HMS Condor II

HMS Condor II, also known as RNAS (Royal Naval Air Station) Dundee, was a World War I and World War II seaplane base located at Stannergate, east of Dundee on the north shore of the Firth of Tay.

World War I

The Royal Navy established a number of air stations around the country, operating both airships and aircraft to provide reconnaissance and anti-submarine operations, and Stannergate was a seaplane base which began in 1914 with a slipway and two hangars, later supplemented by a larger handed and additional slipway to allow larger flying boats to be housed. This was referred to as an F-Type hangar, and measured approximately 204 feet (62.2 m) by 104 feet (31.7 m) and 27 feet (8.2 m) clearance. Most notable was the design of this hangar's east wall, able to be opened in sections about 51 feet (15.5 m) wide, each being a wheeled door operated by a cranked chain drive. The roof and walls were clad in corrugated asbestos sheeting. Similar hangars of this type are reported at Evanton and West Freugh.

The base is believed to have closed in October 1919.

World War II

The base was reopened and HMS Condor II was commissioned in 1941, as satellite seaplane base of HMS Condor, RNAS Arbroath.

All elements of the base were visible in RAF aerial photographs taken in 1943, including a Type 27 pillbox located immediately northwest of the main flying boat hangar, and the nearby Stannergate Coastal Battery to the east.

The base was paid off 1944 and placed on care & maintenance.

Development

The entire site has been lost to industrial development of the former base and surrounding area, and the slipways have been built over, work undertaken after the last survey was carried out in 1986. The west area is now occupied By Caledon East Wharf, with Prince Charles Wharf to the east, and oil rig are now berthed here while undergoing repair.