I'm only a bit envious. Her primary school arranged what's called "kip on a ship", whereby they get to spend the night in the former crews' quarters. She had a great time.
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Lucky Girl......... Did she get to learn much of the history ????
An old fella I knew (sadly he passed away a few years back) served as a gunner on Belfast during the Korean War ............. He had a wonderful story about being offshore for weeks watching a road with was supposed to be a supply route for the North Koreans .......... They saw nothing for weeks and one day a bloke on a pushbike appeared on the road.......... Just for the hell of it the gunnery officer gave an order to open fire and they lobbed a few shells over........... Loads of smoke and debris everywhere ............. and when the smoke cleared............ He climbed out of the ditch at the side of the road, picked his bike up and carried on, on his way.................
............ I don't know whether or not it was true............ but he did tell a good yarn.
Peter -
Twice now had a look around the Belfast. Really shows the conditions they had to work in. The mess areas apparently would be swilling with water (and other things) in bad weather conditions.
Could only see from a remote pedestal potion the engines etc. Do you know Tony if you can get closer. Think there was a problem as the pipes & boilers were encased in asbestos.
The crew's messes were all hamock type accomodation. Did you daughtere sleep in a hammock ?
LaurieComment
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Sleeping in a hammock is easy, its getting in the bloody thing thats the challenge!
Ian MComment
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I love HMS Belfast , I have a 1/400 kit I am going to build some day , if I can get these bloody tanks finished
SteveComment
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Just had a read about the Belfast.
Is this something to brag about ???
She was launched (March 1938) 8 months before I was launched !
LaurieComment
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Small world Tony, me and the missus spent a few hours on board HMS Belfast yesterday afternoon!
We did see a school trip on board too and they were having a great time. Was it yesterday that she was on there?
It's a long time since I've been on board, I was about 6 last time and went with my Dad. Well worth a visit if you haven't been before
Atb, Colin.Comment
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Laurie,
We managed to get right down in the boiler and engine rooms yesterday, and strangely enough I pointed out to my missus about the asbestos. They have managed to encase the asbestos in a wrap covering so not disturbing it and placed signs and stickers in place. It did make me wonder about the poor crew down there for years breathing the stuff in and how they faired later in life!
Atb, Colin.Comment
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That sounds good Colin very disappointed not to get further into the bowels of the ship.
Yes deadly stuff asbestos. Not so bad when untouched but with a rough sea I can imagine fibres being shaken every where. Also a leak & they would have to remove the stuff.
In the london area about 4 weeks ago. Toss up Hendon or The Belfast. Did not want to bore Pauline so got to neither. My problem I want to study all the detail & takes lots of time. They do not have gardens & plants in boats so Pauline is none to pleased.
LaurieComment
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Yes Colin, it was last night (Weds) her school spent on the ship. Maybe you saw her school party. They didn't sleep in hammocks, but on beds of some kind. They had a tour and history lesson the next morning.
"The guns are huge, they can fire up to 14 miles". They looked through the barrels of the 6 inch guns.
One very proud dad listened intently.
My daughter was the only one of her classmates who got on the Illustrious a while ago. My drip-drip method of history teaching is working.
I have two girls, but I see that as no reason why they should not learn about our military history.Comment
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Well from what we saw on Wednesday Tony the kids were really enjoying it
Those 6" guns are amazing. The ones at the front are zeroed in to Scratchwood services on the M1!
On the way home we passed Scratchwood and it took us about an hour to get there, wonder how long it would take a shell
Atb.Comment
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