Long queue of visitors to tour Illustrious
Hundreds of people queued at Valletta Waterfront today and yesterday to tour the British helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious.
They were able to take a close up view of the Merlin, Sea King and Apache helicopters lining the flight deck as well as the light weapons used by the Royal Marine unit on board.
Illustrious sailed in on Monday and leaves tomorrow.
Some of the carrier's crew this morning visited the Maritime Museum, where they were told that Heritage Malta has made a formal request to be given the ship's bell of the former HMS Illustrious. The bell is carried on the present Illustrious, and Heritage Malta is asking the naval authorities to donate it to Malta once the ship is decommissioned in 2014.
The former Illustrious was bombed and heavily damaged during Malta convoys and sought shelter for emergency repairs in Grand Harbour in January 1941. A special 'box barrage' of anti-aircraft guns saved the ship but the bombing devastated Senglea.
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16 Comments
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A. Borg
Nov 22nd 2012, 22:22
Il-vera hawn min ma jkollux x'jaghmel! Tghid mhux se noqghod fil-kju biex nara bicca tal-gwerra !
Mr Tony Gatt
Nov 23rd 2012, 10:06
The people evacuated from Libya by warships might have a different view.
Charles Zammit
Nov 22nd 2012, 19:59
Served very proudly 25 years in the RN And I assure all the anti metal of destruction people making stupid comments , that they would be the first to thank these ships in a tragic natural or otherwise incident when they put their lives on the line to save others as invariably it's Naval Ships that get to a disaster area first .
Alfie Lewis
Nov 22nd 2012, 17:34
This afternoon my wife daughter and myself went on HMS Illustrious we loved it all the crew officers are so nice and friendly . We would like to say a BIG THANK YOU AND A SAVE JOURNEY WHEREVER YOU GO BLESS YOU ALL ALFIE MINDA AND VHE
Ian Glazier
Nov 22nd 2012, 19:42
Agree wholeheartedly.What a tremendous experience.All the crew were so friendly and courteous.
A magnificent ship and a pleasure to walk round and view at your leisure.
Again a big thank you to all the crew who made it so pleasurable by answering all the questions put to them.
richard reece
Nov 22nd 2012, 16:18
Nice one
anthony attard
Nov 22nd 2012, 16:14
Why is it that only warships are normally on show dear tourism minister ? How about when a cruise liner,
such as recently we had in our majestic harbour the '' Celebrity Reflection '' to be for public viewing .
That's what we want to see , marvellous floating hotels and not metal of destruction.
J Farrugia
Nov 22nd 2012, 16:58
Put you hand in your pocket and buy a cruise, that's what the cruise companies want not people visiting for fun.
As for the metal of destruction, hell yeah bring on the thunder and metal.
Mary Ann Borg
Nov 22nd 2012, 17:21
Metal of destruction? Warships, especially RN ones, are the kind of warships that allowed your grandparents, your parents and yourself not to be forcibly German-speaking mate. It was the US, Britain and allies coupled with the courage of our forefathers that you are not still conquered by the Nazis. If you dont even recognize this, then go to Bormla and admire your Jum il-Helsien monument.
Adrian Barnes
Nov 22nd 2012, 20:35
If a cruise liner had to open it doors to the public, half the things on board would go missing!
vince buhagiar
Nov 22nd 2012, 15:33
Is it a good place for children to visit?
In my opinion, a big No.
matthew bartolo
Nov 22nd 2012, 15:54
why do you think like that vince ?
Stefan Zammit
Nov 22nd 2012, 16:57
Well then you're wrong. Shouldn't they know about the men and women who protect them or other people, some of whom give up their lives to do so?
Is it a good place for children to visit?
In my opinion, a big Yes.
Adrian Barnes
Nov 22nd 2012, 20:38
Ooh no dont tell me... you are one of those 'concerned' readers who think its unsafe for kids because they might fall off the deck? or might get bad influence by sitting in a Sea King's cockpit!
Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi
Nov 22nd 2012, 20:51
Well, you can't wrap the kiddies in bubblewrap to protect them from the nasty realities of life till they are adults now can you Vince.
We seen plenty of RN and RAF war materiel when we were growing up in British Colonial Malta and it was exiting stuff for young boys especially and we managed to turn out alright later on in life.
Giov DeMartino
Nov 22nd 2012, 15:15
The more we see of these warships in our grand harbour, the better.
Please choose the reason of your report below: