11th July - Port Solent 50:50.50N 001:05.98W
Whisper
Noel Dilly
Fri 12 Jul 2013 12:24
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"11 July - Port Solent"
We are still enjoying the summer in Port
Solent! We have been catching up with several of our South
Coast friends and especially enjoyed a delightful visit from our
lovely eldest granddaughter Kennza and Mark. It was great fun to have them
on board and to catch up on news of successful driving tests and college
studies and to tell them about some of our adventures.
We paid a visit to HMS Warrior, the world's
first iron-hulled warship, launched in 1860, which never fired a shot in anger,
yet changed naval warfare forever. She was beautifully restored in
Hartlepool to her original condition using detailed plans drawn up by a
Midshipman who had been giving the project of recording the lay out of the ship
at that time. Following her restoration she was brought back to Portsmouth
Harbour. She could be propelled by both steam or sail, the
two telescopic funnels were lowered so as not to obstruct the wind from
reaching the lower sails and the propeller was raised to reduce drag when
the ship was powered by sail alone. Warrior had a profound effect on naval architecture, so much so that
developments towards our modern day warships progressed rapidly and before long
she was superseded by warships with better breach loading guns and
more powerful engines. The staff on board were excellent and delighted to
demonstrate and describe the various workings of the ship, from the Chief
Engineer, to the Gunnery Officer, to the Matron in the Sick Berth, it was a very
worthwhile and interesting visit.
Photographs: "HMS Warrior" "Early Armstrong Breach
Loading Gun"
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