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rdave Vosper Fibre Glass Sweepers

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Strawballs

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Posted October 7, 2012 at 6:02PM

rdave asked me if I knew about the GRP sweepers build by Vosper Thornycroft.

I actually spent 6 years in the GRP at Woolston between 1996 - 2002.

Yes they did build a lot of sweepers for the RN 2 different types MCMV's Mine counter measure vessels and the later Sandown Class of SRMH

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rdave13

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Posted October 7, 2012 at 7:59PM

Had a look on google and Nautilus was docked in Southampton docks in 1971. The first nuclear submarine.

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rdave13

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Posted October 7, 2012 at 8:10PM

Have to re-phrase that, she was the first Nuke sub but can't find references to her being docked at Sou'ampton.

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Strawballs

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Posted October 7, 2012 at 9:00PM

Al of the Navy's SRMH's Single role Mine Hunter's were built by VT at woolston and all but 2 of the MCMV's were also built by VT the other 2 were built at what is now Scotston. VT also built 3 SRMH's for Saudi Arabia. You were saying about the thickness being 2 inches on the Ton Class that was wilton. The single Roles were 3 inches down the bow with a stainless shoe over that.

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Strawballs

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Posted October 7, 2012 at 9:03PM

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Strawballs

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Posted October 7, 2012 at 9:09PM

Sorry went out. They were very successful and very strong Every time a new batch were built they took one of them and exploded a mine under it and each time very little damage was done!!

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Woolwell

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Posted October 7, 2012 at 9:38PM

HMS Dreadnought, UK nuclear sub, was around from 1963.

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Woolwell

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Posted October 7, 2012 at 10:09PM

No record of Nautilus at Southampton in 1971 that I can find but perhaps at Faslane. However Dreadnought did visit Southampton between 28 Oct and 1 Nov 1971.

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rdave13

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Posted October 8, 2012 at 9:02AM

That's a good link Strawballs , thanks.

Woolwell, I also couldn't find anything about the Nautilus being docked there. Must have been the Dreadnought. I remember it as a big sub, whichever it was. It was certainly an eye-opener to me seeing the docks for the first time.

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Forum Editor

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Posted October 8, 2012 at 9:32AM

When my father was the Commanding Officer of RAF Felixtowe they had Motor torpedo boats. I was very young at the time, but I can clearly remember seeing these (to me) huge boats being lifted from the water by a crane at the end of a pier.

I assume the boats were built by Vospers - am I right in thinking they had laminated plywood hulls? I seem to recall someone telling me they did.

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morddwyd

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Posted October 8, 2012 at 10:32AM

They might have been converted MTBs, but the RAF never used them in that role of course.

They were solely for rescue and the only armament they had were gun turrets, aircraft style, not naval 6 inch!

I think they were Frazer Nash mk 4 or 5.

The engines, I seem to recall, were Thorneycroft, but I can't remember who built the boats themselves, though Vickers are rolling around my head somewhere.

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