HMS Lion in the Firth - Sept 1960
Campbell says "There were three ships in the class, Lion Tiger and Blake. Lion and Tiger were converted to carry helicopters aft by removing the guns and replacing them with hangers and a small flight deck. I took this photo."
3 Comments
This must have been on her first commision, as although she was launched in 1944, she was not commisioned until July 1960. She was scrapped in 1972.
Comment left on 14 July 2006 at 09:06 by Calum Davidson
Tiger and Blake did indeed serve on untill the late seventies, I was on exercises with both after they were converted. Lion unfortunately, last I saw of her, she was lying up in Rosyth dockyard, mid seventies, in a sorry state, which was a shame.
Comment left on 09 November 2007 at 12:40 by Tony Fraser-Mackenzie(nee Archer)
HMS Defence. Laid down 1942, launched 1944, then suspended and completed in 1960 (Renamed in 1957) to HMS LION C34. Stayed in service until 1965 then decommisioned stripped of parts for HMS Blake & Tiger for their conversion to helicopter Cruisers. 1973 towed to Rosyth Dockyard, Firth of Forth, to be stripped of even more parts for Tiger, that's why HMS Tiger was nicknamed HMS Liger. Then the end came in 1975 when towed from Rosyth Dockyard to T.W.Wards, Ship-breakers, The Bay, Inverkeithing, Fife, Scotland. And she was tied up to RFA Weave Chief (A265).
Comment left on 20 May 2012 at 00:28 by John Gallagher
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