Re: Ships
 

she was one of those I was thinking of, and one or two sister ships also "disappeared", as did the Derbyshire on a voyage in the Pacific.

having seen what the power of a bit of water can do to a ship and lived through it a couple of times I can say it can take a brave man to go to sea even in a modern vessel. But then I spent time 2,500 ton destroyers and frigates and also a 52,000 ton aircraft carrier that had different construction methods. But both sizes took batterings, and I saw the result of a 25ton generator that was taken of the stern of a frigate in a bad blow - it only left a few scrapes on the deck and no sign of the bolts holding it in place.

Re: Ships
 

The Derbyshire also came to my mind, possibly remembered due to my association with the county and not the ship itself.
However a quick check on Wikipedia gave me the impression they thought her demise was due to a rogue wave, whereas I was always under the impression it was metal fatigue due to many exposures to rough weather, although a big one may have finished her off.

Re: Ships
 

In the summer of 1990 I was walking along the banks of the Kiel canal near Rendsburg in north Germany late one evening when all of a sudden all of the lights were switched off and I saw a looming dark shape slowly making its way along the canal in my direction.

When it drew level with me my body was suddenly covered in red laser dots and I realised that several rifles were pointing at me. I stood perfectly still for several minutes until the dark monster shape went past with a low, growling noise.

I found out the next day that it was a US aircraft carrier on its way to the Gulf war.

Re: Ships
 

ISTR this also happened when the Ark Royal transited the Suez Canal, part of the journey was at night, Royal Marines and navy sharpshooters in the crew spent the night on watch and navy manned machine guns during the day.

Really is a sad world but think of the coup and kudos obtained by ramming the USS Cole with a bomb boat
:(