What was this tower in HMS Vernon for? | Nostalgia

Last Wednesday I published a photograph of a tower within the former HMS Vernon, now Gunwharf Quays.
The helicopter escape tank (lower part) as originally built.The helicopter escape tank (lower part) as originally built.
The helicopter escape tank (lower part) as originally built.

Celia Clark is writing a chapter to a book about the defences around Portsmouth Harbour and wondered what the structure was for. I posed the question and received several replies.

Mike McBride tells me: ‘At Vernon men were prepared for a helicopter ditching in the sea.

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‘Two men were shut in a container (the Aircrew Underwater Escape Trainer) in the tank to simulate a helicopter crash in the sea.

The helicopter escape tank in HMS Vernon was converted from a mines testing tank in the 1960s.The helicopter escape tank in HMS Vernon was converted from a mines testing tank in the 1960s.
The helicopter escape tank in HMS Vernon was converted from a mines testing tank in the 1960s.

‘The container started to fill with water then turns over and the men have to sit patiently until the container is completely upside down, then take a last breath and fight their way out of the container through a window. Two divers are in the tank to help in case of emergency.

‘No wonder we needed the rum ration! I wasn’t lucky enough to undertake this training!’

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29 amazing throwback photos of HMS Vernon

Doug Barlow served at Vernon until the end, then we threw away the key. He said: ‘The structure was the Helicopter training tank, it was full of water with body of helicopter secured in the middle of the tank, crew went onboard, then the it was overturned and they had to swim out. I remember Prince Charles saying "I was bloody scared.”’

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The original use of the tank was to check the operation of mine sinkers during the development of buoyant mines designs.

On another subject as to HMS Vernon, the former railway line that dropped down to the establishment from the harbour station.

Dave Quinton says: ‘Wagons were delivered by railway company locos & the LSWR rulebook of Jan 1911 states: The siding is on a steep falling gradient into the Gunwharf and curved sharply to the right as far as the weighbridge, beyond which the Company's engines must not proceed.

‘Only the smallest type of engine should be used in working the siding. The siding is only available for goods traffic and, whenever used, an inspector inspector or other qualified person must be in attendance.’

The line to the Gunwharf remained in operation until about 1930, but its use was then resurrected in 1937 before becoming disconnected after WW11 and officially abandoned in 1962.

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