HMS Tamar

The troop ship HMS Tamar arrived in Hong Kong in 1897 and remained in the British territory until it was scuttled (to avoid being used by the invading Japanese Imperial forces) during the Battle of Hong Kong during World War II in 1941.

History

HMS Tamar was the name of the Royal Naval station in the British territory of Hong Kong.

Tamar I: HMS Tamar, a RN troop ship was built in Millwall and launched in Samuda, Poplar 1863 At 3,650 tons, it was the fifth ship to bear this name since 1758 and named after a river in South-east England. The ship became the RN's base in the territory from 1887 to 1941.

Tamar II: At the end of World War II, the RN re-established their naval base at Wellington Barracks, vacated by the British Army.

Tamar III: From 1959 to 1962, the Wellington Barracks was upgrade to better serve the colony and reflect the changing times for the Royal Navy in the Pacific region.

Tamar IV: The RN decided to demolish the Wellington Barracks and rebuild a modern naval facility in Hong Kong. The Prince of Wales Building was completed in 1978 and became the new HMS Tamar.

Tamar V: The last base to bear the Tamar name was relocated to Stonecutter's Island off Kowloon prior to the handover in 1997.

Following the departure of British forces in 1997, the Tamar basin was filled in and the PLA of The People's Republic of China occuppied the Prince of Wales Building (now Central Barracks).

See also

• British Forces Overseas Hong Kong
• Prince of Wales Building

• Military of Hong Kong

References

• HMS Tamar
• China Fleet
• Naval forces of the British Empire: Ships: Troopships: HMS Tamar, 1882
• White Ensign Red Dragon Editted by Commodore P J Melson CBE 1997