Mystery Vessel

Post by **DaveB** » 28 Apr 2007, 11:05

Hello Mate..

No. I remember having a look (I think) and I fell outside the timeline. Not sure now though :think: What day is it!!

ATB

DaveB :tab:

Motormouse · Post by **Motormouse** » 28 Apr 2007, 11:28

Hi Dave,
they just moved the 'time frame', so anyone who was 'in' for the Falklands can now get a badge (if you want one that is

)

ttfn

Pete

Post by **DaveB** » 28 Apr 2007, 12:27

Ah.. well that's me in then!

Tks Pete

ATB

DaveB :tab:

chockhead819 · Post by **chockhead819** » 28 Apr 2007, 12:31

If youre a falklands vet & have applied for tickets to the poarade in London, they will send it out automatically.

Post by **Garry Russell** » 28 Apr 2007, 12:53

Just out of interest

Is there much of the Falkland fleet still in existance.one way or another.?

Garry

Post by **DaveB** » 28 Apr 2007, 14:52

Hi Garry..

In a word mate.. no. Even the 'then' latest ships which would have been Type22 Frigates were batch1 and over 20-years down the line, will be very close to scrap/resale.. that is if they've not gone already.

ATB

DaveB :tab:

Post by **Garry Russell** » 28 Apr 2007, 14:55

Thanks Dave

That was the impression I was getting.

I suppose the continuous tendency to want to cut all the time won't give much of an extended life to anything :sad:

Garry

AndyG · Post by **AndyG** » 28 Apr 2007, 15:06

Garry, don't forget that the Indian Navy are getting quite good usage out of one ship from the Falklands.

AndyG

Post by **DaveB** » 28 Apr 2007, 15:15

It's all down to threat in the end.. either real or perceived. There is only so much you can weld onto something old in order for it to keep up before a better solution is to rebuild from scratch keeping the original design but updating it. This is what tends to happen hence.. batch1, batch2 and now batch3 though I can't recall anything ever getting beyond batch3 as over the entire timescale between the first batch1 and the last batch3.. the threat has changed again and technology has moved on a pace.

This said.. what we have or perceive as a threat here could be (and often is) totally different to another country in another part of the world. This is why if they can, they refurbish and resell the ships when possible. We get a few bob back.. they get a new (new to them) ship which fulfills their requirements and there's a nice bit of diplomatic handshaking taboot

ATB

DaveB :tab:

Paul K · Post by **Paul K** » 28 Apr 2007, 17:05

Interesting topic. One thing that I've always found remarkable is how long the United States Navy keeps some of its ships in service. Their oldest front line warship, the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk, is 45 years old. They were still using the Iowa-class battleships in the 1990s, albeit after intermittent periods in lay-up and modifications.

The same went for their merchant ships. I spent 4th July 1976 ( the bicentennial ) aboard the Sealand Paraguay off Curacao. Like their military vessels, US merchantmen are dry, so we brought over the beer in a lifeboat while they got the steaks going. Anyway, it looked a fairly modern ship, judging by her size and superstructure, but once we were aboard and having the guided tour, we found out the hull, boilers and machinery went back to 1945. It had been extended and a new 'modern' looking funnel and superstructure fitted, but it was very much mutton dressed as lamb.

Must have been a good party though, because to this day I can't remember coming back to our ship or climbing the pilot ladder! The next morning we were flying the Stars and Stripes, and they were flying the Red Duster. What a great bunch they were.