H.M.S. LION

H.M.S. LION

Postby teesships » Mon Jul 16, 2012 1:38 pm

H.M.S. LION on the Tyne
I keep saying naval vessels are of little interest to me, but I could not resist showing this one from the Albert Weller files.

It is quite amazing that this ship and her two sisters (TIGER and BLAKE) although launched in 1944 or 1945 were completed only between 1959 and 1961.
The LION (ex DEFENCE) was laid down by Scotts on 24.6.42, launched 2.9.44, completed 20.7.60, and broken up 1975. She was, however, completed by Swan Hunter WR, Wallsend, yn1859, and I imagine Albert took this photo prior to her completion there in July 1960.
1205lion.jpg
Ron
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Re: H.M.S. LION

Postby billy_s » Thu Oct 11, 2012 6:46 pm

Can remember seeing Lion being broken up by Wards Shipbreakers at Inverkeithing in the mid-70s.
Cheers
Billy
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Re: H.M.S. LION

Postby E28 » Fri Feb 13, 2015 7:54 pm

Very interesting the way in which this cruiser ended up as HMS Lion.

She was ordered on 18 Dec 1941 as part of the 1941 Supplementary Programme with 2 sister ships, members of the FIJI class.
In November 1941 the Ships Names Committee proposed the 3 be named DEFENCE, SUPERB and TIGER, with a reference that should the name LION become available it be substituted for DEFENCE.

The battleship LION was under construction at V.A. Walker yard, no 16, having been laid down on 4 July 1939. LION was duly suspended and in Dec 1942 ordered to be dismantled and the slip cleared, which happened quite rapidly. She was officially cancelled on 15 Oct 1945.
The saga of the 4 LION class battleships did not die then, continuing for a few more years, a very complex story.

Needless to say, DEFENCE, having been laid up incomplete since launch on 2 Sept 1944 by Scotts, yno 611, arrived on the Tyne for part dismantling and reconstruction to a new design with new structures, weapons, electronics and more besides. This was done by Swan Hunters.
During this protracted work DEFENCE was renamed LION on 8 Oct 1957, no longer part of the FIJI class, but the TIGER class, TIGER, LION and BLAKE.
Thats all folks. Sean.
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Re: H.M.S. LION

Postby E28 » Tue May 19, 2015 6:31 pm

As noted by Ron in the first post here, upon arrival at S H W R the yard number 1859 was allocated.
Or more accurately, re allocated.
1859 was originally for a cargo liner to be constructed for DET Bergenske Dampskibselskab or BDS Bergen Line,
this contract having been cancelled.
Thats all folks. Sean.
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Re: H.M.S. LION

Postby Dennis Maccoy » Fri Nov 08, 2019 11:27 am

Lion at the Clyde Fleet Review in August 1965.
Lion, August 1965_1.jpg
Regards, Dennis.
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Re: H.M.S. LION

Postby Dennis Maccoy » Sat Nov 09, 2019 8:41 pm

Lion, looking rather more careworn, at Rosyth on 21 July 1974 awaiting the short journey to the breakers.

Lion, Rosyth, 21 July 1974_2_1.jpg
Regards, Dennis.
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Re: H.M.S. LION

Postby E28 » Sat Jun 12, 2021 6:33 pm

Rather careworn, totally agree Dennis, instantly defined by the random rag flung over the quarter in a couldn't care less resigned manner. Total admission of a cause not worth pursuing.

All around the aft 6" turret is netting as opposed to guardrails which is to prevent the cartridges falling any further onto the quarterdeck and damaging the nicely stoned wooden decking below. Alternately could be to prevent Jack when he's had his tot from trying to catch said cartridges when gun fires and breaking neck when falls from great height leaving much red liquid on deck, either blood or rum or both.

At least no money was ever wasted in Lion's conversion to a helo carrier.
Thats all folks. Sean.
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Re: H.M.S. LION

Postby Hornbeam » Sun Jun 13, 2021 1:25 pm

The unfortunate sister that became the Donor vessel for others under the "Blue Label" (used but serviceable) scheme, stripped out at Rosyth the spares ended up on the racks at Urlay Nook until the late 1970's when the order went out to strip the racks of Steam spares because the RN were moving over to Gas Turbines, unfortunately!1982 cropped up and panic ensued when Hermes was required to go South, frantic phone calls to the Scrapman who bought them to see if he still had them in his massive yard about three miles away from Urlay Nook as the Helicopter flies and he sold them back to the RN no doubt for a profit. As it was Hermes went South with one Boiler down despite the 24 hr Helicopter service from Urlay Nook initially and then on for a flight to The Ascension Islands.
The Scrap/Govt Surplus man started off with a little store in Thornaby after the War which he built up to a massive yard at Norton which had everything Govt Surplus you could think of, the place was crammed with Military Hardware from all three Services.
I had to visit the Yard and came across a crate of brand new aircraft bomb sights still in their Transit Boxes of which I acquired a couple and gave one to a Museum ( apparently the Council lost it) after it went into their safekeeping! And kept one for myself only selling it quite recently to another collector.
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Re: H.M.S. LION

Postby northeast » Sun Jun 13, 2021 4:43 pm

Urlay Nook, now there's a name from the past, on ourtrain-spotting trips to Darlington, did it have its own 'halt' in day past?
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Re: H.M.S. LION

Postby Hornbeam » Sun Jun 13, 2021 5:33 pm

It did indeed N.E. known as Allens West and although like a lot of Defence Establishments on the face of it the place looked like 'Sleepy Hollow' it was very active behind the scenes, there have been plans for housing on the former Depot and although some housing has been built on the perimeter there are problems with Radio Active 'Hot Spots' further into the grounds.
Those were the days stood on the Footbridge or the Platform at Darlington Ian Allen publications in hand waiting for the Streaks and Blinkers passing underneath, "Smoke gets in your eyes" etc :D
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