Shipbucket

Have find this last year in the web:



A VISION OF THE FUTURE
It's 2038. HMS Indefensible has been handed over to the Royal Navy...
Today in a grand ceremony at Portsmouth dockyard HMS Indefensible was commissioned into the Royal Navy.
Described as the most stealthy warship in the world, she is now the only vessel in the Royal Navy
and replaces 2 mothballed aircraft carriers, 6 destroyers and 4 submarines.
Responding to criticism about the shrinking fleet, the MoD replied "It's not about numbers, it's about
quality not quantity. HMS Indefensible represents a revolution in naval procurement, stealthy, light
and agile she will provide a highly flexible platform. She is invisible to radar and almost immune to torpedo
or missile attack. Her shallow draft makes her ideal for work in the littoral (coastal) areas.
She is also highly efficient with virtually zero carbon emissions and zero fuel consumption "
Admiral Sir James Bland added "She is ready to respond instantly to events and can be deployed to trouble
spots anywhere in the world. The RAF have promised to fly her to wherever she's needed provided,
they are not busy, the weather is OK and/or there is a large airfield provided by a friendly foreign nation
close by". Constructed by Britain's only ship builder BVATe Systems in Birmingham, taking 8 years to build
and costing just £1.5 Billion she is a triumph of British engineering. Her forward section was built in China
in 2 weeks and then shipped to the UK. The forward section was then joined to the stern built in Birmingham
and the complex technical systems installed. However the programme was not all plain sailing and has not been
without its problems, "The original design included an outboard motor but early in the building process
the Treasury insisted cost savings had to be made so out went the motor.
After some time spent on computer-modelling and research we selected oars" said a BVATe spokesperson.
Although £1.2 Billion over-budget and 3 years late, Secretary of State for Defence, William Bragg says
we can all be proud "The Type 48 programme has sustained 10,000 British manufacturing jobs in addition to
30,000 civil servants in the MoD project team. She will represent the leading edge of British manufacturing
wherever she goes and is worth every penny" Bragg is also says he is hoping to see export orders soon
although as yet there has been little interest. Some observers have commented that her lack of any armament
could be a problem but the MoD answered robustly "The Foreign Office advised us that carrying weapons can be
seen as provocative and that actually firing a weapon at someone would definitely infringe their human rights.
We considered this advice at an early stage in the design process and together with the fabulous cost-savings,
the case for having no armament was overwhelming". Her commanding officer, Commander Rupert Tubworthy-Pollock
said "To be selected from the 1,200 officers still serving in the RN for the only seagoing command available
is a great privilege. Bringing her out of build and into commission has been a huge challenge but I'm confident
she will prove to be a great asset". With a crew of just 2, she is a fine example of lean-nning, reducing running
costs and lessening the RN's recruitment headaches.
Her crew, AB "soapy" Watson said "On my last ship I had to share the mess with 40 other men but on the new
Type 48 sharing is far a less of a problem. As I'm now the only rating in the Royal Navy I have a lot of
responsibility". HMS Indefensible is expected to complete sea trials shortly, go to Plymouth for Operational
Sea Training, have a short refit in Rosyth and then and be deployed as part of the new Euro-Navy task force.

Now armed with:



Slingshots instead of 4,5" gun turrets



Harpoons

and



Tomahawks

Cheers!!

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My worklist:
http://www.shipbucket.com/forums/viewto ... f=5&t=2767

I saw this some time ago, but its still hilarious, and even more topical.

Whats next? HMS Inflatable?

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The rabits are too small to sitt on that chair..

Why use tomahawks, the RN had an excellent Boarding Axe

Never forget the old British classic

Armed with

and

or

Is the bayonet for the Webley revolver REAL?
That looks like a .38 Webley in the picture... but if it is a real item, and if they made them for the .455 Webley, I might just have to look for one for my Webley.

Because a tomahawk IS a Royal Marine boarding axe.

It's an experimental Pritchard bayonet for the .455 Webley Mk.VI.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzgppGj0 ... playnext=1

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USN components, camouflage colors, & reference links (World War II only)

Might not fit my Mk. I then; the whole barrel assembly is different on my weapon.

Sadness...