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Post by NMcKay on Jul 19, 2005 17:40:24 GMT -8
thats why Lynx might be better, cause that pooch looks like it would be able to stay inside....but that would suck for the pooch....
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Post by cascade on Jul 21, 2005 7:33:18 GMT -8
A large truck filled with fertilizer say 5 tons would sink any ferry in the current fleet within a few minutes. This is the hallmark of the IRA - which we had in the 80's and 90's in London. A white Van packed with fertilizer will take out a 20 story building - even parked on the side street - so just think what it would do in a closed off area like on a ferry - bow and stern doors closed?
Spain - yes they were attacked - but they backed USA & UK in Iraq. There is also a very large Muslim community in Spain as there is in the UK. France has a much bigger one - but you noticed they have not backed any Middle East plans.
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Post by Retrovision on Jul 21, 2005 17:16:19 GMT -8
Although I know this isn't ferry-related, I thought that some might find it interesting, especially considering the current climate of world security:
I'm down in Point Robberts at my grandparents house right now, on the south shore. The view from here is of Lummi Island to the extreme left/east (near Bellingham Bay), Boundary Pass straight ahead/south (the point where the Canada-U.S. border curves around Saturna Island), and Active Pass to the extreme right/west.
To our surprise, we just witnessed two Canadian Navy Frigates, one about 10 miles behind the other, travelling at such a high rate of speed that they both went from around Active Pass to Boundary Pass (a distance of about 10 miles) in less than 10 minutes. They were going so fast that they made a visible white wake (almost looking like a "rooster tail") a ship length long (and those are no short ships).
All of us here wonder what they're up to.
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Post by BrianWilliams on Jul 22, 2005 0:43:28 GMT -8
"To our surprise, we just witnessed two Canadian Navy Frigates.."
I hope our Royal Canadian Navy is doing some exercises in seamanship with large boats.
We are already excellent in inshore work with smaller vessels. HMCS Whitehorse (a destroyer) trolled the tidal races of Euclataw, Okisollo and Octopus in the Discovery Islands for weeks in search of a lost aircraft, in March - April this year.
The sailors failed, but not for want of effort. The lost plane was found, as you know now, in Sutil Channel.
A PS: Some years ago, I rode MV Coho to Victoria on a summer morning. At the rail near me, an older American man was scanning the sea with binoculars.
"Holy smoke ... one ... two ... Jeez! ... three ships. I hardly saw them," he said to his wife. "They're green"
I had a few minutes conversation with him. He was USN, retired. He had not appreciated Canada's subtle gray-green paint until that Juan De Fuca morning.
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Post by Retrovision on Jul 22, 2005 20:13:47 GMT -8
Here's something interesting:
I just got back from my grandparents' house in Point Robberts (with a view of the Straight of Georgia, as mentioned in my last post in this thread), and I observed the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry M.V. Columbia travelling up the straight from Bellingham, which is quite a regular sight. Then, after the Columbia had reached only a couple miles north of Boundary Pass (which is about 10 miles south of Active Pass), at around 7:50pm, I noticed the SOVI turning south-west. After a few minutes of travelling that direction, I thought that maybe it was responding to a distress call.
After over 10 minutes of taking this SW course, the SOVI finally met the Columbia and swung around its stern towards Tsawwassen once again, making for an almost 20 minute diversion, simply to pass behind the Columbia (the SOVI could have easily passed in front of the Columbia, with more than a mile to spare.
It was at that point that, through the telescope, I noticed two, yes two armed coat guard ships escorting the Columbia.
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Jul 22, 2005 21:13:13 GMT -8
was this in the place where the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route passes through US waters?
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Post by NMcKay on Jul 22, 2005 21:52:50 GMT -8
well duh they were armed...
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Doug
Voyager 
Lurking within...the car deck.
Posts: 2,213
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Post by Doug on Jul 23, 2005 1:08:53 GMT -8
Naval vessels are probably the swiftest on the seas.  Not to insult anyone...but our Army (not sure about Navy) is crap (or so I heard). We need the Americans to defend us and yet we still reject their missile defense proposal...the liberals are so dumb.... |
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Post by cascade on Jul 25, 2005 5:34:47 GMT -8
You should - for the people much older on this forum - remember what happen when the Queen of Victoria was sliced by the Russians during the top of the cold war - where was the Canadian Navy and why where the American there so quick - then backed off - so you don't see any pictures of them in the "official" photo's.
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Post by NMcKay on Jul 25, 2005 13:47:54 GMT -8
The Canadian Navy is too busy keeping us safe to be seen there was 2 Canadian Kingston Class Frigates in Nanaimo here this past weekend, and there was 2 Canadian Kingston Class Frigates in Vancouver when i went over on friday. they are around. but they leave alot of the patrolling up to the RCMP:CDD (Costal Defense) |
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Post by BrianWilliams on Jul 29, 2005 23:27:59 GMT -8
Just my personal opinion:
One) Never, ever disrespect Canada's courage, readiness or skill in defending our country.
Two) Always lament whatever regiment, air arm, or naval unit that has been has been cut by DND.
Three) return to One and start again.
Seriously, Canada is not a warrior nation, but we have been pretty stong. Perhaps we are a bit slack today. That may be a result of too many years under the SAC and NATO umbrella.
Canada must re-think our national defense now. We have three coasts to protect, and they are the longest and most convoluted in the world. The Hance Island dispute with Denmark is a tiny example.
Of course, that is not important. But there are rumbles from Washington, DC that we can't control our territory.
Canada cannot beat the USA in a fight, and we can't escape their nearness, nor calm their paranoia.
Except this: Canada can rebuild our navy; recruit, equip, and train young men for our defense; with UN service as their hardest baptism. When Canadians go in, though, they must go with full support from Canada.
The Maple Leaf was worn by kids at Vimy, Dieppe, Ortona and Arnhem.
The Maple Leaf was stained in Somalia by bad behaviour; but it was shamed in Rwanda by our nation's cowardice.
A fine man, maybe our best soldier ever, defied his chicken-fudge bosses. Roméo Dallaire saved a few thousand lives, but lost many more.
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Not to insult anyone...but our Army (not sure about Navy) is crap (or so I heard). We need the Americans to defend us and yet we still reject their missile defense proposal...the liberals are so dumb....