HC Deb 24 February 1955 vol 537 cc196-7W
Brigadier Peto

asked the Minister of Defence whether he will make a statement on the future location of the Amphibious Warfare Organisation.

Mr. H. Macmillan

Starting in a few months' time and extending over a period of about a year, the Amphibious Warfare Organisation at present stationed at Fremington and Westward Ho in North Devon will move to Poole where it will be amalgamated with the Amphibious School, Royal Marines, the whole establishment being known as the Amphibious Warfare Centre. A Trials Section will remain in North Devon since the War Department training areas at Braunton Burrows and Instow are the only suitable areas in the United Kingdom which provide the necessary beach and tidal conditions for trials of landing ships, craft and amphibious vehicles. The amalgamation of these two establishments, both of which are concerned with amphibious operational requirements and training, will benefit the study and development of the techniques of amphibious operations, and will also lead to administrative economies.