Videos tagged with Royal Navy

This "American Rifleman Television" segment, "I Have This Old Gun," focuses on the British Pattern 1801 Sea Service Pistol, a significant firearm utilized by the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. The video highlights the pistol as a workhorse weapon for naval engagements, emphasizing its role in Britain's dominance at sea. It also promotes further content from American Rifleman TV and encourages viewers to join the NRA.

This online lecture by naval historian Dr. Mark Barton explores the history of the British Royal Navy cutlass from its official adoption in 1804 through its final withdrawal in 2014. The talk covers the motivations behind its adoption during wartime, reasons for its initial inferiority and subsequent rejection of improvements, new patterns in the Victorian era, a procurement scandal, and its eventual uses in action and ceremonial service. The video is presented by the Royal Armouries.

This video features an interview with Dan Barton, founder of the 'Standing with Giants' art installation at Fort Nelson. The installation commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War, highlighting Portsmouth's crucial role in preparing ships and welcoming troops home. The exhibition is contextualized by the museum's 'Falklands 40: What Portsmouth Saw' display, which includes personal stories and media from the war. The video also touches on the Royal Armouries' broader mission of bringing arms and armor history to life.

This video commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War, featuring interviews with ten British veterans who recount their experiences during the conflict and their return home. It highlights personal stories and memories, some of which will be featured in an upcoming exhibition at Fort Nelson. The Royal Armouries, the UK's national collection of arms and armour, presents this content, offering behind-the-scenes glimpses and expert insights.

This video explores the unique SMLE MkI** rifle variation developed by the Royal Navy. Due to substantial stockpiles of older MkVI ammunition, the Navy adopted a modified SMLE that retained rear sight calibration for this older round, even as the Army moved to newer ammunition. The description details the evolution of this pattern, including updates to charger guides, and highlights the rarity of intact MkI** rifles, especially those with the original split charger guide. The video showcases two such rare specimens.

This video focuses on the historical events surrounding Operation Dynamo during the Second World War, specifically the evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk in May 1940. It highlights the desperate situation faced by British, French, and Belgian soldiers trapped by the German army and the subsequent rescue mission undertaken by the Royal Navy. The description also mentions the Royal Armouries' extensive collection of arms and armor, inviting viewers to explore their other historical content and engage with experts.

This video delves into the history and functionality of the Nock Volley Gun, an unusual 18th-century infantry weapon initially proposed by James Wilson and later adopted by the Royal Navy. Despite its impressive firepower potential, the gun suffered from significant drawbacks, including severe recoil and unreliable firing mechanisms, leading to its obsolescence. The video also touches upon the weapon's resurgence in popular culture through the movie "The Alamo." It highlights the practical challenges faced by the military in using such a weapon and the engineering issues that ultimately led to its abandonment.

This video delves into the history and technical aspects of the Lanchester MkI, Britain's first indigenous submachine gun developed during World War II. It highlights the initial British reluctance towards SMGs, the influence of the German blitzkrieg, and the subsequent reliance on expensive imported Thompsons. The video details how the Lanchester was reverse-engineered from captured German MP28s by George Lanchester. Key design features are discussed, including its SMLE stock, bayonet lug for a 1907 bayonet, and the use of brass or bronze for the magazine housing. The evolution from the select-fire MkI to the simplified MkI* is noted, and its eventual replacement by the more cost-effective Sten gun is mentioned, while also acknowledging its continued service on naval vessels for decades.

This video delves into the history and technical aspects of the Webley 1913 semi-automatic pistol. It highlights William Whiting's efforts to develop a successful self-loading pistol for the British military, contrasting it with the less successful Webley 1904. While the Royal Navy adopted the 1913 and purchased a significant number during World War I, the Army showed limited interest, opting to continue with revolvers. The video also thanks Arms Heritage magazine for providing the firearms for review and promotes the "Forgotten Weapons" Patreon and merchandise.

This video provides an in-depth look at the Beretta Model 1931 pistol, a precursor to the highly successful 1934/35 models. The description details its development from the 1923 design, highlighting its compact frame, .32 ACP caliber, and the evolutionary steps leading to its more popular successors. The presenter notes the similarity in slides between the 1931 and 1934 models and mentions this specific example was purchased by the Royal Navy in 1933. A link to a video on the Beretta Model 1923 is also provided.

This video delves into the history and specifics of the Webley & Scott 1913 Naval Model Automatic Pistol. It details William John Whiting's decade-long effort to have his design adopted by the British military, culminating in a 1913 contract for the Royal Navy. However, the outbreak of World War I ultimately halted further interest in self-loading pistols. The description also includes links to the Forgotten Weapons website and the intro music producer.

This YouTube video provides a book review of Gordon Bruce's 'Webley & Scott Automatic Pistols.' The reviewer highlights the book's in-depth exploration of Webley's semiautomatic pistol development, largely attributed to William Whiting. The review emphasizes that these pistols, though not widely known in the US, played a significant role in the evolution of automatic pistols. It details Whiting's efforts to create a reliable military semiautomatic, especially one using a rimmed revolver cartridge, and mentions his success in securing a prestigious Royal Navy contract, albeit one that was impacted by WWI.