View Full Version : The Aeroplane- Looking back 60 years."Secret Attacks on HMS Vanguard."
MReyn24050
4th Jul 2006, 18:38
Published in The Aeroplane Monthly this month is an extract from The Aeroplane 60 years ago:-
"While sailing to Devonport from the Clyde, HMS Vanguard was attacked by squadrons from the RAF and Fleet Air Arm in an exercise to investigate its vulnerability, or lack thereof, from the air. Needless to say, the results of these exercises are being kept secret, whether because they were successful or not being a matter for interesting conjecture."
I know that too many years have past but the quote does make one curious what the outcome was.
Mel
SASless
4th Jul 2006, 23:33
Guess they had already forgotten about Prince of Wales and Repulse....that should have told them something already.
PPRuNeUser0139
5th Jul 2006, 05:50
Not forgetting Billy Mitchell, or the Bismarck, or Taranto, or the carrier air battles of the Pacific or <drone drone>.....
Think Vanguard was launched in ~'45 and was still proudly serving Britain 10 years later - albeit in an unforeseen shaving capacity.
Not forgetting Billy Mitchell, or the Bismarck, or Taranto, or the carrier air battles of the Pacific or <drone drone>.....
& Tirpitz.
Blacksheep
7th Jul 2006, 06:47
The missing bit from the old battleships were the SAM missile batteries, methinks. There's not many Kamikazes would get past a Gatekeeper either.
The cruise missile means that a battleship can project its power as well as any Carrier group, but its nemesis today would be something like HMS Conqueror, as the Belgrano discovered.
Air power, sea power - its all a never ending story. Who knows which is on top? - you only really find out when the ballooon goes up.
treadigraph
7th Jul 2006, 07:38
There is a pub right on the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour in Old Portsmouth (the Still and West) which has a magnificent picture of HMS Vanguard jammed across the entrance right by the pub after it broke free form the tugs taking it for scrapping - circa 1960? I believe there's a copy on the web but I haven't managed to track it down. I think I'd break free too if I was being dragged off to the scrappers.
There is a pub right on the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour in Old Portsmouth (the Still and West) which has a magnificent picture of HMS Vanguard jammed across the entrance right by the pub after it broke free form the tugs taking it for scrapping - circa 1960? I believe there's a copy on the web but I haven't managed to track it down. I think I'd break free too if I was being dragged off to the scrappers.
Here it is. :ok:
http://www.hms-vanguard.co.uk/
MReyn24050
7th Jul 2006, 08:39
There is a pub right on the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour in Old Portsmouth (the Still and West) which has a magnificent picture of HMS Vanguard jammed across the entrance right by the pub after it broke free form the tugs taking it for scrapping - circa 1960? I believe there's a copy on the web but I haven't managed to track it down. I think I'd break free too if I was being dragged off to the scrappers.
These the ones?
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c67/sabamel/HMSVanguardaground.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c67/sabamel/HMSVanguardaground2.jpg
Details can be found at http://www.hms-vanguard.co.uk/
It appears mic just beat me to it. However will leave the post with pictures.
Mel
treadigraph
7th Jul 2006, 11:25
Spot on - well done chaps! :ok:
The aerial photo is the one in the pub.