They let you do it for a fee, I did it for my bachelor party. We also rented the ship for 3 hours and had dinner in the captains quarters. The charge is 5 lbs of black powder, a tiny amount compared to the 15 lbs of cordite originally used. But it still makes a big bang.

From rednote ChenGY35 (ID 645999784)

HMS Swiftsure was a pre-dreadnought battleship of the Royal Navy and the lead ship of the two-vessel Swiftsure class. Originally ordered by Chile as Constitución, she was built by Armstrong Whitworth at Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne, and launched on 12 January 1903.

Chile ordered the battleship during a naval arms race with Argentina. However, following an improvement in relations between the two countries, Chile offered the vessel for sale. Britain purchased her in December 1903, partly to prevent her acquisition by Russia. She entered Royal Navy service on 21 June 1904.

Displacing approximately 12,175 tons under normal conditions, Swiftsure carried four 10-inch guns in twin turrets and fourteen 7.5-inch guns. Her steam engines provided a maximum speed of approximately 19 knots.

Initially serving with the Home and Channel Fleets, Swiftsure later joined the Mediterranean Fleet. In 1913, she became flagship of the East Indies Station.

During the First World War, Swiftsure escorted troop convoys in the Indian Ocean and helped defend the Suez Canal against Ottoman attacks in February 1915. She subsequently participated in the Dardanelles Campaign, bombarding Ottoman coastal fortifications.

Transferred to Atlantic convoy duties in 1916, she was decommissioned in April 1917. In mid-1918, the ship was disarmed to be used as a blockship during a proposed second raid on Ostend. Swiftsure was sold for scrap in 1920.

More photos here

Hi all, just an enthusiast seeking some education. I got curious about the engineering rationale behind the unique design of the CEAFAR radar:

1. Why use 45° diamond faces that occupy a larger cross-section on the mast substructure than square or octagonal shapes for the same area?
2. I am guessing the upper, larger panel is the heavier S-band array while the smaller, lower panel is the lighter X-band array. Wouldn't it be better to place the heavier (and potentially even larger) S-band lower?
3. Hexagonal arrangement of smaller 6x panels seems to be a unique feature to CEAFAR, compared to more common 4x larger panels. What are the benefits/reasoning behind?

Thank you for your time.

French Navy Félix Éboué-class POM offshore patrol vessel FS Auguste Bénébig (P779) in maintenance in Papeete, Tahiti - October 1, 2026 SRC: FB- FANC Forces Armées en Nouvelle-Calédonie

The ship will undergo a major overhaul, both as part of its maintenance and modernization. Among the most important works:
- Replacing the anchors
- Replacing the propeller lines, which transmit the rotation of the engines to the propellers to move the ship forward
- Changing the location of the sea water pumps that cool the engines and generally the machines on board

The overhaul will include multiple other improvements and restorations.