Retro Brit : aircraft carrier

Showing posts with label aircraft carrier. Show all posts

Tuesday, 2 October 2018

Winged Escort by Douglas Reeman (My Goodreads Review)

A BIG WOW! For this Douglas Reeman story. I always enjoy most of his War stories, but this one was exceptional. I think it is because I always feel compelled by aircraft carriers and have a particular interest in HMS Ark Royal and her Fairy Swordfish (Stringbags) during World War II. Therefore, I was seduced by the front cover. I know this is wrong but the story is even more exciting than the lavish and dramatic front cover.

In this tale, we go aboard an American made aircraft carrier, called HMS Growler, as she prepares for her mission to protect a convoy on route to Murmansk in the Soviet Union. We are introduced to various characters. The main man for the reader is twenty-six years old RNR pilot Tim Rowan.

HMS Growler uses the famed Fairy Swordfish and Seafires. Seafires are Fleet air arm marine version spitfires. The action throughout the story is splendid and very gripping indeed. There are submarine attacks, attacks in the Norwegian Fjords, head to head, cruiser and destroyer action. And this is just in the first half of the story on the Barent sea run. We then go to the Pacific where HMS Growler is with another battle group facing Japanese Kamikaze attacks.

If you love seafaring stories, this one is an absolute must. One of the most dynamic war stories I've ever read. Heroes, Villains, wet behind the ears boys coming of age and some not getting the chance. Plus a backdrop of winning the lady of his dreams. GREAT STUFF!

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Friday, 28 July 2017

The Age of Invincible: The Ship That Defined the Modern Royal Navy (My Goodreads Review)

The Age of Invincible: The Ship That Defined the Modern Royal Navy by Nick Childs

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book about the development of the reduced Royal Navy is very gripping reading. To be honest, I thought the book was going to be about the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible – the ship that became iconized in the Falkland’s War and mainly, just that topic only. Maybe some details of the building and design etc. What I did not expect was the in depth account of how the Royal Navy began to diminish with the break-up of the old empire after World War II.

At first, I thought I would not be too interested in the politics of all this, but as I continued to read the book, I was engrossed by the way the Royal Navy had to fight in the government’s corridors of power to define its new standing in the world.

There were projects for new aircraft carriers throughout the 1950s and 1960s but each time defence ministers seemed to think that aircraft carriers were too vulnerable and expensive. In the end, the Royal Navy actually put forward plans for a Cruiser with a flight deck. (A small aircraft carrier in all but name.)

By the time it was built it was referred to as an aircraft carrier and two more Invincible class carriers were to be built to allow the Royal Navy a compliment of three. Then under another new government things changed again as more cuts were to be made and one carrier to be sold to another country.

This to and through for ships comes to a head with Naval staff perusing a minister across the country to try and persuade the government to allow the Royal Navy its ships. All the way through the decades there is the need to adapt to new demands and the new world order. Much of the focus is on NATO and nuclear submarines.

Then comes the chance to convince the government that aircraft carriers are necessary. Argentina invades the Falklands. The whole thing was tailor made for the Royal Navy in a far off place.

I recommend this title for anyone who enjoys the Royal Navy and ships. Also for the politics of the situation over the decades leading up to the building of HMS Invisible.

The Last Days of Thunder Child

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Sunday, 8 May 2016

The Pilot Who Played to His Audience

Carole and I were walking along the dike towards the car park of Manea Bird Hides. We had been looking out over the Fen towards Ely Cathedral. No birds of prey put in an appearance on this day, but there were many other things of interest to look at. We had our coffee and sandwiches and talked about every day things before calling it a day and making back to the car.

In every direction there were fields and Fenland. The whole place was very remote. Then, as we walked, there came the sound of a lumbering propellered aircraft. We looked up instinctively and saw this single prop plane flying across the clear blue sky. It sounded as though the engine had a splutter to me. I half expected it to stall and fall from the sky. However, I'm no mechanic and would not know what a good or bad aircraft engine sounded like.

I pointed my camera up and I'm almost certain the pilot saw me because he started looping, twisting and turning right above a particular spot. As he flew off he would loop about and come back again. I'm sure he was doing it for me.

I came to the conclusion that the engine must have been fine because he seemed to be manoeuvring the plane very well.

Thursday, 3 July 2014

Britain Should not Fret - The Cost of Restoring Carriers to Royal Navy

Britain should not fret over this expenditure. This often happens and it can be to the nations cost when something comes about and the UK is unable to respond. This is a necessary cost in the long run. We need the aircraft carriers.