Royal Navy: Nuclear emergency siren blares across Portsmouth Naval Base in routine full test

The base has completed its ‘statutory requirement’ to test its nuclear emergency alarm earlier this morning. The alarm was expected to sound at 9:30am and the base warned that residents nearby might be able to hear the siren.

The testing of the alarm needs to be completed three times a year in order to stay in lines with the requirements and the previous emergency test took place back in February.

The Naval Base took to Facebook to warn people about the siren. The post said: “Please note there will be a full test of the Naval Base’s nuclear emergency alerting siren at 0930 today which may be able to be heard outside of the base.

“It is a statutory requirement to test the alarm three times a year and this test is being conducted in agreement with Portsmouth and Gosport local authorities.The two-tone siren will be sounded for one minute for the test.”

The tests take place on the last Wednesday of February, June and October meaning the last siren will take place on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.

For more information about the Portsmouth Naval Base, click here.