royal navy

Hi, There is a reference in the Wikipedia entry that the late 50s refit of HMS Eagle was originally more ambitious, including plans to stretch the hull by 40 feet. I have been unable to source any more information on this, do any forum members have any more information?

The names of the ships from trade involved in the Falklands operation are well documented. However, as someone interested in merchant ships I was wondering if a) anyone has records of STUFT in operations post WW2 from Korea through Suez to the Gulf Wars b) the Falklands STUFT seemed to be well...

The arrival of a new book on the F8 Crusader got me thinking of the old chestnut of giving the RN a fighter for Ark, Eagle, Victorious and Hermes I have always felt that if we had done what France did and purchased the F8 we could have kept a carrier force as long as the French did. We could...

Indeed, despite the Admiralty’s efforts to ridicule Trenchard’s claims, they were very worried about what the torpedo-bomber might mean for the future of their capital ships. During the 1920s they would go to great lengths to improve air defence, including, with the Hornet programme, an attempt...

I am reasonably familiar with axis submarine projects, built and unbuilt, c1945. We're there any interesting British or American projects at this time beyond the typical A-Class and Fleet Boats? From what I've read it seems that the allies were content to build large numbers of relatively...

Sorry if this has been flagged previously, I have tried searching, but so far, to no avail. I am (still) reading Hennessy and Jinks' 'The Silent Deep', and have to say it is a very informative tome. There is reference made to discussions held during the period when Dennis Healy was Defence...

I must admit to being puzzled at the choice of Dreadnought as a name for the new SSBNs. Assuming 4 or 3 submarines are built, the only rationale is to resurrect the names of our early nuclear boats. That would add Valiant and Warspite and possibly Conqueror or Churchill. The alternative would...

In the thread here https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/alltheworldsbattlecruisers/jacky-fisher-s-1882-battle-cruisers-hms-nonsuch-an-t8794.html John talks about a design suggested by Fisher for an fats all big gun ship. Fisher’s first project was what he considered an essential upgrade to his own...

Blue Envoy Press are pleased to announce The Admiralty and the Helicopter by James Jackson. A companion volume to The Air Staff and the Helicopter, this latest addition to the Project Tech Profile series charts the development of the Admiralty’s pioneering requirements and the numerous...

In July 1945 Supermarine had not yet finalised their design for the Type 392 Attacker. This drawing (39200 116) shows one of the alternatives considered; note the design of the tail surfaces, the repositioned air intakes, the four cannon mounted alongside the cockpit, and, of course, the...

"France & UK Launch Next-Gen Missile Project with MBDA to Replace Harpoon/Scalp/Exocet by 2030" Published: Tuesday, 28 March 2017 15:21 Source...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/11/11/armistice-day-two-minute-silence-to-be-observed-to-remember-the2/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37938047

BAE gets funds to start building new submarines (ft.com, registration may be required.)

Type 31 design Concepts Note that there was a misprint in the original article which had the Type 26 as the Type 266. IMAGE CREDITS: BAE Systems, via Janes.

In the spirit of what-if? Scotland votes to exit the United Kingdom and re-join the EU. As part of the negotiations with the London Government, the Scottish First Minister insists that all nuclear warheads for the Trident submarines must leave Scottish territory as soon as Scotland becomes...

I put this under 'Early Aircraft Projects' because the things were free-flying but sorry if they should be under 'Missiles'. The sheer scale of this plan makes it hard to regard as a 'secret' project but seemingly it is, or at least I'd never heard of it. Anyway, here’s something on Britain’s...

I cannot find my copy of the Janes or Hippo book with the 1962 artists impression of the Tiger class helicopter conversion. It looks very different from the version that actually appeared. It should be out of copyright by now so if anyone could scan a copy and post here, I would be very...

1983, rather than 1982 is a key date for decisions for the RN and UK defence as a whole, in the light of the Falklands and it's effect not just on defence thinking but on the UK populace's attitude to their country. As surely as it was to the political establishment. But in terms of changes a...

A number of books mention that HMS BELFAST was considered for conversion to carry helicopters and landing craft but the idea was soon dropped. Anyone know more?

True hero sadly departs. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-35626854