St. C has just returned from an interesting trip to Gibraltar, land of “The Eye”. The trip across The Bay was emotional to say the least.

The drinking in the town bar was even more upsetting!

The crossing was done in a venerable Type 42 frigate named after Scotland’s Capital City.

We managed to overcome 30 foot waves, but some on board were left looking very green, and I for one was very worried about the creaks & groans that the old girl was making as she was stressed by some “rather sporting” weather.

The type 42s have been around for years, with the batch 3 ones being about 25 years old.

They are soon to be replaced by the wonderful Type 45. But! there is a problem. Where once there were 16 Type 42’s , St. C is interested to see that only 6 of the new ones will be delivered to replace them.

We were all up in arms originally when it was announced that only 12 were to be delivered! This was then cut to 8. Oh well we cried, we’ve lived without Sheffield, and Coventry for long enough, and, after all, the lieing cheating politico’s told us “this is a much more CAPABLE piece of equipment”. Just how does “more capable” equate to “CAN BE IN TWO PLACES AT ONCE”! A ship is a ship. It covers a small bit of water, or transports people to a single location where they are needed.

Ask any jolly jack tar, and he’ll tell you that the Navy has shrunk past the point of no retun. Skills are being lost. People are spending all their time on operations, and not getting training. It’s all become rather sad!

Anyway, HMS Daring (pictured) is now doing sea trials, and is very nearly ready for St C to take his first spin in her!