Images Dated 4th April 2003

RFA Fort Victoria

RFA Fort Victoria on operations in the Middle East.
Fort Victoria and Fort George combine the functions of fleet oilers and stores ships. Being large and adaptable they are equipped with an expansive flight deck, supported by hangars for three Sea King-sized helicopters. This class can embark and support both anti-submarine helicopters and troop-carrying Sea King Mk4 helicopters, which can transfer large amounts of stores to other ships.
For dual-purpose replenishment rigs are fitted amidships, enabling transfer of fuel and stores to two ships simultaneously. Both can fuel vessels over the stern. The variety of tasks that these vessels can be employed upon is reflected in their complements. The ship's company of RFA officers and ratings is supplemented by civilian Warship Support Agency staff and RN personnel who maintain the weapons

Sodium

Sodium. Pieces of the reactive metallic element sodium (Na) stored under oil in a jar. This soft alkali metal reacts rapidly with the water and oxygen in the air. The protective oil layer prevents this from happening. Sodium is not found in its elemental form in nature, due to it being highly reactive, and is mainly found in the salt (sodium chloride) of salt deposits and sea water. Sodium is obtained by the electrolysis of sodium chloride. Numerous sodium compounds are manufactured by the chemical industry and have wide-ranging uses

© ANDREW LAMBERT PHOTOGRAPHY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

open-uri20120928-24962-mtjmi6

2003 Brazilian Grand Prix - Friday 1st Qualifying
2003 Brazilian Grand Prix
Interlagos, Sao Paulo, Brazil. 4th April 2003
World Copyright: Steve EtheringtonLAT Photographic
ref: Digital Image Only