HMD Devonport

The Royal Navy has been associated with Plymouth and Devonport since before the 1500s. The Royal Dockyard itself was opened in 1691 to the south of the main site and work started further north on Naval Barracks in 1880.

A ten year major modernisation programme for Devonport Dockyard commenced in the early 1970s. Between Mar 1973 and 1977, No. 5, 6 and 7 Dock in No. 2 Basin were pumped dry and a covered Frigate complex constructed on the site of the old Keyham dock, to allow work to be done under cover. The new docks were flooded in early Jun 1976.