Jan 8, 2012 HMS Queen Elizabeth, Royal Navy History, Warships of the Past, World War One, World War Two

HMS Queen Elizabeth alongside in Gibraltar
HMS Queen Elizabeth (pennant number 00) was the lead ship of the Queen Elizabeth-class of dreadnought battleships, named in honour of Elizabeth I of England. She saw service in both World Wars. A Super-Dreadnought class of battleships, the HMS Queen Elizabeth vessels were the first British-built ships of their type to be powered by oil instead of immense amounts of coal.
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Jan 8, 2012 HMS Victory, Memorial, Museums, Operations, Warships of the Past
Name Rank Ship
ADAMSON William Boatswain Colossus
ALLEN William Capt’s Clerk Tonnant
BAILEY John P Mid Africa
BANT Thomas Mid Bellerophon
BASHFORD James Lieut Royal Sovereign
BELLAIRS Henry Mid Spartiate
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Jan 8, 2012 Historical Warships

HMS Bounty Launch
Jan 8, 2012 Personnel, Piracy
![OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Lieutenant Commander Chris Parry [Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]](http://www.royal-navy.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/2012-Jan-06-LtCParry2-250x187.jpg)
Lieutenant Commander Chris Parry [Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2011
A Royal Naval Reservist and Staff Officer at the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has been honoured as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his role in the anti-piracy mission off Somalia.
Chris Parry, an AWNIS (Allied Worldwide Navigation Information System) Staff Officer at the UKHO in Taunton and Lieutenant Commander at HMS Flying Fox in Bristol, is currently leading a team at the UKHO which works closely with the Royal Naval Reserve to deliver safety and security information to merchant ships and warships involved in or transiting through operational areas.
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Jan 6, 2012 Laws and Regulation

HMS Imperieuse
(1) This is the copy of the Charter of Oleron of the Judgments of the Sea.
First a man is made master of a ship. The ship belongs to two or three men. The ship departs from the country to which she belongs, and comes to Bordeaux or to Rochelle, or elsewhere, and is freighted to go to a strange country. The master may not sell the ship unless he has a mandate or procuration from the owners; but If he has need of money for his expenses, he may put some of the ship’s apparel in pledge upon consultation with the ship’s company, and this is the judgment in this case.
(2) A ship is in a haven and stays to await her time, and the time comes for her departure, the master ought to take counsel with his companions and to say to them: “Sirs, you have this weather.” There will be some who will say the weather is not good, and some who will say the weather is fine and good. The master is bound to agree with the greater part of his companions. And if he does otherwise, the master is bound to replace the ship and the goods, if they are lost. And this is, etc. Read More..
Jan 6, 2012 Laws and Regulation

Use of first sea laws at sea.
SEA LAWS, a title which came into use among writers on maritime law in the 16th century, and was applied by them to certain medieval collections of usages of the sea recognized as having the force of customary law, either by the judgments of a maritime court or by the resolutions of a congress of merchants and shipmasters. To the former class belong the sea laws of Oleron, embodying the usages of the mariners of the Atlantic; under the latter come the sea laws of Visby (Wisby), reflecting the customs of the mariners of the North Sea and of the Baltic.
The earliest collection of such usages received in England is described in the Black Book of the Admiralty as the “Laws of Oleron,” whilst the earliest known text is contained in the Liber memorandorum of the corporation of the City of London, preserved in the archives of their Guildhall. These laws are in an early handwriting of the 14th century, and the title prefixed to them is La Chaste d’Oleroun des juggementz de la mier. Read More..
Jan 5, 2012 HM Naval Base Portsmouth, HMS Kent, New Warships
![HMS KENT RETURNS TO PORTSMOUTH AFTER YEAR-LONG REFIT Royal Navy frigate HMS Kent returns to Portsmouth following a £24m upgrade in Scotland [Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Keith Morgan, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]](http://www.royal-navy.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/2012-Dec-04-01-HMS-Kent-250x187.jpg)
Royal Navy frigate HMS Kent returns to Portsmouth following a £24m upgrade in Scotland [Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer) Keith Morgan, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011
Royal Navy warship HMS Kent returned to her Portsmouth home in December following a year-long, £24m upgrade in Rosyth, Scotland, which saw major improvements to her systems and equipment.
HMS Kent has benefited from an overhaul of all her hull, upper deck and her complex weapons systems. Key upgrades include a new 4.5-inch (114mm) medium-range gun plus new 30mm close-range guns on her port and starboard sides.
She has also had a new command system, target control radars and new towed array sonar fitted. The sonar gives the vessel phenomenal capability and makes her a world-leading anti-submarine warfare platform.
Since the 180-strong ship’s company moved back on board in September they have completed an extensive number of engineering, equipment and manpower tests and trials in preparation to return to sea. Read More..
Jan 5, 2012 HMS Triumph, Operations, RFA, RFA Diligence
![THE EARL AND COUNTESS OF WESSEX VISIT BAHRAIN Prince Edward is welcomed aboard RFA Diligence by her Chief Officer, Chris Mackenzie [Picture: Lieutenant Gary Turner RN, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]](http://www.royal-navy.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/HMS-Triumph-2012-Jan-02-01-250x187.jpg)
Prince Edward is welcomed aboard RFA Diligence by her Chief Officer, Chris Mackenzie [Picture: Lieutenant Gary Turner RN, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011
The Earl and Countess of Wessex visited Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel in Bahrain recently, during a Christmas tour of British personnel deployed on active duties in the Middle East.
Commodore-in-Chief of the RFA, Prince Edward and his wife toured submarine HMS Triumph and support ship RFA Diligence and dropped in on the senior Royal Navy headquarters in the region, the United Kingdom Maritime Component Commander (UKMCC), during their stay in the small Gulf kingdom.
The Royal couple learned about Triumph’s recent contribution to Operation ELLAMY off the coast of Libya, where the submarine was involved in the launch of Tomahawk missiles in support of the NATO mission to protect the Libyan population. Read More..
Jan 5, 2012 Royal Marines Afghanistan

Captain Tom Jennings, Royal Marines, who was killed in Afghanistan on 22 December 2011
It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Captain Tom Jennings, Royal Marines, who was killed in Afghanistan on 22 December 2011.
Capt Jennings died after the vehicle he was travelling in struck an explosive device whilst on an operation to the south of Kabul.
Squadron Leader Anthony Downing RAF, whose death was announced separately by the Ministry of Defence, had been travelling in the same vehicle.
Captain Tom Jennings, Royal Marines
Capt Jennings died after the vehicle he was travelling in struck an explosive device whilst on an operation to the south of Kabul. Read More..