HMS Tiger (1945) - Guide 219

I served on Blake in 1975. 'Snakey Blakey' as she was known, had an odd steering tendency after the refit to put the hanger on. Hence the nickname. The rush to get missile armed ships ignored the tremendous advances in the gunnery world. Throughout their service these ships actually carried the most potent AA in the fleet allbeit much reduced from the original config. They were designed to put up a barrage of 800 shells per minute- accurately. They had issues on Tiger, which had hydraulic turrets, but Blake had all electric [I still have a 3" shell casing by my back door] systems and did not have the jamming issues. When under test the 3" guns out performed any missile system in service except the Sea Dart which had a longer range anyway. But medium and short range, all altitudes the test bed ships reported near 100% hits within the first few rounds with 3". I have no data for the sixers in that regard. Whereas the seacats, if they launched, usually managed a few spirals then a plop into the sea. So jumping for missiles over guns was not based on effectiveness, just status. Had she made it to the Falklands as I did, the issue of low flying Argentine aircraft would have been short lived, they would have stayed well away from her or have had much shorter missions.

Author — @Jake-xe4cv

For those questioning why Blake? Blake was the head of the Royal Navy during the Commonwealth and responsible for increasing the size of the fleet tenfold as well as transitioning it from a force that only put to sea during the fair weather months to a force that put to sea all year round. He also invented the Single Line of Battle formation.

Author — @watcherzero5256

I love the look of this class as gun cruisers.The hangar and flight deck spoiled their looks in many peoples views, they also caused a lot of structural issues.Not for nothing was Blakes nickname, "The Snakey Blakey", I am lucky to have seen all three of this class, although I never served on any of them. As a boy living on the St Beaudaux naval estate you could look down at the dockyard.Lion was laid up along side the depot ships Adamant and Tyne, then part of Devonport fleet maintenance base which was known as HMS Orion in those days. The Tiger was laid up in Fareham creek, Portsmouth for several years, but I remember her in the dockyard, ( Portsmouth ), just before the Falklands war with the Bullwark. I was in Nelson barracks as part of the barrack guard when Blake paid off, and saw her along side at the time, although she went to Chatham to be laid up.Sorry if I've bored you with my ramblings, but these ships bring back fond memories.

Author — @davidbirt8486

Drach gets perilously close to modern naval coverage with this video!

Author — @77thTrombone

"last gun-based cruisers"
Missiles may be better but gun-armed ships always look cooler to me

Author — @Big_E_Soul_Fragment

This channel has grown so much it seems like there are more non-guides going out than guides! Its a good sign of diversification!

Author — @benjaminarnold2881

I have memory of the last 2 ships laid up in reserve in Portsmouth in the late 1970's, early 80's. Even after the helicopter conversion they were still impressive ships.

Author — @tonym480

I’ve always had a soft spot for these cruisers since I made the Airfix model of HMS Tiger, probably nearer 50 years ago than 40.

Author — @jerry2357

It always amazes me how many of the late WWII and just post-WWII ships lasted into the 80's before being broken up. Thanks for the great run-down on a worthy ship!

Author — @michaelpfister1283

Now I know 'I wish [X] had been saved' always comes up, but those 6" turrets do look awesome, a shame one wasn't parked somewhere for preservation.

Author — @MetalRodent

I served in the RCN; we used the English Electric 3"70 turrets; 120 rounds per barrel per minute and zillions of moving parts eh. So we didn't get off too many bursts before something went wrong. Roll along wavy navy roll along. The ship I was in lasted until the eighties; a Restigouche class DDE, HMCS Gatineau. Ready Aye Ready.

Author — @johntripp5159

I went aboard Tiger as a young lad, with my parents, when she visited Leith docks in the 70s, probably 1975. Impressive ship. It's my recollection that there would be no doubt that the hangar could take four helicopters, as they had a Sea King inside when I was aboard, and I think that you could have easily fitted another three in.

Author — @ianmcsherry5254

Handsome looking cruisers (before the aft deck conversion).

Author — @Slaktrax

A prime example of excellent design being badly wasted.

Author — @alexhunt7810

I would love to see an overview of the Fairmile MGB/MTBs

Author — @Zajuts149

Looking at the list of upcoming ships I see a few of my favourites, the raider Pinguin and the oldest partially intact ironclad monitor HMVS Cerberus of 1868, although it's more of a rusty breakwater than a proper ship these days

Author — @Dave_Sisson

Thank you for all you do. It’s very well researched and presented. I always look forward to your releases.

Author — @jamescutright919

Thank you, Drachinifel and I hope everyone is doing well. The latter day conversion brings thoughts of the Japanese ships that were converted to carry aircraft in WWII.

Author — @daddiospatio

Used to see the unmodified Tiger and Blake when I was a boy in Malta in the early sixties. Always wanted to see Lion but didn't learn until years later that she was held in reserve.

Author — @PenzancePete

I remember seeing them in Portsmouth harbour when I was a child. My dad who was grey funnel took us sailing at Whale Island. They were already out of use by that point but really impressive looking.

Author — @gonzomechanic7196