Up the Itchen

[Solitaire]

I had to go and bring a boat from Hamble to the Itchen - some interesting views on the way up!

Firstly this interesting little number. Was flying a Dutch flag and I reckon it had a delivery crew on-board.

Then a site that really upsets me every time I pass. Brave Challenger looking very sorry for herself. If only I had a big lottery win!

And these just remind me of War of The Worlds

 

[colingr]

Yes very sad, here's a happier pic

 

[MRC]

Whats the story with her?
She was jet turbine powered?
Used to see her a lot around the Solent

 

[MRC]

http://www.bmpt.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=54

 

[moonraker 36]

thats one hell of a boat.(brave challangr)

 

[epervier]

If memory serves, HMS Brave Borderer, HMS Brave Swordsman her forerunners, used to be berthed at HMS Vernon just across the water from HMS Dolphin 1st Submarine squadron of which I was crew member of HM Submarine Grampus at that time, back in the 60's they were reported as 70mph patrol boats, quick by anybody's standards, even today, but I'd guess only the MOD could afford the burn rate of three RR Proteus turbines

Was the Proteus a marine only application or did they power helicopters also?Lynx perhaps?

 

[Warpa]

I learn something every day, I must have passed and had a good look at that ship 50 times and often wondered the history, i bet the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end when it was fired up!

 

[[2068]]

Many years ago, I was at Gunwharf moored up next to Brave Challenger when he fired up both main engines.

"Yikes" doesn't quite cover it, and that was just the diesels, not the turbines!

 

[Warpa]

My searches have failed, there must be some video of this beast in action?

 

[sarabande]

I can remember being transferred from a Ton class sweeper for a day to Brave Borderer for an exercise in 1962 or 1. Apart from the lack of roll, the most impressive difference was when we were told to "Make smoke" to hide a recovery. This was achieved by turning a valve on the bridge, while proceeding at about 40 kts, a speed which only Abdiel could have matched (she was a lot larger, which makes that even more impressive).

 

[photodog]

My searches have failed, there must be some video of this beast in action?

Ask and ye shall recieve... Brave class attack boat on trials...

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=36057

 

[burgundyben]

I think its fair to say that she's made more men bankrupt that any other boat afloat, and earned the legal beagles more money than most too!

At one time embroiled in a battle over one of the forts at Portsmouth.

Does she use thrust or are those gas turbines connected to reduction boxes and shafts?

 

[jimg]

The Bristol Proteus was a radical design. The revolutionary turboprop engine has a 'reversed-flow' layout - the air enters through in-lets at the back of the engine, is passed forward, and doubles back through the combustion chambers. The original Mk.600 produced 3,780 brake horse power (bhp), but the 700 series became the production standard. The Mk.765 delivered 4,445 bhp.

It was primarily used on the four-engined Bristol Britannia airliner, but was also intended for the Bristol Brabazon and Saunders-Roe Princess, of which only the prototypes flew. It was also used in many industrial and marine installations.

Another well known use is shown here

 

[Will_M]

My searches have failed, there must be some video of this beast in action?

Found this>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV8Exhc359o

 

[Warpa]

Found this>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV8Exhc359o

35 seconds in, i bet that boat will be getting some serious wash I recal seeing the huge round coveres on the back of this boat now and wondering what they were for, must be what opened for the turbines

If i were one of those rich people (the type who buy football clubs) for example, i reckon that would make a fantastic project. Would it run off one engine to greatly increase its range. Having said that it would probably be a lot cheaper to refit a IOW fastcat

 

[Warpa]

Just a quick one... how come none of the boats in the videos look anything like the one on the Itchen?

 

[sarabande]

the hull is the same (it's from the prototype) but the superstructure has been altered several times.

 

[Solitaire]

35 seconds in, i bet that boat will be getting some serious wash I recal seeing the huge round coveres on the back of this boat now and wondering what they were for, must be what opened for the turbines

If i were one of those rich people (the type who buy football clubs) for example, i reckon that would make a fantastic project. Would it run off one engine to greatly increase its range. Having said that it would probably be a lot cheaper to refit a IOW fastcat

The last/current owner bought the engines from the hovercrafts now languishing at Lee on Solent. the 3 dustbin lids on the stern are the exhaust outlets

 

[Will_M]

Did they (owner past/present) actually get hold of those in the end then from the old SRN4 cross channel hovercraft?

 

[Solitaire]

Did they (owner past/present) actually get hold of those in the end then from the old SRN4 cross channel hovercraft?

Yes, so I am led to believe. There was a big hue and cry about it at the time.