In 1903 approval was given with an estimated cost of £3 million for "works" and £250,000 for machinery spread over 10 years. The site consisted of of land, of foreshore, and the main basin would be. This was intended to be large enough for 11 battleships or 22 if doubled up. The yard gained in size and importance during the First World War, with a Metropolitan Police division set up to patrol it on 1 January 1916. The first ship to dry dock at Rosyth was the pre-dreadnought battleship on 28 March 1916.
HMS Crescent as a harbor depot ship between 1 May 1920 and 17 September 1921.
as a minelayer between February 1918 and January 1919.
Privatisation
Babcock Thorn, a consortium operated by Babcock International and Thorn EMI, was awarded the management contract for Rosyth dockyard in 1987; with Rosyth Dockyard becoming a government owned, contractor run facility. This contract was awarded in parallel with Devonport Management Limited's contract to run Devonport Dockyard, Plymouth. In 1993 the Ministry of Defence announced plans to privatise Rosyth. Babcock International, who had bought out Thorn's share of the original Babcock Thorn consortium, was the only company to submit a bid and after protracted negotiations purchased the yard in January 1997.
In 1984 Rosyth was chosen as the sole location for refitting the Royal Navy's nuclear submarine fleet, and in 1986 extensive rebuilding commenced to facilitate this new role. However, in 1993, the government switched the refitting role to Devonport Dockyard.
Nuclear submarine decommissioning
Seven nuclear submarines were stored at Rosyth in 2007. In 2018, the Public Accounts Committee criticised the slow rate of decommissioning of these submarines, with the Ministry of Defence admitting that it had put off decommissioning due to the cost.
The Royal Navy's two carriers were constructed across six UK shipyards, with final assembly at Rosyth.
Administration of the dockyard
The admiral-superintendent was the Royal Navy officer in command of a larger Naval Dockyard. The appointment of admiral-superintendents dates from 1832 when the Admiralty took charge of the Royal Dockyards. Prior to this larger dockyards were overseen by a commissioner who represented the Navy Board.
Admiral-Superintendent, Rosyth
Included:''
Rear-Admiral Sir Henry H. Bruce: June 1915 – April 1920
Vice-Admiral Sir John F. E. Green: April 1920 – June 1923
Rear-Admiral Colin Cantlie: September 1939 – April 1944
Rear-Admiral Henry C. Bovell: April 1944 – April 1947
Vice-Admiral Sir Angus Cunninghame-Graham: April 1947 – August 1951
Rear-Admiral John H. F. Crombie: August 1951 – November 1953
Rear-Admiral Peter Skelton: November 1953 – September 1956
Rear-Admiral Peter D.H.R. Pelly: September 1956 – November 1957
Rear-Admiral Walter Evershed: November 1957 – September 1960
Rear-Admiral Ian G. Aylen: September 1960 – September 1963
Rear-Admiral John G. Watson: September 1963 – September 1966
Rear-Admiral William T.C. Ridley: September 1966 – September 1971
Port Admiral, Rosyth
Rear-Admiral William T.C. Ridley: September 1971 – February 1972
Rear-Admiral Peter White: February 1972 – April 1974
Rear-Admiral Anthony J. Monk: April 1974 – January 1976
Rear-Admiral William T. Pillar: January 1976 – November 1977
Rear-Admiral John R.D. Nunn: November 1977 – January 1980
Rear-Admiral James E.C. Kennon: January 1980 – August 1981
Rear-Admiral John C. Warsop: August 1981 – August 1983
Vice-Admiral Robert R. Squires: August – December 1983
