ScottC
Guru
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2019
- Messages
- 1,609
- Location
- SWEDEN
- Vessel Name
- ABsolutely FABulous
- Vessel Make
- Greenline 33 Hybrid (2010)
B. T. (Before Travelift)
Went to the Toulon Naval History Museum today. Apparently, Toulon was for centuries -- and is now -- an important naval center for France. 2/3 of the French Navy's ships are stationed here, including the Charles de Gaulle nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. (We could see this carrier upon arriving at the port.) Ships are no longer built here, but it remains an important center for maintenance and repairs.
The museum is a fine display of French naval history. One exhibit, in particular, caught my eye. It was a model showing how a French ship was repaired in the 18th century after hitting a coral reef off of Tahiti.
The cannons and everything heavy were offloaded to shore.
The ship's capstans were offloaded and set up on land.
A clever arrangement of beams, rope and capstans allowed the ship to be tipped on its side for bottom repairs. The cannons and heavy cargo were used as weights to facilitate the operation. The museum's English translation described this process as "careening", even though little help from the tide was involved.
Went to the Toulon Naval History Museum today. Apparently, Toulon was for centuries -- and is now -- an important naval center for France. 2/3 of the French Navy's ships are stationed here, including the Charles de Gaulle nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. (We could see this carrier upon arriving at the port.) Ships are no longer built here, but it remains an important center for maintenance and repairs.
The museum is a fine display of French naval history. One exhibit, in particular, caught my eye. It was a model showing how a French ship was repaired in the 18th century after hitting a coral reef off of Tahiti.
The cannons and everything heavy were offloaded to shore.
The ship's capstans were offloaded and set up on land.
A clever arrangement of beams, rope and capstans allowed the ship to be tipped on its side for bottom repairs. The cannons and heavy cargo were used as weights to facilitate the operation. The museum's English translation described this process as "careening", even though little help from the tide was involved.