Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

Brent crude just opened at $101.25

Bought another one.














A milk float, no less. 

And his throat cut.
 He must have lived in fear, terror and misery until he was put out of it.
 ......

oh dear .... how sad ..... never mind! 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DVjihS9joWq/?img_index=7&igsh=MXQzb2VybXd6N2RqZw==

Running out of missiles? Some people spout anything if it supports a narrative! 

How very ironic.

…..and, for those who didn’t know, the RN battleship accompanying HMS Hood was HMS Prince of Wales!
 

HMS Queen Elizabeth, is undergoing a major refit at the moment.

Refit?          Already?         The paint's only just dried! 

Significant maintenance is being carried out as is the norm with modern, highly sophisticated technical warships.  There was also an issue with the coupling on one of its propellor shafts, which also affected her sister carrier HMS Prince of Wales in a different form.  Both carriers have broken down in recent years, just as the French carrier did, and the massive USA Gerald Ford had propulsion issues and broke down!

In fact it had been decided that HMS Prince of Wales would replace QE on NATO exercises because of the mechanical issues.  Now she appears to be heading for the Eastern Mediterranean.

The propulsion issues are intriguing, as it is now considered by some naval historians that this was the true reason for the sinking of HMS Hood in 1941.  It is believed, with evidence given at an enquiry given by some RN engineers and from the three survivors, that a failing prop shaft broke free from her securing bearings due to severe corrosion, apparently also evident across the ship with her urgently requiring a major refit that, twice, had been postponed due to the start of WWII. The experts stated HMS Hood desperately needed this refit, as it was in a very poor engineering condition. It had been noted for some time that there was significant vibration throughout the ship, a clue that there was a prop issue. The heavy steaming, at full speed, to intercept the German battleship is thought to have aggravated the prop fault to the point of destruction.

The theory is that this prop shaft thrashed around and smashed though the bulk head of the aft magazine, igniting the contents and blasting the stern off from the rest of HMS Hood. So the theory goes that it was not the action by Bismark or Prinz Eugen, but this mechanical failure, that sank the pride of the RN.  But the enquiry decided on the former German action that sank her, which probably suited their war propaganda / PR better!  This can never be proved apparently because the wreck of HMS Hood is in pieces on the seabed, and no evidence to support the old claim is available. So the official conclusion still holds good.

This may be history, but I just wonder if this MAY be in the minds of the RN and are now very sensitive about any prop issues with these big ships. An interesting thought, maybe!!

I have said all that about HMS Hood in 1941, and no doubt some will say how is that relevant to 2026 and RN ships to be readied for war.  Well, I have noted comments by certain politicians, often Conservative ones.  Well read this, and remember they were in power for 14 years up to July 2024:

https://www.navylookout.com/britain-wakes-up-to-the-condition-of-its-navy/

This makes me fume. I am usually a Conservative, but I am very angry about their failure, not Labour’s, to maintain our great Royal Navy.  This is why ships of the fleet cannot sail on short notice!  Crazy in a World full of threat.

As often said before, we are a broken nation.  We cant even rise to the challenge of any naval threat to the UK!! My RN Grandfather, who was at Jutland in 1916, and my Dad who served from 1940 to 1966, will be turning in his graves>

https://www.instagram.com/p/DVjihS9joWq/?img_index=7&igsh=MXQzb2VybXd6N2RqZw==

Running out of missiles? Some people spout anything if it supports a narrative! 

assume you are just living with an intermittant code?

Anyway, all cleaned up, and manifold back on, just 2 more bolts to do up, the awkward ones, but I'm done for today.
Got to wait for parts anyway, so can do those when  fresher

HMS Queen Elizabeth, is undergoing a major refit at the moment.

Refit?          Already?         The paint's only just dried! 

Significant maintenance is being carried out as is the norm with modern, highly sophisticated technical warships.  There was also an issue with the coupling on one of its propellor shafts, which also affected her sister carrier HMS Prince of Wales in a different form.  Both carriers have broken down in recent years, just as the French carrier did, and the massive USA Gerald Ford had propulsion issues and broke down!

In fact it had been decided that HMS Prince of Wales would replace QE on NATO exercises because of the mechanical issues.  Now she appears to be heading for the Eastern Mediterranean.

The propulsion issues are intriguing, as it is now considered by some naval historians that this was the true reason for the sinking of HMS Hood in 1941.  It is believed, with evidence given at an enquiry given by some RN engineers and from the three survivors, that a failing prop shaft broke free from her securing bearings due to severe corrosion, apparently also evident across the ship with her urgently requiring a major refit that, twice, had been postponed due to the start of WWII. The experts stated HMS Hood desperately needed this refit, as it was in a very poor engineering condition. It had been noted for some time that there was significant vibration throughout the ship, a clue that there was a prop issue. The heavy steaming, at full speed, to intercept the German battleship is thought to have aggravated the prop fault to the point of destruction.

The theory is that this prop shaft thrashed around and smashed though the bulk head of the aft magazine, igniting the contents and blasting the stern off from the rest of HMS Hood. So the theory goes that it was not the action by Bismark or Prinz Eugen, but this mechanical failure, that sank the pride of the RN.  But the enquiry decided on the former German action that sank her, which probably suited their war propaganda / PR better!  This can never be proved apparently because the wreck of HMS Hood is in pieces on the seabed, and no evidence to support the old claim is available. So the official conclusion still holds good.

This may be history, but I just wonder if this MAY be in the minds of the RN and are now very sensitive about any prop issues with these big ships. An interesting thought, maybe!!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DVjihS9joWq/?img_index=7&igsh=MXQzb2VybXd6N2RqZw==