Admiralty Hydro-Ballistic Research Establishment

The Admiralty Hydro-Ballistic Research Establishment (AHBRE) was formed in 1948 by the amalgamation of two testing stations that had been established during World War II by the Air Ministry and the Admiralty, at Coulport and Glen Fruin respectively, to investigate the effects of water on bombs and torpedoes dropped from the air. Glen Fruin operated a scaled-down version of the water entry test facilities, whilst at Coulport, there was a full scale version. The joint establishment was subsequently absorbed by the Admiralty Research Laboratory (ARL).^[1]

Torpedo test firing was carried out on the Loch Long Torpedo Range, another Admiralty facility, and Glen Fruin is sometimes referred to as a World War II torpedo testing station, but the description is inaccurate as this was not the stated purpose of the facility.

Postwar development

The AHBRE later became the Admiralty Research Establishment Glen Fruin, and remains in operation, with the site housing a number of test tanks, including one which extends to 150 feet and holds 250,000 gallons of water, together with supporting services and other buildings. The facility lies on the south side of the A817 road leading east from Faslane, on the southern edge of the Garelochead military training area which extends to the north.