HMS Excellent on Whale Island aerial view 1970. Bottom right at her mooring is the Royal Yacht Britannia where she was always located when not in use. The grey ship to the left is HMS Rame Head that was a Canadian ship. She was a training ship later followed by HMS Bristol which still uses the birth to this day. Just above the playing field are the barrack blocks.HMS Excellent on Whale Island aerial view 1970. Bottom right at her mooring is the Royal Yacht Britannia where she was always located when not in use. The grey ship to the left is HMS Rame Head that was a Canadian ship. She was a training ship later followed by HMS Bristol which still uses the birth to this day. Just above the playing field are the barrack blocks.
HMS Excellent on Whale Island aerial view 1970. Bottom right at her mooring is the Royal Yacht Britannia where she was always located when not in use. The grey ship to the left is HMS Rame Head that was a Canadian ship. She was a training ship later followed by HMS Bristol which still uses the birth to this day. Just above the playing field are the barrack blocks.

20 stunning memories of the sailors of Royal Navy's HMS Excellent

By Steve Deeks
Published 7th Jul 2020, 16:51 GMT
Updated 5th Sep 2024, 14:14 GMT
HMS Excellent is the home of the naval headquarters in Portsmouth and has experienced more than 200 years of history in the city.

It was commissioned in 1869 and was home to a gunnery school for more than a century. The base was decommissioned in 1985 when the school was opened and the site became part of HMS Nelson.

These days HMS Excellent is part of the Maritime Warfare School, with a headquarters at HMS Collingwood, though there are a number of lodger units on the Royal Navy base.

The photos in this gallery tell the story of the base, including the training that was carried out and the parades that took place there.

HMS Excellent is based on Whale Island in Portsmouth, so you are sure to spot it if you are driving in or out of the city on the motorway.

If you are interested in seeing more defence news, join our Royal Navy group on Facebook.

MORE RETRO PHOTOS: Pounds’ scrapyard | Amazing Royal Navy photos from the past | Old Portsmouth

The naval cadet field gun crew of 1951, winners of the Brickwoods trophy in the competition held at HMS Excellent, Whale Island

21. HMS Excellent on Whale Island

The naval cadet field gun crew of 1951, winners of the Brickwoods trophy in the competition held at HMS Excellent, Whale Island Photo: The News archive

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