A new facility on the jetty at Devonport should make life easier for submariners – and reflected a Silent Service heritage for one of the officers based in the West Country.

Rear Admiral Submarines Rear Admiral Paul Lambert officially opened Taciturn Building, one of the most eagerly-awaited results of the RN’s Rebalancing Lives (REBAL) initiative.

The building, formerly known as Spartan Block, had fallen out of use, housing just an emergency dental surgery, and in earlier times it was the base for a caisson party, responsible for the floating ‘lock gates’ of the large No 5 Basin.

Meanwhile the crews of the T-boats stationed in Devonport were looking for shore-side facilities where they could work without the problems associated with submarines – mainly lack of space.

So Capt Simon Ancona’s REBAL team was alerted, and with help from DML and some judicious investment, a smart suite of offices, a conference room – useful for command team or squadron briefings – and a shower block were installed, along with a base for Group Warrant Officer WO Jim Curlett, who played a major role in the creation of Taciturn Building.

The shower block was of particular importance, an attempt to persuade sailors to jog or cycle in to work, using Taciturn Building to shower and change before they get on with the day’s business.

A total of 30 work stations, linked to NavyStar, are available, as are printers, photocopiers and telephones, and all within easy walking distance of the submarine berths.

There is also a TV linked to a limited Sky satellite service – allowing submariners more used to a diet of DVDs in the confines of a submarine the chance to enjoy live big-screen sports events.

Cdr Bob Fancy, Commander Devonport Flotilla, said: “There has been a long-standing desire among submariners to have an administration facility on the jetty here – one telephone between about 40 people was not helping work efficiency.”

The original plan was to put a portable cabin on the jetty, but maintenance of both cabin and equipment was an issue. Knowing Devonport well, Bob realised Spartan Block had potential – and the project was up and running in February this year.

With the building being used by T-boat crews, Spartan was not an ideal name – and Capt Simon Martin, Captain Submarines, had good reason for suggesting Taciturn.

“My father was the designated Commanding Officer of the submarine Tally Ho, and as was the custom, my mother launched the previous submarine on the stocks, HMS Taciturn, on June 6 1944,” said Capt Martin, who brought along the old boat’s bell – with the promise it would be swiftly returned to his mother at the end of the ceremony.

“It was my idea to call this Taciturn, because of the link with a class of T-boats, and because there is no current submarine or trainer using the name.”

Rooms in the building continue the Super-T theme, with names including Trump, Tiptoe, Truncheon, Turpin, Thermopylae and Token.

Officially opening the building, Admiral Lambert said the idea of getting submariners off their boats and ashore to use telephones and such like was first mooted in the 1970s, and Taciturn Building was the culmination of that idea, allowing maintainers to work while submarine administration could be pursued more comfortably and efficiently.

He said thanks were due to Capt Ancona and to Cdr Fancy for bringing the strands together.

Capt Ancona said the new facility tackled three of the main Rebalancing Lives targets – disruption, drudgery and having to work in an uncomfortable environment.

“This is smack on what Rebalancing Lives is all about,” said Capt Ancona, “better working conditions for our people, allowing them to work more efficiently as well.”

Now it is up to the T-boat crews themselves to make sure the facility is a success – a large number of them cast their eye over it on the day of the formal opening, chatting to Admiral Lambert and other senior officers about the building and its potential.