Keir Starmer and our toy armed Forces!

 Pocket remote boats and drones for the Forces?

When working alongside what we already have this may be of great help, but what is not clear what are the Army and Air-force getting in this limited budget, that defeats the purpose of NATO and any further cooperation with the United States!

During the 1930's after the Great war, Britain chose to go light and we were caught out by Adolf Hitler in the second world war, but things had to be adapted quickly, the Spitfire was a success, but the Churchill MBT only really arrived in later 1944-45?

Without the United States and clever intelligence work and many brave men and woman, we would have been crushed and this will happen again more so with Iran, China and various proxies, maybe not tomorrow, but it will come!

Sea Power In the Med. Part-One.

European Force. 

There at this time two major areas of European involvement with Naval vessels, the Gulf of Aden between Yemen and northern-Somalia protecting western shipping from being hijacked. The other is in the Mediterranean dealing with refugees fleeing Libya or north-Africa.

Ireland last year donated their Emer Class Corvette LE Aoife P22, to the Maltese Navy as P65. It is the first warship for Malta, since the Crusades 1091-1340. It is now part of the European force, that has seen the U.K. deploy two Frigates and one support ship HMS Hermes.

Everyday the Italian Navy is overwhelmed by the number of crap boats trying to get to the island of Lampadusa, many hundreds of people are drowned each day on these fatal crossings. 

Finland and Sweden, along with France and perhaps the British patrol the Arabia sea, Gulf of Aden and the narrows into the Red sea. The task here is to protect gas and oil tankers heading to Europe with their cargoes from the Persian Gulf. Hijacking and hostage taking is big business for Al-Shabab and other affiliated Al-Quida militants in this region.

Model World.

Modelling.

The hobby of modelling those machines that we like to look at, film and photograph can be some times the closest we will ever get to seeing how they are designed and made. From Space to trains and automobiles to ships, there is nearly a model for every machine that has ever been created.

Owning a model layout or a racing track to a model diorama is knowing that you have put it together and can adapt and change it at any time.

Wither these models are glued or remote control, racing cars, boats or a model railway they will bring us hours of pleasure.

The model world is not for everyone, but for many it is a great joy and past time. I wonder what Father Christmas will be bringing us this year in our over sized stocking?

Trawlers. Part-One.

Reapers of the Seas.

Many people today are against the idea of mass fishing and the work of the Trawler men, they have accused them of 'Raping the Oceans of fish and destroying natural habitat and fish stocks. In this three part series we will look at the machine that was created to use trawler netting, the international laws being implemented on net sizes and fish quotas and then move on to look at the counter debate and their ideas.

The Trawler began life in the Bristol Channel, off the North-Coast of Devon, U.K. These wooden boats used larger nets and weights to keep them being dragged along the sea bottom. Prior to this it was a process of hit and miss. There reason for being created, was the demand in fresh fish.

Today with the invention of the engine and many new designs of hulls, these boats are able to handle most difficult conditions at sea.

Fishermen or Fisherfolk have gone to sea for generations and this applies across the globe. The knowledge of knowing where the shoals of fish are, at certain times of the year has been traditionally handed down from Father to son. Whole communities have suffered severe tragedy over the centuries with losses to the cruel sea's.

The R.N.L.I. Part-One.

Life boat search and rescue.

The RNLI is a shared service in both Britain and Ireland, it has a long history of saving life at sea and saving people stranded in difficult places. From its orgins and basic open rowing boats it has developed into a high tec' service, which is now an invaluable assit to these islands.

Life boats, inflatables and hovercraft are manned by volunteers, who are supported by donations and annual subscriptions from the general public. 

The RNLI work with the Coastguard and Military/Police search and rescue, on my You tube site I have filmed various life boats and helicopters. Some are on call, while others are on training exercises. 

Please remember them this special season and with out recent and forthcoming horrible weather.

Plying the Oceans.

Bulk Carriers.

There are many kinds of boats and ships that ply the seas around the world, because this remains a very viable form of trade. Man has used the sea, lakes, rivers and even oceans from ancient times and he has built ever bigger ships.

Today the Super Tanker, container ship and bulk carriers are the biggest. Here in Swansea I see various vessels come and go from Port Talbot Tata Steel deep water dock. It is a real joy for me to film them and have them seen by the world on You Tube at 121jaykay.

These ships will remain the massive ore carriers that they are, because humans need metals, cars and vehicles to be made.