Portland Harbour History

During the first half of the 20^th century the harbour became the centre for underwater warfare research and anti-submarine training.  HMS Osprey was established after WW2 to train helicopter crews in the anti-submarine role.

With the German occupation of northern France Portland was too close to the front line for naval use.  Indeed the only major incident in the early part of the war occurred on the 4^th June 1940 when HMS Foylebank, an anti-aircraft ship, was sunk in a violent attack by a squadron of German Stuka dive bombers.  

Portland came into its own in 1944 when it became the embarkation port for a large part of the American D-Day invasion forces.  The US 1^st Division, the “Big Red One”, embarked here on its way to the horrors of Omaha beach.  

The Royal Navy finally left in 1999 when HMS Osprey closed and the harbour became the responsibility of Portland Port.