Tag Archives: Royal Navy

$500 Million Treasure of the Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes Returning Soon to Spain

Posted on February 22, 2012 by

Within the next day or so, two Spanish Air Force C-130 transport planes will land at Tampa’s MacDill Air Force Base to load 17 tons of gold and silver coins and other artifacts recovered from the wreck of the Spanish Navy’s Nuestra … Continue reading →

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New Frigate HMS Westminster Sent to Libya Short on Missiles & No Royal Navy Warship Left to Guard Britain

Posted on November 28, 2011 by

The impact of the ongoing budget crisis in Britain on the Royal Navy has been far reaching. Last week we posted about concerns that budget cuts would leave Britain with a shortage of attack submarines.  Recently, it was revealed that the … Continue reading →

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Lt Cdr Sarah West, First Woman Appointed Commander of a Royal Navy Warship

Posted on August 9, 2011 by

The Royal Navy has appointed Lt Cdr Sarah West the command of HMS Portland, a Type 23 Duke Class Frigate launched in 1999. When she takes command on April 2012, she will be the first woman to command a Royal Navy warship. West previously … Continue reading →

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Gentleman Captain by J.D. Davies – A Review

Posted on June 13, 2011 by

Lord Macaulay wrote “There were gentlemen and there were seamen in the navy of Charles the Second. But the seamen were not gentlemen; and the gentlemen were not seaman.” Twenty one year old Matthew Quinton, captain of the Happy Restoration, … Continue reading →

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Divers of the Lost Ark?

Posted on June 8, 2011 by

The Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Invincible was sold to Turkish scrappers last February. Now bids are open for the sale of  HMS Ark Royal. While scrapping seems a likely outcome the tender allows that “alternatively the vessel may be purchased for re-use/refurbishment for non-warlike purposes.” … Continue reading →

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HMS Astute Towed Back to Port After Hydraulics Failure

Posted on May 9, 2011 by

HMS Astute, the Royal Navy’s most advanced  nuclear submarine, was delivered 43 months behind schedule and £900 million over budget.   Then during trials in October,  it  ran aground off the Isle of Skye.   It was also in a collision … Continue reading →

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Claude Choules – Last World War I Combat Veteran Dies at 110

Posted on May 5, 2011 by

In March we posted about the birthday of Claude Choules, the last combat veteran of World War I.   He has now died  in Perth, Australia at age 110. Last WWI combat veteran Claude Choules dies aged 110 The world’s last … Continue reading →

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Loss of HMS Affray – Sixty Years Ago Today

Posted on April 16, 2011 by

Sixty years ago today, the  Royal Navy submarine HMS Affray sailed on a simulated war mission called “Exercise Spring Train” and never returned.   Despite an extensive search by 24 ships from four nations, the sunken submarine was not found until June 14, 1951. … Continue reading →

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Claude Choules – Last World War I Combat Veteran Celebrates 110th Birthday

Posted on March 21, 2011 by

Claude Choules, the last surviving combat veteran of World War I celebrated his 110th birthday with family and friends in Perth earlier this month.   Though he served in two World Wars, the first in the Royal Navy and the second in … Continue reading →

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Farewell to HMS Ark Royal

Posted on March 15, 2011 by

The Ark Royal, the flagship of the Royal Navy has been decommissioned.   It will be another decade before a new aircraft carrier takes her place. Ark Royal: decommissioning marks end of a long and celebrated history The early retirement of the … Continue reading →

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Restoration work for HMS Victory

Posted on January 28, 2011 by

Earlier this month we posted about a report which features dire warnings about the condition of HMS Victory.     Thanks to David Hayes for passing along  an update on the restoration work planned for the old ship. Restoration work for HMS … Continue reading →

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Cmdr. Andrew Coles of HMS Astute Relieved of Command

Posted on November 27, 2010 by

Not a great shock, but Cmdr. Andrew Coles has been relived of his command of  HMS Astute, the Royal Navy’s newest and “stealthiest” submarine which very publicly  ran aground last month near the Skye bridge off the Isle of Skye. Officer relieved of … Continue reading →

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HMS Invincible For Sale – the Perfect Holiday Gift?

Posted on November 27, 2010 by

The holiday shopping season is in full swing. But what can you get for the person who has everything? Why not a used aircraft carrier? Just because the Royal Navy won’t be able to launch ship-borne fixed wing aircraft for the next decade doesn’t mean … Continue reading →

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HMS Astute: British Nuclear Submarine Aground off Skye

Posted on October 22, 2010 by

Embarrassing and rather bad timing.  Billed as the “world’s most advanced nuclear submarine,” the recently christened HMS Astute ran aground this morning off the Isle of Skye. Nuclear submarine runs aground HMS Astute: world’s most advanced nuclear submarine runs aground

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Trafalgar Day plus One – the Smallest Royal Navy Since Henry VIII

Posted on October 22, 2010 by

The announced British budget cuts will slash spending across the board but will hit the Royal Navy hardest of all of the military services. Anchors away: Britain’s once-proud navy falls prey to budget cuts In all the carnage, the worst damage, at least to … Continue reading →

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40th Anniversary of Black Tot Day

Posted on July 31, 2010 by

In early July we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the return of the SS Great Britain to Bristol. Yesterday was a more somber anniversary – the 40th  anniversary of “Black Tot” Day. Ceremony to mark ending of rum tot at … Continue reading →

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Iceland volcano: Naval ships sent to rescue stranded Britons

Posted on April 19, 2010 by

Iceland volcano: Naval ships sent to rescue stranded Britons Three Royal Navy ships are on their way to help repatriate up to 200,000 Britons stranded by five days of flight restrictions following the Icelandic volcano eruption. The aircraft carrier Ark … Continue reading →

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Log Books, Global Warming and the Internet

Posted on February 12, 2010 by

Last October, we wrote about how researchers are using eighteenth century Royal Navy ship logs to study climate change.  (See Logbooks may yield climate bounty.)  Now, through the wonder of the internet, many of these log books are on-line.  The … Continue reading →

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Royal Navy Rum – issued daily to sailors 1655 to 1970

Posted on February 10, 2010 by

Thanks to David Hayes for passing this along.  There is something slightly frightening about sailors on a nuclear submarine receiving daily rum rations. Royal Navy Rum – issued daily to sailors 1655 to 1970 Alcohol and the Royal Navy often seem … Continue reading →

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Record £240m cocaine bust as Royal Navy sinks smugglers

Posted on September 28, 2009 by

The Royal Navy in joint operations with the US Coast Guard off South America has seized a £240 million cocaine shipment – the biggest haul in Royal Navy history.   HMS Iron Duke’s crew sank the 138ft drug boat with bursts of cannon fire … Continue reading →

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