BIGREDONE

Hi, I know a lot of the West Sussex MV owners come along to the Fort Nelson Royal Armouries WW2 Easter weekend.

I have only two words to say to you....Almirante Comdell! I am guessing that it was this ex RN going to new owner after a full handover period. http://www.armada.cl/site/unidades_navales/728.htm

Got a feeling it must have been on of the old brit frigates that has been on handover trials for sometime now.....leaving for the last time maybe? Ill do some digging. Paul

Talking of Rame Head in a previous thread, here is what I have just come across.... http://www.edisposals.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/Disposals-Public-Site/en_US/-/GBP/ViewStandardCatalog-Browse;pgid=MieqQ4wkQg8000ArvQ_8K1sp0000YAfzlo5m?CatalogCategoryID=%2eQPAqBELPpoAAAD_2yppc4d2

Hi, Normally we spend billions on research and development then take twenty years to build the thing (ship or aircraft) then it is out of date so we sell it to another country for a loss who then goes to war with us (thats Great Britain not the US)!!!

Just heard on the radio, that the Navy are looking at selling off HMS Victory to make some money. Just hope whoever buys it dosent convert it into a house boat. From Wave 105 web site HMS Victory could be sold off Portsmouth's historic warship HMS victory could be run by a charity or public body and not the Royal Navy, the Ministry of Defence says. The 249-year-old warship was Lord Nelson's flagship during the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar when the Royal Navy defeated a combined French and Spanish fleet to save the country from invasion. The naval hero died on Victory after being shot during the engagement. The MoD is looking at a series of options to run the ship and maintain it in a consultation exercise. These include keeping the current status quo, public ownership by another government department or non-departmental public body. Others options are setting up of a new charity for the ship or employing an existing charity. Currently based at the Historic Dockyard, Victory is the oldest commissioned warship in the world but it is increasingly costing money to maintain with costs of around £1.5 million a year and more, if major work is needed. A MOD spokesman said: "This is not a case of the Navy giving away HMS Victory nor are we decommissioning it. We are looking at a range of funding options for the continued support and ongoing maintenance of HMS Victory. (1.5 million a year, the MoD wastes that in a month if not a week) Paul

For those of you that have not seen it in the MVT mag, the Defence Police School (ie Tri-Service Military Police) are holding an open day on Saturday 27th September 2008 at the old HMS DRYAD site Southwick Park, Southwick, Hampshire. The famous D-Day map room will be open along with other MP museums. There will aslo be a Parachute and motorbike display. Opening times 1200 - 1800 Dont know of entrance price as yet. For further info please contact 01329 282783 Paul

This boats is called BRAVE CHALLENGER. I believe she is the ex HMS BRAVE BORDERER as the sister BRAVE SWORDSMAN was scrapped at pounds. By chance I was heading into Southampton a coulpe of weeks ago and as you go over the bridge by the old Meridian TV studios you can see it moored up on the quayside to the left www.bravechallenger.co.uk

Just going through a few old snaps and here is one of Rame Head...ring any bells? Thought you might also enjoy seeing these ones of gunboats/RAF boats, had to take photograph of photograph so not very good copies. I have taken thousands of pictures of warships as that was my main hobby a few years ago since the late seventies. Now working in Fort Blockhouse Gosport I am in the ideal position for seeing the ships entering and leaving. There was always a RAF launch just by the M27 hamble river bridge but it seems to have gone...any ideas where? Also is the E-boat still around that was at the power boat museum in Southampton, their open day was my first ever military vehicle outing in the jeep and their last I think!

The only one up there at the moment is the ex Rame Head which is used for special forces boarding party training.....well it was. There were plans for her to be replaced with RFA Sir Tristram at one point. But Rame Head was not a Falklands ship. I think if I remember correctly there was a TIDE or OL class tanker up there at one point. Ill have to look at my old photographs to confirm.

What thats then you want to know about the RFA

Yes these have been laid up decommissioned for sometime now. The only recent serving ships I can think of are..... HMS INVINCIBLE (laid up in state or readiness?) HMS EXETER (recently laid up in state of readiness?) So I guess no ships of that period are still on active duty

Just three the Type 42 destroyers...... NEWCASTLE, CARDIFF and GLASGOW I think, please correct if wrong, as it has been along time since I was up to speed on the ships of the RN

She is back in the news again, along with HMS Intrepid which is due out for scrapping this coming Wednesday 10th http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/ Here are a few pictures of HMS Fearless on her way to the scrapman a few months ago.

Thanks Jack Ill give you a call early next week, you dont even need to pick anything up from me, I will stick it in the post to you. Unless you still want the stove? Speak soon Paul :tup::

Just a heads up for those who have tickets, I heard on the radio today that this has also been cancelled due to the weather, best phone and check beforehand Paul

Hi, Is anyone in the Portsmouth/Hampshire area going to this event next week, as I need to get a bit of kit to a guy who is displaying there and I am unable to drive at the present. Thank you in anticipation Paul http://www.operationmarketgarden2008.co.uk/Info.html

Hi all, Just spotted this on the Re-enacators forum. For those that are going please check before setting off. Paul http://www.wwiireenacting.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=45918 Update from web site "yup had this confirmed from Dave also He has said its ok to post his number here if there are any big issues but dont hassle the chap unless you really need to Dave Pratt 07866 841134 reason for cancelleation is that its impossible for normal vehicles to get on and off site and its likely to get worse !"

Hi all, Some of my Military Odyssey pictures.....I attended the Saturday only, as said before seemed a lot less vehicles and re-enactors there as in previous years, the main collectors marquee was a bit void of trade stands but still a few outside.

They might have been Yaks as there is a team of 4 that runs out of the old Naval air station down here in Lee on the Solent, they look a bit like Harvards from a distance. Paul

I think it is a bad batch, a friend of mine got a new top for his jeep and that leaked down the top seam. It did not come from Worthings but another well known company

Hi, When we became a Tri-Service Hospital under the defence review a few years back now. We were going to become the forces centre of medical excellence. The main reason the hospital is now closing is because the Army and RAF did not want the medical centre of excellence to be sited in Gosport as it is, in their opinion too far away from any major roads and Airfields....even though they closed the Fleet Air Arm base at HMS Deadalus a few years earlier, and have access across the water where the hospital ships could off load the wounded…work that one out if you can! The site is still owned by the MoD but the wards and facilities are loaned out in partnership to the NHS until the new super hospital is built in Cosham July next year when NHS will decant and the site will then be stripped and handed over to Defence Estates for final disposal, then companies will submit their intentions for future development. It is hoped a medical company will invest to make it a private hospital or nursing home i.e. Chelsea pensioners, oh and of course housing. I have worked for the MoD for the past 20 years of which 16 in the hospital and will be part of the closure team next year. Paul