Tag Archives: Royal Navy

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

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Rick Spilman

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 →

Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships | Tagged Benghazi, Britain, Fleet Ready Escort, HMS Westminster, Libya, Royal Navy, Seawolf missiles, Type 23 frigate | 1 Comment

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

Posted on August 9, 2011 by Rick Spilman

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 →

Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships | Tagged HMS Portland, Lt Cdr Sarah West, Royal Navy, Type 23 Duke Class Frigate | 4 Comments

Gentleman Captain by J.D. Davies – A Review

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Rick Spilman

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 →

Posted in Newbooks, Reviews, Seastories | Tagged Gentlemen Captain, J D Davies, Matthew Quinton, restoration, Royal Navy | Leave a comment

Divers of the Lost Ark?

Posted on June 8, 2011 by Rick Spilman

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 →

Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships | Tagged aircraft carrier, HMS Ark Royal, HMS Invincible, Royal Navy | Leave a comment

HMS Astute Towed Back to Port After Hydraulics Failure

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Rick Spilman

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 →

Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships | Tagged HMS Astute, hydraulics, nuclear submarine, Royal Navy | 2 Comments

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

Posted on May 5, 2011 by Rick Spilman

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 →

Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea | Tagged Claude Choules, last combat veteran of World War I, Royal Navy | 1 Comment

Loss of HMS Affray – Sixty Years Ago Today

Posted on April 16, 2011 by Rick Spilman

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 →

Posted in History, Lore of the Sea, Ships | Tagged HMS Affray, Royal Navy, submarine | 2 Comments

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

Posted on March 21, 2011 by Rick Spilman

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 →

Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea | Tagged Australian Navy, Claude Choules, last surviving combat veteran of World War I, Royal Navy | Leave a comment

Farewell to HMS Ark Royal

Posted on March 15, 2011 by Rick Spilman

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 →

Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships | Tagged Ark Royal, decommissioned, flagship, Royal Navy | 2 Comments

Restoration work for HMS Victory

Posted on January 28, 2011 by Rick Spilman

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 →

Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships | Tagged HMS Victory, Nelson's flagship, Portsmouth, Royal Navy | 2 Comments

Cmdr. Andrew Coles of HMS Astute Relieved of Command

Posted on November 27, 2010 by Rick Spilman

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 →

Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships | Tagged Cmdr. Andrew Coles, HMS Astute, Isle of Skye, Royal Navy, stealthiest submarine | 2 Comments

HMS Invincible For Sale – the Perfect Holiday Gift?

Posted on November 27, 2010 by Rick Spilman

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 →

Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships | Tagged aircraft carrier, HMS Invincible, Royal Navy | 2 Comments

HMS Astute: British Nuclear Submarine Aground off Skye

Posted on October 22, 2010 by Rick Spilman

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

Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships | Tagged aground, HMS Astute, Isle of Skye, Royal Navy | 5 Comments

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

Posted on October 22, 2010 by Rick Spilman

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 →

Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships | Tagged Britain, budget cuts, Henry VIII, Royal Navy | Leave a comment

40th Anniversary of Black Tot Day

Posted on July 31, 2010 by Rick Spilman

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 →