Manticoran
News Bureau
“Can’t Stop The Signal“
The
Hermione docked at the Historic Yorktown waterfront.
Lafayette,
We Have Returned
by Captain Zach White,
RMN, HMS Beowulf (BC-739)
2015.06.10 CE / 346.13.30 AL (MNB) – On
Saturday, D-Day, the 6th of June, members of the TRMN chapter HMS Beowulf had a
unique opportunity to visit a historic reconstruction of the French frigate
that brought the Marquis de Lafayette to the American Colonies to pledge the
aid of France to the cause of the Continental Congress and her fledgling and
struggling army.
Made entirely of native French oak,
the Hermione is a replica of the tall ship that brought the Marquis de
Lafayette to America in 1780. Under the direction of the Hermione-Lafayette
Association, the project attracted skilled craftsmen from France, Germany,
Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. They began construction in 1997 in Rochefort, France using shipbuilding techniques of the 18th
century. There were a few modern-day exceptions made for strength and safety
precautions.
Captain
Edwards, Midshipman Menken, and Captain White, representing Admiralty House,
pose by the ship's wheel.
The frigate with an overall length of
216 feet is captained by Yann Cariou, a 30 year
veteran of the French Naval Service. Second in command is Charlene Giquel with a crew of 18 seasoned, period trained, sailors
and 54 student volunteers. Their voyage covered 3819 miles across the Atlantic
Ocean to her first stop in Yorktown, Virginia. Once they leave Yorktown, they
will travel up the Eastern Seaboard to make port calls at Mount Vernon,
Alexandria/Washington DC, Annapolis, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City,
Newport, Boston, Castine (Maine), and Lunenburg, Nova
Scotia.
Not
quite up to a Nike's broadside, but pretty good for the time.
The crew of the HMS Beowulf was
fortunate enough to get some of the last passes offered during that day and boarded
the massive ship to tour the deck. The ship was very accurately kitted out and
the necessary modern conveniences were well masked under deck fittings and
canvas coverings that blended almost seamlessly into the scenery on the ship.
It was like stepping back in time. Even the crew members were dressed in period
correct clothing. Once on board the shear size of the
ship became apparent, looking up into the rigging as the massive masts towered
above you. If you tried hard enough and closed your eyes you could almost here the creaking of the deck and the rigging as the ship
surged through the waves. Captain White pointed out to Captain Edwards the red
paint on the interior of the ship and remarked that it was to hide the
inevitable blood during battles! A practice that continues in the Royal
Manticoran Navy even now, handed down from pre-space times. The tour of the
ship finished, the crew retired to the XO's quarters for a barbecue and enjoyed
the evening in each other’s company.
The ports of call for the vessel as well
as some of the history can be found at www.hermione2015.com. The trip is highly
recommended if the vessel is to be docked in your area! We enjoyed ourselves
thoroughly.
The
flag of France flies proudly at her stern, above it the flag of John Paul Jones'
ship, the Bonhomme Richard.
Article
Copyright © 2015, Bureau of Communications, The Royal Manticoran Navy: The Official
Honor Harrington Fan Association, Inc.
CAPT (JG) Marcus Johnston, OC, CGM, Director of Publications, BuComm. All pictures used with permission or used in a way
that qualifies as fair use under US copyright law.