Spithead
Coordinates: 50 ° 45 ′ 0 ″ N , 1 ° 6 ′ 45 ″ W.
Spithead is part of the Solent Strait off the coast of Hampshire in southern England .
Opposite the western part, the actual Solent, the eastern part of the strait northeast of the Isle of Wight is referred to as Spithead , which is thus southwest of the port city of Portsmouth . The Spithead is about 14 miles long and an average width of about 4 miles. Due to its location, the Spithead is protected against winds from almost all directions, only southeast winds can blow unhindered over the Spithead.
Because of its sheltered location, Spithead served as a berth for ships of the British Royal Navy in past centuries and was also used as a place for naval tours by English kings, for example on June 26, 1897 at the diamond coronation anniversary of Queen Victoria. There the Turbinia , the first ship with a steam turbine, appeared and detached all ships powered by piston steam engines. This convinced the Royal Navy to only build turbine ships in the future.
In 1782 the warship Royal George capsized and sank here while at anchor. Between 800 and 950 people drowned.
In 1797, Royal Navy sailors mutinied on the ships anchored in Spithead.
Since 1864, the coastal fortifications around the Spithead have been expanded to complement the fortifications of Portsmouth, the main British port of war.