On this day in 1992, the 8th of 16 RN Type 23 Frigates, HMS Montrose is launched on the Clyde. She is only the second RN ship to carry the name and though based in HMNB Devonport, has been forward deployed to the Gulf since 2019. Happy 30th!

On this day in 1943, the liner RMS Queen Mary arrived on the Clyde from New York in her role as a Troop Ship. She was carrying 16,683 souls, the greatest number of people ever embarked in one ship. She was escorted by the Royal Navy and averaged 28 Knots during the passage.

 

Aft section of USS Frank E. Evans (DD-754) after collision with the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne, South China Sea, 3 June 1969.

 

The WWII cruiser USS Baltimore (CA-68) being scrapped by Zidell in 1972.

Philadelphia Navy Yard, December 1923, with guns from scrapped battleships in the foreground. Ship being dismantled in the backround is USS South Carolina (BB-26).

 

HMS New Zealand in the Sutherland Dock, Cockatoo Island, 1919.

 

USS Iowa (BB-61) arriving at Norfolk, with its crew manning the rails, 6/1/1984.

 

Submarine HMS Audacious recently operated under NATO in support of #OpSeaGuardian. HMS Audacious patrolled the Central and Eastern Mediterranean. Our multinational forces work together to keep peace and preserve security in the Mediterranean.

 

The race is still on to raise HMS Bronington, Prince Charles’ warship, after a survey of the partially-sunk veteran minesweeper said she could be saved. The ship, sunk at her moorings on Merseyside, was commanded by HRH in 1976, but could become a museum.

 

JOINT EXPEDITIONARY BASE LITTLE CREEK - FORT STORY, Va.- The Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship namesake, USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) held a decommissioning ceremony on July 22.

 

XV (Experimental Vessel) Patrick Blackett will be formally named on Friday, after which a process will take place to train her new crew, transfer her on to the Defence Shipping Register, etc. Then, in the autumn, the ship will go to sea as the RN Navy X dedicated experimentation ship.

 

New experimental ship arrives in the UK. The XV Patrick Blackett will be used as a trial ship, experimenting with new technologies including drones.

 

MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicle operates from USS USS Billings LCS 15.

 

On this day in 1914, the Royal Navy Fleets were ordered to their war bases as WW1 began. At the outbreak of war the British Fleet was by far the largest in the world and would be key in control of the sea in home waters. By 1918 the RN had lost over 200 ships and over 60,000 sailors

 

HMS Royal Oak in drydock, with view of the torpedo blisters that ultimately would not be enough to escape her fate. On 14 October 1939, Royal Oak was anchored at Scapa Flow in Orkney, Scotland, when she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-47. Of Royal Oak's complement of 1,234 men and boys, 835 were killed that night or died later of their wounds.

 

A Harrier GR9 takes off from the flight deck of HMS Ark Royal for the final time.

 

PEARL HARBOUR –Four prototype unmanned surface vessels are participating in RIMPAC2022, extending the reach of the manned U.S. Fleet with fewer risks to the Navywarfighter.

RFA Tideforce and Norwegian HNoMS Maud both being fitted out together 5 years ago.

 

RFA Tideforce and Norwegian HNoMS Maud south of Plymouth Breakwater. Both were constructed together at the same time in DSME shipyard in South Korea.

 

Portuguese corvette NRP ANTONIO ENES off the port of Horta. What we all signed up for...!

 

On this day in 2004,the ex-Type 22 Frigates, HMS Brave and HMS Boxer left HMNB Portsmouth under tow to be expended as targets after serving the Royal Navy for 13 & 16 years respectively. Of the original class of 14 ships, several are still active with Brazil, Chile and Romanian Navies.

 

Aerial view of Devonport dockyard Plymouth.

USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) arrives at Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka on July 17, 1979. Upon arrival, Blue Ridge went into dry dock #6 to complete some upkeep maintenance prior to assuming the role of flagship of the U.S. 7th Fleet on October 5th.

 

Destroyers of British Commonwealth Navies tied to a mooring bouy at a southern Japanese port (presumably Sasebo), after "an extended period of operations in Korean waters", circa in May 1951. The ships are (from left): HMAS Warramunga (D123) (Australian Destroyer, 1942); HMCS Nootka (DDE 213) (Canadian Destroyer, 1946) and HMS Cockade (D34) (British Destroyer, 1945). All three were assigned to the United Nations Blockading and Escort Force, then commanded by Rear Admiral Allan E. Smith, USN.

 

HMS Medway in Curacao, Dutch West Indies.

 

USS Essex taking spray over the bow while steaming in heavy seas, January 12th, 1960.

 

HMS Queen Elizabeth passing some offshore platforms near Invergordon, Scotland, 2017.

 

USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) UNREPS from Fleet Oiler Guadalupe with USS Ulhmann during a lull in sorties off Korea,1952.

 

RFA Lyme Bay in dry dock Falmouth.

 

Portuguese corvette NRP ANTONIO ENES off the port of Horta. What we all signed up for...!

 

USS Little Rock (CL-92) in heavy seas, showing a Curtiss SC-1, near the end of WWII. The starboard catapult has a utility boat stored on a dummy car. After WWII, similar but built-for-the-purpose boat rails completely replaced some catapults.)

 

The Coastal Forces Squadron, HMS Example, HMS_Biter, HMS Blazer and HMS Puncher returning to Portsmouth after tour of continental ports Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Sweden.

 

Nuclear attack submarines HMS Triumph and HMS Astute sailing together. Triumph is the last and the only active Trafalgar class submarine in service with the Royal Navy. She was one of the last submarines built by Vickers.

 

CHANGI NAVAL BASE, Singapore (July 22, 2022) The U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), pulls in to Changi Naval Base, Singapore for a scheduled port visit. Ronald Reagan, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the United States, and supports alliances, partnerships and collective maritime interests in the Indo-Pacific region.

 

SPLIT, Croatia - The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56) arriving in Split, Croatia for a scheduled port visit, July 20.

 

On this day in 1759, HMS Victory was laid down a Chatham dockyard. 46 years later she would seal her place in history at the battle of Trafalgar. 163 years later, still in service she was saved for the nation as a museum at HMNB Portsmouth, and after 263 years is still in commission with the Royal Navy.

 

The iconic hammerhead crane at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard conducting a load test of four 14" guns, four 6" guns, and two pieces of armor plate in 1933. USS New York and a Colorado-class battleship are seen here.

 

On this day in 2014, Aircraft Carrier HMS Illustrious entered HMNB Portsmouth for the last time, ending 32 years of service and marking the end of the Invincible Class’ service to the Nation.

 

Sailors assigned to USS Essex (LHD 2) prepare to connect a fuel hose during a fueling-at-sea with the MSC Sealift USNS Pecos (T-AO 197) during RIMPAC2022.

 

Following the news RFA Argus, the oldest ship in the Royal Naval Service, is to become the new Littoral Strike Ship, and will be extended in service beyond 2030. It has been confirmed she will be upgraded to perform in the Littoral Strike Ship role (LSS).