The Royal Naval Auxiliary Service (RNXS) was a uniformed, unarmed, civilian volunteer service, administered and trained by the Royal Navy to operate in the ports and anchorages of the United Kingdom in an emergency. It maintained training units, and vessels at most major ports in the UK. and was formed in 1963 from the amalgamation of the Royal Naval Mine-watching Service (RNMWS) and Admiralty Ferry Crew Association in response to the perceived nuclear threat to British ports. The service was disbanded on 31 March 1994 due to Ministry of Defence (MOD) cuts. Most vessels from its fleet were transferred to the Royal Navy or sold, with the exception of XSV Loyal Volunteer, which was struck by a ro-ro ferry while berthed in Ipswich Harbour and was later scrapped.
The abbreviated title of RNXS was used, as RNAS was already in use by Royal Naval Air Stations.
Role The service was divided into 'Afloat' and 'Ashore' sections, The 'Afloat' personnel manned the service's dedicated ships and the 'Ashore' personnel manned the Port Headquarters (PHQ) which were positioned around the United Kingdom. The 'Afloat' section contained engineers, seamen and communications personnel, while the 'Ashore' section consisted of communications and plotting staff, later amalgamated into an 'Operations' section. There was an element of "cross-fertilization" whereby some people of the 'Afloat' section worked in PHQs as communicators, drivers and security staff and some of the 'Ashore' section worked afloat as engineers, seamen, communicators and cooks.
RNXS personnel, known as auxiliarymen regardless of gender, were to be readily available to assist in the tasks of evacuating major ports and dispatching larger and faster merchant vessels overseas in case of an attack on the UK. Any remaining ships were to be dispersed to safe anchorages along the coasts or at nearby islands. Formation, planning and sailing of convoys were tasks undertaken in the PHQs by RNXS staff working within overall dedicated RNR control during exercises. The communications personnel operated the Communications Centre connected via teleprinter and, latterly computer, to all UK MOD Communications Nodes and, unassisted, performed these tasks solely within the RNXS structure on behalf of the overall PHQ Command and Naval Officer In Command (NOIC).
For some of these purposes, the RNXS operated a small fleet of inshore vessels. Initially, the vessels were and Motor Fishing Vessels. These smaller boats were soon replaced by ten inshore minesweepers (). RNXS vessel names were prefixed 'XSV' for Auxiliary Service Vessel. The minesweepers were de-armed and converted to enable larger training crews to be embarked. The 20 mm Oerlikon cannon or 40 mm Bofors guns were removed but the mounts were kept. Over time, the minesweepers were replaced by fleet tenders, the Loyal class. Most of this class of ships' names were prefixed 'Loyal' apart from XSV Supporter, whose home port was Belfast, and, given Irish political tensions at the time, the prefix "Loyal" was dropped. The RNXS operated eleven purpose-built fleet tenders and various other small craft. In 1990, a specific threat of port attack by subversive and/or Special Forces was identified and to help to counter this threat, the RNXS received four of P2000 fast patrol craft from the fourteen built for the Royal Navy These P2000s are still in service, as commissioned warships at University Royal Naval Units.
The sailing of merchantmen both overseas and coastal sailings involved setting up assembly anchorages where ships might be formed into convoys, a naval escort or surveillance for information on routing, intelligence, and communications. Auxiliarymen were required at assembly anchorage control to assist in these tasks.
Originally, the Royal Naval Mine-watching Service (RNMWS) had two main tasks in war.
First, to observe, plot and report the fall of mines laid by enemy aircraft in port approaches and main waterways. Second, to provide the basic local organisation for naval officers in charge at strategic ports around the UK in war.
These tasks were not new, indeed they had been performed by naval and merchant naval personnel throughout the past centuries. The nuclear threat, however, had cut the time available to the Royal Navy, and the Merchant Navy had to be developed or adapted to cope. Therefore, the RNXS was formed.
In 1963 the Royal Mine-watching Service assumed a new role and name with responsibilities to provide staff to support the Navy in the various port headquarters around the UK that would be set up in a national emergency or war.
Royal warrant A royal warrant was granted changing its name from the "Royal Naval Mine-watching Service" to the "Royal Naval Auxiliary Service" in 1962, to reflect these new functions.
One of the Royal Navy's major tasks is the protection of shipping, and the RNXS played a non-combatant, but important, role in support of its parent Navy by manning port headquarters in major ports and anchorages around the UK. they were to be available to assist in the tasks of evacuating major ports, and dispatching larger and faster merchant vessels overseas in case of an attack on the UK. Any remaining ships were to be dispatched to safe anchorages along the coasts or at nearby islands.
Because merchant vessels would be travelling overseas in time of war, further tasks involved the setting up assembly anchorages, where ships could be formed into convoys ready for a naval escort. RNXS personnel were required at these assembly anchorages to assist in routing of vessels, intelligence, and communications both ashore and afloat. The service also provided craft and crews to support the Navy in these ports and anchorages. These craft ranged from ex inshore minesweepers, fleet tenders (Loyal class) to fast patrol boats (P2000 or the shortened P20), permanently on loan to the service. The craft were normally based in Naval Dockyards for the necessary maintenance and technical support from the Royal Maritime Auxiliary service but they were manned entirely by the RNXS crew.
These craft were at sea most weekends for practical training, and also took part in national and NATO military exercises, as well as local and out-of-area training cruises. The craft took part in fleet reviews; and have been used in the clearance of oil pollution; search and rescue and many other tasks.
The Ensign of Royal Naval Auxiliary Service The Ensign was originally created in 1954 for the Royal Naval Mine-watching Service, but when the service was amalgamated with the Admiralty Ferry Crews Association, to become the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service (RNXS) in 1963, the flag inscription was altered to reflect the name change.
Command structure The RNXS command structure was divided in to geographical areas within the UK
Scotland, Northern Ireland & N.E England Training Units
Grimsby, Thorne, Hull, Stockton & Tees-port, Hartlepool, Sunderland, Newcastle, Blyth, Leith, Rosyth, Dundee, Aberdeen, Elgin, Inverness, Invergordon, Thurso, Kirkwall, Greenock & Clyde port, Ayr, Bangor, Belfast.
RAF Pitreavie Castle near Dunfermline, Fife, was the Headquarters of the Scotland, Northern Ireland & N.E England, RNXS Group, consisting of both permanent and volunteer staff
Portsmouth Training Units *
Bexhill, Chatham, Chelmsford, Dover, Felixstowe. Gravesend, Greenwich, Harwich, Isle of Wight, Ipswich, London, Margate, Poole, Portland, Portsmouth, Sheerness, Shoreham Southampton, Southend, Great Yarmouth, Littlehampton.
Plymouth Training Units *
Exeter, Guernsey, Jersey, Torbay (based in Brixham), Plymouth, Fowley, Falmouth, Penzance, Barnstaple, Bristol, Gloucester, Sully, Swansea, Pembroke Dock, Holyhead, Menai Bridge, Conwy, Liverpool, Inskip.
RNXS crew The RNXS accepted women among its crews before the Royal Navy did. The first female skipper was Denise St Aubyn Hubbard in 1978.
The men and women of the RNXS, or auxiliary-men as they were known, were between the ages of 21 and 60 and came from various backgrounds as civilians or prior service personnel.
Members undertook weekly classroom training, in their chosen departments, Engineering, Seamanship, Communications, and Operations. ashore and afloat, and worked towards qualifications, members also took part in extended formal training with the Navy
The RNXS had a pleasant family flavour and in many units were husbands and wives, sons and daughters training together for the job best suited to former experience and physical abilities.
Captains of the RNXS to 1987 Service dates Officer November 1963–December 1966 J.A. Murray December 1966–January 1970 D.R. Johnston January 1970–February 1973 D.J. Farquharson February 1973–March 1976P.S. Hicks-Beach March 1976–August 1979 G.J.M. Andrewes August 1979–November 1982P.R.D. Kimm November 1982–November 1984 M.R.HareNovember 1984–1987 J.R. Griffiths
James Erskine, Earl of Mar and Kellie was a member of the RNXS in the 1980s
Those who served in the RNXS were volunteer reservists and are therefore veterans of HM Armed Forces and are eligible to receive a HM Armed Forces Veteran card and a Veterans Badge from the UK Ministry of Defence, upon application.
In 1990 the RNXS had a personnel of 3,200.
The day after the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service was disbanded on 31 March 1994, its members formed the Maritime Volunteer Service (MVS)
Vessels
Ham-class inshore minesweepers
Of the 93 s built in the 1950s for the RN, and commissioned in 1956 (none of which saw active service) ten were later allocated in 1964 to the newly formed RNXS:
NameCall signPennant NoCompletedBuildersJoined RNXSDisposalBirdham M.27855 March 1957J.Taylor1964May 1980 - Arrived Great Wakering, Essex for BreakingOdiham M.278327 July 1956Vospers19641978 - on disposal list. May 1980 sold to Sutton & Smith, Great Wakering, EssexPagham M.271622 March 1956Jones, Buckie1964to 1982, RNR TenderPortishamGTDGM.278126 March 1956Dorset Yacht1964to 1983 at HMS Vernon, PortsmouthPuttenham M.27849 May 1958Thorneycroft1964to 1978 at PlymouthSaxlingham M.272729 January 1957Berthon Boat1964to 1965. Approved to scrap 1966. 2 May 1968 sold to Ross & Cromarty CC for Lewis Sea SchoolShiphamMTMWM.27263 February 1956Brooke Marine1964to 11 March 1985 returned to Portsmouth with stern damage due to being swept onto a low lying LASH Lighter.Shrivenham M.272811 August 1956Bolson1964to 1965. For disposal in 1966. Sold to Port of London Authority on 21 February 1969.ThakehamGTJCM.273315 November 1957Fairlee Yacht1964to 1978. 1979 for disposalTongham M.273518 June 1957J.Miller1964to 1978, also PAS. 1979 for disposal
Loyal-class fleet tenders Source:
The Loyal-class fleet tenders were purpose built in the late seventies by Richard Dunston of Thorn, South Yorkshire, as training vessels for the RNXS, they were based on a proven MOD/RMAS design for supply tenders. In the RNXS version the hold was converted at the build stage for extra accommodation for RNXS crew. They had interior hatches down into the converted holds, now fitted with bunks and living quarters. Externally, they are very similar to the supply fleet tenders.
NamePennant numberNotesLoyal HelperA157 Transferred to RMASSupporterA158 Disposition unknownLoyal WatcherA159 Transferred to the Royal Navy and commissioned as HMS Loyal Watcher, allocated to Cambridge URNU. Decommissioned 1998.Loyal Volunteer A160 Sold and renamed PENELOPE III Loyal MediatorA161 Diving support vesselLoyal ModeratorA220 Disposition unknownLoyal FactorA382 Transferred to HMS VigilantLoyal GovernorA510 Transferred to RMAS as RMAS AlertLoyal ChancellorA1770Transferred to the Royal Navy and commissioned as HMS Loyal Chancellor, allocated to Oxford URNU. Decommissioned 1998 and sold. Current name is MV Headcorn and is owned by North West Marine.Loyal ProctorA1771 Disposition unknown
Archer class (P2000 or "P20")