HMS Wildfire (2000 shore establishment)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Wildfire.

HMS Wildfire is a Royal Naval Reserve unit in Northwood, North West London. Training over 100 reservists, HMS Wildfire is located within a purpose built training facility inside the national military tri-service HQ and NATO base.

History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Wildfire
Commissioned	May 2000
Status	Currently operational
Badge
General characteristics
Class & type	Stone frigate

History

Descended from a long a line of HMS Wildfires since the 1760s,^[1][2] the current unit was commissioned as HMS Northwood in 1957 to support the growing NATO headquarters of Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Atlantic Area (CINCEASTLANT) at Northwood.^[3]

Housed initially within Northwood Headquarters, the unit occupied a series of huts until in 1988 the unit moved to Brackenhill House, an Edwardian mansion situated 250 yards (230 m) from the main gate of Northwood Headquarters/HMS Warrior.^[3] In May 2000 HMS Northwood decommissioned and was commissioned as HMS Wildfire.^[4]

As part of the redevelopment of the base HMS Wildfire returned to the main base into a modern purpose built facility. On 11 June 2011, the Ships company formally marched from Brackenhill House to the Northwood base behind the RM Band Portsmouth and was inspected by Commander-in-Chief Fleet, Admiral Sir Trevor Soar.^[3]

Commanding Officer

The current Commanding Officer of HMS Wildfire is Lieutenant Commander Ian Dorward.^[5]