Obviously a former ship of the line. Given the presence of a barrage balloon, then this is an image from WW-II. So, I'm thinking this particular hulk was British. My first thought was HMS Victory. But, I haven't found this image among the pictures of Victory that I've viewed. However, Victory was attacked and struck by the Luftwaffe while in drydock during WW-II. So, what do I know...
Well, yeah. The story seems a bit confusing. I've read through parts of it three times before I decided it was the third ship of that name. And she used to be regularly tied up alongside the clipper ship Cutty Sark (which was also used for training naval cadets).
The Royal Navy's submarines had a particularly difficult task.
German submarines could hunt in the wide expanses of the Atlantic beyond air cover and far from hostile naval bases.
Japanese and American boats had the even larger expanses of the Pacific.
British boats spent most of their time hunting German and Italian sea traffic. That mostly meant operating under hostile air cover close to a hostile coast near enemy air bases,sea bases and minefields. A very high threat density environment.
Plus of course, Britain was at war two and a quarter years longer than the US. I knew they had a hard time in the Med. I just didn't realize how many had been lost until I saw the photo of the memorial plaque.
16 comments:
Obviously a former ship of the line. Given the presence of a barrage balloon, then this is an image from WW-II. So, I'm thinking this particular hulk was British. My first thought was HMS Victory. But, I haven't found this image among the pictures of Victory that I've viewed. However, Victory was attacked and struck by the Luftwaffe while in drydock during WW-II. So, what do I know...
I have nothing to add to that.
For some reason it looks strangely metallic (rather than wooden) to me.
Hello D.E.Reddick,
there is no fault in your logic but this is not Victory.
GrandLogistics.
She seems like a barrack / accommodation ship to me.
20 questions--
Was this picture taken in WWI or WWII?
Hello Chuck Hill,
this was probably taken in 1942 during the Second World War.
This ship played a part in that conflict.
GrandLogistics.
I have a feeling there is a good story to go with this one.
Was she sunk intentionally as a blockship or breakwater?
Hello Chuck Hill,
she survived the war.
Would another picture help?
GrandLogistics.
It couldn't hurt, but I have my doubts. This seems to be a story I missed.
Hello Chuck Hill,
there is another picture up.
GrandLogistics.
HMS Worcester.
Hello D.E.Reddick,
I will accept H.M.S.Worcester,though she was H.M.S.Exmouth at the time this picture was taken.
A good picture of her during the war can be seen here:
http://www.secondworldwar.org.uk/britsubs3.html
GrandLogistics.
GL / tangosix,
Well, yeah. The story seems a bit confusing. I've read through parts of it three times before I decided it was the third ship of that name. And she used to be regularly tied up alongside the clipper ship Cutty Sark (which was also used for training naval cadets).
HMS Worcester : The Great Tradition
http://www.nickmessinger.co.uk/worcester.html
Thames Nautical Training College
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thames_Nautical_Training_College
It wasn't just my imagination. She wasn't a wooden ship despite the appearance.
Looks like the Brits lost a lot of submarines. Looks like at least as many as the US lost.
Hello Chuck Hill,
Britain lost 82 submarines during the Second World War,the United States lost 52:
http://home.cogeco.ca/~gchalcraft/sm/losses.html
http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/sublosses/sublosses_intro.htm#chron
The Royal Navy's submarines had a particularly difficult task.
German submarines could hunt in the wide expanses of the Atlantic beyond air cover and far from hostile naval bases.
Japanese and American boats had the even larger expanses of the Pacific.
British boats spent most of their time hunting German and Italian sea traffic.
That mostly meant operating under hostile air cover close to a hostile coast near enemy air bases,sea bases and minefields.
A very high threat density environment.
GrandLogistics.
Plus of course, Britain was at war two and a quarter years longer than the US. I knew they had a hard time in the Med. I just didn't realize how many had been lost until I saw the photo of the memorial plaque.
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