Thursday 6 February 2014

The Historic Dockyards, Chatham, Kent Part 2

Now down into the HM Submarine Ocelet 1962


Some of these photos taken  on my phone are a little blurred
Although you don't see them here visitors go through in batches with an escort and we need to keep moving
I made sure that I was at the front!


Every compartment is assessed through a hole like this





beds everywhere
Can you imagine trying to sleep with men walking up and down these narrow passage ways!





Tiny kitchen area


Yes, I am holding someone up!




and now we move onto HMS Gannet 
an 1878 sailing ship 






can see here how the ship is constructed


Oliver having a go at steering again!


Captain's sleeping quarters
the crew probably slept in hammocks


This hole was not for fishing but for doing some essential task at the bottom of the ship 





More to come
There is 400 years of history in this dockyard
It was a Royal Navy Shore Support - to build, repair and maintain the fleet
Anti-slavery patrols left from here and the epic voyages of people
like Cook and Darwin left from here
sailing off down the River Thames

8 comments:

Lorrie said...

I'll take the sailing ship over the submarine any day. Such tight quarters. Who would ever sleep? And the claustrophobia. Makes me shiver. Fun reading about it all though.

Patsy said...

Very interesting!

Vee said...

I don't think that Oliver will soon forget the tour. I cannot imagine living or serving in those quarters. It would take a special person!

Gracie Saylor said...

My husband was stationed on a nuclear sub and I got to go have dinner with him one night, As long as I didn't concentrate on the fact that I was eating underwater it wasn't too, terrible :) I really do think you all were brave and adventurous in all your touring, however!

Sue Seibert said...

Love the rest of the story!

Anonymous said...

I´ve thought it before..there´s a lot to see in your country! Probably in Sweden too, but most of it too far away for me. Interesting visit!
Gods peace be with you!
Ann-sofie
http://gudargodhet.bloggo.nu/

Balisha said...

Please use old address....

http://balisha-neverenoughtime.blogspot.com/

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Wow, 400 years - that is certainly a lot of history. Can't imagine navigating one's way around inside that submarine! Must be difficult for taller folks especially.