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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 2, 2007 15:43:43 GMT 12
A curious thing is we have currently two HMNZS canterbury's, however the older one, the Frigate, is about to be sunk. See here for today's radio broadcasts about the event www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons(if you're reading this later than today, do to the link and then click Friday on the menu at the left. The recordings will be available just for a week.)
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Post by flycookie on Nov 2, 2007 16:48:02 GMT 12
The old frigate ceased to be HMNZS the instant she paid-off.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 4, 2007 12:29:39 GMT 12
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Post by FlyNavy on Nov 5, 2007 9:35:21 GMT 12
Canterbury in better days in 1977 (on left) with HMAS Melbourne and Brisbane for Queens Jubilee celebrations in UK in 1977.
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Post by FlyNavy on Nov 5, 2007 9:42:58 GMT 12
Here is a brief report about what happens to a dive wreck (for any divers [or 'fish heads'] out there): www.skmconsulting.com/Markets/environmental/Biological_Monitoring_of_the_HMAS_Swan.htm"Biological Monitoring of the HMAS Swan (Dive Wreck off Albany, south of Perth, WA) Abstract Biological monitoring of the fish community that established on the HMAS Swan over a two year period has shown an increase in average richness from 2 to 32 species and an increase in abundance from 10 to nearly 1,300 individuals when compared to a nearby control site. The fish community on the vessel has rapidly shifted from omnivorous weed/sand fishes to one dominated by planktivorous and carnivorous reef fishes. The species richness and abundance on the HMAS Swan is beginning to approximate that of other natural reefs in the region; however, the species composition on the vessel is still distinctly different. Monitoring of encrusting marine life over the same period has shown that the first biota to colonise the vessel were hydroids which rapidly covered approximately 70-90% of the area surveyed. Substantial algal growth was present during the summers of 1998 and 1999 and dominated the encrusting marine life on the starboard and upper surfaces. Other fauna groups such as sponges, ascidians, anemones and soft corals are showing marked signs of proliferation on the shaded portions of the vessel; however, the areas receiving full sunlight are less well colonised."
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Post by flyjoe180 on Nov 7, 2007 9:09:01 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 7, 2007 10:03:34 GMT 12
Ooh, that photo is cruel Joe!
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Post by Kereru on Nov 7, 2007 11:03:41 GMT 12
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Post by flyjoe180 on Nov 7, 2007 18:39:05 GMT 12
That's a decent blast Colin. Guess the Wellington just 'slipped away'. Yeah, it is a cruel photo Dave, can't help thinking these ships deserve a better ending than ending up as homes to fish.
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Post by FlyNavy on Nov 7, 2007 19:33:51 GMT 12
Often old ships were reduced to scrap metal. These dive reefs are a better 'last use'?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 8, 2007 12:18:34 GMT 12
A lot of the Wellington washed back up onshore about a week after that explosion due to a typical Cook Strait storm. Why anyone would want to dive in the Strait is beyond me!
I'd rather have seen these ships saved as floating museums/restaurants like HMNZS Southland has been than sunk to where but a few people can see them.
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Post by FlyNavy on Nov 8, 2007 12:53:10 GMT 12
Dave, I don't know about HMNZS Southland but you may be aware of the problem of old ships iron in salt water. It corrodes very quickly and without constant maintenance the ship will disappear. There are at least half a dozen old USN carriers kept as floating museums today, some have had very expensive recent or ongoing maintenance to keep them afloat and shipshape. Not a project for the cash poor owner. Phil.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 8, 2007 12:56:27 GMT 12
Indeed, but what it they drydocked them and then sat them in a specially made pen with artificial water? They're part of our military heritage. Imagine if they blew up and sank all our Hercules when they retire after their sterling service. There'd be an outcry from aviation fans.
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Post by FlyNavy on Nov 8, 2007 13:08:04 GMT 12
I'm not trying to discourage anyone but depending on size of ship a dry dock taken up permanently would be expensive. Artificial water? More expense. For a starters any old ship will likely have been run down to the rust, so it would need extensive repair before any permanent use. Lots of old ship museums have internal spaces permanently blocked to the public because they are in dangerous disrepair. Even the old wooden ships like the venerable Cutty Sark, recently fire damgaged, have ongoing repairs even when they are open for business with many internal spaces still off limits.
Blowing up usable aircraft is not a good analogy (comparing apples to oranges). However you will not be surprised that lots of old airframes are burnt at the fire dump for airfield firefighting training. Surely this is a worthwhile use of otherwise useless scrap metal. However I'm always on the side of conserving what is possible. Sadly not everything can be saved.
Probably the old RNZAF Hercs will go to deserving buyers - if they are still airworthy when their time comes. Of course we hope the same for your Skyhawks. On that note I would suggest that the US does not want to see your Skyhawks sold. Period. I think it would be best that people get used to that idea and allow museums to take airframes on permanent loan.
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Post by flyjoe180 on Nov 11, 2007 10:28:44 GMT 12
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