Tag: Royal navy

UK: WWI Royal Navy Ship Needs Re-Homing, Towing & Repairing! (14.7.2026)

Obviously, the ship mentioned in this article (HMS Saxifrage) is NOT the “HMP President” my relative served aboard (as it arrived on the scene a little too late) – but it is curious that until yesterday – this ship was unknown to me despite all the research I have carried–out concerning this matter. HMS Saxifrage was a “Q-Ship” ( or “Queenstown-Ship”) as it was made in Ireland which was then still part of the British Empire. A “Q-Ship” was designed to look like an unarmed merchant vessel so as to attract the Imperial German U-Boats. However, these innocuous-looking ships were in fact heavily-armed and manned by specially trained Royal Navy crews – whose job it was to “sink” these enemy U-Boats using deception. It was not until 1921, that “HMS Saxifrage” became “HMS President”. I do feel a comradeship with this vessel, however, as it inherited the name of a ship my relative proudly served upon. I hope the funds and expertise can be found to save this ship as it is an important part of our nation’s heritage.

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China Must Defend Its Sovereignty!

China: 1832 Map Proves “Diaoyu Isles” [钓鱼岛] Part of Qing Dynasty Sovereignty! (2.2.2026)

I came across this “2012” Xinhua article recently – and decided to present here, now that Trump II is forcing the US colonies in the South China Sea (Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and the Philippines) to agitate the “Sleeping Dragon” (as the Napoleon Bonaparte referred to China) – as a means to put matters straight. Firstly, with all due respect to my American Comrades (and the PRC government) – I will not tolerate the vulgarisation of the (my) beautiful “English” language – Chaucer used it correctly, Shakespeare used it correctly, I had to learn it correctly (as did Friedrich Engels), and so does everyone else (in my humble opinion). Secondly, ignore Wikipedia, it is a CIA Psy-Ops designed to infiltrate every mind in every household (particularly children) in the West – hence the reason it is permitted to remain “free”. Thirdly, frequent yourself with reliable information (I am surprised by how many Americans bravely manage to do this – from within the lion’s cage, so-to-speak). Japan is currently sword-rattling over who owns the “Diaoyu Dao” or “Diao Yu Isles” – but what does this name mean?

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TS Hermes - Tiverton Sea Cadets

Tiverton: WWI Naval Gun [Lime Kiln Road] – Playing in the 1970s Was Very Different! (5.7.2025)

I was born in Oxford – but my parents moved to Tiverton (in East Devon) in 1970. I started school (Wilcombe) in 1972 (when 5-years old) – but changed to a school in Exeter in 1977. However, I have a memory of joining (after school) a group of classmates who “played” on a WWI Naval Gun situated on a public street (situated in Lime Kiln Road)! I have lived in Sutton (South-West Greater London) for over three-decades today – but recently – whilst picking-up my children from school in Cheam, I saw youths dressed in the uniforms of what is today termed the “Combined Cadet Force”, and the thought of myself once playing on a military gun (around 1977) bubbled-up in my mind (although publicly accessible – the gun in question was placed outside the Tiverton Sea Cadets Training Hall). In fact, after having experienced many interest things in my life (including four wonderful years based in Hereford during the 1980s), and having travelled around the world, I surprised myself with this memory and was not even sure it was real!

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WWII "Drifting" Mine!

WWII: D-Day 81st Anniversary [1944-2025] – Remembering Arthur Gibson and the HMS Beaumaris Castle (FY 992) – of the “Royal Navy Patrol Service” [RNPS] ! (5.6.2025)

A “moored” mine (or “Naval” mine) is a single mine anchored to the seabed by a length of metal chain or rope – operating at a depth decided by the length of mooring tether. These mines were deadly as they often hid below the waterline and the line of sight – waiting for the hull of a ship to strike it in passing. A “drifting” sea mine was a device (sometimes “magnetic” but also “non-magnetic” or “contact” detonated) that floated about on the surface of the sea according to the tide. These mines could travel hundreds of miles and bob and weave their way up estuaries and into harbours. From what I gather according to the stories I was told, it was these “drifting” mines my grandfather was responsible for destroying. Obviously, a “U-Boat” was a Nazi German “Unterseeboot” or “Under Water Boat” – whilst an E-Boat referred to a Nazi German fast-attack “Enemy Boat” – usually carrying torpedoes. 

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Arthur Gibson - RNPS

WWII: 1939 Founding of the Royal Navy Patrol Service [RNPS]! (26.5.2025)

I think the Royal Navy and RNPS acted in parallel around the UK – as I remember two Royal Navy ships working at exactly the same time during WWII – both holding exactly the same name of “HMS Beaumaris Castle” (but with different registration numbers). The point was that the war with Nazi Germany caught the UK government by surprise and there was not enough time (nor was there the resources) for the government to build proper military-grade mine-sweepers. Fishing vessels were acquired and thousands of volunteers called for to immediately defend the UK coastline. Those men who volunteered were permitted to “choose” to serve in the RNPS – rather than being placed wherever the government most needed men. The above extract sheds light on how the RNPS was first formed in 1939.

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PLA Navy Type 054B frigate

China: PLA Navy Modernises for “Self-Defence” War! (23.1.2025)

Xiao Liang, a senior hardware researcher in the nation’s shipbuilding industry, said the Type 054B is the largest class of frigate the Navy has ever used and is almost as big as some of China’s old-type destroyers.

“Its large size allows for carrying more munitions and fuel, and also means this new class has bigger potential for further upgrade,” Xiao said. “Its propulsion system enables it to sail farther than other Chinese frigates. Another remarkable point is the new type’s radar system, which, without any exaggeration, makes previous radars of its kind look like antiques.

“Compared with previous frigate models in China that are mainly tasked with anti-submarine operations, the Type 054B is also capable of performing fleet air-defense missions,” he added.

Meanwhile, the larger air-service zone means the new frigate can bring a bigger helicopter such as the Z-20, and that will give the ship a better capability to detect, track and hit hostile submarines, according to Xiao.

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