Save HMS Implacable (1805)

In 1949, the Battle of Trafalgar veteran HMS Implacable (ex. Foudroyant) was scuttled by the British. The even spurred the British people to call for prersavation of other historic ships, such as Cutty Sark.


In an era of austerity and economic hardship, can the funds and willpower be found to save Implacable? Where would we put her? In 1922 HMS Victory had already moved to Drydock 2 at Portsmouth. With Victory and Trincomalee representing excellent museum pieces, what purpose does Implacable serve?
 
The only way you're going to save her is have the French take her on, and that means they have to come out of WW2 in a vastly better state...
 
The Duguay Trouin was taken as a prize of war, what if in 1940 she is returned to the Free French as a symbolic flagship of the Free French navy (filling the same role as HMS Victory does in the RN) Then post war there is a Anglo effort to preserve her as a symbolic memorial to the liberation of France.
 
The only way you're going to save her is have the French take her on, and that means they have to come out of WW2 in a vastly better state...
War prizes can make good preservations. Look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huáscar_(ironclad) built for Peru, maintained as a prize of Chile.

How about Britain restores and exhibits Implacable as a thumb in the eye to the French during the invasion scares of 1859 http://www.historytoday.com/robert-e-zegger/victorians-arms-french-invasion-scare-1859-60
 
How about just after VE day Churchill orders her restoration and presentation to the French as an act of atonement for the bombardment of Mers el Kabire in 1940?
 
The French seem to have better grasp of keeping their wooden naval history alive than the Brits.



I don't think the UK has a single sailing warship, replica or otherwise that can sail. I know that HMS Trincomalee is afloat, but do they ever bring her out to turn around like USS Constitution.

HMS_Trincomalee.jpg
 
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Afraid not. She is though well worth a visit, though you have to keep your head down below decks. They don't have much headroom. I saw her first just after she arrived in Hartlepool and though not as bad as the Warrior she was a real mess. They did a fantastic job restoring her.

As for not preserving our naval heritage, if we had preserved every ship that deserved it you'be able to walk from Dover to Calais using their decks as a bridge.
 
As for not preserving our naval heritage, if we had preserved every ship that deserved it you'be able to walk from Dover to Calais using their decks as a bridge.
Oh, don't get me wrong, I've never understood the sentimentality of the Americans in their wanting to make multiple WW2-era warships museums across the nation, all the whilst ignoring some of the most historic ships like USS Olympia.
 
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