Thread: Big old Battleship

sheeesh guys

Nukes, every thing built after about 1960 has nuke systems capabilities in one form or another. but they were no where near the forklands. it wasn’t even discussed by the poms it just wasn’t going to happen, just not cricket. Look at the choice of torpedoes used for example. and imagine the global flack if any form of nuke was used or losed to the argis

the Sheffield was poked, aluminum don’t like heat, the weather cut up and who ever was tethered to it was going to be a big target, logical just dump it.

G'day Folks

Back to the big old battleships, I had with my family a guided tour of the New Jersy BB-62 when she was in Brisbane, returning from the opening of the Saul Olympics in 88, yes, she was a big ship, and the top of "Y" turret had a deep dent/depression in it, a direct Kamikasi strike, they just pushed the wreckage over the side there was a section of deck housing on the aft deck with a yellow painted line around it, when enquired, I was informed that that area was out of bounds to all personal including the Admiral, thatwas where "the Spooks" lived and anybody inside the yellow line would be shot,we went inside one of the forward turrets, and to see down the bore of one of the main guns, BIG,but to work with full blast gear on it would have been unbearable, I managed to sit in the Old mans chair on the bridge, and could see the Bribie Island water tower through the binos, and was told that "If I could identify it those guns could hit it", the shells weighed aprox the same as a VW beetle (old type) and the 3 charge bags weighed 110 lbs ea, she took 21 miles to stop and turn from 30kts,listed speed was 36kts but that wasn't her true speed, (classified) she ws still steam driven, and her hospital could process 3000 casualities, with 5 or 6 Opp theatres.

And she sure did look nice steaming up the inside of Moreton Island when she was leaving, supposedly to return to US for removal of steam power and conversion to Nuculear power.


cheers

No I belive you was just a question. I was told
by my step brother who was in the raf
that nukes were in the mountain at gib too


[quote=martinozcmax;1157274]

Originally Posted by juddy

HMS Sheffield carring Nukes??? for who, Sheffield did have the ability to fire such a weapon, i have heard storys that some RFA carried Nuclear weapons maybe Fort Austin, but these would have been for the aircraft.???

Sheffield and HMS Tiger both carried nuclear weapons. I won't go into more detail but I happen to know. Between my immediate family we served over 35 years in the pusser. I was in the RN for a number of years and in a position to know.

I signed the official secrets act however as the ships I served in are now razor blades and what with Al Qaeda etc I'd suggest the intelligence services have much more important things to worry about.

If you choose not to believe me that's your preorogative and it certainly won't bother me.

Martin

[quote=juddy;1157375]No I belive you was just a question. I was told
by my step brother who was in the raf
that nukes were in the mountain at gib too


Wouldn't be at all surprised. visited Gib several times but never knew enough about the running of the place to confirm.

To put it into context these were the days of the cold war when we had Russian "trawlers" following us collecting any dumped garbage (in those days all rubbish was simply thrown overboard I'm sorry to say now) and going through it.

I used to work on radar and weapons systems anything at all confidential or classified we had to smash into lots of little pieces and ditch a bit at a time.

The Russian trawlers had some of the ugliest woman I have ever seen as crew, I'm sure they were made up of ex olympic shot putters. This was back way before RN woman were even thought of being allowed to go to sea, wrens were all shore based.

I read some place recently that one of these battleships, even though loaned to a museum, can still be called upon if need, and must be kept in a sea ready condition...

Originally Posted by juddy

I read some place recently that one of these battleships, even though loaned to a museum, can still be called upon if need, and must be kept in a sea ready condition...

I wouldn't be too sure about that. Ther's an unbelievable amount of maintenance required to keep a big ship seaworthy.

After laying up in a refit whilst in commission it can take months to get through hats and sats (harbour and sea acceptance trials) then a workup for another month or so at somewhere like Portland.

I reckon mothballed probably means just that.

Originally Posted by martinozcmax

I wouldn't be too sure about that. Ther's an unbelievable amount of maintenance required to keep a big ship seaworthy.

After laying up in a refit whilst in commission it can take months to get through hats and sats (harbour and sea acceptance trials) then a workup for another month or so at somewhere like Portland.

I reckon mothballed probably means just that.

Mothballed just like the current rn fleet. What a shame
what ships did you serve on

Originally Posted by clean32

not disputing the fact

I have been lucky enough to see both the victory and the Cutty shark, and of course the victory’s main sail, quite interesting the different shot they used, most interesting was the Chain they fired to take out rigging, like stumpy numchucks.
The first aid kits kept in the capstan, 1 lump of salt and a rag. Oh and the major technological advance the victory had, flintlocks on the canon, less delay from fusing.

But all I can say is thank God I wasn’t born back then, im way to tall.

Yea to that Mate not much headroom at all.Did you know that the Ship's doctor that tended to Nelson when he was shot on deck took him down decks to nurse him and according to our guide when I was on "victory" the Doc was 6 foot 6 inches.He must have been on his hands and knees.Did you notice also the wax model of Nelson in his wardroom it was stated he was just over 5 foot.They were small back then.
John.