 6 weekends result in damage to historical material, if Because MoD activity on the Dorset Coast each year. The school maintains an emergency the significance of the site is not is well-established, its impacts are generally pollution plan, and radar coverage of the recognised. well understood and management offshore danger areas, which is integrated with • Coastal Defence - No significant arrangements are in place to mitigate them the Coastguard and HM Customs. interactions. where possible. The most significant impact • Educational Use - No significant is that of the RAC Gunnery School at The main possible impact of RM Poole is from interactions. Lulworth. Safety requirements mean that the use of fast boats within busy waters in Poole • Fishing - MoD activity may impact on public access to the coast within the ranges Harbour.