Military Bases & Facilities
Newfoundland Armed Forces
Military Bases & Facilities
Strategic installations across Newfoundland and Labrador.
Overview
The Newfoundland Armed Forces operate a network of strategic installations across the Republic, from naval bases protecting our maritime sovereignty to air stations securing our airspace and Arctic approaches. These facilities support homeland defence, NATO operations, and allied partnerships.
Royal Newfoundland Navy Bases
Royal Newfoundland Navy bases provide homeport, maintenance, and operational support for the Royal Newfoundland Navy.
Royal Newfoundland Navy Base Argentia
Location: Argentia, Avalon Peninsula
Role: Primary naval headquarters, Atlantic Fleet homeport, ship maintenance and refit facility
Established: 1941 (Allied naval facility), transferred to RNN control 1972
Units: RNN Fleet Command, Naval Operations Centre, Argentia Naval Dockyard
Royal Newfoundland Navy Base St. John’s
Location: St. John’s Harbour
Role: Capital naval station, coastal patrol operations, harbour defence
Established: 1949
Units: Coastal Defence Squadron, Maritime Training Centre
Royal Newfoundland Navy Base Corner Brook
Location: Corner Brook, West Coast
Role: West coast naval operations, fisheries patrol, search and rescue coordination
Established: 1978
Units: Western Patrol Group, Maritime Search and Rescue Centre
Royal Newfoundland Navy Base Nain
Location: Nain, Northern Labrador
Role: Arctic naval outpost, northern patrol support, sovereignty operations
Established: 2018
Units: Arctic Patrol Detachment, Northern Maritime Operations
Royal Newfoundland Air Force Stations
RNAF Stations provide air defence, maritime patrol, transport, and training capabilities across the Republic.
Royal Newfoundland Air Force Station Gander
Location: Gander, Central Newfoundland
Role: Strategic airfield, maritime patrol operations, intelligence and surveillance, trans-Atlantic support
Established: 1938 (civilian), military operations since 1939
Units: 404 Maritime Patrol Squadron (NF-140 Aurora II), Gander Intelligence Station, Air Traffic Control Centre
Historical Note: Primary WWII ferry command hub and North Atlantic air operations centre
Royal Newfoundland Air Force Station Goose Bay
Location: Happy Valley–Goose Bay, Labrador
Role: Arctic Air Command headquarters, strategic airlift, NATO training range, fighter operations
Established: 1941 (Allied airfield), transferred to RNAF 1972
Units: Arctic Air Command HQ, 432 Arctic Wing, Strategic Airlift Group (NC-130 Hercules II), NF-39 Gripen interceptor squadron, NATO Training Range
Historical Note: Major WWII and Cold War strategic base
Royal Newfoundland Air Force Station Stephenville
Location: Stephenville, West Coast
Role: Fighter training, search and rescue, maritime support
Established: 1941 (Allied airfield), transferred to RNAF 1972
Units: 103 Search and Rescue Squadron (NH-149 Cormorant II), Air Combat Training Centre
Historical Note: Former Allied air base supporting North Atlantic operations
Royal Newfoundland Air Force Station Torbay
Location: Torbay, near St. John’s
Role: Capital region air defence, quick reaction alert, helicopter operations
Established: 1950
Units: 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron, Quick Reaction Alert (QRA), helicopter detachment
Newfoundland Army Garrisons
Army garrisons are named after distinguished officers of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment who served in the First World War.