Guest 658- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 660
Just been reliably informed that HMS Bulwark is in dry and it will be HMS Albion providing the transport.
beer the food of the gods
The Dover Mercury on page 14 today says the Red Arrows are doing a fly past on Sunday!! I assume they have mistaken the Red Arrows for the Red Devils!! A few people in Dover will be annoyed if they turn up expecting the Red Arrows if this is wrong.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
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Red Arrows don't seem to be starting the seasons flying til 18th June, so highly unlikely that it is them !!
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 697- Registered: 13 Apr 2010
- Posts: 622
According to the Notices to Mariners on the DHB website, the ship involved will be the RFA Largs Bay (L3006) a Bay Class large amphibious landing ship. Of course this could have changed, as naval movements will always be subject to operational requirements.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
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Largs Bay is the sister ship of Mounts Bay that was at the Cruise Terminal in 2007 and had tours of inside
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
Just a reminder, folks, it's today. Seems like the Red Arrows will be doing a fly past, although not given on their website. I always believed the Arrows were in Cyprus at this time of the year getting their summer routines rehearsed.
Hope to see many forumites down there armed with trusty cameras.
True friends stab you in the front.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
Thanks for the info Andy, otherwise I would have missed it. I forgot about it.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
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Went up the Prince of Wales pier this morning to picture the Royal Navy vessel, on the way back the spitfire appeared.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
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A rather dull, (weatherwise), morning, hence the darkened images.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
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Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
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Not many down there today, and I suspect lack of publicity. I did however find, on passing the castle on the way down, many cars and people piling into the car parks. I walked the prom around 10.00, a small number on the beach and in the water. I went along the end of the pier to snap the Royal Navy ship, then on the way back, the distinct sound of a Rolls Royce Merlin engine. Those German gunners must have had it hard shooting them down, as I couldn`t even get a nice steady shot with my lightweight camera. More pleasant surprises in store further along, when I met Guzzler again and his good lady Humphy. Had a good natter till the landing craft came then I had to dash as the parking ticket was about to run out. Excellent morning, but disappointing crowds.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 673- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,388
Minor correction, Colin. The vessel is not Royal Navy. She is one of the four Bay Class LSD(A) - Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) - vessels of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
The RFA is part of the Merchant Navy and is consequently civilian manned by merchant seamen. It is owned by the MOD and replenishes the Royal Navy wherever they happen to be in the world. There are usually naval parties onboard to operate helicopters and weapon systems, etc, and the landing craft on the amphibious vessels are manned by the Royal Marines.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
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Thanks for that information Ed. I think I`ve got my head round that now. I`ve heard of the RFA before, but I suppose it`s the royal bit that confuses me. Did you manage to get down there?
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
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At last, my new camera I bought 2 weeks ago, and take round with my regular one, but it`s been too powerful to download pics from it on here. As you see, I`ve sussed it. I was clicking away with both this morning. Thanks Guzzler.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 643- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,321
Well my daughter just got home with the kids from watching all the excitement and they all loved it. Actually they didn't know about it and just happened to be going for a walk along the prom at the right time. She said there were loads of people down there and an elderly couple sitting on a bench told them what it was all about. The kids were so excited to see the landing craft coming off the ship and when the Red Devils came down they were agog!!
Unfortunately I couldn't make it this time, but I did last time. Sounds like it all went well with a lot more support than before - well done everyone.
There's always a little truth behind every "Just kidding", a little emotion behind every "I don't care" and a little pain behind every "I'm ok".
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
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A ship of the Royal Auxillary. Thanks Ed.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 673- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
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As Colin points out, the beach was very sparsely populated. Dare say 99 percent of Dovorians had no idea it was happening, as usual. Got a lucky shot of the Spitfire in front of RFA Largs Bay. The two landing craft. Cracking shot of the Mayors party looking glamorous on the Sea Sports Centre balcony. Croc with his granddaughter. Charlie, Barry and his lady, Vic and Nigel (sorry Vic, didn't see it was you until I looked at the photo later!). Chelsea pensioners.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
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A Spitfire over the White cliffs of Dover.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Great pics of a great afternoon thank Ed. I really must shed some of this excess weight!
