| Naval Station Santes | |
|---|---|
| Naval Station of Vekllei | |
|
|
| Location | Santes |
| Ministry | Ministry of Defence |
| Operator | FED |
| Residents | Maritime Service Littoral Service Territorial Service |
Naval Station Santes is one of the most isolated naval installations in the world, located on the remote island of Santes in the South Atlantic. Established by the British in the early 20th century as a maritime monitoring outpost during World War I, the station’s position along shipping routes between South America and Africa made it a vital intelligence gathering point during both World Wars. Its remote location and harsh environment have shaped its development into a highly specialised facility focused on deep-ocean operations.
Today, Naval Station Santes operates as an advanced centre specialising in oceanographic research, maritime surveillance and environmental monitoring for the LSRE. The station features a unique deep-sea submersible docking complex that takes advantage of its proximity to the unexplored depths of the South Atlantic. While no major surface vessels are home-ported at Santes, the facility maintains comprehensive support infrastructure for Capricorn-class attack submarines, including specialised nuclear refuelling and maintenance capabilities for vessels on southern Atlantic patrols.
Resident Maritime Service Vessels (Antarctic Fleet)
- 2 Aircraft Cruisers (Prosperity-class)
- 2 Attack Submarines
Resident Littoral Service Vessels (South Atlantic Command)
- 1 Frigate Customs Cutter
- 2 Search and Rescue Vessels
- 1 Fast Patrol Boat
- 1 Coastal Buoy Tender
Resident Territorial Service Regiments
- Sentinel Guards (Fortress Guards)
- 3rd Bn.
- Ascension Rifles (Commonwealth Rifles)
- 3rd Bn.