Details: The offshore forts, or towers, were originally World War II military facilities built to protect the coastal sea lanes and were essentially of two designs. Red Sands, Shivering Sands and Great Nore were Army constructed, originally consisting of seven separate towers, each set on four concrete legs supporting a steel structure 100ft above sea … Read more
Details: HMF Rough, HMF Sunk Head, HMF Knock John and HMF Tongue Sand, known as ‘His Majesty’s Forts’, were built by the Navy and originally had a complement of about 100 men who were assigned to them before deployment. These were designed as a reinforced concrete pontoon measuring 168 by 88 feet supporting two hollow … Read more
Details: The offshore forts, or towers, were originally World War II military facilities built to protect the coastal sea lanes and were essentially of two designs. Red Sands, Shivering Sands and Great Nore were Army constructed, originally consisting of seven separate towers, each set on four concrete legs supporting a steel structure 100ft above sea … Read more
Ship details: Length: 269 ft (82 m)Year: 1911Builder: FCM, La Seyne, ToulonSize: 1650 tonnesPower: 2200 hp twin screwSpeed: 15 knotsOwner: Prince Albert I After WWI the ship stayed in Monaco harbour to Albert’s death in 1922. In 1923, she sailed to England to be sold. She passed into American hands, spent many years berthed in … Read more
Ship details: There were around a dozen “gambling ships” operating throughout the 1930’s, but the one that stood out above the others was Tony Cornero’s S.S. Rex. Cornero had been involved with several other boats, most notably the S.S. Tango (which he lost in a crap game) but the Rex was his baby. The Rex … Read more
Ship details: In 1933 the former British navy vessel HMS Mistletoe was baptized “La Playa” and later renamed “City of Panama” by its new owner George A. McLoney. The ship was registered in Panama and was intended as a floating showboat to display the glories of touristry in Panama to the Californians. But instead, the … Read more
Details: HMF Rough, HF Sunk Head, HMF Knock John and HMF Tongue Sand, known as ‘His Majesty’s Forts’, were built by the Navy and originally had a complement of about 100 men who were assigned to them before deployment. These were designed as a reinforced concrete pontoon measuring 168 by 88 feet supporting two hollow … Read more
Details: The island was constructed in 1964 at a cost of 9 million guilders by a team of broadcasting entrepreneurs, who used it to broadcast radio and television programmes to the Netherlands under the name Radio Noordzee and TV Noordzee. The project lasted for just over 4 months, from mid-August to mid-December 1964, before being … Read more
Ships details: The Quo Vadis, a 492 ton 52 m length 8.5 m width cargo vessel, was built in Groningen/Netherlands by Gebr. Koops NV Hoogezand in 1956. Maximum speed was 9 knots. In 1978 the ship was renamed Manor Park. In September 1979 it was found in the harbour of Sunderland. At that time it … Read more
Ship details: Tonnage: 10985 tons gross Complement: 345 Length: 468.8 feet Beam: 66.3 feet Draught: 24.4 feet Machinery: DieselsTwin screws Commissioned (RN): 6 October 1939 Commissioned (RAN): 1 Jun 1943 Laid Down: July 1934 Launched: 15 December 1935 Armament (Main): As an armed merchant cruiserSeven 6 inch gunsTwo 3 inch AA guns2 Lewis light … Read more