Q&A · 1:42:58-1:44:41

Which recently retired warships deserved museum preservation

Bristol's unique Type 82 design and an Invincible-class carrier are proposed as museum candidates, with a qualification about Illustrious's retirement date.

Question

Which naval ships retired in roughly the last decade should have been preserved as museums?

Short answer

HMS Bristol and an Invincible-class carrier such as HMS Illustrious were especially strong candidates.

Notes

HMS Bristol is proposed because her unique Type 82 design represents a naval programme that developed very differently from its original promise. An Invincible-class carrier is another preferred candidate, although Illustrious had been decommissioned slightly outside the question's ten-year limit. Her later disposal shows why retirement and scrapping dates need to be distinguished when considering a missed preservation opportunity. A large, spacious ship would also give visitors room to move around.