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U.K. aircraft carrier up for bids
upi ^
| March. 28, 2011
Posted on 03/29/2011 10:23:25 AM PDT by JoeProBono
LONDON, - The British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal can be yours, courtesy of the U.K. Ministry of Defense auction Web site, authorities said.
The former flagship of the Royal Navy was decommissioned two weeks ago years as part of the government's defense budget review after serving with the fleet for 25, the BBC reported.
Interested auction bidders can view Ark Royal at her home port, Portsmouth Naval Base, on May 3 and 4, authorities said.
Bidders wishing to inspect the carrier must submit an outline of their "intentions regarding the vessel" to the Ministry of Defense, the BBC said.
There have been proposals to turn it into a commercial heliport, a base for security personnel during the London Olympics, or a school and nightclub.
Ark Royal's operations have included spearheading British naval forces during the invasion of Iraq.
For those who can't quite manage the purchase of an aircraft carrier, there are also three destroyers -- HMS Exeter, HMS Southampton and HMS Nottingham -- up for auction, the BBC reported.
TOPICS: Business/Economy; History; Military/Veterans; Travel
KEYWORDS: aircraftcarrier; froglips; hmsarkroyal
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Deck Decor Not Included
To: NicknamedBob; Anoreth; Darksheare
Don’t you think we could use this?
2
posted on
03/29/2011 10:26:44 AM PDT
by
Tax-chick
(Nadie me ama como Jesus.)
To: JoeProBono
Bidders wishing to inspect the carrier must submit an outline of their "intentions regarding the vessel" to the Ministry of DefenseI want to create the world's largest party barge and tour the Caribbean with 1000 of my closest friends.
3
posted on
03/29/2011 10:27:48 AM PDT
by
Sax
To: JoeProBono
I said it before and I’ll say it again...
There are plenty of former military people here at FR to buy this carrier cheap, and go into business as a Mercenary force for good. I volunteer to be Air Boss and will work for 3 hots and a cot...
Lots of former carrier pilots here too, that might know where we could get our hands on some real airplanes....
4
posted on
03/29/2011 10:28:28 AM PDT
by
Bean Counter
(Stout Hearts!!)
To: Tax-chick
Dont you think we could use this? No. We already have 11 carriers and 10 amphibious assault ships larger than Ark Royal is.
5
posted on
03/29/2011 10:32:28 AM PDT
by
K-Stater
To: JoeProBono
I’d like to take it for a spin first...
6
posted on
03/29/2011 10:33:08 AM PDT
by
Adder
(Part 1 Accomplished)
To: K-Stater
I meant Darksheare and Bob and Anoreth and me, and the rest of the Undead, not the United States Navy.
7
posted on
03/29/2011 10:36:03 AM PDT
by
Tax-chick
(Nadie me ama como Jesus.)
To: JoeProBono
You'll like this one Joe...
Circa 1982, ABE-2 (I was 27...) USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) about 3 AM after coming out of catapult #1's water brake tank...
...and I needed a haircut too...
8
posted on
03/29/2011 10:36:31 AM PDT
by
Bean Counter
(Stout Hearts!!)
To: JoeProBono
I’m surprised the Chinese aren’ interested.
9
posted on
03/29/2011 10:38:36 AM PDT
by
TexasRepublic
(Socialism is the gospel of envy and the religion of thieves)
To: Tax-chick
That’s a good size chunk of mobile real estate.
Could be quite useful.
10
posted on
03/29/2011 10:41:04 AM PDT
by
Darksheare
(Dear Interdimensional Monstrosity, I fear our relationship has taken a turn for the worse...)
To: Darksheare
Room for dragons, and *all* our books!
11
posted on
03/29/2011 10:41:57 AM PDT
by
Tax-chick
(Nadie me ama como Jesus.)
To: Tax-chick
And a museum on the side too!
12
posted on
03/29/2011 10:43:05 AM PDT
by
Darksheare
(Dear Interdimensional Monstrosity, I fear our relationship has taken a turn for the worse...)
To: Bean Counter
Love the rotary dial phone in the corner.
To: JoeProBono
14
posted on
03/29/2011 10:43:25 AM PDT
by
free_life
(If you ask Jesus to forgive you and to save you, He will.)
To: Bean Counter
I will be the weather guesser!
15
posted on
03/29/2011 10:43:42 AM PDT
by
wxgesr
(I want to be the first person to surf on another planet.)
To: Bean Counter
Biggest problem is acquiring all of the metric tools to fix the damnable thing...1200 lb steam plants?
16
posted on
03/29/2011 10:45:36 AM PDT
by
wxgesr
(I want to be the first person to surf on another planet.)
To: JoeProBono
What a shame.
Destined to become razor blades, more than likely.
17
posted on
03/29/2011 10:49:52 AM PDT
by
RexBeach
To: Bean Counter
18
posted on
03/29/2011 10:50:07 AM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet - Visualize)
To: JoeProBono
"For those who can't quite manage the purchase of an aircraft carrier, there are also three destroyers -- HMS Exeter, HMS Southampton and HMS Nottingham -- up for auction, the BBC reported."
Any frigates for sale? Something I can fit nicely on lake Erie. Seriously, does the U.K. have anymore aircraft carriers in service now? I know they are building two more that should be operable later on this decade but right now do they have anything?
To: JoeProBono
She pulled into Mayport FL about 1979 or 80, and we partied quite a bit with her British Sailors. We got to tour the ship, and were we jealous. While we Saratoga sailors emptied out our Pop machine before the Cokes had a chance to get cold, Ark Royal sailors had a daily allotment of beer. On the other hand we hated them because the Florida girls fell for their British accents and they were the ones walking out of the bars with the girls.
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