Something you won't see anymore

[Saint-scooby]

I did go to one launch at Vospers, guess it was the mid 80's for one of the tupperware Navy.

 

 

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=663_1346858453

 

Yes made in Southampton !!

[alpine_saint]

A ship launch in Soton, or a Type 21 frigate ?

 

You can get on a plane to Pakistan, they still have 6 ex-RN Type21s in service.

[View From The Top]

My grandfather built them & I sailed in them.

[TopGun]

As a sea scout in the late 1970s / early 1980s our boat hut was across the river from Vospers beneath the Itchen Bridge and was previously part of the Floating Bridge facilities. I spent hours canoeing across to Vospers and paddling up and down the sides of the Type 42s being fitted out there after launch. Recall HMS Southampton and HMS Nottingham.

[alpine_saint]

I visted HMS Amazon when she was on an official visit to Soton (adopted by the city).

 

Nice looking ship, fairly useless in war.

[Dimond Geezer]

Went to an open day at VT in the late 70's. I was so impressed with the drawing office that I fell in love with TD & wanted to be a draughtsman.

[Thedelldays]

My mates uncle was in hms ardent during the Falklands. It got pasted and they lost something like 25% of their crew

 

He features in the book about the shop called "through fire and warer"

 

It is an excellent read

[alpine_saint]

I have vivid memories of the loss of all the ships in the Falklands.

 

Sheffield was by far the worst emotional impact; first RN ship lost to battle since WW2, and the previous feeling of invincibility because of the sinking of the Belgrano, sinking of the sub and sheer innocence of youth. Seeing pictures of the burnt-out shell.

 

Ardent was shock by sheer virtue of how much punishment she received, the utter smashing of her aft decks.

 

The image of Antelope exploding in the dark stayed with me for years, thinking of Warrant Officer Phillips and Staff Sergeant Prescott going through the fleet, squeezing into nooks and crannies defusing bombs only to come across one too many.

 

Coventry capsizing - she looked to big for that to happen to this 12 year old.

 

Captain North of the Atlantic Conveyor, looking just like Father Christmas off-duty, and every bit the image of a sea-faring captain.

 

The horrible injuries of the Welsh guards being evacuated off the burning hulks of RFA Sir Tristam and Sir Galahad...

[mightysaints]

Type 21 HMS Active was built at Woolston and then fitted out at the ship repair yard over the river on the town side. My dad was a sparky for VT and a lot of our family worked at both yards and Porchester. VT consistently built ships quicker and better than the northern yards and it was only politics that stopped them from getting more orders. I also remember the luxury super yacht Abdul Aziz that ship repairs fitted out, all the families got on board to have a look when it was finished.

[stthrobber]

I have vivid memories of the loss of all the ships in the Falklands.

 

Sheffield was by far the worst emotional impact; first RN ship lost to battle since WW2, and the previous feeling of invincibility because of the sinking of the Belgrano, sinking of the sub and sheer innocence of youth. Seeing pictures of the burnt-out shell.

 

Ardent was shock by sheer virtue of how much punishment she received, the utter smashing of her aft decks.

 

The image of Antelope exploding in the dark stayed with me for years, thinking of Warrant Officer Phillips and Staff Sergeant Prescott going through the fleet, squeezing into nooks and crannies defusing bombs only to come across one too many.

 

Coventry capsizing - she looked to big for that to happen to this 12 year old.

 

Captain North of the Atlantic Conveyor, looking just like Father Christmas off-duty, and every bit the image of a sea-faring captain.

 

The horrible injuries of the Welsh guards being evacuated off the burning hulks of RFA Sir Tristam and Sir Galahad...

 

I served aboard HMS Alacrity during the Falklands war, and prior to that I was on HMS Coventry, so I was deeply saddened when Cov was lost.

 

I remember typing messages to the radio ops on Sheffield just after she got hit by the exocet missile, and they thought at first that the ship would survive, but a major design flaw in the Type 42 ships meant she really stood little chance as the ship had a single firemain (a water pipeline for fire fighting) and that was in the centre of the ship where the missile hit, and once that ruptured, they had to try and rig a portable pump on the arse end of the ship and run hoses from there.

 

We were also in convoy with Atlantic Conveyor when the missile was fired. She was not the target, I believe the Hermes was, but because all the warships fired co-ordinated chaff blooms, the missile deflected from its path and picked up on the nearest radar target, the Atlantic Conveyor. We steamed alongside as the poor sods were abandoning ship so that some were at least able to climb over the rail onto us, but many lost their handholds due to the fire and fell into the water. I'm not sure how many lost their lives and how many we picked up all in all.

 

We were well briefed by our Captain, Chris Craig on just how potent an enemy the Argentines would be and we were under no illusions that when the sh!t hit the fan, we would lose ships, aircraft and men.

 

What was a surprise to me was the fact that of all the modern ships that took a pounding, we lost them all. The older ships that got hit, all survived. The reason for this was that they cut corners to save money and the end result was that ships were lost.

[Thedelldays]

So many lessons were learned from the Falklands. None more than damage control

 

From being very complacent and many corners cut, we made ourselves the very best on damage control.

 

I also heard that the Type 23 was originally designed without a 4.5 gun but some Admiral at the time was in the Falklands and said they are to have 4.5 guns or don't bother

 

Type 22 batch 1+2 did not have these guns

 

So many of my instructors were part of op corporate and the stories they tell are simply amazing.

Edited 8 September, 2012 by Thedelldays

[um pahars]

I served aboard HMS Alacrity during the Falklands war, and prior to that I was on HMS Coventry, so I was deeply saddened when Cov was lost.

 

Just finishedbBenson's Scram and got halfway through Gardiner's Yompers today. Both as engrossing as Through Fire and Water.

 

Have you thought about writing a book from a personal perspective???

 

Brother worked at Vospers at the time of the Falklands and also worked on HMS Southampton & Nottingham (pretty sure the 79 League Cup team had a tour of one or both of them prior to the game). Can remember the Abdul Aziz, but wasn't that in the Old Docks near Dock Gate 4???

 

He was drafted on to QEII to help convert her to a troop carrier (pads on the pools etc).

[View From The Top]

I served aboard HMS Alacrity during the Falklands war, and prior to that I was on HMS Coventry, so I was deeply saddened when Cov was lost.

 

I remember typing messages to the radio ops on Sheffield just after she got hit by the exocet missile, and they thought at first that the ship would survive, but a major design flaw in the Type 42 ships meant she really stood little chance as the ship had a single firemain (a water pipeline for fire fighting) and that was in the centre of the ship where the missile hit, and once that ruptured, they had to try and rig a portable pump on the arse end of the ship and run hoses from there.

 

We were also in convoy with Atlantic Conveyor when the missile was fired. She was not the target, I believe the Hermes was, but because all the warships fired co-ordinated chaff blooms, the missile deflected from its path and picked up on the nearest radar target, the Atlantic Conveyor. We steamed alongside as the poor sods were abandoning ship so that some were at least able to climb over the rail onto us, but many lost their handholds due to the fire and fell into the water. I'm not sure how many lost their lives and how many we picked up all in all.

 

We were well briefed by our Captain, Chris Craig on just how potent an enemy the Argentines would be and we were under no illusions that when the sh!t hit the fan, we would lose ships, aircraft and men.

 

What was a surprise to me was the fact that of all the modern ships that took a pounding, we lost them all. The older ships that got hit, all survived. The reason for this was that they cut corners to save money and the end result was that ships were lost.

 

The L/S Golly who fired the chaff bloom that the Exocet flew through before picking up & hitting the Atlantic Conveyor went gaga for a bit. The PO(EW) went on to be an instructor at Dryad.

 

The Atlantic Conveyor only lost 1 soul, the skipper. A CPO oppo of mine was on there at the time part of the team tasked with putting the helos together on arrival, a Soton mush too boot.

 

The Cov' was lost simply because she turned the wrong way, crossing Brilliant's Sea Wolf lock. If she had turned to starboard the AA trap would have worked as planned. It was a fu.ck up.

Edited 8 September, 2012 by View From The Top

[alpine_saint]

I served aboard HMS Alacrity during the Falklands war, and prior to that I was on HMS Coventry, so I was deeply saddened when Cov was lost.

 

I remember typing messages to the radio ops on Sheffield just after she got hit by the exocet missile, and they thought at first that the ship would survive, but a major design flaw in the Type 42 ships meant she really stood little chance as the ship had a single firemain (a water pipeline for fire fighting) and that was in the centre of the ship where the missile hit, and once that ruptured, they had to try and rig a portable pump on the arse end of the ship and run hoses from there.

 

We were also in convoy with Atlantic Conveyor when the missile was fired. She was not the target, I believe the Hermes was, but because all the warships fired co-ordinated chaff blooms, the missile deflected from its path and picked up on the nearest radar target, the Atlantic Conveyor. We steamed alongside as the poor sods were abandoning ship so that some were at least able to climb over the rail onto us, but many lost their handholds due to the fire and fell into the water. I'm not sure how many lost their lives and how many we picked up all in all.

 

We were well briefed by our Captain, Chris Craig on just how potent an enemy the Argentines would be and we were under no illusions that when the sh!t hit the fan, we would lose ships, aircraft and men.

 

What was a surprise to me was the fact that of all the modern ships that took a pounding, we lost them all. The older ships that got hit, all survived. The reason for this was that they cut corners to save money and the end result was that ships were lost.

 

Thanks for sharing your memories.

 

I read about the Type 42 firemain issue before. Seemed like an insane design, but as we know, RN ships of the 70s and 80s were designed only with cost in mind, not capability. When the RN finally got to put a frigate to sea in line with their wishes, we got the Type 22 Batch 3 possibly the best frigate the RN has ever had.

 

Regarding the modern ship issue, I thought Brilliant got clobbered aft and pulled through, and a couple of other 42s pulled through severe damage too (was it Cardiff or Exeter that sailed back to the UK with a mattress stuffing a hole just above the waterline ?)

[alpine_saint]

The L/S Golly who fired the chaff bloom that the Exocet flew through before picking up & hitting the Atlantic Conveyor went gaga for a bit. The PO(EW) went on to be an instructor at Dryad.

 

The Atlantic Conveyor only lost 1 soul, the skipper. A CPO oppo of mine was on there at the time part of the team tasked with putting the helos together on arrival, a Soton mush too boot.

 

The Cov' was lost simply because she turned the wrong way, crossing Brilliant's Sea Wolf lock. If she had turned to starboard the AA trap would have worked as planned. It was a fu.ck up.

 

The memorial in London lists 9 dead.

[View From The Top]

The memorial in London lists 9 dead.

 

I'm most likely wrong. It's all a bit vague. I know the skipper died as my old man had sailed with him so that's most likely why I've got that in my head.

[Sleaford_Saint]

Good account of it here:

 

http://www.hmsbrilliant.com

 

Read the diary for 25/26 May

[alpine_saint]

I'm most likely wrong. It's all a bit vague. I know the skipper died as my old man had sailed with him so that's most likely why I've got that in my head.

 

In fairness I thought it was only Captain North that died. However, according to Wikipedia actually 12 people died on it, but as I said only 9 are listed on the memorial.

[alpine_saint]

Good account of it here:

 

http://www.hmsbrilliant.com

 

Read the diary for 25/26 May

 

Only got as far as the picture of her being chopped up in Turkey.

 

I hate the fact that we dont preserve war veteran naval ships like the Yanks do. How long until Plymouth is chopped up ?

[tedmaul]

Why do you refer to a boat as "her" and use emotive language like "chopped up in Turkey"

 

How long until Plymouth is chopped up ? Hopefully soon it's a horrible place,

[um pahars]

Only got as far as the picture of her being chopped up in Turkey.

 

I hate the fact that we dont preserve war veteran naval ships like the Yanks do. How long until Plymouth is chopped up ?

 

An interesting point. Having been on board The Fighting I in New York and thinking of our ships (Victory, Warrior, Belfast, Cavalier) would have thought a ship from The Falklands would have been saved (or have I missed one)??

 

Hermes, Fearless, Intrepid, Stromness, A destroyer, frigate or RFA would all have been in with a shout.

 

Can only assume it costs too much to remember our history!!!!

[stthrobber]

Just finishedbBenson's Scram and got halfway through Gardiner's Yompers today. Both as engrossing as Through Fire and Water.

 

Have you thought about writing a book from a personal perspective???

 

Brother worked at Vospers at the time of the Falklands and also worked on HMS Southampton & Nottingham (pretty sure the 79 League Cup team had a tour of one or both of them prior to the game). Can remember the Abdul Aziz, but wasn't that in the Old Docks near Dock Gate 4???

 

He was drafted on to QEII to help convert her to a troop carrier (pads on the pools etc).

 

No Steve, a book has never been in my thinking. The events happened 30 years ago now and would take a whole lot of research for such a project to happen, combined with the fact that I never once actually saw anything. Our ship was usually protecting Hermes at the far edge of the exclusion zone, but that doesn't mean we didn't see any action, just that when we did, my action station was below decks in the communications offices.

 

It was Alacrity that sailed between East and West Falkland to search for minefields so that the chosen landing spot for our land forces was able to be used. We sailed in from early morning to reach the islands at dusk then go to ultra silent mode, which is the equivalent of the old irish mine detector joke, but our ship was exactly that. If we hit a minefield, then at least they knew where the minefield was!

 

I vividly remember our ship shelling Stanley airfield on the first day of action and we came under attack from Argentine Mirages that dropped a bomb, which sailed between the main mast and funnel, but below the copper wire radio aerial strung between the two of them. The Yeoman asked the young Tactical radio operator on the bridge deck if he was okay and to try and keep calm. He responded with "I'm looking for somewhere to hide"

 

Our Captain actually did write a book "Call for Fire", the first half of which was Alacrity's story of the Falklands, and the 2nd half was his recollections as Commodore of the Royal Navy ships active during the Gulf War. It's well worth a read, but don't know how available it is now. I found it in a bookshop down on the Barbican in Plymouth

[stthrobber]

An interesting point. Having been on board The Fighting I in New York and thinking of our ships (Victory, Warrior, Belfast, Cavalier) would have thought a ship from The Falklands would have been saved (or have I missed one)??

 

Hermes, Fearless, Intrepid, Stromness, A destroyer, frigate or RFA would all have been in with a shout.

 

Can only assume it costs too much to remember our history!!!!

 

Cost is the issue of course. I've seen many pictures of decomissioned ships that have been bought by various trusts for preservation, and then the cost hits.

 

 

The video is of HMS Bronington, once commanded by Prince Charles. I've seen some pics of her interior too, and the cost to refit her would be astronomical, so she lies rotting up in Birkenhead, funnily enough, next to HMS Plymouth which has just had a fund launched to try and preserve her.

 

I served on one of the Ton class ships, and they were fantastic. My old ship was Hong Kong based and was decomissioned in 1985, then sold to be a floating club/restaurant and then burnt out completely in 1991

 

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.tca2000.co.uk/c-ms-wolverton-7%2520sm.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.tca2000.co.uk/deathwolverton.htm&h=489&w=650&sz=93&tbnid=Hfsijmj69-yhYM:&tbnh=93&tbnw=124&zoom=1&usg=__GqXIOisHBm8q0-bgT51nPNkpgCA=&docid=31JF-oWcZ7l5jM&sa=X&ei=-IpMUPLzMYm-0QXojYFA&ved=0CDwQ9QEwBA&dur=453

[Whitey Grandad]

Some of you may wish to look away now.

 

Hermes was sold to India in 1986 and is now INS Viraat.

 

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ins+viraat&hl=en&safe=off&client=safari&tbo=d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=-4lMUNiPCYaf0QXIt4G4Aw&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=768&bih=928#biv=i|12;d|QX7vbetHFTBRZM:

 

Fearless was broken up in Ghent and Intrepid in Liverpool. Officially they were 'recycled'.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1126951/Farewell-warrior-Falklands-veteran-broken-claim-piece-eBay.html

[View From The Top]

Some of you may wish to look away now.

 

Hermes was sold to India in 1986 and is now INS Viraat.

 

I was part of the mob that was "crew" for the handover.

 

RAS'd plenty of booze from the T&A parties.

[Whitey Grandad]

I remember going to the Isle of Wight as a boy. Portsmouth Harbour was full of warships moored two abreast down the centre of the harbour. Now even Fareham creek is virtually empty.

 

Is there a site listing all the ships that served and what happened to them? I was bobbing around in Portsmouth harbour in my Mirror dinghy when Invincible, Bristol and Olmeda (?) returned, a day I shall never forget. Bristol is now the cadet training ship and has just undergone a refit. It always seems a pity that we can't raise the money to preserve some of these. As for the great ocean liners, we have nothing to show.

[PhilippineSaint]

I was in Dubai when HMS Southampton got taken out by the container ship ex school mate on board found us in Thatchers Bar and ended up putting half the Navy's beer on my company credit card

[Whitey Grandad]

We have a history of not respecting our history. This is unbelievably criminal:

 

http://www.britishpathe.com/video/implacable-to-the-end

[Thedelldays]

Alpine

There is a campaign down here to try and save HMS Plymouth

 

The Avondale pub is fronting it

 

 

A pub some of you may remember ;-)

[View From The Top]

Alpine

There is a campaign down here to try and save HMS Plymouth

 

The Avondale pub is fronting it

 

 

A pub some of you may remember ;-)

 

I may have been in there before.

[stthrobber]

Alpine

There is a campaign down here to try and save HMS Plymouth

 

The Avondale pub is fronting it

 

 

A pub some of you may remember ;-)

 

Considering it was right outside the gate, very difficult not to fall in there.

[Thedelldays]

Considering it was right outside the gate, very difficult not to fall in there.

 

The same old bloke owned it for over 50 years. I bet he had some stories to tell. When he died a few years back it got taken over by some pikeys and it is a topless bar. You feel like you had to look at their tits just to be polite

 

Rough old boozer lol

Still heaving in there though at lunch and around 4pm

[PhilippineSaint]

Now the Ark Royal is eventually sold for scrap

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19535911

[alpine_saint]

Now the Ark Royal is eventually sold for scrap

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19535911

 

Meanwhile, 70-odd pristine Harrier GR9s, recently refurbished to the tune of a cool 1billion, have been bought (for less than 10% of their value), lined up at AMARG, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, and uttterly stripped of anything of any value by a sniiggering US Department of Defence.

 

 

Utterly sickening, will never ever vote Tory.

 

Oh, and this was once HMS Invincible...

 

[stthrobber]

Meanwhile, 70-odd pristine Harrier GR9s, recently refurbished to the tune of a cool 1billion, have been bought (for less than 10% of their value), lined up at AMARG, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, and uttterly stripped of anything of any value by a sniiggering US Department of Defence.

 

 

Utterly sickening, will never ever vote Tory.

 

Oh, and this was once HMS Invincible...

 

 

Such a shame. I'll never vote Tory again either. They've decimated the armed forces and the police and they line their own pockets at our expense. I was a lifelong Tory voter and now I despise them

[Bearsy]

I used to think i should get rid of the armed forces, cos i ain't feeling like I'm about to get invaded by hordes of Sweden or whatever and i ain't that bothered generally bout going round invading other countries and keeping falklands and things. But then i thought bout the movie Independance Day and i was thinking i might need the armies in case of aliens. I think then we should get rid of the ones that go in the sea but get extra of the ones that are jetplanes, and also MacBooks in case we need to go to the mothership or whatever. It's best to be prepared.