Functioning Base
The base plays host to a large part of the surface fleet of the Royal Navy including an Invincible-class aircraft carrier, Type 42 destroyers, Type 45 destroyers, the majority of the Type 23 frigates, fishery protection vessels and a squadron of mine counter-measures vessels (minesweepers and mine hunters). Most of the vessels based in Portsmouth form part of the Portsmouth Flotilla, under the Fleet First reorganisation which saw the three (Portsmouth, Devonport and Faslane) port flotillas replace the frigate and destroyer squadrons and other groupings.
In total some 17,300 people work in the base. Until recently it was the base of the Second Sea Lord who flies his flag in HMS Victory, which is the oldest commissioned warship in the world (although she was originally built at Chatham Dockyard). The Second Sea Lord is now at Henry Leach Building on Whale Island, which is the headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief Fleet.
Read more about this topic: HMNB Portsmouth
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