DISPOSAL OF WARSHIPS IN THE 1960's AND 1970's

Do you know that in 1968 alone, we put more ships/submarines on the official disposal list than there are ships in the whole of the 2010 Royal Navy ?

I remember well when the carrier Eagle paid off for disposal.  A great big 'Paying-off-Ball' was arranged in London, at THE London Hilton in Park Lane, on Saturday 29th April 1972.  It was a pretty posh do with tickets costing £13.50 each which was a goodly amount of money back then. The big band sound of Jo Loss was the star attraction.

This is a Snippet from the Houses of Parliament Records.

HC Deb 11 March 1977 vol 927 cc679-82W
MR WALL  - Mr Wall was the MP for HALTEMPRICE, in March 1977, in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of warships disposed of, and their names, in each of the past 10 years.

MR WELLBELOVED  - Mr Wellbeloved was the MP for Bexley, Erith and Crayford in SE London, abolished in the 1977 general election and replaced by two constituencies, viz, Erith & Thamesmead and Bexleyheath & Crayford.

Those of Her Majesty's ships that have been formally placed on the disposal lists over the last 10 years are listed below:

  • 1967
  • HMS "Badminton"
  • HMS "Caunton"
  • HMS "Lanton"
  • HMS "Flockton"
  • HMS "Picton"
  • HMS "Ilmington"
  • HMS "Santon"
  • HMS "Rennington"
  • HMS "Bevington"
  • HAM "Tarlton"
  • HMS "Adamant"
  • HMS "Talent"
  • HMS "Token"
  • HMS "Alderney"
  • HMS "Anchorite"
  • HMS "Thermopylae"
  • HMS "Dampier"
  • HMS 'Victorious"
  • HMS "Dubford"
  • HMS "Gifford"

TOTAL 20

  • 1968
  • HMS "Delight"
  • HMS "Aisne"
  • HMS "Daring"
  • HMS "Dainty"
  • HMS "Defender"
  • HMS "Diamond"
  • HMS "Cambrian"
  • HMS "Carysfort"
  • HMS "Urania"
  • HMS "Loch Fyne"
  • HMS "Loch Fada"
  • HMS "Loch Killisport"
  • HMS "Blackwood"
  • HMS "Zest"
  • HMS "Relentless"
  • HMS "Pellew"
  • HMS "Grafton"
  • HMS "Murray"
  • HMS "Trump"
  • HMS "Tiptoe"
  • HMS "Alaric"
  • HMS "Alcide"
  • HMS "Ambush"
  • HMS "Artful"
  • HMS "Amphion"
  • HMS "Taciturn"
  • HMS "Maidstone"
  • HMS "Mull of Kintyre"
  • HMS "Protector"
  • HMS "Plover"
  • HMS "Kildarton"
  • HMS "Maryton"
  • HMS "Sullington"
  • HMS "Carhampton"
  • HMS "Penston"
  • HMS "Rodington"
  • HMS "Dufton"
  • HMS "Kemerton"
  • HMS "Carlbeston"
  • HMS "Letterston"
  • HMS "Appleton"
  • HMS "Chilcompton"
  • HMS "Crofton"
  • HMS "Brearly"
  • HMS "Dark Adventurer"
  • HMS "Dark Hussar"
  • HMS "Dark Intruder"
  • HMS "Moorpout"
  • HMS "Citadel"
  • HMS "Portcullis"
  • HMS "Lofoten"
  • HMS "Girdle Ness"
  • HMS "Bryansford"

TOTAL 53

  • 1969
  • HMS "Crossbow"
  • HMS "Verulam"
  • HMS "Astute"
  • HMS "Acheron"
  • HMS "Medway"
  • HMS "Brave Swordsman"
  • HMS "Brave Borderer"
  • HMS "Dark Hero"
  • HMS "Dark Gladiator"
  • HMS "Fiskerton"
  • HMS "Coniston"
  • HMS "Dartington"
  • HMS "Boulston"
  • HMS "Burnaston"

TOTAL 14

  • 1970
  • HMS "Centaur"
  • HMS "Manxman"
  • HMS "Auriga"
  • HMS "Quainton"
  • HMS "Puncheston"
  • HMS "Houghton"
  • HMS "Leverton"
  • HMS "Derriton"
  • HMS "Amerton"
  • HMS "Dalswinton"
  • HMS "Ledsham"
  • HMS "Stalker"
  • HMS "Anzio"
  • HMS "Striker"
  • HMS "Tracker"
  • HMS "Kingsford"
  • HMS "Diana"
  • HMS "Decoy"

TOTAL 18

  • 1971
  • HMS "Eagle"
  • HMS "Lion"
  • HMS "Agincourt"
  • HMS "Barrosa"
  • HMS "Corunna"
  • HMS "Cavalier"
  • HMS "Hartland Point"
  • HMS "Tyne"
  • HMS "Artemis"
  • HMS "Invermoriston"
  • HMS "Alverton"
  • HMS "Blaxton"
  • HMS "Oulston"
  • HMS "Bottisham
  • HMS "Chelsham"

TOTAL 15

  • 1972
  • HMS "Albion"
  • HMS "Rapid"
  • HMS "Ulster"
  • HMS "Malcolm'
  • HMS "Belton"
  • HMS "Alliance"
  • HMS "Dieppe'

TOTAL 7

  • 1973
  • HMS "Puma"
  • HMS "Tenby"
  • HMS "Scarborough"
  • HMS "Caprice"
  • HMS "Palliser"
  • HMS "Blackpool"
  • HMS "Russell"
  • HMS "Undaunted"
  • HMS "Tabard"
  • HMS "Aeneas"
  • HMS "Maddiston"
  • HMS "Wilkieston"

TOTAL 12

  • 1974
  • HMS "Andrew"
  • HMS "Ashton"
  • HMS "Chawton"

TOTAL 3

  • 1975
  • HMS "Grenville"
  • HMS "Whitby"
  • HMS "Highburton"
  • HMS "Berryhead"
  • HMS "Rorqual"
  • HMS "Grampus"
  • HMS "Vidal"

TOTAL 7

  • 1976
  • HMS "Hampshire"
  • HMS "Keppel"
  • HMS "Leopard"
  • HMS "Reward"
  • HMS "Narwhal"
  • HMS "Woolaston"
  • HMS "Fittleton"
  • HMS "Exmouth"
  • HMS "Mermaid"
  • HMS "Llandaff"

TOTAL 10

It should be noted and recognised that many of these vessels had been decommissioned and awaiting decisions of disposal long before they were actually disposed either to breakers-yards or to purchase by foreign navies.