Military Nostalgia – JDS ARIAKE DD 183

The Fletcher Class Destroyer named for Admiral Frank F. Fletcher was the largest destroyer class ordered. It was also one of the most successful and popular with their crews. Compared to earlier classes built for the United States Navy, the Fletchers carried a significant increase in lethal firepower, including anti-aircraft (AA) weapons and increased Armor plating; this contributed to greater displacement and overall […]

Breaking Up – 4 Italian Navy Units loaded on YACHT EXPRESS – 19.08.2021

An Interesting operation by a semi submersible vessel done at Augusta, Sicily was the DYT Yacht transport vessel YACHT EXPRESS that loaded 4 x decommissioned Italian Navy Units for breaking up at Aliaga, Turkey. The 4 naval units were – Toti Class (1075 Type) Submarine – ITS ATTILIO BAGNOLINI S 505 commissioned on 16th June […]

Maltese Islands – Senglea Clock Tower

One of the clock Towers around the Maltese Islands looking on the three cities is the Senglea Clock Tower. It was built by the British Naval authorities in 1908 and has four faces. It’s machinery, manufactured in 1905, came from John Smith & sons, Midland Clock Works, Derby. The foundation stone of Fort St. Michael was laid on 8th May […]

Maltese Islands – Milk in Malta

In the years gone by, the Maltese Islands were seriously affected by many cases of undulant fever and these were the cause of serious concern and preoccupation to the Maltese Government. Various committees were appointed to report on ways of preventing or eliminating this disease. The Commission appointed in 1931 to report on the feasibility of […]

Malta Naval Visits – French Navy – FS ACONIT F 713 – 11.11 to 13.11.2020

On Wednesday 11th November, 2020 at 0825 hrs the Marine Nationale (French Navy) La Fayette Class Frigate FS ACONIT F 713 entered Grand Harbour, Malta assisted by tugs SPINOLA and SEA SALVOR. Entering Grand Harbour, Malta on Wednesday 11th November – Images by Mr. Anthony Vella The La Fayette Class is a class of general purpose frigates built by DCNS and operated by […]

Yachting – SS DELPHINE in the Mediterranean Sea – August 2020

One of the wonderful classic motor yachts around, a remnant of a bygone era is the 1921 built SS DELPHINE. Built in 1921 in USA by the Great Lakes Engineering works yard for Horace Dodge (who sadly died before she was launched) one of the largest American automotive manufacturers, this luxury motor yacht has retained […]

Maltese Fortifications – Fort Leonardo – 22.04.2020

FORT LEONARDO also known as Fort San Leonardo or Fort San Anard, is a polygonal fort (no bastions) in Żabbar, Malta. It was built between 1872 and 1878 by the British between the villages of San Leonardo and Żonqor above the shore east of Grand Harbour as part of a program of improvements to Malta’s fortifications. The fort was to be called Fort […]

Passer By – Sailing Ship KRUZENSHTERN – 12.04.2020

On Sunday 12th April, 2020 the 94 year old Russian (RUS) flag and owned tall ship KRUZENSHTERN was spotted underway 28.1 nautical miles off Malta heading to Novorossiysk, Russia from Las Palmas at 2225 hrs. Built in 1926 in Bremerhaven, Germany as the cargo ship PADUA she was a four masted barque and used among other things to ship construction […]

Former Military – TUBINGEN at Malta – 26.12.1999

The first naval ship built in Germany for the West German Navy after the end of Second World War was the Type 320 Class LINDAU M 1072. Total of 18 ships in the class they were the first coastal minehunters, all wooden. The Lindau class was the German version of the NATO unit type made. […]