THESE are the first pictures of the Royal Navy’s giant new flagship as she is put through her paces in the North Sea. HMS Queen Elizabeth – nicknamed Big Lizzie – towered above warships…
Written by D-Mitch HMS Blake as a helicopter cruiser Laid down in 1941-42, the three cruisers of the Tiger class were originally to have been sister ships to Superb, an improved variant of the Swiftsure class cruisers (also known as the Minotaur class), a modified version of the Crown Colony class cruisers, but their construction was slowed down. Finally, the ships were launched in 1944-45 and they were left incomplete until their future had been decided. It was not until 1951 that a plan was agreed under which the three ships would be completed as advanced gun-cruisers due in large part to the perceived threat of the new powerful Soviet Sverdlov class 210-meter cruisers. Their completion took significant amount of time and they joined the fleet between 1959 and 1961, nearly two decades after they have been laid down. The Tiger class cruisers were the last class of all gun cruisers completed for the British Royal Navy. With the three “new” cruisers entering the fleet, the Royal Navy decommissioned their half-sister, Swiftsure and Superb, and both were scrapped by 1962. HMS Swiftsure - outside Sydney Harbour 20 December 1945 The two new "state-of-the-art" gun mountings The two new "state-of-the-art" gun mountingsThe ships mounted two state-of-the-art rapid firing 6"/50 Mk.26 twin mounts, and what was possibly the ultimate anti-aircraft gun of the time, the Vickers 3"/70 Mk.6 in twin mounts. The former was the first British 6" (15.2 cm) design to use cartridges instead of bagged powder charges in over sixty years and it could spit out 20 rounds per minute through its water-cooled barrels in a range approximately to 23km. These weapons were controlled by the Gun Direction System (GDS1) using the Type 992 radar. This system enabled the ships to engage multiple targets within a few seconds of each other and was technically very advanced for its time. It is believed that HMS Tiger had all hydraulic control; HMS Blake had all electric control while HMS Lion had one of each. The 3in gun could deliver 120 rounds per minutes per barrel (although it was limited to 90 rounds per minutes in service due to excessive barrel wear problems) in a maximum range of close to 18km. They were water-cooled, fully automated and with a very high rate of fire but in practice they were very unreliable and incapable of firing more than a few rounds without a stoppage. The 3in mounting was prone to ammunition feed breakdowns and required much maintenance to keep in service. This type of gun mounting armed also Canadian destroyer escorts (Restigouche and Mackenzie classes) apart from these three British cruisers. Forecastle of HMS Blake during a visit of five Royal Navy warships to San Francisco in 1978. Photo: Skoshi8 25-round burst from the front 6in gun turret of HMS Tiger 3in gun mount arrangement 6in gun mount arrangement HMS Cumberland in 1955 with the 3in turret in X position HMS Cumberland in the '50s with the 6in turret in B position It is worth of mention that HMS Cumberland, an old County-class heavy cruiser that had been commissioned in 1928, was then refitted at Devonport between 1949–1951 for further service as a gunnery trials ship especially for the guns that were about to be mounted on Tigers. She lost all of her 8-inch turrets, and for a few years had a prototype dual 6-inch automatic turret (testing the concept for later installation in the then building Tiger-class cruisers) in 'B' position, and a prototype automatic dual 3-inch turret (also slated for the Tigers) in 'X' position. She was the last of the three-funneled heavy cruisers to remain in service. HMS Tiger in her original configuration HMS Tiger in her original configuration The differences among the sisters were few. Lion and Blake had a raised circular platform at the end of the highest deckhouse on the after superstructure for the magnetic compass; thy also had larger bridge wings to the admiral's (lower) bridge, extensions to the forecastle, and trunks on either side of the stacks leading from vent fans atop the boiler space casings. HMS Lion in Malta Seacat launch from HMS Blake By 1964 the Conservative Government saw the Tigers as no longer affordable or credible in the surface combat or fleet air defence role and approved their conversion into helicopter carriers. The refit was very expensive; during the conversion a major fire broke out aboard HMS Blake causing considerable damage and raising the costs still further. Due to the high cost of the program only two of the ships followed the conversion while HMS Lion was cannibalized for spares and then scrapped in 1975, after eight years in reserve. As a gun cruiser, Tiger served 8 years, Lion 5 years, and Blake 2 years. The original plan retained the full three twin 3 inch mounts however, during the conversion of Blake the plan was changed to allow the cruisers to operate, four (4) of the more capable Westland Sea King carriers, although only three (3) Sea Kings could actually, ever be accommodated and serviced in the longer hangar which extended further into the main structure of the ship, and greater cost and forcing the replacement of the side 3-inch gun mounts (which fire arcs were now too restricted) with much less effective Seacat GWS22. Seacat was a British short-range surface-to-air missile system intended to replace the ubiquitous Bofors 40 mm gun aboard warships of all sizes for use against fast jet aircraft that were proving to be too difficult for the latter to successfully intercept. It was the world's first operational shipboard point-defence missile system and was designed so that the Bofors guns could be replaced with minimum modification to the recipient vessel and (originally) using existing fire-control systems about 6km max range. In 1965, work began on Blake to convert her to a helicopter cruiser while Tiger began her conversion in 1968. The conversions left Tiger and Blake some 380 tons heavier with a full displacement of 12,080 tons and their crew complements increased by 169 to 885. HMS Blake in her final configuration HMS Blake in her final configuration The bridge of HMS Blake with two of the four Type 903 FCS atop HMS Tiger helicopter cruiser The helicopter conversion involved removing the aft 6in and its aft tracker (Type 903 fire control system) as well two of the three 3in gun turrets that were located midships at each side of the aft funnel (in their place were installed Seacat quad SAM launchers) and constructing a huge hangar and flightdeck which enabled them to accommodate four Westland Wessex helicopters (later Sea King) that had the ASW role with their sonars and Mk44 torpedoes. It should be mentioned that only three helicopters could be stowed in the hangar, two fore and aft and one athwartships in the forward part of the hangar (nose to port). Above the hanger was a flying control position while below the first were the facilities to support the helicopter squadron such as briefing rooms, workshops, accommodation rooms and stowage for the helicopters' torpedoes. HMS Blake before and after her conversion The ships were fitted with five sets of stabilizers, similar to those of County class destroyers, in order to provide a stable platform for operating the helicopters in adverse weather conditions. A full new suite of sensors were added during this refit as well such as a new long range air search radar, new height finder, ESM etc. Blake retained her original funnel height, but on Tiger both funnels were raised. There were also numerous small differences in detail between the two especially with regard to communications antennas and ventilation duct arrangements. Modified photo of Tiger class helicopter cruiser. For a high resolution image click here. With the new equipment, and their existing command and control facilities, they made excellent task group flagships. The fact that they could steam at an economical 16-knots (the going rate for convoys) for 8,000 nautical miles on a single fill up made it clear they were intended for distant travels. The converted Tigers were a halfway step towards a fully air-capable cruiser. The Invisibles light aircraft carriers that followed later were direct descendants of the escort cruiser with an emphasis on command and control, their original heavy air defence armament and with the air wing consisting of ASW helicopters and Sea Harriers instead of guns. In 1969 a Royal Air Force (RAF) Harrier jet landed on Blake as part of trials. Watch here a short video of a Harrier taking off from the helicopter deck of the cruiser HMS Blake. HMS Blake Harrier takes off from HMS Blake Harrier aboard HMS Blake Harrier taking off from HMS Blake Westland Wessex operates from HMS Blake HMS Blake with her helicopters Seacat quad SAM launcher of HMS Blake However, such large ships with obsolete armament, without long range anti-aircraft missiles (in contrast to WWII US ships that were converted to missile cruisers), that required a large crew in order to operate, did not stay in active service for long time and before the end of the decade both ships were stricken and scrapped shortly afterwards. It was an unsuccessful and expensive conversion that drained much needed resources better used elsewhere. The HMS Tiger was decommissioned first in 1978 (sold for scrap in 1986) while HMS Blake was decommissioned in 1979 (sold for scrap in 1982), being the last cruiser of the Royal Navy till today. HMS Blake was the last cruiser in commission in the Royal Navy. In December 1979, a few days before she was decommissioned, she enjoyed the distinction of firing the Royal Navy's last 6" (15.2 cm) gun salvo in the English Channel. You can enjoy more than 300 photos of HMS Blake here. HMS Blake alongside to a a County class destroyer HMS Tiger HMS Blake with four Sea King HMS Blake with four Sea King Just a few days after the Falklands War started in 1982, both Blake and Tiger were rapidly surveyed to determine their condition for reactivation. The survey determined both ships to be in very good condition and were put into dry-dock (Blake at Chatham, and Tiger at Portsmouth) and round-the-clock work reactivation work immediately begun. By mid-May it was determined that the ships would not be completed in time to take part in the war and the work was stopped. Finally, the HMS Blake sold for scrap few months later in August of 1982 and HMS Tiger four years later. HMS Blake at full speed Bibliography: http://collections.rmg.co.uk http://www.helis.com/database/sys/258/ http://hmsblake.moonfruit.com http://www.hazegray.org http://www.navweaps.com https://en.wikipedia.org https://laststandonzombieisland.com British Cruisers - Two World Wars and After
Photos of warships of the British Royal Navy. Aircraft Carriers, Battleships, Cruisers, Destroyers and Submarines. World War One to the 1950s
Photos of HMS Barham a Queen Elizabeth-class battleship launched in December 1914 for the Royal Navy. She served in WW1 and WW2
A Type 23 frigate operated by the Royal Navy underway.
The successful certification and deployment of XV PATRICK BLACKETT demonstrates NavyX's commitment to developing autonomous and unmanned technology, which will revolutionise naval operations in the future.
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British risk advisory company Prevail Partners has unveiled its proposal for the Royal Navy’s two new littoral strike ships which were announced by the UK defense secretary earlier this month. Prevail say their multi role vessel (MRV) was designed as a mobile logistic and helicopter base, enabling nations to project power and carry out special […]
Photographs of the various marks and operators of the Supermarine Spitfire fighter and photo reconnaissance aircraft
May 7, 1942HMS "Nelson" during gunnery trials.Imperial War Museum Photo#:A9284
A ROYAL Navy frigate was forced to train its weapons on three Iranian boats that tried to seize a British oil tanker off Iran yesterday. Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard tried to take control…
A series of failing have been set out in a revealing report which has finally been declassified 35 years after HMS Sheffield was sunk by an Argentinian missile during the Falklands War.
Name HMS Howe Ordered 28 April 1937 Builder Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan, Glasgow, United Kingdom Laid down 1 June 1937 Launched 9 April 1940 Completed 31 March 1941 Commissioned 29 August 1942 Decommissioned 1950 Identification Pennant number: 32 Motto Utcumque placuerit deo "God's will be done" Fate Scrapped at Inverkeithing in 1958 Badge In front of a circle of chain gold, a sword erect point upwards with a diamond studded hilt proper, surmounted by a wolf's head couped black Introducing our exquisite Photo Print and Premium Framed Photo Print featuring the majestic HMS Howe, a distinguished member of the Royal Navy's King George V class battleships. Immerse yourself in the rich maritime history with this meticulously crafted representation of naval prowess.Our high-quality photo print captures the commanding presence of HMS Howe in stunning detail, showcasing the fine craftsmanship of this iconic vessel. The Premium Framed Photo Print elevates the viewing experience, providing a timeless and elegant display that complements any interior.Constructed with precision and attention to historical accuracy, this piece is a must-have for naval enthusiasts and history connoisseurs alike. The print vividly portrays the awe-inspiring stature of HMS Howe, inviting you to explore the glory of its service to the Royal Navy.Key Features:1. Exceptional Quality: Our photo print boasts exceptional quality, ensuring a clear and detailed depiction of HMS Howe.2. Premium Framing: The Premium Framed Photo Print adds a touch of sophistication, making it a standout piece in any setting.3. Historical Significance: Celebrate the legacy of the Royal Navy's King George V class battleships with a true-to-life representation of HMS Howe.4. Perfect Gift: Ideal for gifting to history buffs, naval enthusiasts, or anyone with an appreciation for fine craftsmanship.- Royal Navy battleship print- King George V class naval art- HMS Howe framed print- Premium photo print- Naval history wall decor- Military art collection- Nautical home decor- Historical ship wall art- British maritime heritage- Gift for naval history enthusiastsBring a piece of naval history into your space with our Photo Print and Premium Framed Photo Print of HMS Howe. Order now and let the spirit of the Royal Navy grace your walls. Photo Print High quality photo paper Sizes from 6" x 4" to 30" x 20" UL certified GREENGUARD GOLD ink Full print coverage Production time 1-3 business days Securely packed for safe transit Free UK delivery Framed Print Professional framing Strict quality control procedures Fine art Fuji photo paper 8" x 10" to 30" x 20" image sizes UL certified GREENGUARD GOLD ink 100% real wood frames from sustainable sources Premium Acrylic Glazing Ready to hang Framing and mounting by hand Production time 5-7 business days Securely packaged for safe transit Free UK delivery *Please be aware that some of our images are very old, some are more than 100 years old, we take the greatest care to restore these images using the latest digital techniques, some images cannot compare to today’s photography standards, but we do our very best to ensure that they are of the highest quality possible.
The detailed concepts include four potential Royal Navy vehicles that could deploy from Portsmouth harbour in the next 50 years, such as a huge flying drone station based in the stratosphere.
Over the years Marsun has built and supplied the Royal Thai Navy with many types of boats and vessels in this post only shows Assault and Patrol Boats, however Marsuns have built other vessels for …
A look at the upcoming Type 26 and Type 31 Frigates.
Britain is an island nation, and the British Government has always understood the importance of controlling and defending Britain’s seas. This is still a big part of what the Royal Navy does, but by no means all. As well as being first and foremost a fighting force, serving alongside Britain’s allies in conflicts around the
HMS Queen Elizabeth is to be named at Rosyth Dockyard in Fife, Scotland, today when the Queen smashes a bottle of whisky against the giant ship.
The following images illustrate the most important classes of warships that were in service with the navies of France, Germany, United Kingdom and Austria-Hungary (Austro-Hungarian Empire) during the World War I. More posts will follow for your collection of current naval fleets but also of fleets from the past. French Navy (Marine Nationale) in WWI Click to enlarge and save the image to view the details - French Navy in WWI Royal Navy in WWI Click to enlarge and save the image to view the details - Royal Navy in WWI German Navy (Imperial German Navy: Kaiserliche Marine) in WWI Click to enlarge and save the image to view the details - German Navy in WWI Austro-Hungarian Navy (Imperial and Royal War Navy: kaiserliche und königliche Kriegsmarine - k.u.k. Kriegsmarine) in WWI Click to enlarge and save the image to view the details - Austro-Hungarian Navy in WWI
Historical military photographs of warships and aircraft from Germany United Kingdom and the United States of America USA
But before the Ambush slips into the Irish Sea on her maiden voyage today, the Daily Mirror was given a look at the Royal Navy’s latest weapon
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed that its Type 45 destroyers, including HMS Dauntless, pictured leaving Portsmouth, need holes cut in their sides during a refit.
HMS Repulse was a British battlecruiser of the Royal Navy She served in World War 1 and 2 and was sunk off Malaya by Japanese aircraft in 1941
