HMS Vernon (shore establishment)

Lieutenant Commander Peter Scott, RNVR, Operational Officer at HMS Vernon, briefs motor torpedo boat officers before they set off on anti-E-Boat patrols
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Vernon
Commissioned:	26 April 1876
Decommissioned:	Last elements on 1 April 1996
Motto:	Vernon Semper Viret
Nickname(s):	‘The Vernon’
Fate:	Decommissioned and operational elements dispersed
General characteristics
Class and type:	Stone frigate

Coordinates: 50°47′38″N 1°06′25″W / 50.794°N 1.107°W / 50.794; -1.107

HMS Vernon was a shore establishment or "stone frigate" of the Royal Navy. Vernon was established on 26 April 1876 as the Royal Navy's Torpedo Branch also known as the Torpedo School, named after the ship HMS Vernon which served as part of its floating base. After the First World War, HMS Vernon moved ashore, taking over the Gunwharf site, where it continued to operate until 1 April 1996 when the various elements comprising the establishment were split up and moved to different commands.

The second ship to be called HMS Vernon ended her career laid up in Chatham Dockyard as a floating coaling jetty. In 1872 she was moved to become a tender to HMS Excellent for torpedo and mining training. In 1874 she was joined by HMS Vesuvius, an iron screw torpedo vessel. Vesuvius was attached as an Experimental Tender for the conduct of torpedo trials, and remained in the role until 1923.

On 26 April 1876 Vernon was joined by the former steam frigate HMS Ariadne and the lighter Florence Nightingale. These were then commissioned as HMS Vernon, and became the home of the Royal Navy's Torpedo Branch, independent of HMS Excellent.Ariadne was used to provide accommodation. In January 1886 HMS Donegal replaced the original Vernon as a more spacious torpedo school ship. Donegal was renamed Vernon, the original Vernon was renamed Actaeon and took over as the practical workshop.