Yacht Britannia -- SHTF Scenario

[Dockhead]

Interesting thing:


"Britannia was designed to be converted into a hospital ship in time of war,[3] although this capability was never used. In the event of nuclear war, it was intended for the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to take refuge aboard Britannia off the north-west coast of Scotland."


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMY_Britannia


How about that?

[goboatingnow]

I met a former bridge officer of her recently

[Uricanejack]

Not sure it was a particularly cunning plan.
I’m quite sure the Russian’s were fully aware Britain kept or keeps most of its Nuclear Arsenal in the West of Scotland.
The US Subs have left The Holy Loch but The British ones are still at Faslane.

She was used back in the 80’s to pick up British and other foreigners from a war zone in Yemen when things got dicey.
A cousin was an artificer at the time.

In reality the hospital ship was probably just a ruse to justify the budget.

Although I suppose she did provide a secure location for Royal visits abroad.
Travel to exotic places was probably seen as a perk by crew.

[Pete7]

Sadly built from battleship fittings and I think she has steam turbines, so maintenance is a nightmare and very expensive. I think they used a P&O cruise ship Uganda in the Falklands as a hospital ship rather than take Britannia.

Pete

[dfelsent]

She is a beautiful ship. I am one of the many tourists who have visited her.
If you are in Edinburgh worth a visit. And there are some lovely restaurants in Leith.

[AndyEss]

A Frenchwoman who crewed for me last year told me a story about being evacuated from some Middle East or Horn of Africa country on the Britannia. I think I remember her mentioning Djibouti. She was a much younger woman then, so maybe it was the same 1980’s mission UricaneJack mentioned.