Dates: 1904 - 1999
The seventeenth Royal Navy ’ship’ to be named HMS Dolphin was the the RN shore establishment sited at Fort Blockhouse in Gosport. Dolphin was the home of the Royal Navy Submarine Service from 1904 to 1999, and location of the Royal Navy Submarine School.
HMS Dolphin closed as a submarine base on 30 September 1998, although the last RN submarine permanently based at Gosport was HMS Ursula which had left 4 years earlier in 1994. The Royal Navy Submarine School (RNSMS) remained at Dolphin until 23 December 1999 when it closed prior to relocation to HMS Raleigh. The RNSMS staff marched into HMS Raleigh and were welcomed onboard by Commodore Lockwood on 31 January 2000. The RNSMS is located in the Dolphin and Astute blocks at Raleigh, although the Submarine Escape Training Tower (SETT), a 30m deep tank of water used to instruct all RN submariners in pressurised escape, remains at the same site, now renamed Fort Blockhouse.
Memories of HMS Dolphin
HMS Dolphin Duty Watch in 1973Written by John Deas
Contact this person >> 
"During the winter of 1972/73 I was drafted to HMS Dolphin to complete the Polaris Submariners Course. As part of the Ships Company we all had to do Anti Vandal/Security Sentry during our stint on duty watch.
I remember one cold and miserable morning around 0400hrs being woken from a warm bed and given a radio and a pick axe handle then having to guard one of the landing jetties for the next four hours, (another eight or ten of us dotted around the camp guarding various other things).
I was trying to stop the rain/sleet from running down my neck and was stamping my feet to keep the circulation going when my radio clicked into life...
"I'm bored with this"
Silence for nearly ten minutes then...
"God this is so bl**dy boring"
Again, silence for ten minutes or so then...
"I'm so bored with this I could just sh*t!"
This time the radio message was answered...
"This is the Officer of the Day, who is that?"
Silence for about ten seconds then...
"I'm not that bored!"
Although we were all questioned on changeover, no one was done for it.
It livened up an otherwise boring duty."
HMS Dolphin......duty watch in 1975Written by Pete
Contact this person >> "The night the IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands died. I was guarding a fence out by Dolphin Two and expecting hoards of IRA terrorists to come swarming over the top of the barbed wire. I was eighteen years old and veryyyyyyyyy much a sprog but I was going to stop them at any cost with a tin hat, nightstick, whistle, a radio (stornophone?) belt and gaiters. I was determined to stop ANYBODY. I would have as well except nobody did try to invade. All night long I waited, I didn't take my eyes off that fence for a minute! Come 0700 I was out on my feet but was relieved on time and after dumping my duty stuff off at Electric Lemonade it was staight to the galley for scan and back to my mess for domestics.
Then it was instruction as usual in the Submarine school and once again I was determined to stay awake throughout the day. Other guys with me the previous night fell asleep in the class room and I thought that faily limp to say the least. I managed it to remain awake and come sixteen hundred....whoohoo...secure. Straight to my mess, Cameron CF6 to shower and don jeans and tee shirt prior to legging to Gopsport for a couple of beers or lots. Back onboard for 2359 (ish), pick up station card, rack out for about five hours then do it all again.
You can do anything when you are eighteen......I could anyway!!!!"
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Dolphin
" Quoting: ian codling Andy. mate of mine in gloucester has one in his garage.Comes out on nice days,he won’t part with it.I have tried but to no avail. My father was instructing down at HMS Dolphin and his class managed to position the car in the lecture for him the next morning.....was he amused "
Click For More
" Quoting: Peter Tibbs Got all of them noprobs looking at Dolphin that was a submariners base in Portsmouth but will do the rest it will be a pleasure wil do print outs for u do you want me to scan and email them to u ? HMS Dolphin was Submarine training school.....although they ..."
Click For More
" Do they still have there annual Reunion somewhere? I went to one in HMS Dolphin a few years ago,and they said it would be the last one to be held there! Anyone help me out please? Also is there a Polaris Boats old boys website anywhere?Ive tried www.submariners.co.uk but to no avail. All help and suggestions appreciated. Nick "
Click For More
" Please can anyone help i am looking for Murray forrester(muz).Matthew edge(ginge). and also "ernie" All served on hms olympus in 1987 when we met. Would love to get in touch with them as we lost touch when they changed subs to hms dolphin..If any one can help plz get intouch . Last edited by michelle anderson/shiress Last edited by michelle anderson/shiress"
Click For More
" Ships and establishments marked Friday 31st July 1970 in their own way. Some buried the tot along with a headstone, as in the Middle East. Many threw the last tot over the side of their ships. HMS Dolphin was one of the establishments that had a gun carriage bearing a coffin that was flanked by ..."
Click For More
