[1][2] Just before the beginning of the Second World War, Boys' Training Ship Caledonia was based here.

[3] By this time Admiral Sir Charles Ramsey, the Commander-in-Chief, Rosyth, responsible for naval operations in the area, was based at HMS Cochrane just down the road at the Dockyard.

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.

[6][7][8] Following the Options for Change review and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the reserve unit HMS Scotia was moved from Pitreavie Castle to HMS Caledonia, where it has been based ever since.

[8] In 2018 concerns arose over the future of the site; it was reported that it could close in 2022, despite efforts to save it,[9][8][10][11][12] this was later extended to 2026.