MC Northwood Headquarters

Eastbury Park, Northwood was the home of Headquarters Coastal Command, Royal Air Force from 1939 to 1969 and is now the home of it successor, HQ 3 Group. In 1953 the NATO Eastern Atlantic Command moved to Northwood, although the Commander in Chief, who was also Home Fleet, continued to fly his flag in the depot ship HMS TYNE. In 1960 the Home Fleet moved his headquarters to Northwood and in 1966 the NATO Channel Command was transferred from Portsmouth to Northwood. In 1978 Flag Officer Submarines moved to Northwood from HMS DOLPHIN with all his operational staff.

The base at Northwood therefore now accommodates the National Commands of Fleet, the Permanent Joint Headquarters, Flag Officer Submarines and 3 Group, and the NATO Commands of Allied Maritime Component Command Headquarters Northwood, Submarines Allied Forces North and Maritime Air Allied Forces North. Joint Support Unit Northwood supports all of these organisations. The Royal Naval Reserve unit HMS WILDFIRE is also based close by at Brackenhill House.