Dreadnought Holiday
@dreadships.bsky.social
Snarky history. Hideous French battleships. Nautical nonsense. Always check the alt text.
Pinned
This here is one of the great U-boat hunters of the Second World War.
Grab a comfy seat and a glass of something pleasing. We're going on a journey...
Grab a comfy seat and a glass of something pleasing. We're going on a journey...
Starting a temporary thread of threads so I can find stuff again, starting with a subject close to my heart...
Reposted by Dreadnought Holiday
I did time on fishery protection and saw many "factory ships" (fish in, fish fingers out), the only thing I can tell you with certainty:
1. They had LOTS of aerials & antennas for a fishing ship.
2. They had cows on board to supply milk.
Honestly we weren't sure about 1), & were jealous about 2).
1. They had LOTS of aerials & antennas for a fishing ship.
2. They had cows on board to supply milk.
Honestly we weren't sure about 1), & were jealous about 2).
February 17, 2026 at 9:02 PM
I did time on fishery protection and saw many "factory ships" (fish in, fish fingers out), the only thing I can tell you with certainty:
1. They had LOTS of aerials & antennas for a fishing ship.
2. They had cows on board to supply milk.
Honestly we weren't sure about 1), & were jealous about 2).
1. They had LOTS of aerials & antennas for a fishing ship.
2. They had cows on board to supply milk.
Honestly we weren't sure about 1), & were jealous about 2).
I'm not silly enough to hold myself out as an expert (the big industrial buggers are a mystery to me), but one of you lot might well be able to help.
Anyone please aware of people here who might be experts on industrial trawling vessels? Looking for help with terminology and ship types, thanks!
February 17, 2026 at 8:38 PM
I'm not silly enough to hold myself out as an expert (the big industrial buggers are a mystery to me), but one of you lot might well be able to help.
Reposted by Dreadnought Holiday
Any experts on #WW2 National Registration Identity Cards? Photo not commonly included - was it because he worked at Lyness Naval Base? Date is 1940. Not seeing anything similar online. #NorthWallsAndBrims #Orkney
February 17, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Any experts on #WW2 National Registration Identity Cards? Photo not commonly included - was it because he worked at Lyness Naval Base? Date is 1940. Not seeing anything similar online. #NorthWallsAndBrims #Orkney
Reposted by Dreadnought Holiday
New favorite unit: the Martian nautical mile, almost precisely a kilometer (983m)
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February 16, 2026 at 7:26 AM
New favorite unit: the Martian nautical mile, almost precisely a kilometer (983m)
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"implausible deniability" is a perfect way of describing the way Russia acts.
Seen most often departing from a window, of course, but also anchors snagging communication cables, cyber attacks etc etc
Seen most often departing from a window, of course, but also anchors snagging communication cables, cyber attacks etc etc
Re: Navalny: one point of using a synthesized frog toxin, which the published literature shows THE EXACT SAME LAB that made the Novichok worked out a synthesis pathway, is the reverse of plausible deniability. It's "implausible deniability", a "hahahaha we did and you know we did it"
February 16, 2026 at 9:51 AM
"implausible deniability" is a perfect way of describing the way Russia acts.
Seen most often departing from a window, of course, but also anchors snagging communication cables, cyber attacks etc etc
Seen most often departing from a window, of course, but also anchors snagging communication cables, cyber attacks etc etc
Long after it lost the ability to turn up on your doorstep with a warship and stiffly worded letter suggesting you stop that shit *right now*, Britain retained a hell of a lot of soft power.
Remarkable to see this government pissing a key part of that down the drain.
Remarkable to see this government pissing a key part of that down the drain.
And another bites the dust?
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on the BBC World Service: this is London calling | Editorial
Editorial: With just seven weeks before its funding runs out, the UK’s greatest cultural asset and most trusted international news organisation must be supported
www.theguardian.com
February 15, 2026 at 9:50 PM
Long after it lost the ability to turn up on your doorstep with a warship and stiffly worded letter suggesting you stop that shit *right now*, Britain retained a hell of a lot of soft power.
Remarkable to see this government pissing a key part of that down the drain.
Remarkable to see this government pissing a key part of that down the drain.
Reposted by Dreadnought Holiday
A magnificent set of choices led to this. What a time to be alive www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Amazon delivery van 'stuck on The Broomway after following GPS'
HM Coastguard Southend says the van driver had been trying to get to Foulness Island.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 15, 2026 at 7:05 PM
A magnificent set of choices led to this. What a time to be alive www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
You can only beat what's in front of you, and far too often today whatever was in front of Scotland it certainly wasn't the English defence.
February 14, 2026 at 6:39 PM
You can only beat what's in front of you, and far too often today whatever was in front of Scotland it certainly wasn't the English defence.
Reposted by Dreadnought Holiday
Gertrude and Claudius are the most romantic. They’ve waited 20 years since duty demanded that she marry the elder son and provide an heir. At last the boorish king has gone and they can be happy ever after.
Until spectrum boy fucks up everything for everyone because a ghost told him to.
Until spectrum boy fucks up everything for everyone because a ghost told him to.
February 14, 2026 at 11:32 AM
Gertrude and Claudius are the most romantic. They’ve waited 20 years since duty demanded that she marry the elder son and provide an heir. At last the boorish king has gone and they can be happy ever after.
Until spectrum boy fucks up everything for everyone because a ghost told him to.
Until spectrum boy fucks up everything for everyone because a ghost told him to.
Reposted by Dreadnought Holiday
Reminds me of this gem of a Douglas Adams quote comparing the BBC’s attitude toward producing a radio play of the HHGttG to Macbeth’s attitude toward murder.
February 13, 2026 at 10:16 PM
Reminds me of this gem of a Douglas Adams quote comparing the BBC’s attitude toward producing a radio play of the HHGttG to Macbeth’s attitude toward murder.
Reposted by Dreadnought Holiday
You may laugh, but the Macbeths are a much better role model for a marriage than Romeo and Juliet. They discuss their problems (killing the king of Scotland), share their hobbies (killing the king of Scotland), and resolve their conflicts (by killing the king of Scotland).
February 13, 2026 at 5:09 PM
You may laugh, but the Macbeths are a much better role model for a marriage than Romeo and Juliet. They discuss their problems (killing the king of Scotland), share their hobbies (killing the king of Scotland), and resolve their conflicts (by killing the king of Scotland).
Went to see that well-known romantic Shakespearean tragedy about two star-crossed lovers.
Macbeth.
Macbeth.
This is an unapologetically sappy feel-good subject (at least, I guess, for people in a happy relationship”). So, to prepare for Valentine’s Day, what did you and your partner do for a first date?
My wife and I went to tea at Huntington Gardens and walked around.
My wife and I went to tea at Huntington Gardens and walked around.
On our first date, my spouse and I spent like an hour talking about footnotes.
February 13, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Went to see that well-known romantic Shakespearean tragedy about two star-crossed lovers.
Macbeth.
Macbeth.
Reposted by Dreadnought Holiday
TFR expert here. This is not funny, federal aviation agencies only do this when extremely distressed by CBP firing a fucking 20 kW laser into the sky without regard for civilian aircraft.
February 12, 2026 at 9:33 PM
TFR expert here. This is not funny, federal aviation agencies only do this when extremely distressed by CBP firing a fucking 20 kW laser into the sky without regard for civilian aircraft.
Bit of serious news for some of the professionals here, although I'd hope it doesn't teach you much: the MAIB have issued a rare video bulletin after the loss of the tug Biter showing exactly what happened and actions required.
Sobering stuff.
(TW: two died in this incident)
youtu.be/ByT__4koEbc
Sobering stuff.
(TW: two died in this incident)
youtu.be/ByT__4koEbc
MAIB Safety Bulletin 1/2026 to those involved in ship assist towage operations.
YouTube video by Marine Accident Investigation Branch
youtu.be
February 12, 2026 at 8:17 PM
Bit of serious news for some of the professionals here, although I'd hope it doesn't teach you much: the MAIB have issued a rare video bulletin after the loss of the tug Biter showing exactly what happened and actions required.
Sobering stuff.
(TW: two died in this incident)
youtu.be/ByT__4koEbc
Sobering stuff.
(TW: two died in this incident)
youtu.be/ByT__4koEbc
It took place during replenishment at sea, which involves placing two ships uncomfortably close together.
Usually not quite THAT uncomfortable though.
Usually not quite THAT uncomfortable though.
Two US Navy ships collide near South America
Two people involved in the operation suffered minor injuries and are in stable condition, the US military said.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 7:42 PM
It took place during replenishment at sea, which involves placing two ships uncomfortably close together.
Usually not quite THAT uncomfortable though.
Usually not quite THAT uncomfortable though.
Skegness in "summer" - that'll cure you
I vastly envy folks who grew up near the ocean. I am 23 years old and have never seen the ocean. It's 1000 miles away.
February 12, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Skegness in "summer" - that'll cure you
Reposted by Dreadnought Holiday
Very excited to learn that there will be an official launch in Scotland for my new book, on 7th March. Venue still hushhush so watch this space for the very generous arrangements the venue are putting in place!
#IWD #InternationalWomensDay #BookHistory #histbookchat
#IWD #InternationalWomensDay #BookHistory #histbookchat
February 12, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Very excited to learn that there will be an official launch in Scotland for my new book, on 7th March. Venue still hushhush so watch this space for the very generous arrangements the venue are putting in place!
#IWD #InternationalWomensDay #BookHistory #histbookchat
#IWD #InternationalWomensDay #BookHistory #histbookchat
Reposted by Dreadnought Holiday
When I draw spaceships, I always (99.9% of the time) draw them facing left. If I draw actual ships, I almost always draw them facing right.
Make of that what you will Mr Freud.
Make of that what you will Mr Freud.
February 11, 2026 at 6:09 PM
When I draw spaceships, I always (99.9% of the time) draw them facing left. If I draw actual ships, I almost always draw them facing right.
Make of that what you will Mr Freud.
Make of that what you will Mr Freud.
Reposted by Dreadnought Holiday
"Napoleon achieved his success by ignoring logistics" is a bold take when you consider that such successes include losing his entire army in Egypt due to logistics, losing his entire army in Russia due to logistics, turning the Peninsular War into a nightmare by replacing logistics with theft...
February 11, 2026 at 8:37 AM
"Napoleon achieved his success by ignoring logistics" is a bold take when you consider that such successes include losing his entire army in Egypt due to logistics, losing his entire army in Russia due to logistics, turning the Peninsular War into a nightmare by replacing logistics with theft...
Given this administration's history of insider trading, what's the betting the lad at the top here works at the FAA?
February 11, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Given this administration's history of insider trading, what's the betting the lad at the top here works at the FAA?
Interesting - although in the case of the collision I'll note that "more resource intensive" simply means looking out of the bloody window occasionally
Two ships have collided and one ship was grounded in a matter of hours morning Feb 7 just west of St Petersburg.
The area is of course under heavy GPS/GNSS-jamming and spoofing and sailors here likely need to resort to less precise and more resource intensive ways of navigating.
The area is of course under heavy GPS/GNSS-jamming and spoofing and sailors here likely need to resort to less precise and more resource intensive ways of navigating.
Российские СМИ: Два грузовых судна столкнулись в Финском заливе вблизи Петербурга
Два судна длиной около двухсот метров столкнулись по касательной.
yle.fi
February 11, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Interesting - although in the case of the collision I'll note that "more resource intensive" simply means looking out of the bloody window occasionally
Reposted by Dreadnought Holiday
My goal is to retire some day to a tropical island. So Napeoleon succeeded in my book.
February 11, 2026 at 8:44 AM
My goal is to retire some day to a tropical island. So Napeoleon succeeded in my book.
"Napoleon achieved his success by ignoring logistics" is a bold take when you consider that such successes include losing his entire army in Egypt due to logistics, losing his entire army in Russia due to logistics, turning the Peninsular War into a nightmare by replacing logistics with theft...
February 11, 2026 at 8:37 AM
"Napoleon achieved his success by ignoring logistics" is a bold take when you consider that such successes include losing his entire army in Egypt due to logistics, losing his entire army in Russia due to logistics, turning the Peninsular War into a nightmare by replacing logistics with theft...
Reposted by Dreadnought Holiday
In the past I’ve mentioned the oil tanks that were bombed during the FAA attack on Taranto in Nov 41 and the historian consensus seems to be it was insignificant, but I’d still like to know what quantity of fuel was destroyed and what the Regia Marina could do with that quantity in operations…
Obviously the problems of Italy's lack of access to key raw materials during the SWW is well known, but still astonished to read this stat: 73% of factories controlled by Fabbriguerra had to partially or wholly halt production at some stage during 1941 for lack of materials/fuel
February 10, 2026 at 12:56 PM
In the past I’ve mentioned the oil tanks that were bombed during the FAA attack on Taranto in Nov 41 and the historian consensus seems to be it was insignificant, but I’d still like to know what quantity of fuel was destroyed and what the Regia Marina could do with that quantity in operations…
This did indeed tie into my interests.
February 10, 2026 at 1:48 PM
This did indeed tie into my interests.