Last updated: May 18, 2010 @ 20.45

HMS Warrior - Portsmouth - April 2010 - Seth had 2 weeks off for Easter, so we thought, why not also take 2 weeks off. This way we could have a little break before summer, and it's been a long winter, so why not. We were originally planning on taking a trip into Portugal, down to Morocco, and then up to Spain. Unfortunately the holiday flat that we were to rent had become unavailable by the time that we'd figured out which flights were the best (and cheapest).
These next pictures are from our trip to Portsmouth to see The Warrior and The Victory from afar (still closer than ever before tho).

Seth had been to the The Warrior and The Victory on school trips before, and he really like The Warrior. Kim and I had seen them from The Spinaker before, and had never been in a tour of either ships. The next pictures are of The Warrior, The Victory and some of the memoribelia in the compound.
The Warrior was launched in 1860, and was the pride of Queen Victoria's fleet. This was the fastest and most powerful ship of her day. The Warrior is about twice as long as The Victory (shown below). The Warrior was the first iron-hulled and armour-plated warship for the Royal Navy. It was the first ship to have steam engines, propeller, iron armour, and rifled guns on one ship.

Here is a view as you enter the ship. The cannon windows are open, so I'm betting they're expecting to fire at something. Hopefully not us! We paid, so they better not.

Here we are in the middle of the ship looking towards the bow. I hope we stop soon, as those buildings are getting bigger fast!

Here we are, looking at the stern/back of the boat. I think, if I was living on the other side of the inlet, that I'd be concerned with the cannon pointing towards me.

One serious officer, one happy officer, and one big gumdrop stuffed into the end of a cannon. Behind Seth and Kim are also a lot of rifles and their bayonet's. I don't know how often they would be used, as I'd presume most of the battle would be using the cannons.

Can you believe that we didn't train Seth to salute. He is Officer Official. Beside Seth is not a cannon, but a rifled gun. If you look into the barrel (not too close) you can see the grooves in it, that would make the shell spiral.

Here is the gun deck, that went on for at least half the ship. Not sure exactly how far, but for a long ways. At the distant left (more on this in just a sec) is the kitchen. Remember this picture - we'll be coming back to it in a few.

And what do you have in the middle of the ship? Something that you don't want to get fired on -- the kitchen of course! I have no idea what they'd be cooking there, but there is a lot of big pots. I'm guessing no fancy cakes, no cheese cakes, probably mushy peas (the British love those), boiled ham (gag) and boiled potatoes.
If you scroll up to the gun deck, on the left, you can see the kitchen. Even from that distance, you can see that the kitchen isn't that big.

Even showing the rest of the kitchen, it wasn't that big, considering the hundreds of people that it would have to feed. Maybe (we didn't ask but I'd guess) the people were fed in waves (see if anyone gets that).

If you scroll back up (go on) to the picture of the gun deck, you will now notice there are hooks in the rafters (bet you didn't notice them before, did you - be honest, you didn't). Those hooks were used for hooking your hammock on them. Yes, these poor lads had to sleep becide their cannons. I'd hate to be on the night shift, trying to get some sleep, and some muppet under you shooting off the cannon. That'd just not be on!
Now that I have you looking a little closer, you will see some weird colour pattern just above Seth's feet. No, this is not some weird sailing design. We were visiting the ship during Easter, and you had to search for Easter eggs around the ship. The glowing orb next to it tho, is just a light.

Go back up to the gun deck picture. Some of you (maybe a few) may have noticed that inbetween the cannons are tables. So, the poor guys had to work (shooting the cannons), sleep (in swinging hammocks), and eat all within 10 feet of the same place all day. Taking a rough count, it looks like there's 14 people at this table. You'll also see that everything here has the number 18 - that way you knew exactly who's stuff belong to which table. Just like the Army (I know - Navy) to do all of your thinking for you.

This is kinda (but isn't really) what it would look like with the hammocks down and the tables set. What would happen, is they guys would get up, get out of their hammocks, and then tie them up, and then store they into a small locker. That way, everything is out of harms way, as you'd want to make sure that you can do your day job.

The table above and this table both have 14 places set. The one difference that you'll see is that the following table would have 2 people at the ends, so there's only 6 per side, instead of 7 as above. See how much more room moving just 1 person off each side to the end makes?

The above was obviously the captains table.

You've seen how the common navy solidier lived -- hammoc above his table, right next to his trusty cannon. Now, the reason to get a better education is the next picture is the First Mate's cabin. Common comforts inlclude a candle and electric light, three hooks for his uniform, dresser, and, more importantly, not having to share his bedroom with 600 other people.

Here is the furnace room. I've been in other engine rooms for other ships, but nothing like this. I'll bet that this room wasn't this clean when it was in operation. The propellers consumed 11 tonnes of coal per hour to run. I think this is pretty much the reason why they didn't have them going all the time. I think they mainly used the engines to leave the docs, and probably during a battle, to give them an advantage.

Here is a sideways picture looking at the pistons and the con-rod. This will look more like an engine for the next two pictures.

The next two pictures are the piston moving in and out of the cylinder. The engine has 2 cylinders, but, as you can see, they're quite big. I could crouch down, and enter they cylinder.

Here is the log from almost 150 years ago (or over 150 years if you're reading this after 2012). More comments after you read the report.

You read the above report, and it all seems interesting enough. And, then you get to the "G. Carr" bit -- we've done a bit of digging (ok, not much) but we've found several "Carr's" in my past that have been engineer's, or engine keepers etc. Seems like the Carr's have been keeping the UK running!

Here is a working model of what the two pistons would look like (without the pesky boat attached). I'm not sure why the pistons aren't opposite to each other, like they now are in cars. They're more at 90 degrees of each other.

Off to the starboard/right side at the next pier is the Spinnaker. This is the largest Spinnaker in, well, all of Portsmouth! I'm sure there's others about, but this is the only one that I can think of at this time. You can just see the glass floor in the observation deck. Seth and I have walked across the floor. Very freaky seeing all those little people 400 feet below you.

If you were made to walk the plank, this would be one of the last designs you'd see. If I had to walk the plank, I'd innocently turn around to make a speech (as you're allowed to) and then slowly reach down, and grab that axe and sword. Then I'd battle everyone until I got to the captain and demand that I be pardoned. And not just a pardon, but a pardon, and a raise, and promotion. Ya. That's what I'd do!

Good bye from HMS Warrior.

Attention First Lieutenant Seth! Salute! Forward, MARCH!
Here we obviously have First Lieutenant Seth guarding the figure-head. So far, Seth has been able to safeguard the figure-head.

They have about 4 museums in this complex (all for one price including the ships - not bad). In this museum they have additional figureheads, and directly ahead is a rather decked out life boat. I think they took this boat ashore for more than saving lives!

This is from the HMS Bellerophon (originally named HMS Waterloo). It took part in the bombardment of Sebastopol during the Russian war in 1854-56, and was broken up in 1892.
Legend has it that Bellerophon was killed by the monster Chimaera with Pegasus's help. I always though Pegasus was a nice horse.

On the left is the figurehead from HMS Malacca, which was built in Burma in 1853, converted to a steam sloop in 1854 and then sold in 1869.
On the right is the figurehead from HMS Albatross, which was built in 1873 and broken up in 1889.

No need having to explain what the figurehead on the left is thinking about! Oooarrrhhh.

Here is the HMS Victory. As you can see, she has two gun decks, and has quite a bit more yellow on her. I wonder if her nickname was the HMS Bumblebee. I'm just making that up. It isn't really. Or, is it?
This is about as close as we got to the HMS Bumblebee, err, HMS Victory. We'll have to save that for another page.

One last souvenir picture, and then we'll have to call it a day.

At Ease.........