Maritime: From Tall Ships to Cruise Ships to Warships.

Magna-Carta

Magna-Carta

Senior Member
Location
UK
Welcome to a thread about all things maritime!

This thread is a place to share your thoughts, knowledge, and experiences about different types of ships. From the majestic tall ships of the past to the modern-day cruise ships that sail the world's oceans, and the warships that have played a crucial role in many historical events. What ships have you been on?

Whether you're a history buff who loves learning about the age of sail, a cruise enthusiast who has sailed on multiple ships, or someone who is fascinated by naval warfare and the ships that make it possible, this thread is the perfect place to share your thoughts and experiences. Feel free to discuss the different types of ships, their design and construction, their role in history and culture, your experiences on a particular ship, and anything else that comes to mind.
 

HMS Victory: Oldest commissioned warship in the world.

I was 5 years old when I first went on this ship, & have been fascinated with it ever since.

Launched in 1765, she served as a flagship of the Royal Navy for over 30 years, during which she was involved in some of the most significant naval battles of the time. Her crowning moment came in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, during the Napoleonic Wars, where she played a pivotal role in securing a decisive victory against the combined fleets of the French and Spanish Navies. I believe she was also involved in a number of naval engagements against the American navy and privateers?

Its construction was based on the traditional design of a three-decker warship. A crew of over 800 men and an armament of 104 guns, combined with its sturdy oak construction and advanced sailing capabilities, made it a formidable vessel on the high seas. She had 27 miles of rigging & a sail area of 6,500 sq. yards (5,436 sq. mtr’s). Slightly more than an American Football Field?

I remember HMS Victory being mentioned on two Star Trek The Next Generation episodes.

hms-victory 07.jpg

HMS Victory -- Star Trek The Next Generation.

Walkthrough Tour of HMS Victory. The video is 28 minutes long, so keep skipping through it if you don’t want to spend time watching it all. (here with upper masts removed for renovation)
 
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I would have liked to see the tall ships when they come into New York but never got the chance to do it. I found out quite by accident (surprised myself, really) that I like watching regatta races. I was channel surfing and came across a race which I continued to watch. I subsequently watched others. No longer have cable but I'll bet YouTube has videos of races.
 
I've always lived close to the sea, and in my teens, did quite a bit of dingy sailing / racing.
When I lived near Portsmouth I had the chance to visit HMS Victory (it used to be free), Warrior and the Mary Rose, which I watched being raised from the seabed. I've seen around various ships including a German minesweeper and an all-weather Lifeboat.

I hope to seethe "Tall ships" when they visit Aberdeen on their next visit.
 
In Baltimore, Maryland there is a place called "Inner Harbor." It's a place where the National Aquarium is located and also where ships of years gone by are stored and available for touring by the public. Take a look:

 

I love tall ships, especially this one…
The Cutty Sark is the world’s only surviving extreme clipper. Although it was launched in 1869 in Dumbarton, Scotland, London was it’s home port.

In 1954 the ship was towed into a specially built dry dock in Greenwich/UK and became a popular destination for school excursions and tourists!
More history of the ship here:

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/Cutty-Sark
 
Years ago, I toured a battleship from WWII. Well, it wasn't a tour. You bought a ticket and could walk around reading mounted signs explaining things. The gun turret amazed me. I was all mechanical. You could actually turn a crank to turn the turret from inside and point the cannon, and another crank to raise and lower it. It seemed it must have all been done by the seat of the sailor's pants. Depending on your distance from the target, you had two options, one bag of powder or two. In my mind, it wasn't much more sophisticated than throwing rocks, except that you could throw big exploding rocks much farther than what you could throw a regular rock with your arm.
 
I was a Navy wife.... I visited many ships on which my ex husband served when they were back in dock.

HMS Hermes was the aircraft carrier second only to HMS Ark Royal in size by just 6 feet... he served on it at the time our daughter was born... and when she was a year old we had her Baptised by the Ships Padre.. in the Hermes Chapel..

I've spoken about this before on here..


R12-HMS-Hermes-007.jpg
 
Which ship is in the picture? Doesn’t England have longer aircraft carriers than the one in this picture? I read they were buy something like 75 F-35’s from Lockheed-Martin. If so, they will need a longer runway on the flight deck.
Magna-Carta said:
I had every confidence that this thip would appeared early in the thread. :)
Click to expand...
Good. I am glad not to have disappointed you. This the ship if all ships. I think we are going to build a few more of this class
 
Royal Marines Assault Team demonstrates one aspect of their boarding technique. The world has moved on.

Imagine a future scene if you were greeted by a large swarm of these guys on the high seas?



I surprise demonstration to guests from the Pentagon & US Navy. Taking off from HMS Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier.

 
dlg22.JPG
uss england dlg22 guided missile frigate of the leahy class homeported long beach calif.

as19.JPG
uss proteus as19 submarine tender of the fulton class at apra harbor guam the nuclear fleetakl28.jpg
uss brule akl28 light cargo ship of the brown water navy vietnam.
a similar vessel was featured in the movie 'mr, roberts'
 
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well along with that slightly off topic then, you want to read a good book try this one.
"the last stand of the tin can sailors" by james d hornfischer
 
Been There said:
Which ship is in the picture? Doesn’t England have longer aircraft carriers than the one in this picture? I read they were buy something like 75 F-35’s from Lockheed-Martin. If so, they will need a longer runway on the flight deck.

Good. I am glad not to have disappointed you. This the ship if all ships. I think we are going to build a few more of this class
Click to expand...

I think the photo that @hollydolly posted of HMS Hermes R-12 might be from the very late 60’s, or specifically 1970? It seems to be configured as an Anti-Submarine Carrier in the photo? That big round 3D Radar was removed in early 1970’s. Prior to all of this she had Sea Vixen & Blackburn Buccaneer jets, when she had steam catapults. Then in the 80’s she had a ‘ski jump’ installed so she could use Sea Harriers. She was sold to India in 1986.

A couple of short videos of F-35B landing on a British carrier:



 
Magna-Carta said:
I think the photo that @hollydolly posted of HMS Hermes R-12 might be from the very late 60’s, or specifically 1970? It seems to be configured as an Anti-Submarine Carrier in the photo? That big round 3D Radar was removed in early 1970’s. Prior to all of this she had Sea Vixen & Blackburn Buccaneer jets, when she had steam catapults. Then in the 80’s she had a ‘ski jump’ installed so she could use Sea Harriers. She was sold to India in 1986.

A couple of short videos of F-35B landing on a British carrier:



Click to expand...
yes the ship is HMS Hermes when my ex husband was serving aboard her in '76 onwards... then she was 6 feet shorter than the biggest aircraft carrier in the fleet HMS Ark Royal...
 
Gaer said:
My solo year long trip through Alaska, got to come home to the continental United States on a barge.
Does that count? I slept on deck, saw lots of whales and eagles; felt like I was on an adventure!
(felt like a female Jack London! haha!)
Click to expand...

Yes of cause it counts :)
 
USS Constitution as a Visitor, Destroyer Tender as crew, Tin Can as Crew (not the actual ship but representative of the class.
The Tender was the only ship in the US Navy to be called "he". It was nicknamed "Doc" and carried the Disney character from the Snow White painted on his stack.
ironsides.jpgpied.jpgUSS_Ault_(DD-698)_underway_in_January_1965.jpg
 

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