The Unofficial Airfix Modellers' Forum

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/defenc ... -1-3907967;

(The sound is a bit out of sync... )

and very smartly done too!

David

Brews wrote:Geeze, wouldn't it be easier to fire 21 guns all at once?

I don't think any modern warship mounts 21 guns that are suitable for a salute. In fact, if you exclude Phalanx and similar, I doubt any modern warship carries 21 guns at all. So this was done using special saluting pieces that were probably put on board the occasion.

No doubt we'll get to hear a salute from the Royal Artillery at some point this weekend too.

David

dwomby wrote:No doubt we'll get to hear a salute from the Royal Artillery at some point this weekend too.

Indeed - the RA did a 41-gun salute:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18298743;

I see they swapped out their traditional 25-pounders for 105mm.

While the good people of Windsor are doing a 21-"mini-gun" salute:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-18298744;

MerlinJones wrote:I'm sorry, but that was one of the saddest things I've seen in a long while.

I have to admit that it looks a bit odd - but the 3-pdr Hotchkiss saluting gun has actually been part of naval equipment for many years. I don't thnk main, or even secondary, armament has been used for this sort of thing since WWII (a nautical type may wish to correct me).

Every ship I was on since the early 70s has used the same type of saluting gun it's standard ships fit in the RN.

Regards
Splash