Sunderland Air (and Sea) Show

[TSR2]

Hi Chaps, as it says, on today and tomorrow. I took a run down to Sunderland last night and HMS Southampton was along side, then along the coast RAF, RN and the Army all there in numbers, including an RN Seaking AND (hint hint) WASP!!! And not mock ups either. Then headed on down to South Shields to see Lyme Bay, along side at Royal Quay. She is a pretty impressive ship!
Anyway, much to my anoyance, when I returned home and uploaded my pics, I have 2 bloody great big dust spots on the CCD (and they are right in the middle), so thoroughly pissed off. Went to the fridge and had a few bottles of Newcastle Brown Ale, which made everything better... until this morning.

One for our Naval chaps. Why are RFA ships not prefixed HMS?

[SkippyBing]

To be honest not 100% sure, however I'm guessing it's partly due to international law in that RN ships are considered British sovereign territory whereas I don't think the RFA are. Additionally the RFA have to conform to merchant shipping standards of construction etc. whereas RN ones don't, you'll also notice they have a port of registry which HMS don't.
I think ultimately it comes down to ownership, commissioned warships belong to the Crown, whereas I think the RFA belong to the Admiralty, hence the different rules applied to each.
There was a plan to transfer two of the Bay class to RN ownership but I think that's died a death.

[DaveB]

Hi Ben..

Simply because they're not Her Majesty's Ship.. this being for warships only RFA's are Merchant ships with civilian crews and although they service the RN Fleet.. they're not under the Queen's employ so to speak. ;-)

Have a good day mate and take plenty of shots

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[delticbob]

....Why are RFA ships not prefixed HMS?

Could it have anything to RFA's being crewed by the Merchant Navy instead of the Royal Navy? Thus not being eligible for a HMS prefix....or may be i'm spouting rubbish again :fart:

Bob

[John]

....Why are RFA ships not prefixed HMS?

Could it have anything to RFA's being crewed by the Merchant Navy instead of the Royal Navy? Thus not being eligible for a HMS prefix....or may be i'm spouting rubbish again :fart:

Bob

RFA ships and crews are MOD assets and although they service RN ships they are not Royal Navy. Only RN ships are 'HMS'

Kind regards

John

ps Here's the details of the RN/RM involvement show details...

[SkippyBing]

Having scoured the internet for, oh, minutes now, RFA ships are government vessels not in the Royal Navy and therefore not entitled to the HMS prefix. Confusingly they're part of the Naval Service which encompasses the RN, RM, RFA, RMAS (Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service, tugs and the like) etc.

[TSR2]

Thanks chaps, I knew the crews were "civies" it just struck me as odd that the likes of the "Bay's" where RFA, even though they are very obviously military vessels. You'd have thought that the MOD belong (as it were) to the Monarch, they items in there charge would no different.... every day is a school day. Cheers Dave and Skip.

Re photos.... I'm tempted not to bother with this sodding CCD. Might be the excuse I need to by a new camera later in the year.

And incase anyone is wondering, the airshow is free.

[SkippyBing]

I think it's like the difference between Crown and Civil servants, i.e. members of the armed forces are Crown servants whereas people who work for the MOD are Civil servants.

[TSR2]

Rgr that Skip... My dad was a " Mod Civil Servant" for 43 years. He used to refer to MoD Civil Service as the Imperial Civil Service.

[TSR2]

Regretably the might of the British Armed Forces was completely thwarted by... em.... sea fog! I live 1.5 miles from the coast so walked along in glorious sunshine, although was a bit surprised by the lack of noise. Got to Whitburn, turned right to head towards the beach at Sunderland, and there it was, 200m visability (at very best) fog. I could here a lynx directly overhead, but could not see it, could not see where the sea began at the end of the sand. Very disapointing, but theres always tomorrow.

Interestingly, a Sea King and Lynx seemed to have put down in some playing fields about half a mile inland as I saw them on my way back. Also saw the AWACS and 2 x Tornadoes doing a mini display over South Shields, with the Tornadoes then heading towards the display area, where they disappeared into the myre, only to re emerge out the other side in the distance and head back North to Leuchars?