RNAS Twatt (HMS Tern)
Former Royal Naval Air Station in Orkney, Scotland / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about RNAS Twatt (HMS Tern)?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Royal Naval Air Station Twatt, (RNAS Twatt; or HMS Tern) is a former Royal Navy Air Station located near Twatt, Orkney, Scotland. It was built by the Admiralty and was commissioned on 1 April 1941 (on books of HMS Sparrowhawk). On 1 January 1942 it became an independent command as HMS Tern. The airbase was designed to provide accommodation for disembarked Front-Line squadrons and accommodation for disembarked Ship's Flight Aircraft and was home to the Home Fleet Fleet Requirements Unit, 771 Naval Air Squadron.
RNAS Twatt (HMS Tern) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Twatt, on the Mainland of Orkney Near Stromness, Orkney, in Scotland | |||||||||||||
Coordinates | 59°05′16″N 3°17′02″W | ||||||||||||
Grid reference | HY265230 | ||||||||||||
Type | Naval Air Station | ||||||||||||
Code | T | ||||||||||||
Area | 564 acres (228 ha)[1] | ||||||||||||
Site information | |||||||||||||
Owner | Admiralty | ||||||||||||
Operator | Royal Navy | ||||||||||||
Controlled by | Fleet Air Arm | ||||||||||||
Condition | Disused | ||||||||||||
Site history | |||||||||||||
Built | 1941 (1941) | ||||||||||||
In use | 1941-1946 (1946) (Care & maintenance until 1957) | ||||||||||||
Fate | Closed | ||||||||||||
Battles/wars | European theatre of World War II | ||||||||||||
Garrison information | |||||||||||||
Garrison | Fleet Air Arm | ||||||||||||
Occupants | Accommodation for disembarked Front-Line squadrons Accommodation for disembarked Ship's Flight Aircraft (H.Q. 700 Squadron) Home Fleet Fleet Requirements Unit (771 squadron) | ||||||||||||
Airfield information | |||||||||||||
Elevation | 20 metres (66 ft) AMSL | ||||||||||||
|
The airbase is situated near two notable landmarks, on the south east side of Loch of Isbister, with Brough Head 3.25 miles (5 km) north west. The town of Kirkwall is 12 miles (19 km) south east and the town of Stromness lies 7.5 miles (12 km) to the south.[3]
Twatt was mainly used as a training airfield. On 30 March 1944 initial plans were to make Twatt the only airfield suitable to aid the disembarkation of squadrons of the Home Fleet.[2]
It closed and was ‘paid off’ on 20 October 1945 to care and maintenance, on the books of HMS Owl.[3] During the 1970s it was proposed to merge with nearby RAF Skeabrae to create a large NATO base, but Iceland was chosen instead.[4]