Ship Trivia Quiz

Getting close...

GROG!!!

They would ideally want to cross the International Date Line on the day they get their Grog ration, so the next day they can get it again?

The International Date Line is correct. But the reason isn't.

Seamen, especially those on sailing vessels, were concerned about something far more important (they usually weren't paid until they signed off at arrival back at their home port anyway).

Thank you Rick.

Next QUESTION:

Sailors wouldn't want to cross this line on just any day of the week! Why?

Bryan is correct. The turtle ships were, I think, wooden vessels with  iron plating.

The Nemesis, built by Lairds for the Bengal Marine, a naval arrm of the Honorable East India Company, was an iron-hulled paddle frigate. Ordered in 1835 and launched in 1839, she was armed with two 32-pounder and four 6-pounder guns and served with distinction during the First Opium War (1841-43).

Over to you again, Bryan.

Could it be the HEIC Nemesis 1839? HEIC stands for Honourable East India Company. I suppose they were kind of a navy. The company no longer exists as it was dissolved in 1874.

Thanks Bryan. For my question, I'm going back to "firsts"...

The first operational iron warship was built for a navy no longer in existence. What was the name of the ship and which navy?

Rick

Great stunt wasn't it!? I can imagine Hitler having one of his fits of rage over it

You're up Rick!

They were expecting to find RMS Queen Elizabeth, which was due to sail from the Clyde to Southampton for fitting out. The crew were signed on, hotels booked in Southampton and parts sent overland from Glasgow. However, it was all a ruse, the ship was intecepted at sea and sailed directly to New York.

Rick

Thank you for your kind words George!

Next QUESTION:

On this particular day in March 1940 the skies above Southampton were filled with Luftwaffe bombers expecting to find a very coveted target there. What was the target and what went ‘wrong'?

Doesn't need much of a hint for you to get the range of the Question Bryan, that is the answer I was looking for.

The British Navy abandoned breech loading in 1864, because they couldn't get the breech seal right, it took the Thunderer accident and Questions in the house to get them to re-adopt the system post 1879, although in truth I suspect they had been working on it anyway, particularly as the French had it in operation.

Is it HMS Thunderer (again a Devastation class battleship)? She had two major incidents. First there was a boiler explosion in 1876 which killed 45 people. Then, in 1879, one of her 12-inch muzzle-loading guns exploded due to double-loading after a misfire. This time 11 people were killed. This incident led to the introduction of breech-loading guns (already used in France and Prussia).

A clue;

We've seen her like before, but she was not as lucky; she had two disasters but it was the second one that changed thinking.

bump

Maybe a hint!?

I really must stop doing this, I am not getting any work done on my current build

Damn, that was quick! I reckoned most people would have thought HMS Dreadnought was the first.

Well done George, you're next!

I think the Turbinia was the first vessel to have a steam turbine, and I  believe the French were fitting them in a motor torpedo boat, (which put the wind up the Admiralty when they saw how fast they were) - but I exclude them as not being ships.

Is it HMS Viper, a destroyer.

Thank you George!

Well, and another first then.

QUESTION: What was the first warship powered by steam turbines?

Excellent bryan, I'm impressed,

 It is HMS Devastation, (1873) the first specifically designed ocean going  battleship not to carry sails. She was armed with two turrets each with two 12" guns, and is the direct ancestor of the modern battleship.

here shown in 1896

note; the cryptic clue refers her depiction on the Englands Glory matchboxes.

Back to you again

Then I guess it must be HMS Warrior!?

No she's neither of these, just to clarify it is the 1906 Dreadnought she pre dates by some thirty years, although she also pre-dates the earlier one.

Slightly cryptic clue - she is Englands Glory

Devastation class battleships. They were the first class of ocean-going battleships which did not carry sails, and the first which mounted the entire main armament on top of the hull rather than inside it.

e USS Forrestal CVA59

HMS Dreadnought, as she was designed not only with an all-big-gun battery, but with turbine engines as well......