Re: Winchester Castle Trivia
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Chris Isaac
Why would any ship designed in the late fifties and sixties be built with aircraft carrier conversion in mind. Any world war started at that time would be over in 15 minutes.
Chris 'Common Knowledge' is always subjective to what field you are in at the time. As a Supt attending new buildings in the 60's and 70's we had to, on certain ships, increase the scantlings in certain areas to enable the vessels to be quickly converted or take on defence equipment in the case of need. I have no doubt in my mind that larger ships at that time would have had their scantlings increased in certain areas to enable flight or launching decks to be fitted at a later date if required.
As for any world war being over in 15 minutes at that time, history has or may have proved that statement a little wide of the mark, there were in those periods plenty of serious conflicts abounding with numerous participants who had atomic capability but no one had the termerity to push 'the button' for self annihilation. We live in far more dangerous atomic times now when fanatics would have no hesitation in pushing the button because their god will reward them with bountiful gifts and virgins when they reach the other side. I felt a lot safer in those eras than I do now
Re: Winchester Castle Trivia
Regarding Merchant vessels being built with the intention of converting them to other vessel types, a good example of this were the clipper vessels built at Middlesbrough I believe, these were 20+ knot vessels built for the fruit ( vegetable variety) which could be converted quickly to an armed merchant cruiser, these were built for an Israeli company. Some people on this site have posted as being on these vessels. Also I am not sure what year it was discarded but I was on vessels built in the 50s still being fitted out with degaussing gear under Admiralty contract which the owners received I believe special compensation for. As regards the scantlings of certain new buildings believe you will find in various vessel types had special reinforced decks for any future gun emplacements. In the 60s and 70s every British merchant vessel carried secret log book ciphers to be opened on the declaration of war, also all the gear for the testing of radio active material kept in sealed containers usually stowed under the focscle head. Obviously all this no longer exists or if it does it will be on a much smaller scale due to the lack of British flag tonnage. Regards John Sabourn
Re: Winchester Castle Trivia
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Chris Isaac
Absolutely correct but to say it was "common knowledge" when it plainly wasn't is my point.
It is possible that Edinburgh and Pretoria may have been built with this in mind but later than that I doubt it.
Why would any ship designed in the late fifties and sixties be built with aircraft carrier conversion in mind. Any world war started at that time would be over in 15 minutes.
it was a well known fact that the Admiralty Shipowners and shipyards worked together on ship design in the sixties.
If as you state it would be over in 15 minutes, why did they fit (the Admiralty, charged a nominal fee) deguassing gear as standard to UK Merchant ships?
Re: Winchester Castle Trivia
Quote:
Originally Posted by
vic mcclymont
it was a well known fact that the Admiralty Shipowners and shipyards worked together on ship design in the sixties.
If as you state it would be over in 15 minutes, why did they fit (the Admiralty, charged a nominal fee) deguassing gear as standard to UK Merchant ships?
That is easy.... plenty of minefields still existed well into the 1960s. (Maybe still do for all I know) Anyone who has made a trip round the North Sea to Hamburg will tell you that.
