I used to work at a military base in the UK. Some years ago, the local council decided that some old buildings on the base were of historical interest and should go on the list of protected buildings. On hearing this, the base commander immediately had them emptied of the stuff they were storing and demolished - because they were old, hard to maintain and not really suitable for anything but basic storage. Also, that his budget would have to include their maintenance forevermore. I have to wonder if there was a similar element in play regarding Warspite.
I live in the UK. I’m sitting here thinking that possibly the absolute coolest thing in the entire world, bar none, would have been to have been able take my kids to see the ‘Warspite Museum’! I mean, HMS Belfast is great ands all………. But Warspite!! That would have been amazing. (In an alternate universe there’s Warspite in Portsmouth Harbour or even Plymouth Devonport for everyone to visit. Well, everyone in that universe that is!:)
Yes, the British spent every last dime defeating the axis powers. While they couldn't have done it without the american industry, they paid for what they got.
People should realise what it would have cost to refit the ship to be safe for visitors. At a time when there was still rationing in the UK (didn’t end till 1954) then spending money on Warspite didn’t make sense.
The Grand Old Lady scrapped while a random Town class is displayed in the capital of a dead Empire with at best a Navy that plays second fiddle, what a tragic waste
Random, I suggest you look at Belfasts service record, Battle of North Cape, supported Normandy landings firing almost 2000 6” guns in support of British and Canadian troops till the fighting moved to far inland for the guns to reach. Later providing service in Korean War as well. Having been refitted and modernised then had a service history and was in shape for becoming museum ship without having unrealistic amount of money spent first. Plus in 1963 British economy in a much better state then in the late 1940’s when UK still had food rationing.
Not just warships - look at what a wonderful tourist attraction the SS Great Britain is; just imagine if the SS Great Eastern could have been preserved!
I understand that warspite was badly damaged at the end of her career . But she had a lot of history with her too . But at least her name will not be forgotten.
The USA preserves stuff, the UK MOD sells off stuff through dodgy contacts to friends, they then spit the profits. I remember seeing brand new Jet engines for the V Bomber fleet still on their wheeled stainless steel workshop stands being sold for around 900 quid apiece.
They should have saved either Vanguard or Warspite. The Battleship / Ship of the line are uniquely synonymous with Britain. It feels like China knocking down the Great Wall so they can reclaim the bricks to use on future housing. I lived most of my life in Gosport, across from Portsmouth RN dockyard, probably spoilt in terms of ship spotting. But not having a single example from the 4 decades separating Dreadnought and Vanguard is a travesty imo.
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I used to work at a military base in the UK. Some years ago, the local council decided that some old buildings on the base were of historical interest and should go on the list of protected buildings. On hearing this, the base commander immediately had them emptied of the stuff they were storing and demolished - because they were old, hard to maintain and not really suitable for anything but basic storage. Also, that his budget would have to include their maintenance forevermore. I have to wonder if there was a similar element in play regarding Warspite.
I live in the UK. I’m sitting here thinking that possibly the absolute coolest thing in the entire world, bar none, would have been to have been able take my kids to see the ‘Warspite Museum’! I mean, HMS Belfast is great ands all………. But Warspite!! That would have been amazing.
(In an alternate universe there’s Warspite in Portsmouth Harbour or even Plymouth Devonport for everyone to visit. Well, everyone in that universe that is!:)
I would rather Warspite than Belfast was saved. Of all of the Royal Navy's 20th century ships she had the greatest history. 😢😢❤❤❤😢😢
Nice talk we had about Niels Juel but good video as all ways
Will you make a series of videos like you did on Warspite but about Enterprise?
The answer to all your questions is money.
Yes, the British spent every last dime defeating the axis powers. While they couldn't have done it without the american industry, they paid for what they got.
But it wasn't really was it HMS Belfast is layed up on the Thames in London, money was affective ly there.
It's sad to see the Grand Old Lady cut up and melted down.She deserved a better fate but at least she went out the way she wanted to.
If the germans had built the z plan they sunk old warspite for you she belonged to ww1 and not ww2 shes slow ugly and a sight .
She resisted like what Freddie Mercury sang with Queen - I Want to break Free!😂
People should realise what it would have cost to refit the ship to be safe for visitors. At a time when there was still rationing in the UK (didn’t end till 1954) then spending money on Warspite didn’t make sense.
The Grand Old Lady scrapped while a random Town class is displayed in the capital of a dead Empire with at best a Navy that plays second fiddle, what a tragic waste
Random, I suggest you look at Belfasts service record, Battle of North Cape, supported Normandy landings firing almost 2000 6” guns in support of British and Canadian troops till the fighting moved to far inland for the guns to reach.
Later providing service in Korean War as well.
Having been refitted and modernised then had a service history and was in shape for becoming museum ship without having unrealistic amount of money spent first.
Plus in 1963 British economy in a much better state then in the late 1940’s when UK still had food rationing.
Not just warships - look at what a wonderful tourist attraction the SS Great Britain is; just imagine if the SS Great Eastern could have been preserved!
I understand that warspite was badly damaged at the end of her career . But she had a lot of history with her too . But at least her name will not be forgotten.
The USA preserves stuff, the UK MOD sells off stuff through dodgy contacts to friends, they then spit the profits. I remember seeing brand new Jet engines for the V Bomber fleet still on their wheeled stainless steel workshop stands being sold for around 900 quid apiece.
Money, money, money, money. Always money. No one in Britain could afford to preserve it.
Not really she could been stripped out, layed up, for number of years
The reason she was scrapped. The country was bankrupt after the war. And the steel was needed to rebuild the cities.
👍👍
They should have saved either Vanguard or Warspite. The Battleship / Ship of the line are uniquely synonymous with Britain. It feels like China knocking down the Great Wall so they can reclaim the bricks to use on future housing.
I lived most of my life in Gosport, across from Portsmouth RN dockyard, probably spoilt in terms of ship spotting.
But not having a single example from the 4 decades separating Dreadnought and Vanguard is a travesty imo.
Because they were stupid