HMS Forest Moor aerial
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History | |
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United Kingdom | |
Name | HMS Forest Moor |
Commissioned | October 1960 [1] |
Decommissioned | November 2003 |
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]
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.[ citation needed]
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.[ citation needed]
HMS Forest Moor was also the setting of a short-lived YTV comedy Thundercloud starring James Cosmo on a stone frigate which the Royal Navy confuse with an actual ship. [4] [5]
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) [6] site on Meagill Lane adjacent to the old Forest Moor site. [7]
In 2010, the site was disposed of by Defence Estates to North Yorkshire County Council for £4.7 million. [8] The site has been converted to a school for children with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties. [9] [10]