Warships around the World

Patrol vessel H.M.S. Explorer (P164) off Battery Point, Portishead on 14th July 2021.

Patrol vessel H.M.S. Explorer (P164) off Battery Point, Portishead on 14th July 2021.

Patrol vessel H.M.S. Explorer (P164) off Battery Point, Portishead on 14th July 2021.She is an Archer-class P2000-type patrol and training vessel commissioned in 1986.Explorer, along with the other 13 URNU-assigned Archer class vessels, is assigned to the 1st Patrol Boat Squadron (1PBS) under the operational command of Commander 1PBS. As such, they are assigned to the Portsmouth flotilla, although in practise most vessels are based elsewhere.

Breeches Buoy from SMS Breslau which was a Magdeburg-class cruiser of the Imperial German Navy,built in the early 1910s she and the battlecruiser Goeben were assigned to the Mediterranean Division in response to the Balkan Wars.She reached Constantinople,and with Goeben were transferred in 1914 to the Ottoman Empire.The two ships,with other Ottomanan vessels, raided Russian ports in October 1914, prompting Russia to decare war.They were renamed Midilli and Yavûz Sultân Selîm and saw service with the Ottoman fleet,mainly in the Black Sea against the Russians.Midilli was active in laying minefields off the Russian coast, bombarding Russian ports etc.They also transported troops and supplies to the Black Sea ports supplying Ottoman troops fighting in the Caucasus Campaign.She was lightly damaged several times by Russian ships, but the most serious damage was inflicted by a mine in 1915 The ship was mined and sunk in January 1918 during the Battle of Imbros, with the loss of the vast majority of her crew.

Batch 1 County Class Destroyer D12 H.M.S. Kent seen in Portsmouth Harbour.She was built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast 1 March 1960 and laid down on 27th September 1961.She was launched on 15th August 1963 and broken up at Alang in 1998.In 1984 she became a harbour training ship for the Sea Cadet Corps. She was paid off from this in 1987 and became a training hulk at Portsmouth until stricken in 1993, though she lingered on, tied up to the same pier at Portsmouth Naval Base until 1996.

RFA Tidespring (A75) was a Tide-class replenishment oiler of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. As a replenishment oiler, her main purpose was to refuel other ships. The ship had a long career in the RFA, entering service in the early 1960s, and finally being decommissioned in 1991. Tidespring took part in the Falklands War, particularly in the recapture of South Georgia. At the time, she was carrying M Company (Captain Chris Nunn Royal Marines) of 42 Commando Royal Marines. The ship accommodated prisoners of war taken during operations. The Falklands provided a reprieve of ten years for Tidespring which had been due to decommission in 1982. She eventually sailed from Portsmouth in tow on 20 March 1992 for the breakers, arriving in Alang, India for demolition on 2 July 1992. (scanned from 35mm transparency)

Portsmouth Harbour,27th August 2014.H.M.S.Illustrious on the day before decommissioning with the White Ensign still flying.

RFA Fort Rosalie (A385) passing under the Forth Railway Bridge outbound from Rosyth on 24th August 2012.It is the lead ship of her class of Royal Fleet Auxiliary fleet replenishment ships. Fort Rosalie was originally named RFA Fort Grange, but was renamed in May 2000 to avoid confusion with the now-decommissioned RFA Fort George.

H.M.S. Somerset passing Battery Point,Portishead outbound from Avonmouth on 10th November 2014 after a courtesy visit.