During World War II, Ardrossan Harbour was requisitioned by the admiralty as a naval base and was re-named HMS Fortitude.
“Following the invasion of Poland, Captain Henry Francis Waight arrived in Ardrossan on 27th August 1939 to take up command of the Ardrossan Naval Base, named ‘HMS Fortitude’. Within a few days of war being declared the first minesweepers arrived at Ardrossan and quickly organised into a flotilla which would sweep the Clyde daily from Greenock to the Mull of Kintyre, along with anti-submarine patrols. A large minefield was set up from the coast of Ayr to the southernmost point of Arran with Gate Ships anchored at suitable positions controlling the entrance to the Clyde.“
To read more about this fascinating piece of North Ayrshire history, click through to read the full story on HMS Fortitude.