Ministry of Defence Magnetic Range, Portland

Ministry of Defence Magnetic Range

The Ministry of Defence Magnetic Range, (a.k.a. the Portland Bill Land Magnetic Facilities or the Defence Test and Evaluation Organisation Establishment) is a Ministry of Defence site used for magnetic measurement on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. The facility is situated at Portland Bill, where tests can be performed well away from stray electric and magnetic fields.^[1]^[2]

History

The site was chosen during the 1960s for magnetic measurement due to Portland Bill's remoteness and magnetic cleanliness. As Portland stone is non-magnetic, as well as the site's remoteness, the site is free from any magnetic disturbance such as heavy traffic, and as a result, very small magnetic fields from equipment can be measured with a very high degree of accuracy. The site is used to magnetically assess any item, but mainly MCMV and EOD equipment. Magnetic compasses can also be tested. The unique facility is both notified and approved by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and is the only accredited centre for Type Approval of Magnetic Compasses and Binnacles in the United Kingdom.^[3]

The site holds various facilities. The main Land Magnetic Range is a secure and magnetically stable environment, used to measure the magnetic fields found in Mine Counter Measure Vessel equipment. The range uses inbuilt coil systems which enable the Earth's magnetic field to be reduced to zero, simulate anywhere on the planet, or provide only the vertical or horizontal portion of the Earth field to pass through the item under test, which an equivalent Sea Range cannot do.^[4] The Compass Test Centre inspects and tests magnetic compasses, whilst also delivering them to RAF stations across the UK. The Compass Base Calibration Surveys is a designated area of survey and certification, used for accurate swinging of Aircraft Navigation Equipment for both military and civilian airfields.^[4]

References

↑ "sitedetails". Qinetiq.com. Retrieved 2013-07-31.
↑ "North of Portland Bill, Portland, Dorset". Geoffkirby.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-07-31.
↑ "MOD Portland Bill". LTPA. Retrieved 2013-07-31.
1 2 "Long Term Partnering Agreement". LTPA. Retrieved 2013-07-31.

Coordinates: 50°30′59″N 2°27′29″W / 50.5163°N 2.4581°W / 50.5163; -2.4581

Isle of Portland

Settlements and areas	Castletown Chiswell Clay Ope Easton Ferry Bridge Fortuneswell The Grove Portland Bill Portland Harbour Southwell Tophill Underhill Victoria Square Wakeham West Cliff Weston

Beaches and coastal features	Balaclava Bay Cave Hole Chesil Beach Chesil Cove Church Ope Cove Freshwater Bay Hallelujah Bay Little Beach Mutton Cove Portland Raised Beach Pulpit Rock Salt Pans Wallsend Cove

Attractions	Broadcroft Quarry Nature Reserve Chiswell Earthworks Culverwell Mesolithic Site Fancy's Family Farm Grove Prison Museum John Penn's Bath Jurassica King Barrow Quarry Nature Reserve Nicodemus Knob Perryfield Quarry Nature Reserve Portland Museum Royal Manor Theatre Tout Quarry Sculpture Park Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy

Military	Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment Blacknor Fort East Weare Battery East Weare Camp East Weares Rifle Range HMS Osprey Inner Pierhead Fort Ministry of Defence Magnetic Range Mulberry Harbour Phoenix Units Portland Breakwater Fort Portland Naval Communication Headquarters RAF Portland RNAS Portland (HMS Osprey) ROC Post Portland Bill Royal Naval Hospital Verne Citadel Verne Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery Verne High Angle Battery

Castles	Pennsylvania Castle Portland Castle Rufus Castle

Lighthouses, Daymarks and NCI	NCI Portland Bill Old Higher Lighthouse Old Lower Lighthouse Portland Bill Lighthouse Portland Breakwater Lighthouse Trinity House Obelisk

Prisons	HM Prison Portland HM Prison Weare HM Prison The Verne

Gardens	Chiswell Walled Garden Easton Gardens Governor's Community Garden Victoria Gardens

Buildings and houses	The Captain's House The Cove House Inn The George Inn Queen Anne House The Regal Cinema St George's Centre

Churches	All Saints Church Avalanche Memorial Church Church of Our Lady and St. Andrew Conjurer's Lodge Easton Methodist Church Southwell Methodist Chapel St Andrew's Church St George's Church St. John's Church St. Peter's Church Underhill Methodist Church United Reformed Church

Memorials	Portland Cenotaph Royal Naval Cemetery

Industry	Durdle Pier Folly Pier Folly Pier Waterworks Grove Lime Kiln King's Pier Portland stone Portland Windmills Red Crane Southwell Business Park Sureline Verne Cistern

Working and disused Quarries	Bowers Quarry Broadcroft Quarry Coombefield Quarry King Barrow Quarry Perryfield Quarry Tout Quarry Yeolands Quarry

Railway	Merchant's Railway The Old Engine Shed Portland Branch Railway

Sports	Grove Sports Stadium Portland United F.C.

Events	Easton Massacre The Great Southwell Landslip

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