When reporters were recently being given tours of the Royal Navy's new "supercarrier," HMS Queen Elizabeth, some were surprized to see a distinctive logo on several computer screens on the bridge and in control rooms. The logo was for Windows XP, the Microsoft computer operating system introduced in 2001. The ship itself was under construction for over eight years and the many … [Read more...]
Royal Navy Escorts Russian Warships Through Channel
(TheGuardian) The HMS Sutherland will monitor Steregushchiy-class corvettes Soobrazitelny and Boiky as well as a Russian support tanker and ocean-going tug when they sail close to UK territorial waters on Saturday. The ships were located by the Plymouth-based Type 23 frigate as they sailed through the North Sea towards the Dover Strait on Friday morning. The … [Read more...]
Royal Navy Detonates WWII-Era Bomb Found in Portsmouth Harbour
Bomb disposal experts with the UK Royal Navy have destroyed an unexploded WWII bomb found in Portsmouth Harbour during dredging work ahead of the arrival of Royal Navy's new supercarrier. The WWII device, thought to be of German origin, was found at Thursday this morning by a barge dredging the harbor, part of infrastructure upgrades taking place in prepartion for the … [Read more...]
Are Royal Navy Bases “Dilapidated”?
By Rajeev Syal (TheGuardian) The operational readiness of the UK’s armed forces is at risk because the country’s military bases and infrastructure have become too dilapidated to use effectively, Whitehall’s independent auditor has found. The National Audit Office has examined properties and land controlled by the Ministry of Defence, which cover nearly 2% of the UK’s … [Read more...]
Can The U.S. Can Learn From The Death Of The Royal Navy?
By David Axe (Reuters) Britain used to boast the most powerful navy in the world. No more. That’s a serious problem for allies like the United States. Traditionally, Britain’s Royal Navy has been the U.S. Navy's closest partner. The two have fought together against most every foe. So any weakening of the Royal Navy also erodes Washington's naval … [Read more...]
WATCH: Did You Know A Harrier Jet Once Made an Emergency Landing on a Cargo Ship?
With the choice of ditching his Sea Harrier ZA176 in the Atlantic or trying an improbable emergency landing on cargo ship nearly 70 miles away, Sub-Lt Ian Watson choose the latter - and it actually worked. For more information on the incident you are encouraged to read Air & Space Magazine's November 2008 article found HERE. … [Read more...]
Royal Navy Could Have Unmanned, 3D-Printed Surface Ships by 2030
By Benjamin Katz (Bloomberg) -- Britain’s navy could be using a fleet of unmanned surface and underwater vessels and small 3D-printed ships within 15 years, according to a report from the former government defense-research laboratory, Qinetiq Group Plc. Three-dimensional printing of craft up to 15-meters (50 feet) long and formed from layers of metal and plastic … [Read more...]