special events title

 

Event Diary

 

The Grapple Trials - 50th anniversary.

Sunday 27th of July at 2pm in the Museum Conference Hall.

Speaker - Kate Pyne – AWE Nuclear Historian

A brief introduction to the the Navy's involvement in the Grapple Trials, when Britain successfully detonated its first nuclear devices.

Talk Tickets: FREE although advance booking is recommended.

 

Model Warship Weekend 2008
with the Surface Warship Association.

Saturday 9th and 10th August 10am – 4.30pm

Displays of old and modern warships in the Conference Hall.  Many model boats including HMS Relentless and also HMS Zulu. Also, the chance to race remote controlled model boats on the Museum’s specially built Boating Pool and to see Stefan Krapf’s Victory Model. Trade Stalls will also be on hand to compliment the exhibition.

Model Exhibition is Free but does not include entry to Explosion!

above: The Boating Pool at Explosion!

 

Heritage Open Days 2008

Saturday 13 – Sunday 14 September 11am – 3pm

Go behind the scenes to visit the reserve Gun and Armoury Collections and visit C Magazine a Victorian explosives vault at The Museum of Naval Firepower. Also the chance to see a Polaris missile and pistols surrendered by the German Fleet at Scapa Flow.

Free (Excludes entrance to Explosion!)

above: Our Volunteers with the MK10 Mortar, on display at the event.

Tours at 11am, 1pm & 3pm from the Coffee Shop at Explosion! Please book in advance at Explosion! Not all tours are available at the time shown. Please check availability with Reception in advance.

 

Royal Navy 21"

Torpedoes as Surface Action Weapons 1909-59'

Sunday 12th of October at 2pm in the Museum Conference Hall.

Speaker - Mark Brady

'One hundred years ago the Admiralty procured larger, longer-range, torpedoes as an important weapon in the armoury of Britain's new-style Dreadnought battlefleet.  During the 1914-18 War the 21" Torpedo largely proved a disappointment, but after the Battle of Jutland considerable effort was put into developing the technology and tactics required for its effective use by Fleet Destroyers.  Consequently torpedo-armed destroyers were of significant value to the Royal Navy throughout the 1939-45 War, culminating in their sinking of the Japanese heavy cruiser HAGURO in May 1945.  Yet post-1945 the Admiralty prioritised the Anti-Aircraft and Anti-Submarine roles of destroyers; and though further development of long-range anti-ship torpedoes was considered little money was available.  Finally, after the 1957 Defence Review, surface-launched anti-ship torpedoes were phased out.

Mark Brady will summarise 30 years of technical and tactical development by the Torpedo Branch prior to 1939, some significant Torpedo Actions by RN destroyers and cruisers during the Second World War, and the declining importance of surface-launched anti-ship torpedoes after 1945.  His illustrated talk will be followed by a 30-minute guided tour of ship-launched 21" torpedoes in the Explosion! Museum, including some exhibits not normally on public display.

Talk Tickets: FREE although advance booking is recommended.

 

Event Diary
Date Event
13th of July 2008 Gosport's Big Day Out

27th of July 2008

Sunday Talk - Grapple Trials
9th/10th August 2008 Warship Weekend
13th/14th September 2008 Heritage Open Days
12th October 2008 Sunday Talks - Royal Navy 21
November 2008 - dates tbc Ghost Walks return

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