Something completely different.

May 24, 2014
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I saw an news article the other day which mentioned that China famous for full blown replicas of famous places and artifacts (aka Halstatt in Austria) have now topper the lot. They are building a full scale exact replica of RMS Titanic, in a landlocked theme park. See:

 
Jul 18, 2017
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At least it cannot compete with the UK's new £200 million yacht that is going to double our trade. LOL!
 
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Nov 11, 2009
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I saw an news article the other day which mentioned that China famous for full blown replicas of famous places and artifacts (aka Halstatt in Austria) have now topper the lot. They are building a full scale exact replica of RMS Titanic, in a landlocked theme park. See:

That explains why there’s a shortage of steel and Calor bottles.
 
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Nov 11, 2009
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At least it cannot compete with the UK's new £200 million yacht that is going to double our trade. LOL!
I rather think that Boris’ ship ( not a royal yacht) will go the way of the bridge across the Thames and the one between Britain and Northern Ireland. The DM reckons that the Royal Family do not support the idea, and with manning shortages I’m sure the RN and RM need it like a hole in the head. Just use one of the two new carriers as we can’t afford to man or equip both.
 
May 24, 2014
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I can understand it if it is a multi-role vessel, for example like Britannia it can be turned very quickly into a hospital ship or humanitarian vessel. But one rather gets the feeling it will be used by the trade bods for their jollies. Beats me, why they can just fly out and use a hotel.
 
Nov 11, 2009
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I can understand it if it is a multi-role vessel, for example like Britannia it can be turned very quickly into a hospital ship or humanitarian vessel. But one rather gets the feeling it will be used by the trade bods for their jollies. Beats me, why they can just fly out and use a hotel.
It’s primary purpose is to help to boost trade, but a ship can only be in one place at one time. We have embassies around the world, they would be better able to facilitate trade events using their facilities and local infrastructure. Britannia was first and foremost a royal yacht designed and built when Britain’s position in the world and Commonwealth was marked by Royal visits overseas. The world has moved on. I worked on the 1990s project fir a replacement to Britannia, but that first and foremost was a Royal Yacht. To my knowledge Britannia was never ever even excercised in a hospital or humanitarian role. Thee were other better ships available.

Here’s a picture of the late 1990s study. Electric propulsion too!

FDD3AD3E-05FA-495A-819A-4704EAA3E4A6.jpeg
 
Jan 3, 2012
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It’s primary purpose is to help to boost trade, but a ship can only be in one place at one time. We have embassies around the world, they would be better able to facilitate trade events using their facilities and local infrastructure. Britannia was first and foremost a royal yacht designed and built when Britain’s position in the world and Commonwealth was marked by Royal visits overseas. The world has moved on. I worked on the 1990s project fir a replacement to Britannia, but that first and foremost was a Royal Yacht. To my knowledge Britannia was never ever even excercised in a hospital or humanitarian role. Thee were other better ships available.

Here’s a picture of the late 1990s study. Electric propulsion too!

View attachment 1657
Nice looking
 
May 24, 2014
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Britannia was never deployed as a hospital ship but

Britannia was designed to be converted into a hospital ship in time of war, although this capability was never used. In the event of nuclear war, it was intended for the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to take refuge aboard Britannia off the north-west coast of Scotland.
 
Nov 11, 2009
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Britannia was never deployed as a hospital ship but
Thanks I do know what her secondary roles were but thankfully one of them was never required. But to my knowledge she was never excercised in either hospital or humanitarian roles. In the latter she would have very limited capability. I was involved in the humanitarian support provided by HMS Ocean to Nicaragua following Hurricane Mitch, and Britannia would have been of very limited use.
 
Sep 29, 2016
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Thanks I do know what her secondary roles were but thankfully one of them was never required. But to my knowledge she was never excercised in either hospital or humanitarian roles. In the latter she would have very limited capability. I was involved in the humanitarian support provided by HMS Ocean to Nicaragua following Hurricane Mitch, and Britannia would have been of very limited use.
 
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Nov 11, 2009
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Thanks I had not realised that the RY had been used for such purpose. Just shows how useful it is to have ships around.
 
May 24, 2014
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Oc. I agree about her limited use, if you compare her size and facilities to a ship like Uganda who performed way above expectation when called upon, but the new ship whatever it is could be designed for multi roll. I also agree that the embassies themselves could do the job and the new ship alone is possibly not needed.

Wonder what happened to Uganda, some of my mates were treated on her and they only had good to say.
 
Nov 11, 2009
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Oc. I agree about her limited use, if you compare her size and facilities to a ship like Uganda who performed way above expectation when called upon, but the new ship whatever it is could be designed for multi roll. I also agree that the embassies themselves could do the job and the new ship alone is possibly not needed.

Wonder what happened to Uganda, some of my mates were treated on her and they only had good to say.
Uganda was scrapped and the three survey ships that acted as “ hospital ambulances” were I think sold to India.
 
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Mel

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I went on the Uganda. Back in about 1973 she was being used for “ educational cruises” and a bunch of us went on a school trip to every pile of ancient stones in the Med. We were down in the bowels of the ship in bunks- nothing luxurious about it. Food was awful. Had a jolly time though.
😀
Mel
 
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May 24, 2014
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"Mother Hen" was knocking on a bit when we saw her, and even in the 70s she would have been ageing. She was no oil painting, but every one of us down there felt better for her presence. I presume Pompeii was one of your stops Mel, I went in 74 or 75, but it was a pale shadow of what has been excavated now. I would love to go back and see it now.
 

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