Volume Six - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - Select Aspects - The Royal Navy and Royal Naval Reserve Fleet at Penarth Dock

The Plan considered the only way to deal with these ships was to lay the Reserve Fleet up in groups in basins at commercial ports from which trade had receded. By August 1952, a detailed scheme for berthing 60 ships in the first three commercial ports had been drawn up in consultation with the Docks and Harbour Authorities, and local shipbuilding firms, and detailed estimates were provided by the Board and the Treasury. The first ship arrived at Penarth Dock to be dealt with under the scheme in the first week in September, 1952.

The Portsmouth Navy News [262] of October 1954 also ran an article about the work undertaken upon the ships entitled 'Reserve Fleet - Maintaining the ships of the Reserve' which again. I felt most of this article to be very worthy of inclusion as an insight as to what work was undertaken by the personnel of the Penarth Pontoon, Slipway & Shiprepairing Company on the Royal Naval Reserve Fleet stationed at the dock.

'At the end of World War II, the Royal Navy possessed a vast fleet consisting of vessels of all types, specially designed for the different tasks required in wartime. Some were huge and complicated like the battleship and aircraft carrier; others were small and expendable like the minor landing craft.

This huge armada was far too valuable to throw away when the men who manned them returned to factory, plough or office. It might be needed again in a hurry.

As many ships as possible were kept in commission, to continue training men who guard our shores in peace time: but what of the remainder? The majority? They lie like ghost ships in our many ports, an enormous Reserve Fleet.

A sub-division of the Portsmouth Reserve Fleet, consisting of 12 frigates is in reserve at Gibraltar. Of these 11 have already arrived and are berthed alongside the Detched Mole. the twelfth ship is expected to be towed out shortly.

Preservation - Now to keep these ships in first-class trim is a task made formidable due to their complicated and varied equipments designed by our scientists and installed during the war.

A special technique has been developed by those whose task it is to preserve these ships, and men from all branches of the Navy are drafted to the Reserve Fleet where they are taught these methods of preservation