Quote of the Day

Never has so much been owed by so many to so few.

--Winston Churchill


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Churchill's Ice Carrier

One of the best kept secrets of the Second World War was an ambitious plan by the British government to build a massive aircraft carrier to battle the Axis-- made of ice.

The project, code-named Project Habakkuk, was conceived during the dark days of the War. Geoffrey Pyke, a British spy, conceived that since there were shortages in vital metals, aircraft carriers could be made of ice, using less energy and resources. Since ice melted too quickly, the idea would have been ditched except for the invention of Pykrete, which is an ice/wood pulp combination.

With Pykrete being able to withstand higher temperatures, the planning proceeded. The carriers would need a refrigeration unit and a complicated duct system on board. Still, it was considered feasible. Canada attempted to build a model, costing 700,000 Pounds and using 300,000 tons of wood pulp.

Later models placed the Habakkuk at over 2,000 feet long, with a 40 foot hull and a rudder over 100 feet tall. The crew would have had over 3,600 members. The massive carriers were not completed by the end of the war due to money issues, leaving one of the most fascinating and ambitious projects in world history uncompleted.

The History Channel has chronicled this, as well.
Sourcing: http://www.thewarillustrated.info/230/strange-story-of-hms-habbakuk.asp

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Quote of the Day-- March 3, 2009

I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.

-- Winston Churchill

Quote of the Day-- March 2, 2009

I am easily satisfied with the very best.

-- Winston Churchill

Quote of the Day-- March 1, 2009

I am an optimist. It does not seem too much use being anything else.

-- Winston Churchill

Quote of the Day-- February 28, 2009

I am certainly not one of those who need to be prodded. In fact, if anything, I am the prod.

-- Winston Churchill

Quote of the Day-- February 27, 2009

I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught.

-- Winston Churchill

Quote of the Day-- February 26, 2009

I always avoid prophesying beforehand, because it is a much better policy to prophesy after the event has already taken place.

-- Winston Churchill

Quote of the Day-- February 25, 2009

History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.
-- Winston Churchill

Quote of the Day-- February 24, 2009

However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.

-- Winston Churchill

Quote of the Day-- February 23, 2009

He has all of the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire.

-- Winston Churchill

Quote of the Day-- February 22, 2009

Great and good are seldom the same man.

-- Winston Churchill

Quote of the Day-- February 21, 2009

For my part, I consider that it will be found much better by all parties to leave the past to history, especially as I propose to write that history myself.

-- Winston Churchill

Quote of the Day-- February 20, 2009

Everyone has his day and some days last longer than others.
-- Winston Churchill

Quote of the Day-- February 19, 2009

Eating words has never given me indigestion.

-- Winston Churchill

Quote of the Day-- February 18, 2009

Difficulties mastered are opportunities won.

-- Winston Churchill

Quote of the Day-- February 17, 2009

Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.
-- Winston Churchill

Quote of the Day-- February 16, 2009

Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities... because it is the quality which guarantees all others.

-- Winston Churchill

Quote of the Day-- February 15, 2009

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.
-- Winston Churchill

Quote of the Day-- February 13, 2009

Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.

--Winston Churchill