HMS Cambria is the lead Royal Naval Reserve unit in Wales. HMS Cambria's present headquarters is located on Cargo Road in Cardiff Bay.
History
[edit]HMS Cambria was commissioned as South Wales Division of the RNR in July 1947. Initially Cambria was based in Cardiff Docks, however, on the 15th of October 1980 the unit relocated to a new site in the former Service Married Quarters just off Hayes Point in Sully. In 2020, HMS Cambria returned to the Welsh Capital moving into a new £11,000,000 headquarters on Cargo Road.[1] HMS Cambria shares its new headquarters with the Royal Marines Reserve Cardiff Detachment and the Wales University Royal Naval Unit.[2]
Tawe Division
[edit]There are only three satellite units in the RNR. Cambria has a Swansea based satellite unit – Tawe division. Tawe Division began as a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Wireless unit in 1932. Between 1984 and 1994 the unit was briefly commissioned as HMS Dragon, but it was later made subordinate to Cambria following recommendations made in Options for Change.
Ceremonial Freedoms
[edit]- Freedom of the Vale of Glamorgan – 2012[3]
- Freedom of the City of Swansea – 2018[4]
- Freedom of the City and County of Cardiff – 2023
References
[edit]- ^ Royal Navy (4 October 2021). "'At the heart of Wales' – HMS Cambria's new home formally opened in Cardiff".
- ^ "Morgan Sindall: HMS Cambria – Construction Time Lapse". WCCTV.
- ^ ITV News (31 March 2012). "HMS Cambria awarded Freedom of County".
- ^ "HMS Cambria navy crew awarded freedom of Swansea". BBC News. 2018-01-25. Retrieved 2023-04-25.