The Bridge Of The HMS Queen Elizabeth Is Transported

Have You Left Something Behind? Bizarre Spectacle As Bridge Of £6bn Aircraft Carrier Sets Sail Without The Rest Of The Ship -- Daily Mail

* The bridge set sail for a 600-mile voyage to join the remained of the warship
* HMS Queen Elizabeth is the first of two new warships ordered
* They are the largest ships ever built for the navy

The bridge of a huge, new £6bn warship set sail for an extraordinary 600-mile voyage today, but something rather important was missing - the rest of the ship.

The large section of the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carrier was a strange sight to see as it left the BAE Systems’ shipyard in Portsmouth, Hampshire to join the remainder of the 65,000-tonne carrier on a dry dock in Rosyth, Fife in Scotland.

Onlookers compared the fully-painted, 680-tonne bridge of HMS Queen Elizabeth to ‘something out of Star Trek’ as it towered over surrounding boats.

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My Comment: This is something that you definitely do not see everyday.

Britian's Former Navy Flagship HMS Ark Royal Sold Off As Scrap Metal

HMS Ark Royal. Wikipedia

HMS Ark Royal To Be Sold Off As Scrap Metal -- The Telegraph

Former Navy flagship HMS Ark Royal will be sold on as scrap metal for £3 million as part of a move that the Ministry of Defence has described as "difficult but necessary.

An announcement in Parliament tomorrow is expected to reveal the details of the deal after the vessel was decommissioned in 2010 five years ahead of its expected sell-by date.

The decision comes following a bidding process which included proposals to turn the 22,000-ton ship into a helipad in the Thames, a museum, a hotel, a casino or a diving wreck off the South coast.

Last year HMS Invincible was also sold to a Turkish scrap metal firm as part of the MoD's drive to get its finances in order.

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My Comment: A sad way to end an incredible 32 years of service.

Another Broken Promise From The British Ministry Of Defense

Senior officers have condemned the MoD as 'cack handed' for sacking the sailors while they were serving at sea Photo: TAM MACDONALD

Submariners Sacked At Sea Despite MoD Promise -- The Telegraph

Swathes of sailors on submarines have been sacked at sea despite Ministry of Defence promises that no servicemen would be made redundant.

A fifth of submarine medics serving on board Trident nuclear deterrent and hunter killer submarines have been axed, including one who cared for the wounded on the HMS Astute after a crewman went on the rampage.

It is understood that several sailors were told they were losing their jobs while conducting covert operations after their captains received a signal at sea from the Ministry of Defence.

The Navy sacked the personnel despite a previous promise that no-one from the overstretched and undermanned Submarine Service would be among the 5,000 sailors being made redundant.

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My Comment: The US is also starting to have problems with their own submarine fleet.

HMS Dragon: Britain's Newest Warship

(Click on Image to Enlarge)

Ship shape: The Royal Navy's latest warship HMS Dragon sails into her new home in Portsmouth. She will undergo a series of tests before being declared ready

HMS Dragon Roars Into Life: Royal Navy's Latest And Most Technologically Advanced Warship Is Launched -- The Daily Mail

With a red dragon proudly emblazoned on her bow, this is the Royal Navy's latest technologically wizard warship.



She may not breathe fire but she does come so powerfully armed that she will be able to fend off multiple and simultaneous attacks at supersonic speeds.



And her highly sophisticated Sea Viper missile defence system is designed to smash even the most vicious aircraft and anti-ship missiles.



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My Comment: Impressive.

British Nuclear Submarine Commander Accused Of Accidently Sinking A French Trawler

British Nuclear Submarine Commander Accused Of Killing French Fishermen But Was Russian Vessel To Blame? -- Daily Mail

* Son of killed fishermen claims Commander Andy Coles 'admitted' accident with French trawler
* Navy sources say Russian submarine dragged fishing boat under while spying on Nato exercise
* Coles relieved of command after Navy flagship ran aground while he was in charge in separate incident last year

A Royal Navy submarine commander has been accused of killing five French fishermen by accidentally dragging their boat underwater.

The son of one of the seamen killed says he has 'proof' that HMS Turbulent, commanded by Commander Andy Coles, became tangled in the trawler Bugaled Breizh's nets while on exercise and sank the boat in 2004.

But Navy sources told the Daily Telegraph that a Russian submarine spying on Nato exercises was to blame, and insist that no Navy boats were anywhere near the French trawler when it sank.

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My Comment: A mystery that obviously has left many people unhappy with the official version of this event.

On Board Naval Destroyer HMS Liverpool

The crew celebrating the Royal Wedding in the Junior Rates' dining hall

Here's Looking At You, Mr Gaddafi: On board Naval Destroyer HMS Liverpool, Currently Under Enemy Fire Off The Coast Of Libya -- The Daily Mail

In this dispatch from the navy destroyer, Andrew Preston reports on our sailors' perilous - and invaluable - vigil over our enemy No 1

6.39am, shortly after sunrise
Sea state 1: calm but rippled
Visibility About five miles
Ship’s position 13 miles off the coast of Brega, the front line in Libya

The piercing klaxon of the ship’s general alarm shatters the early morning peace. A startled pair of turtle doves hitching a ride on the ship’s guard rail flutter off to continue their migration north.

‘Hands to action stations. Hands to action stations. Assume CBRN damage control. State 1. Condition Zulu.’

The mood below decks changes at once. There’s no panic, more a sense of ordered rush.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1391537/Libya-On-board-naval-destroyer-HMS-Liverpool-currently-enemy-coast.html#ixzz1Nk58sJSF

My Comment: I love the above picture of some of the crew watching the Royal wedding. With the exception of one guy, all the rest are women. Hmmmm .... how come that does not surprise me.

Russian PM Putin Attempts To Soften His Image To The West

In August 2009, Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin of Russia rode a horse in southern Siberia. Mr. Putin was recently interviewed by a blogger for Outdoor Life magazine, in which he spoke of the fragility of life. Pool photo by Alexei Druzhinin

Texas Blogger’s ‘Man Crush’ On Putin Leads To Lengthy Heart To Heart -- The Telegraph

MOSCOW — Gayne C. Young, a high school English teacher from Fredericksburg, Tex., is not a specialist in foreign policy. The blog he writes for Outdoor Life, a magazine for hunters and fishermen, focuses on subjects like his Labrador puppy, unusually large carp and a subdivision near his home that has been overrun by feral hogs.

Nonetheless, last week Mr. Young scored a journalistic coup, publishing a lengthy written interview with Russia’s prime minister, Vladimir V. Putin. Mr. Young approached the Russian government last year after blogging repeatedly about his “man crush” on Mr. Putin, and the questions he sent the Russian prime minister were, shall we say, softballs. They included, “Are there Yetis or Russian ‘wood goblins’ in the taiga?” and “Are you the coolest man in politics?”

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My Comment: My nationality is Russian .... so I follow Russian politics closely. But after reading this puff piece on Putin .... my eyeballs are looking skyward right now.

Construction Begins On Britain's Second Aircraft Carrier

A computer image of one of the planned Royal Navy aircraft carriers. Image from The Courier

Second Wave Of Aircraft Carrier Construction Begins -- The Daily Mail

Defence Secretary Liam Fox and the country’s top military brass will this week assemble on the banks of the Clyde for a ceremony to mark the start of construction on Britain’s second giant aircraft carrier, the Prince of Wales.

But there is a good chance that the 65,000- ton vessel, which is not due to be launched until 2020, will never see action – and may even be mothballed.

This is because the Government has not yet made up its mind whether Britain can afford two huge carriers, together expected to cost more than £7 billion.

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My Comment: Years late .... billions over budget .... for an aircraft carrier that will not have any planes for three years .... they have now started to build this thing.

Britain's New Trident Fleet To Cost £25bn

Nuclear submarine HMS Vanguard arriving back at HM Naval Base. Photo from Defpro

New Trident Fleet Cost Will Top £25bn -- The Guardian

Defence secretary Liam Fox announces new funding but says Lib Dems will oversee review into 'alternatives'.

The cost of a new fleet of Trident nuclear missile submarines could more than double to £25bn by the time they are built, the defence secretary, Liam Fox, told MPs.

The figure was released as the Ministry of Defence announced significant new funding for a new Trident system even though, at the Lib Dems' behest, a final decision is not due to be taken until after the next general election.

The figure does not include the price of warheads, the running costs, and the bill for leasing Trident missiles from the US.

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More News on Britain's New Submarine Fleet

Trident replacement to go ahead, Fox confirms -- BBC
Fox angers MPs by ordering plans for a new Trident fleet -- Daily Mail
UK Announces Plans for Successor Nuclear Deterrent Submarine -- Defpro
Work begins on new Trident system - at a cost of £25billion -- Mirror
UK to spend 3 bln pounds on nuclear sub work -- Reuters
Work on Trident nuclear renewal gets go ahead -- BBC
Britain Approves Design of New Nuclear Submarines -- Defense News/AFP
Billions are spent on 'son of Trident' but future still in doubt -- News Scotland
Fox undermines review of Trident -- Herald Scotland
Trident review seeks cheaper option -- Financial Times
Q&A: Trident replacement -- BBC

French-Built Rafales Jets Are To Be Used On Britain's Aircraft Carriers

The Rafale, built by French aeronautics constructer Dassault.
(Photo: Reuters)

Politicians Hide Their Plans To Put French Jets On Royal Navy Carriers -- The Telegraph

The Royal Navy won't be flying Anglo-US Joint Strike Fighters, but providing a platform for French Rafales as part of an EU force, writes Christopher Booker.

The magnificent military pageantry of the royal wedding coincided, sadly, with yet another humiliating instance of the precipitate decline in Britain’s military power. There has long been something very odd about the two giant aircraft carriers which are to be the centrepiece of Britain’s defence capability over the next 50 years – one to be instantly mothballed, the other not due in service for another decade. Now, it seems, the bill for this project is to rise yet again, by further billions of pounds, because, according to the Ministry of Defence, one carrier needs extensive modification to accommodate the Joint Strike Fighters we are allegedly building with the US.

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My Comment: The U.K. and France agreed to an understanding last year to work more closely in military matters. If this report is true, I guess they are putting substance to what they discussed a few months ago.

Building A British Aircraft Carrier Is No Easy Task

(Click on Image to Enlarge)

Aircraft Carrier: A Mind-Boggling Building Job -- BBC

In a shipyard in Scotland the future of the Royal Navy is slowly taking shape. But the construction of the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is a mammoth task.

Imagine an aircraft carrier as a 65,000-tonne jigsaw puzzle and you have got a good idea of the scale of the building of HMS Queen Elizabeth.

The pieces are being built at six shipyards around the UK and will be slotted together at Rosyth in Fife using an enormous crane which was transported by sea from China.

Around 10,000 workers across Britain are employed on the £5bn project with up to 25,000 engaged in building components for the Lockheed Martin F-35 aircraft.

The carrier will have between 12 and 40 F-35s, or Joint Strike Fighters, costing around £65m each.

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My Comment: Forget about what it takes to build the HMS Queen Elizabeth, just look at how big a Gerald R. Ford class aircraft carrier is .... and be more impressed on what it takes to build one of those. On a side note, the zoomable image at the bottom of this BBC report is a cool thing to use .... check it out.

Deadly Shooting Aboard A British Nuclear Submarine

The incident is reported to have taken place in Southampton docks close to where nuclear-powered submarine HMS Astute is berthed.

Officer Shot Dead And Another Is Fighting For Life After Sailor Opens Fire As Mayor Visits Nuclear Sub HMS Astute -- The Daily Mail

Mayor and Southampton City Council chief exec on board during shooting
Royal Navy serviceman arrested for shooting of two colleagues

An officer was killed and another is fighting for his life after a shooting spree by a sailor on board the Royal Navy's flagship nuclear submarine.

Police arrested an armed sentry after the incident today on the HMS Astute in Southampton docks as guards were changed over at midday.

The shooting occurred as local dignitaries, including the city's mayor and council chief executive were touring the £1.2 billion boat, which had docked on Wednesday after 46 days at sea.

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More News On the Shooting Aboard The HMS Astute

One killed in HMS Astute nuclear submarine shooting -- BBC
Man arrested over fatal shooting on nuclear submarine -- The Guardian
Aftermath of nuclear submarine shooting in Southampton (Video) -- The Telegraph
Navy man held after submarine death -- Press Association
One dead in shooting on British submarine -- AFP
Man held after shooting onboard UK submarine -- Reuters
Man Killed In Shooting On UK Nuclear Sub -- SKY News
Shooting aboard British sub kills 1 -- CNN
Fatal Shooting Aboard British Nuclear Submarine -- FOX News

My Comment: Here is a good summary on the troubled history of the HMS Astute.

HMS Ark Royal For Sale On 'Military eBay'

Aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal on Tyneside to celebrate her 30th birthday where she was built. FreeFoto.com

HMS Ark Royal Put Up For Sale On 'Military eBay' -- The Telegraph

The Royal Navy's former flagship HMS Ark Royal has been put up for sale on the Ministry of Defence's auction website.

Just two weeks after the aircraft carrier was decommissioned at its home port of Portsmouth Naval Base, Hampshire, the Ark Royal has been advertised on the edisposals.com website.

The sale follows that of its sister ship HMS Invincible, which was towed away last week to a scrapyard in Turkey after being sold on the same internet site.

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More News On The HMS Ark Royal

Carrier HMS Ark Royal put up for auction on MoD website -- BBC
UK aircraft carrier Ark Royal for sale on Internet -- AP
HMS Ark Royal up for sale on MoD website -- Portsmouth.co.uk
MoD sells Ark Royal on internet -- London Evening Standard
HMS Southampton and Ark Royal for sale on auction website -- Daily Echo

My Comment: This is not my way for the Royal Navy's former flagship to go .... but 'the times are a changing'.

HMS Invincible And The HMS Ark Royal Together For The Last Time

Sailing into history: HMS Invincible is towed past HMS Ark Royal (right) - which has also been decommissioned - on her final journey to a Turkish scrapyard

Rule Britannia? With Ark Royal In The Background Awaiting A Similar Fate, HMS Invincible Yesterday Embarked On Her Final Voyage... To The Knacker's Yard -- The Daily Mail

As dawn breaks over the home of the Royal Navy, one modern maritime legend sets sail for the last time and another awaits her fate.

In the foreground, we see HMS Invincible, flagship of the Falklands War, leaving Portsmouth for good.

Behind her, Britain’s most famous aircraft carrier, HMS Ark Royal remains in her berth until a new owner is found: either a second-hand buyer or a scrapyard.

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My Comment: This is truly the end of an era.

Saying Farewell To HMS Ark Royal

Best of British: Tears Flow As Ark Royal's Last 150 Sailors Say An Emotional Farewell -- The Daily Mail

Tearful crowds have gathered for an emotional farewell to the HMS Ark Royal as the doomed Royal Navy's flagship was decommissioned.

The last remaining 150 sailors serving on board Britain's most famous warship watched as her white ensign was lowered for the final time.

Principal guest First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope inspected a guard comprising 30 of the ship's company at the aircraft carrier's home port of Portsmouth, Hants.

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More News On The Last Farewell To The HMS Ark Royal

Ark Royal: decommissioning marks end of a long and celebrated history -- The Telegraph
HMS Ark Royal's final farewell -- BBC
Carrier undergoes farewell ceremony -- Press Association
Last British carrier decommissioned -- UPI
Tears for HMS Ark Royal as she lowers her white ensign for the final time -- Mirror
Sadness as HMS Ark Royal retires after 25 years in the Navy -- Portsmouth News
The lost Ark -- The Sun
In pictures: HMS Ark Royal through the years -- BBC

Saying Goodbye To The HMS Ark Royal

Thousands Turn Out To Say Farewell To HMS Ark Royal -- The Telegraph

Thousands of people turned out to say farewell to the crew of the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal as they paraded through the ship's home city before the vessel is decommissioned.

About 250 sailors marched through Portsmouth, Hampshire, on Saturday to celebrate the close affiliation between the Royal Navy's flagship, which is being decommissioned as part of the Government's defence review, and its home port.

A Royal Marines band led the parade which finished at the city's Guildhall Square where a special service was held.

This was led by Lord Mayor of Portsmouth Councillor Paula Riches and ended with prayers by Ark Royal's padre, the Rev Martin Evans.

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My Comment: A sad day for the Royal Navy.

Britain Prepares To Launch The Biggest Submarine That It Has Ever Built

(Click Image to Enlarge)
Titan: Two shipyard workers, to the lower left of the huge propellor show the enormous scale of HMS Ambush, which is launched this week

Set To Launch, Our Nuclear Leviathan: The Enormous Scale Of The Biggest Submarine Ever Built In Britain -- The Daily Mail

Her nuclear reactor could power a city the size of Southampton, she will never need refuelling and she can use her guided ­missiles to pulverise an enemy more than 1,000 miles away.

Meet HMS Ambush, the Royal Navy’s newest hunter-killer submarine. The ‘super-sub’ is able to make oxygen and fresh water from ­seawater, to keep the 98 crew — it has not yet been decided if this will include women — alive in time of crisis.

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My Comment: Expensive, over budget, delivery delays, and problems with her sister vessel HMS Astute .... this sub better do the work that it`s supporters have promised.

Polish Steelworkers Are Building Britian's Aircraft Carriers

Computer-generated image issued by the MoD of an aircraft carrier that is due to be built in Britain. In the past six weeks, around 300 Britons working on building two of the new warships for the Royal Navy have been sacked in favour of cheaper Polish workers

British Shipbuilders Axed Because Poles Are 30% Cheaper: 300 Workers On The Royal Navy's New Carriers Laid Off -- The Daily Mail

Hundreds of Britons who were building two aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy have lost their jobs because they were not as cheap as Polish workers, it was claimed last night.

In the past six weeks, around 300 Britons working on the £5.2billion warships have been sacked.

But none of the cut-price Poles has been laid off. They earn around £9.50 an hour while UK tradesmen doing similar jobs are paid £15 an hour.

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My Comment: Another symbol on what is wrong with Britain.

HMS Astute Damaged By Coastguard Tug After It Ran Aground

Image: Anglian Prince went to the aid of HMS Astute after the submarine ran aground. Photo from The BBC

U.K.'s Stricken Nuclear Submarine HMS Astute Collided With Rescue Vessel -- Bloomberg

HMS Astute, the British nuclear- powered submarine that ran aground off Scotland’s Isle of Skye last month, collided with one of the vessels charged with its rescue, the defense ministry said.

“We can confirm HMS Astute was in a minor collision with one of the tugs that assisted in refloating her,” Ministry of Defence spokeswoman Beth Cowley said in an e-mailed statement today. The submarine remains at the Faslane naval base “whilst investigations continue,” according to the statement.

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More News On The HMS Astute And Its Collision With A Recue Tug

Stricken Sub Astute Damaged By Rescue Tug -- SKY News
Grounded nuclear sub HMS Astute damaged during rescue -- BBC
Tug damaged HMS Astute while freeing it -- BBC
Stranded British Sub Damaged In Tug Collision -- Defense News/AFP
Stranded N-sub damaged by rescuing tug -- Reuters
Call for debate on scrap-threat coastguard tug -- BBC

British Sub Is Freed After 10 Hours. Calls For An Inquiry

People on a beach watch as crew work on the deck of the Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarine HMS Astute near the Skye bridge

Royal Navy Chiefs Left Red-Faced After Brand New £1.2bn Nuclear Submarine Is Left High And Dry Off The Coast Of Scotland -- The Daily Mail

* Commanding officer could face court martial over blunder
* Royal Navy experts launch service inquiry after early-morning accident

She is our most advanced nuclear submarine, described as the stealthiest ever built and packed with state of the art navigation equipment.

But somehow the £1.2billion HMS Astute managed to run aground yesterday.

The Royal Navy super-sub's rudder got stuck in mud and shingle off the Isle of Skye after venturing into the entrance of a shallow bay to take crew aboard.

Stuck high and dry, she languished there under the bemused gaze of locals as red-faced top brass waited anxiously for the tide to rise so she could be freed.

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More News On the Grounding Of The HMS Astute

Grounded nuclear sub HMS Astute docked for tests -- BBC
Nuclear submarine freed after running aground off Isle of Skye -- The Guardian
Navy's nuclear super-stealth submarine stuck off Skye for ten hours -- Daily Record
Grounded UK Nuclear Submarine Freed -- New York Times
British Navy Seeks Inquiry After Nuclear Sub Runs Aground -- New York Times
Sub shows too much to be stealthy -- BBC
Astute grounding 'incredible', say locals -- The Telegraph
The Top Five Most Humiliating Details About a British Submarine’s Capture by Some Mud -- Vanity Fair
FACTBOX-Britain's Astute class submarines -- Reuters