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)

She was launched on October 13, 2026, in the HHI shipyard in Ulsan South Korea. The 3rd ships of the Rajah Sulayman-class (OPV) of the Philippine Navy. Like its sisters ships she has a displacement of 2,400 tons, with a length of 94m, a cruising speed of 15 knots (max. speed 22 knots) and a range of 5,500 nautical miles. Equipped with helipad and 2 rigid inflatables.

Armaments:

• 76mm naval gun (OTO Melara super rapid naval gun)

• 2x 30mm secondary gun (Aselan Smash)

• Multiple.50 caliber machineguns

Non - lethal arms:

• Sitep Italia Multi-role Acoustic Stabilized System (MASS)

Countermeasure:

• 2x Germa launcher decoy

Electronics & Sensors:

• Hanwha naval combat management system

• Leonardo X-band 2D Air/surface radar

• Hensoldt Sharpeye navigator radar

• Friend and Foe Identification system (FFI)

• Radar-Electronic Support Measure (R-ESM)

• Safran Paseo long range electro-optical-infrared tracking system

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.

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

Currently at Muggiano (La Spezia).

Several details can be noted.The Thales S-1850M has been dismounted, ready to be replaced with the SMART-L.The OTO 76mm are also absent.

The main multifunction radar (EMPAR) will also be replaced with the MFRA (Currently used by the FREMM-IT)

Other upgrades include the update of PAAMS to fire the aster 30 blk1,an upgrade to ECM and EW systems and the installation of a new CMS, derived by the SADOC 4 already fielded on PPAs.

Overrall a solid improvement in performance.The two Italian members of the class should finish the refit by 2029.

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.