The Implacable is sunk in the English Channel (1949)

[@chrislyne377]

Absolutely criminal

[@etiennefourie9335]

What a shame. Such an incredible waste!

[@fardcannon4340]

she would've rotted anyways, she was in a terrible state at the time

[@fardcannon4340]

in the 1940s she was deemed too expensive to maintain, and therefore was scuttled she would have been the 2nd oldest ship, with Victory being the oldest

[@thetorturepenguin]

up there with Warspite as one of the most egregious times a ship was not preserved

[@topace1038]

That and Enterprise

[@skatingguineapig9834]

That is so sad I which she was still here. I have seen her capin doors in the hms unicorn.

[@iainmacmillan2548]

Sheer cultural vandalism.

[@fardcannon4340]

it was deemed too expensive to maintain, still a shame though

[@fardcannon4340]

The implacable's Stern and Figurehead are still surviving, they were removed before they sunk her

[@stefaneer9120]

The Royal Navy in 1949 thought, It's better that this ship is part of the ecosystem of the ocean, than be a good part of a maritime museum.

[@admiralcraddock464]

I wonder what Chumley-Warner OKd this act of vandalism

[@nunocbnunocb5875]

Scandalous, the French did not accepted back a piece of their own history. Well... being the country who built more battleships in the world, the UK did not had the dignity to conserve a single one, even the glorious HMS Warspite veteran of Jutland and the entire WWII, or the Iron Duke, the Vanguard, etc. Shameful.

[@oliviervece6121]

Oui, mon cher une honte!

[@frederickmiles327]

Pretty consistent with the anti militarist, anti history attitude of the Atlee government which appointed fellow travellers, socialists and former communists to most key international relations positions and interpreted the UN Charter as abolishing war. The appointment of the Nato and US supporting Ernie Bevan as Foreign Secretary was rather overshadowed by Strachey, Shinwell and the Min of state for the Foreign Office Hector O'Neil having GUY Burgess as PA with full access to all UK and many US Defence, Nuclear and Foreign Office files most of which were despatched to Moscow. As part of Labours austerity programme to finance expanded education, health and welfare and to provided fuel during the extreme winters of 1948-9 and 1949-50 a large number of RN hulks used as classrooms, and for storage were torched, broken up and disposed of during this year. Naturally the last surviving seaworthy example of Nelsons and Villenueves fleet was given a more honourable disposal, sinking bow first with the stern gallery remaining above surface, briefly, with tricolour flying to represent the far left governments greater respect for Napoleon, Robspierre, Marat and the French Revolution. Its shocking beyond belief.

[@assaraan9407]

Wed have so many awsome museum shipes if it wasn't for the royal navy in the 40/50s

[@magna4100]

Disgusting act of official vandalism.

[@Downhill-gy6mw]

Why ? Why it was a incredible and historical ship

[@Samaldoful]

What a waste😢