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RM Condor

January 01, 1970

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.

RM Condor
Near Arbroath, Angus in Scotland
The entrance to RM Condor
RM Condor
Shown within Angus
RM Condor
RM Condor (the United Kingdom)
Coordinates56°34′56″N 002°37′31″W / 56.58222°N 2.62528°W / 56.58222; -2.62528
TypeRoyal Marines base
Area201 hectares[1]
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
Operator Royal Navy
Controlled by Royal Marines
ConditionOperational
WebsiteRM Condor - Royal Navy
Site history
Built1938 (1938)
In use1938 – 1971 (Fleet Air Arm)
1971 – present (Royal Marines)
Garrison information
Current
commander		Lieutenant Colonel Innes Catton[2]
Garrison3 Commando Brigade
Occupants45 Commando Group
Airfield information
Elevation49 metres (161 ft) AMSL
Helipads
Number Length and surface
00 50x50m Concrete

History edit

The base was first constructed as a naval air station for the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm in 1938, when it was known as Royal Naval Air Station Arbroath (RNAS Arbroath; or 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 Heinkel He 111 bombers, operating from Norway, which resulted in minor damage (then valued at £6,000) being sustained to some Squadron buildings. Throughout the war years the base was additionally used as a rest area. Operational Squadrons from Royal Navy fleet and escort aircraft carriers would take it in turn to spend rest periods whilst their ships were undergoing maintenance at Scottish Naval ship repair facilities.[3]

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.[4]

The base was thereafter known as RM Condor or Condor Barracks and remains an operational base to this day.[5]

A Better Defence Estate, published in November 2016, indicated that the Ministry of Defence would dispose of the airfield section of RM Condor by 2024.[6] In 2019, this decision was dropped, and the site will remain in use.[7]

Units edit

The following units have been based here:[8]

  • M Flight 3 CDO BDE Air Sqn RM

    • Based units edit

    Units based at RM Condor.[10]

    Cadets edit

    The establishment is also home to the Royal Marines Cadets of Arbroath Division Royal Marines Volunteer Cadet Corps.[11]

    Built heritage edit

    The redundant airfield control tower is a category C listed building. The three storey building is one of two surviving examples of this particular type of control tower, which features an ambulance and crash tender garage. The tower, which was listed in May 2006, is noted by Historic Environment Scotland as being important in terms of naval and Second World War history, as well as for its local significance.[12]

    The Captain's House, formerly known as 'Woodlands', dates from the early 19th century. The two-storey and basement Regency mansion was listed as category B in June 1971.[13]

    See also edit

    References edit

    Citations edit

    1. ^ "Defence Estates Development Plan (DEDP) 2009 - Annex A" (PDF). GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence. 3 July 2009. p. A-1. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
    2. ^ "Condor". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
    3. ^ "Arbroath". Forgotten Airfields. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
    4. ^ "Plans for Arbroath's RM Condor marine base described as 'best of a bad deal'". The Courier. 19 July 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
    5. ^ "RM Condor". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 2 February 2009.
    6. ^ "A Better Defence Estate" (PDF). GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence. 7 November 2016. p. 15. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
    7. ^ "Ministry of Defence urged to stop planned Scottish base closures". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
    8. ^ "Arbroath". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
    9. ^ Howard 2011, p. 62.
    10. ^ "Condor". Royal Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
    11. ^ "Arbroath". Volunteer Cadet Corps. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
    12. ^ "Anugs, Arbroath, RM Condor, Control Tower (LB50470)". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
    13. ^ "Captain's House, (Formerly Woodlands), Royal Naval Air Station". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 22 April 2018.

    Bibliography edit

    • Howard, L; Burrow, M; Myall, E (2011). Fleet Air Arm helicopters since 1943. UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 978-0-85130-304-8.

    External links edit

     
    Wikimedia Commons has media related to RM Condor.

    January 01, 1970
    condor, large, royal, marines, base, located, near, arbroath, east, angus, scotland, base, also, houses, sphinx, battery, royal, artillery, part, commando, regiment, royal, artillery, near, arbroath, angus, scotlandthe, entrance, shown, within, angusshow, angu. 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 RM CondorNear Arbroath Angus in ScotlandThe entrance to RM CondorRM CondorShown within AngusShow map of AngusRM CondorRM Condor the United Kingdom Show map of the United KingdomCoordinates56 34 56 N 002 37 31 W 56 58222 N 2 62528 W 56 58222 2 62528TypeRoyal Marines baseArea201 hectares 1 Site informationOwnerMinistry of DefenceOperator Royal NavyControlled by Royal MarinesConditionOperationalWebsiteRM Condor Royal NavySite historyBuilt1938 1938 In use1938 1971 Fleet Air Arm 1971 present Royal Marines Garrison informationCurrentcommanderLieutenant Colonel Innes Catton 2 Garrison3 Commando BrigadeOccupants45 Commando Group 45 Commando 7 Sphinx Battery Royal Artillery 2 City of Dundee Signal Squadron 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group Royal Military Police DetachmentAirfield informationElevation49 metres 161 ft AMSLHelipadsNumber Length and surface00 50x50m Concrete Contents 1 History 1 1 Units 2 Based units 3 Cadets 4 Built heritage 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Citations 6 2 Bibliography 7 External linksHistory editThe base was first constructed as a naval air station for the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm in 1938 when it was known as Royal Naval Air Station Arbroath RNAS Arbroath or 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 Heinkel He 111 bombers operating from Norway which resulted in minor damage then valued at 6 000 being sustained to some Squadron buildings Throughout the war years the base was additionally used as a rest area Operational Squadrons from Royal Navy fleet and escort aircraft carriers would take it in turn to spend rest periods whilst their ships were undergoing maintenance at Scottish Naval ship repair facilities 3 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 4 The base was thereafter known as RM Condor or Condor Barracks and remains an operational base to this day 5 A Better Defence Estate published in November 2016 indicated that the Ministry of Defence would dispose of the airfield section of RM Condor by 2024 6 In 2019 this decision was dropped and the site will remain in use 7 Units edit The following units have been based here 8 No 4 Ferry Flight 17th Carrier Air Group No 65 Squadron RAF No 662 Gliding Squadron RAF No 703A Flight 735 Naval Air Squadron 737 Naval Air Squadron 740 Naval Air Squadron 741 Naval Air Squadron 751 Naval Air Squadron 753 Naval Air Squadron 754 Naval Air Squadron 758 Naval Air Squadron 767 Naval Air Squadron 768 Naval Air Squadron 769 Naval Air Squadron 770 Naval Air Squadron 771 Naval Air Squadron 772 Naval Air Squadron 778 Naval Air Squadron 783 Naval Air Squadron 787 Naval Air Squadron 791 Naval Air Squadron 800 Naval Air Squadron 801 Naval Air Squadron 802 Naval Air Squadron 803 Naval Air Squadron 807 Naval Air Squadron 809 Naval Air Squadron 810 Naval Air Squadron 811 Naval Air Squadron 813 Naval Air Squadron 814 Naval Air Squadron 815 Naval Air Squadron 818 Naval Air Squadron 819 Naval Air Squadron 820 Naval Air Squadron 821 Naval Air Squadron No 824A Flight 825 Naval Air Squadron 826 Naval Air Squadron 841 Naval Air Squadron 845 Naval Air Squadron 846 Naval Air Squadron 880 Naval Air Squadron 883 Naval Air Squadron 885 Naval Air Squadron 898 Naval Air Squadron 1771 Naval Air Squadron Air Engineering School 9 M Flight 3 CDO BDE Air Sqn RMBased units editUnits based at RM Condor 10 45 Commando Royal Marines Royal Marines Police 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group 7 Sphinx Battery 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery 2 City of Dundee and Highland Squadron 32 Signals Regiment Army Reserve Volunteer Cadet CorpsCadets editThe establishment is also home to the Royal Marines Cadets of Arbroath Division Royal Marines Volunteer Cadet Corps 11 Built heritage editThe redundant airfield control tower is a category C listed building The three storey building is one of two surviving examples of this particular type of control tower which features an ambulance and crash tender garage The tower which was listed in May 2006 is noted by Historic Environment Scotland as being important in terms of naval and Second World War history as well as for its local significance 12 The Captain s House formerly known as Woodlands dates from the early 19th century The two storey and basement Regency mansion was listed as category B in June 1971 13 See also editArmed forces in Scotland Military history of Scotland List of air stations of the Royal NavyReferences editCitations edit Defence Estates Development Plan DEDP 2009 Annex A PDF GOV UK Ministry of Defence 3 July 2009 p A 1 Retrieved 21 April 2018 Condor Royal Navy Retrieved 22 April 2018 Arbroath Forgotten Airfields Retrieved 28 October 2023 Plans for Arbroath s RM Condor marine base described as best of a bad deal The Courier 19 July 2011 Retrieved 19 March 2016 RM Condor Gazetteer for Scotland Retrieved 2 February 2009 A Better Defence Estate PDF GOV UK Ministry of Defence 7 November 2016 p 15 Retrieved 18 November 2017 Ministry of Defence urged to stop planned Scottish base closures www scotsman com Retrieved 12 October 2019 Arbroath Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust Retrieved 4 April 2015 Howard 2011 p 62 Condor Royal Navy Retrieved 22 April 2018 Arbroath Volunteer Cadet Corps Retrieved 27 January 2021 Anugs Arbroath RM Condor Control Tower LB50470 Historic Environment Scotland Retrieved 22 April 2018 Captain s House Formerly Woodlands Royal Naval Air Station Historic Environment Scotland Retrieved 22 April 2018 Bibliography edit Howard L Burrow M Myall E 2011 Fleet Air Arm helicopters since 1943 UK Air Britain Historians Ltd ISBN 978 0 85130 304 8 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to RM Condor Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title RM Condor amp oldid 1185825597, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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