Re: Richard Littlejohn is still alive
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2026 11:18 am
There's nothing particularly new about cooperating with the Navy of a NATO ally, even the Germans.
Back in 1959, the West German Navy was operating ships named: Hipper, Scheer, Scharnhorst and Graf Spee.
History buffs will recognise the names, once the pride of Hitler's navy.
Three named after German naval heroes of the First World War who sunk Royal Naval vessels.
All four names had been carried by major surface ships in Hitler's navy: Three sunk by the British, one by Norwegians.
These 1950s replacements were transfers from the Royal Navy.
Old convoy escorts, smaller and slower than fleet destroyers.
The Navy engaged in NATO ops with the West Germans, including these ships.
They didn't publicly rage about "Glorifying enemies of Britain".
If anything there was a lot more "We sunk the 35,000 ton version and gave them a tiny 1,200 ton replacement".
Back in 1959, the West German Navy was operating ships named: Hipper, Scheer, Scharnhorst and Graf Spee.
History buffs will recognise the names, once the pride of Hitler's navy.
Three named after German naval heroes of the First World War who sunk Royal Naval vessels.
All four names had been carried by major surface ships in Hitler's navy: Three sunk by the British, one by Norwegians.
These 1950s replacements were transfers from the Royal Navy.
Old convoy escorts, smaller and slower than fleet destroyers.
The Navy engaged in NATO ops with the West Germans, including these ships.
They didn't publicly rage about "Glorifying enemies of Britain".
If anything there was a lot more "We sunk the 35,000 ton version and gave them a tiny 1,200 ton replacement".