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HMS Osprey was an anti-submarine training establishment established at Portland between 1924 and 1941, when its functions were transferred to Dunoon. HMS Osprey was at Dunoon until 1946, the name also being allocated to a smaller base established at Belfast in 1943. Osprey recommissioned at Portland in 1946, became a base in 1948. In1958 it became the home of Flag Officer Sea Training. (FOST) This is a Royal Navy training organization responsible for ensuring that Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels are fit to join the operational fleet. FOST certifies crews and vessels as being sufficiently prepared for any eventuality through rigorous exercises and readiness inspections. The main training and testing period is called Basic Operational Sea Training (BOST), which typically lasts six weeks. It combines surveys of the physical condition of the ship with tests of the crew's readiness for deployment, including a weekly war-fighting and damage control scenario known as a 'Thursday War' After leaving Puma and taking my RP2's course at HMS Dryad. I then went onto HMS Osprey and started working at the anti-submarine school.
Working in the anti-submarine simulator, the buildings in the bottom of the picture Inside it was pure Second World War vintage. Yet I learned a great deal about procedures from being a combined helicopter pilot, and the sonar operator. It was great fun and I really enjoyed it. However, after 2 years and having got myself up to date on all new antisubmarine procedures. The square peg in the round hole brigade struck, and sent me to HMS Eagle. I suppose the Russians may have produced low flying submarines. This ideology of Jack of all trades and master of none, would eventually turn me off from the Navy. Later in 1972 I would come here for the last time on my Helicopter Controller's course and continued for a little while to work at the Air Station, in the control room to the right. This was my last happy time for me in the Andrew. I spent numerous hours inside, whilst on my Helicopter Controller's course and later when I passed.
I borrowed my daughter's caravan overlooking the Fleet, and travelled the Roswell Trail. Crossing Chesil Beach, I was surprised to see how little was left of the old HMS Osprey. Apart from the odd black strip of tarmac, showing parts relating to the airfield, and the old bordered up control tower waiting development. There was nothing of the history, of one of the foremost antisubmarine establishments in NATO.
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