yesterday.

The United States Naval Facility was closed in a disestablishment ceremony signalling the end of 37 years at Tudor Hill in Southampton.

Dignitaries from the Island and the United States attended the ceremony which was described as "bitter sweet'' and " the end of an era.'' The "Grand Old Lady of Surveillance'' has, since June 1, 1955, used the latest high technology equipment to monitor the movements of Russian submarines and nuclear submarines in the Atlantic.

Over the 37 years the base has won a vast number of awards and commendations for its work.

Last year, despite knowing the base was to close, staff at NAVFAC Bermuda was given two top awards by the US Navy.

Captain John Parrish, Commander of the Atlantic Fleet's Undersea Surveillance, said: "This brings to a close an important part of our history. Both in the USA and Bermuda.

"The Free World has won the Cold War, which was the longest and most expensive war, in terms of people and dollars.'' Capt. Parrish said it would mean a number of closures of bases which were not economically viable.

He said nobody would have believed that five years after the Soviet Union upped its Atlantic deployment of nuclear submarines, the Bermuda base would close.

Captain Parrish said: "This facility was the most important in the world and certainly the busiest. It is also the oldest US Navy facility in the world.

The Grand Old Lady of Surveillance.

Staff from the station will be transferred to similar surveillance duties in Dam Neck, Virginia.

However, some work will continue at Tudor Hill. Information collected by local sensors will be transmitted to Dam Deck via satellite for analysis, with local operations to be maintained by a small civilian crew under contract to the US navy.

Commanding Officer of the US Naval Facility in Bermuda, Commander Harry Yeiser was awarded Meritorious Service Medal for his work in winding down the base over the past two years.

Commander Yeiser said: "For better than 37 years the facility has served the nation superbly. It has involved more than 3,000 people over those years.

"For 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it has been part of a network maintaining a watch on Soviet submarines all over the world.

"The Soviets came to know that they could not hide in the ocean. US ships and aircraft could be accurately directed to their positions. They knew they were at risk.

"Over the last two years the staff at the base continued to work at their best without the threat of submarines. They were, and continue to be, the very best.'' Commander Yeiser praised Bermudians for their friendship over the years and said departing staff would return as tourists.

Vice Admiral Henry Chiles, Commander of US Navy Submarines Forces Atlantic Fleet, agreed it was a bitter sweet occasion. He said there had been a "love affair'' between the US Navy and Bermuda and that they will be sorry to leave.

But he said it was good that the Cold War had now ended.

Guests at the ceremony included the Governor, Lord Waddington, and representatives of the Bermuda Regiment and armed forces from the United Kingdom and Canada.