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Originally Posted by sinbad

Ahoy Shippers, as part of 'Friends of HMS Caroline' I'm asking all matelots to sign and help to save the old girl.

Keep HMS CAROLINE in Belfast - Petition Online - UK

Attachment 2896

She deserves to be saved and not scrapped !!

Dear sinbad, Just letting you know a campaign is going on to save her but it is a question of finding the money.I'm not a matelot,just a naval history researcher.

I can't help thinking that Portsmouth is the most sensible place for her, given the wealth of expertise in maintaining historic ships (and that's just on FLJ....). Also, either that petition is either incredibly badly worded or they really do want to either keep her in Belfast or see her scrapped....

Our primary role is to save HMS Caroline, and to keep her in Belfast for future generations to enjoy, as a part of a Titanic Quarter Maritime Trail

How's this confusing, we want her save AND kept in Belfast!!! If she's destined for Pompey so be it, but as long as she's saved.

I'm on the 'Friends of HMS Caroline' committee here in Belfast campaigning for her to be saved, although we would also like for her to remain in Belfast where she's been since 1924. As long as shes saved, that's the main objective.

We've just launched our web site Activity Stream - HMS Caroline, have a look and join.

She will be saved and not scrapped as she is on the historic ships register. The issue is the fact that Belfast appear to be doing sweet FA to warrant keeping her. It makes sense to send her to pompey.

PT FYI the register does not guarantee her survival as she is worth big money as scrap pre atomic steel.i doubt you've seen her recently if only you could see her now, in a sorry state".......which isn't Belfasts fault but the RN's one ship keeper to maintain her since her decommission and very little funding. Local Government are still compiling a report to see if she'll be kept in Belfast or not. They couldn't do anything until 1st Aug even if they wanted to as she wasn't there's. Down to civil servants as usual piuing the purse strings. Belfast also has the experience to restore her.....Nomadic nearing complete restoration. You shouldn't believe everything you read in the press !

Originally Posted by sinbad

...[this] isn't Belfasts fault but the RN's one ship keeper to maintain her since her decommission and very little funding...

While I agree that we as a Nation should keep items of historical significance for our future generations (including HMS Caroline) but I don't agree with you passing the blame to the RN. I have highlighted your use of the word "decommission" because, in effect, once decommissioned, a vessel is of no further military use or but becomes a commercial interest. What would be a better use of the MOD funds? Using limited resources to maintain and operate existing warships or provide funding to one that has not seen operational service for several decades? Yes, her many records and honours are admirable but there are other means of securing her future, other than expecting the RN to maintain an interest in her.

As an aside, it does bother me to hear (on various social media networks) ex-matelots who moan about:
a. The decaying state of former warships, or
b. The tiny number of current warships alongside in Pompey/Guzz.

With regards to the former, I refer to my previous point - once a vessel is decommissioned, it is no longer the ship you or I served on; it becomes a piece of rusting metal. The memories of time served on board are based on the Ship's Company you lived and worked with, not the vessel itself. Yes, it is tragic to see pictures of HMS NONSUCH being cut up by scrap dealers on an Indian beach somewhere but it is worth more in that capacity than sitting like a ghost in the upper harbour somewhere.

As to the second point, the older ex-servicemen have to accept that today's Fleet is smaller (but no less efficient). One Type 45 destroyer can do the tactical work of many smaller, older ships, so there is no longer a need to have several ships in a Squadron. Additionally, if a dockyard is empty then surely that's a good thing? Warships are designed to do a maritime job, not tied up alongside three abreast at FLJ. The modern RN has changed and is moving forward (too slowly for some but at least it's in the right direction). The sooner some of the older generations accept this, the better.

Apologies SPB worded it wrong. After being decommissioned she was under DEMS/DENS and will be handed over to the museum when the funding runs out 1st August. It will then be decided Belfast or Portsmouth.