Yet another RN carrier project!

[uk 75]

Managed to track down a copy of "The Decline of British Seapower" by Desmond Wettern (1981-out of print) in the library.  Lots of good stuff.

According to Wettern a proposal was made in 1965-66 to build a light 30,000 ton carrier instead of CVA 01.  The ship would have operated Jaguars rather than Buccaneers, Phantoms etc.  Wettern also mentions that the UK looked at buying up to 4 Essex class ships complete with their US airgroups.  The US were keen to offer the ships (odd considering this was the beginning of carrier support in Vietnam).  Wettern is even more comprehensive than Grove, as he details each year's events.  His sources are, however, often journalistic speculation at the time so not especially reliable.

Another goody.  According to a new book on the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in 1959 Yarrow had approval for a 65,000 ton nuclear powered oil tanker for the RFA.  An article in Airfix Magazine in the 60s about nuclear powered ships shows an AEA design for a UK nuclear merchant ship (sorry have not got, but maybe someone out there has a stack of 60s Airfix mags).

Merry Xmas!

UK 75

[Nick]

Wonder what the name would have been?

RFA Electra?
RFA Experiment?

If you get this one give yourself a pat on the back - RFA Bringle Sands...

Nick B)  

[Joe C-P]

Dragon and/or Trumpeter are likely releasing a 1/700 angle-deck Essex soon. I'm not certain if White Ensign makes Jaguars, though.

[Geoff_B]

Dragon and/or Trumpeter are likely releasing a 1/700 angle-deck Essex soon. I'm not certain if White Ensign makes Jaguars, though.

They did joe, but since consolidating the range i'm not sure if they are still available or not.

G

[retro_seventies]

Bringle Sands

german nuclear experimental site, right?