HMS Saker
Encyclopedia
HMS Saker, also known as HMS Saker I, HMS Saker II and HMS Saker III, has historically been the ship to which Royal Naval personnel serving in the United States of America are assigned. Consequently, it is a stone frigate
, and has existed at several different locations since the Second World War.
The first mention of the ship is at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
, as a Royal Naval Air Station. Prior to the war, it was a Royal Canadian Air Force station known as . It was commissioned under the name Saker (or possibly Saker II) on 1 October 1941, and paid off on 1 August 1942, being relieved by HMS Canada once more.
Saker II was commissioned as an accounting base at Connecticut Avenue, Washington D.C., on 1 December 1941, and became Saker on 1 November 1942. It had a satellite unit - known originally as - which acted as shore based transit accommodation of the Royal Navy
located just outside of New York City
. It was used by crews picking up ships allocated to the Royal Navy under the provisions of Lend-Lease
and by crews sent to collect ships that had been undergoing long term repair, refitting or construction at United States dockyards, and was also used as a base for 'unattached' personnel.
In 1943 it was recorded at Lewiston, Maine
, where until 1945 it used the facilities at Naval Auxiliary Air Facility Lewiston
for operations. From September 1943 through to July 1944, Saker was also used as the name for British personnel at NAS Squantum
, and as the name for personnel at NAS Brunswick
from August 1943 to August 1945.
The Chaplain of Saker in 1945 was K. Boulton Jones, who performed an all-British memorial ceremony for President Roosevelt at St Mark's Church, Adelaide, Brooklyn, on 15 April of that year.
From October 1945, it was based in New York City - and in March 1946 moved to 37 Wall Street
. In December 1946, it was combined with the British Admiralty Delegation to the US, and was moved to Washington, D.C.
, then Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia. The last building known as Saker closed in 1976, and all the personnel moved back to Washington.
HMS Saker went on to become the collective title for Royal Navy personnel serving in the United States of America, the current commander of HMS Saker - technically Saker III is the Assistant Naval Attaché of the British Defence Staff – US at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Stone frigate
Stone frigate is a nickname for a naval establishment on land. The term has its origin in Britain's Royal Navy after its use of Diamond Rock, off Martinique, as a 'sloop of war' to harass the French...
, and has existed at several different locations since the Second World War.
The first mention of the ship is at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Dartmouth founded in 1750, is a community and planning area of the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia. Located on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour, Dartmouth has been nicknamed the City of Lakes after the large number of lakes located in the city.On April 1, 1996, the provincial...
, as a Royal Naval Air Station. Prior to the war, it was a Royal Canadian Air Force station known as . It was commissioned under the name Saker (or possibly Saker II) on 1 October 1941, and paid off on 1 August 1942, being relieved by HMS Canada once more.
Saker II was commissioned as an accounting base at Connecticut Avenue, Washington D.C., on 1 December 1941, and became Saker on 1 November 1942. It had a satellite unit - known originally as - which acted as shore based transit accommodation of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
located just outside of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. It was used by crews picking up ships allocated to the Royal Navy under the provisions of Lend-Lease
Lend-Lease
Lend-Lease was the program under which the United States of America supplied the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, China, Free France, and other Allied nations with materiel between 1941 and 1945. It was signed into law on March 11, 1941, a year and a half after the outbreak of war in Europe in...
and by crews sent to collect ships that had been undergoing long term repair, refitting or construction at United States dockyards, and was also used as a base for 'unattached' personnel.
In 1943 it was recorded at Lewiston, Maine
Lewiston, Maine
Lewiston is a city in Androscoggin County in Maine, and the second-largest city in the state. The population was 41,592 at the 2010 census. It is one of two principal cities of and included within the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area and the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine...
, where until 1945 it used the facilities at Naval Auxiliary Air Facility Lewiston
Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport
Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport is a public use airport in Androscoggin County, Maine, United States, opened in 1935. It is located four nautical miles southwest the cities of Auburn and Lewiston, both of which own and operate the airport, although it is located solely in the city of Auburn.The...
for operations. From September 1943 through to July 1944, Saker was also used as the name for British personnel at NAS Squantum
Naval Air Station Squantum
Naval Air Station Squantum was an active naval aviation facility during 1917 and from 1923 until 1953. The original civilian airfield that preceded it, the Harvard Aviation Field, dates back to 1910. The base was sited on Squantum Point in the city of Quincy, Massachusetts...
, and as the name for personnel at NAS Brunswick
Naval Air Station Brunswick
Naval Air Station Brunswick , also known as NAS Brunswick, was a military airport located northeast of Brunswick, Maine. The base was home to a number of Navy-operated Maritime patrol aircraft...
from August 1943 to August 1945.
The Chaplain of Saker in 1945 was K. Boulton Jones, who performed an all-British memorial ceremony for President Roosevelt at St Mark's Church, Adelaide, Brooklyn, on 15 April of that year.
From October 1945, it was based in New York City - and in March 1946 moved to 37 Wall Street
37 Wall Street
37 Wall Street was built as an office building on Manhattan's Wall Street. It was designed by Francis Kimball and constructed during 1906-1907 for The Trust Company of America which occupied the ground floor. The building, completed in 1907, stands at 25 floors, plus a penthouse level that...
. In December 1946, it was combined with the British Admiralty Delegation to the US, and was moved to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, then Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia. The last building known as Saker closed in 1976, and all the personnel moved back to Washington.
HMS Saker went on to become the collective title for Royal Navy personnel serving in the United States of America, the current commander of HMS Saker - technically Saker III is the Assistant Naval Attaché of the British Defence Staff – US at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....