The Astro-Hungarian battleship SMS Szent Istvan sank an unbelievable number of times during World War II (and just once in World War I).
Posted on 01/06/2012 4:08:44 PM PST by yank in the UK
The Royal Navy's most formidable warship is being sent to the Gulf for its first mission as tensions rise in the strategically vital region, it can be disclosed. Naval commanders believe the deployment of HMS Daring, a Type 45 destroyer, will send a significant message to the Iranians because of the firepower and world-beating technology carried by the warship.Philip Hammond, the Defence Secretary, has publicly warned Iran that any blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would be "illegal and unsuccessful".
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
I've seen the Barham explosion footage used in documentaries on WWII in the PACIFIC on the History Channel.
Any really cool looking footage is in danger of being used for incorrect purposes in bad military history documentaries.
Thanks for the background info on your tagline.
Commenting on the workmanship of a skilled artisan has nothing to do with Pakistan’s nuclear weapons. My observation is non-political and simply an appreciation of a craftsman’s work.
The Brits have one helicopter carrier, no aircraft carriers, are downsizing to 6 type 45 destroyers and 6 type 23 frigates, 7 Astute class attack subs and 4 Trident SSBN’s.
Of the two carriers being built, only one is to have planes. The other is slated to be retired almost immediately. They are currently scheduled to be delivered in 2020.
You are certainly correct about footage. And it isn't just in documentaries. In 7th grade, our world history textbook had a painting of the Battle of Midway. It captioned two heavy cruisers as Battleships defending USS Yorktown. Having done a paper on what I dubbed "Japan's Blitzkrieg", it's 6 month run from Pearl Harbor to Midway, I was appalled. USS Astoria and Portland were treaty heavy cruisers. I pointed this out in class, only to have teacher suggest that I spend as much time on my penmanship and grammar. 22 years on, I still remember this. That and the dot-matrix printer catching fire on a 25 page paper.
No longer.
Just before Xmas, the Royal Navy sold all of their Harriers to the US Marine Corps.
The Muses, still with freedom found,James Thomson's corpse must have committed suicide.
Shall to thy happy coast repair;
Blest Isle! With matchless beauty crown'd,
And manly hearts to guard the fair.
"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."
The Astro-Hungarian battleship SMS Szent Istvan sank an unbelievable number of times during World War II (and just once in World War I).
Reading about the battle of Midway, and numerous other critical battles in various wars, that thought has often crossed my mind.
OUR ships ....where are our ships?
Illustrious is an aircraft carrier.
Even the French could send a better ship—the Russkies have the Peter The Great armored cruiser. In the end—the welfare state will be chucked to re-build a decent military to defend the island nation. How cum the US of A isn’t sending a capital ship into the area and letting the UK lead?
Illustrious is still classed as an aircraft carrier, as she has the capability to do so, even if the Harriers have been decommissioned.
BOTH 2020 ships will have the capability to be aircraft carriers and stories that only one or neither will be so are simply that: stories. The alleged immediate retirement is also mere speculation.
And given the current ME problems, and what will transpire politically and economically by 2020, imo the British govt will have two carriers carrying aircraft. IMO they will also delay the 2014 retirement of Illustrious if Iran keeps playing silly buggers and NK rears its ugly head. Not to mention the Falklands, China and even terrorist problems in Africa.
One gets the impression that, right now, the Royal Navy's highest priority is just staying afloat.
Does calling a ship an aircraft carrier make it an aircraft carrier? Or does it need to carry aircraft to carry to be an aircraft carrier? I choose not to debate that point, I think it’s obvious.
I hope and pray that the British navy’s fortunes take a turn for the better.
The US needs good and capable friends.
Illustrious has been a Royal Navy ship for 36 years, and a Harrier carrier for 34 of those. And it was and is built and designed as one.
I agree 100%. It is a Royal Navy ship that was designed to carry planes that once carried planes.
Now, the Royal Navy has no planes to put on said carrier.
So, I guess, technically you are right.
But, as a practical matter, the Royal Navy has no ships that carry planes. Simple fact.
You say the stories that the 2020 carriers having one retired immediately are just that, stories, you are correct.
They could retire both immediately.
Or place both in service.
I guess it depends on future events, and whether the Brits have the sailors and the planes and the pilots to man them.
I know there is talk of sharing the carriers with the French. Shudder.
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