Civil & History

A rich history in engineering

MacTaggart Scott & Co Ltd was founded by Hugh MacTaggart and Robert Grigor Scott in 1898. The company started by manufacturing ship steering telemotors which continued through World War One (WWI). Hugh MacTaggart’s attendance at the UK Admiralty in 1915 to offer a solution for submarine ballast tank vent valve operation initiated the company’s long association with the Royal Navy which continues to this day.

That new relationship with the Admiralty soon saw development of seaplane catapults and arrestor gear, confirming the company’s commitment to the Royal Navy to support the Fleet’s carrier building programme. In addition to this, the company’s range of submarine equipment grew to include vent valves, bow caps, mast hoisting jiggers, and torpedo loading equipment.

The end of WWII saw the development of a range of hydraulic pumps and motors, which has progressively evolved into the robust and stealthy series of hydraulic motors and pumps in service on both surface ships and submarines today.

The Royal Navy’s requirement to handle helicopters onboard in extreme conditions coupled with MacTaggart Scott’s arrester gear experience led to the production of the hydraulic TRIGON Helicopter Handling System which continues to serve many Navies worldwide. In parallel with this, the appetite for electrically driven equipment has utilised TRIGON’s proven control philosophy in the new electric Shipboard Aircraft Traversing System.

This long-standing expertise in the design and manufacture of mission-critical Naval handling systems has resulted in the supply of aircraft elevators, weapons, ammunition and stores lifts to enable Navies around the world to handle their critical resources safely and reliably. MacTaggart Scott has also developed its submarine product range to offer various electrically or hydraulically operated systems including Emergency Propulsion Systems, capstans, windlasses and hydraulic power units, as well as retracting bow planes, mast raising equipment, and communication launch/recovery equipment.

With headquarters remaining on the original site, the company has expanded to establish a key manufacturing and support operation in Adelaide and a representative office in Virginia. Established in 2011, MacTaggart Scott Australia continues to develop its in-country manufacturing and support capabilities, and thus plays a key role in supporting ‘in-country’ the Collins Class of submarines and the Helicopter Landing Dock ships.

Today, MacTaggart Scott continues to grow its reach globally, supplying and supporting surface ship and submarine equipment for Navies worldwide.