Tag Archives: portsmouth

The Wildcat’s Pilot Must Have Had Their Mum Nearby

While the Merlins departed for base after the arrival of HMS Prince of Wales, the Wildcat wasn’t going anywhere. I suspect that they had a film unit on board that was recording the arrival of the carrier strike group, so they were getting aerial shots from different angles. A number of times they flew out of the harbour and then turned to run back in. It is possible that this was necessary for a shot that they were trying to get but my suspicion is that the parents of the pilot were in the crowd and a few flybys were for their benefit instead. Who knows???

Flyby of RN Helos for the Returning Carrier

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The arrival of the carrier strike group was the big theme of the day, but the Fleet Air Arm was going to support the process with a flyby. A pair of Merlins and a Wildcat were assigned to the role, and they were initially noted off Bournemouth as they joined up before heading to Portsmouth. As they came over Portchester, we could see them from where we were, and they flew up the harbour and over our location to head out and meet the carrier.

We would see them a bit from a distance as the manoeuvred around the ship and this allowed us to have a reasonable idea of where everything was at any point. Then, as the ship entered the harbour, the formation flew over the top to celebrate the return to home port. The Merlins then peeled off while the Wildcat hung around.

Patrolling the Harbour to Stop Anyone Getting Too Close

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While waiting for the HMS Prince of Wales to arrive in Portsmouth, we got to see the local law enforcement at work. There were some police officers on the shore, and they were talking to the various people that had come out to see the carrier strike group return. There were also boats on the water that were clearly loitering waiting to see the ship arrive. A RIB was busily zipping around from boat to boat to make sure that they stayed in their allowed areas and didn’t intrude on the path of the carrier and its surrounding vessels. I’m sure they were being very nice about it, but they did look rather officious as they accelerated from one boat to another – and the heavily armed guy probably got attention.

How Many Tugs Does an Aircraft Carrier Need?

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Just like planes, ships can be tracked online these days. Once HMS Prince of Wales got within range of the transponder detectors, she showed up on the apps, and we knew that she was coming in. However, if you wanted a clue that she was getting close, it was the selection of tugs that headed out of Portsmouth Harbour ahead of the planned arrival time. Off they all went, ready to bring the big beastie back into harbour under control.

Once they were near the dock, they would all gather on one side of the carrier to nudge her sideways to tie up alongside in the naval dockyard. There is space for both carriers alongside and I had hoped they would use the spot nearer to us but that wasn’t the case. The large fenders mounted on the bows of the tugs looked like they would prove very helpful when trying to change the direction of 80,000 tons of ship.

Lining the Shore to Await the Returning Strike Group

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I persuaded Nancy and Liese to join me on a Sunday lunchtime jaunt to Portsmouth to see the return of the HMS Prince of Wales from the carrier strike group cruise to the far east. They had left in April and were coming back on the last day of November. Talking to some around us, they had originally been planning to return the following day, but the forecast was not so good, and things came forward a day. I was also suspicious that they were more interested in getting the coverage that a weekend return would provide.

Originally, I had figured we would try and find a spot on the shore on the Portsmouth side. This seemed like somewhere that would be rather busy and Liese suggested that, maybe Gosport would make more sense. Not only did this have parking options and the potential to not be as busy, but it also meant the light would be on our side and it would provide Portsmouth as a backdrop to any photos. A wise suggestion.

We got there early and went out on a fishing pier that provided a great spot. Originally, I had intended to go for a wander and return closer to the time but, in the end, we found ourselves chatting to people around us that had family members on the returning carrier. It was so much fun chatting with them, so we ended up just hanging around.

As I looked across to the Portsmouth side, the crowds were building up. The Round Tower is a popular spot, and it had filled up first. Camera crews were up there too. As the arrival got closer, there were people all along the shore, near our favourite pub and down on the shingle by the water. It was a chilly day where we were, and I imagine it was even colder down on the water’s edge. Everyone was waiting for one thing. The arrival of a big boat!

Watching Ferries from the Pub

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I’m certainly a sucker for a ferry photo as a search on this blog will confirm. I also like a pub by the sea, so Nancy and I had lunch at the Still and West on Spice Island in Portsmouth. This pub is right next the the entrance to Portsmouth’s harbour and also alongside the Wightlink ferry terminal. The service is frequent during the summer so, sitting there and eating lunch means you will get a decent number of ferries coming and going. Since you are sitting just above the water level, they look quite imposing as they come by. Also, they swing into the terminal in quick order and then disappear around the corner. It’s really quite fun to watch. Nancy normally tolerates my jumping up for photos of various things but I think even she thinks that the ferries are quite enjoyable to watch from here.

This Boathouse Looks Like It Has Been Around for a While

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I was heading from Gunwharf Quays around to Spice Island before heading to Southsea to meet my mum from the hovercraft. I ended up following a trail that was marked on the pavement, and it took me around the harbour near where the old Camber quay was. I didn’t know the area but figured I couldn’t get too lost if I had the water on one side. As I got to the end of the dock, I saw this building. It has that great look of odd angles that old buildings often have. I don’t know how long this boathouse has been here, but I would guess it is quite a long time!

I Guess the Train Used to Come Here

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Walking along the street on Spice Island in Portsmouth, I noticed that the road had rails in it. Clearly, in the days when the area was getting freight traffic, rail vehicles would have come in to pick up and drop off cargo. While that is no longer the case, the rails were apparently easier to leave behind than remove. Even some points were still on display. It looks like there was a small passing loop on the street. Now it is just cars that come this way.

Not One But Two WWII Launches

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While walking along the shore at Portsmouth, I heard a deep rumble and looked out to see a boat coming in that was an interesting shape. My first assumption was that it was from the Second World War because of the high freeboard and the shape of the bow and, when I saw the shape of a large gun on the front this was confirmed. It was quite a chunky looking thing and, judging by the sound of the engine, I imagine it could probably achieve some speed.

This would have been an unusual thing if it was the only one but a while later, a second boat came by. A similar shape but a different paint job. When I was a kid, I had a toy Air Sea Rescue launch which I believe the RAF operated during the war to rescue downed crews. This was painted just like that, so I guess that is what it is. Again, a meaty sounding engine was within so it can, presumably, make good progress. Subsequently, I saw the docks over by HMS Warrior and there were three of these vessels tied up so I guess you can take rides on them when visiting the museum.

Getting Closer to the Old Floating Bridge

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In a post from a previous trip to the UK before we moved back, I had included some distant shots of the retired floating bridge that I took from the Spinnaker Tower. More recently, I had cycled to Gosport and was taking the ferry across to Portsmouth to catch a train home. The pier for the ferry on the Gosport side is very close to where the floating bridge is still moored – I guess the plans for disposal are still not worked out. Needless to say, I grabbed some shots from the pier and from the ferry as we passed by.