Disposal of Warships

Disposal of Warships

in the 1960s and 1970s

Written by Godfrey Dykes

© RN Communications Branch Museum/Library

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.

HANSARD 1803–2005 → 1970s → 1977 → March 1977 → 11 March 1977 → Written Answers (Commons) → DEFENCE
Warships 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's Badminton Caunton Lanton Flockton Picton Ilmington Santon Rennington Bevington HAM Tarlton Adamant Talent Token Alderney Anchorite Thermopylae Dampier Victorious Dubford Gifford TOTAL 20	1968 - HMS's Delight Aisne Daring Dainty Defender Diamond Cambrian Carysfort Urania Loch Fyne Loch Fada Loch Killisport Blackwood Zest Relentless Pellew Grafton Murray Trump Tiptoe Alaric Alcide Ambush Artful Amphion Taciturn Maidstone Mull of Kintyre Protector Plover Kildarton Maryton Sullington Carhampton Penston Rodington Dufton Kemerton Carlbeston Letterston Appleton Chilcompton Crofton Brearly Dark Adventurer Dark Hussar Dark Intruder Moorpout Citadel Portcullis Lofoten Girdle Ness Bryansford TOTAL 53	1969 - HMS's Crossbow Verulam Astute Acheron Medway Brave Swordsman Brave Borderer Dark Hero Dark Gladiator Fiskerton Coniston Dartington Boulston Burnaston TOTAL 14	1970 - HMS's Centaur Manxman Auriga Quainton Puncheston Houghton Leverton Derriton Amerton Dalswinton Ledsham Stalker Anzio Striker Tracker Kingsford Diana Decoy TOTAL 18	1971 - HMS's Eagle Lion Agincourt Barrosa Corunna Cavalier Hartland Point Tyne Artemis Invermoriston Alverton Blaxton Oulston Bottisham Chelsh TOTAL 15	1972 - HMS's Albion Rapid Ulster Malcolm Belton Alliance Dieppe TOTAL 7	1973 - HMS's Puma Tenby Scarborough Caprice Palliser Blackpool Russell Undaunted Tabard Aeneas Maddiston Wilkieston TOTAL 12	1974 - HMS's Andrew Ashton Chawton TOTAL 3	1975 - HMS's Grenville Whitby Highburton Berryhead Rorqual Grampus Vidal TOTAL 7	1976 - HMS's Hampshire Keppel Leopard Reward Narwhal Woolaston Fittleton Exmouth Mermaid 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.

The vessels listed in the disposal list above are listed and registered in Callsign documents from the 50's onwards (Indicatifs D'Appel for example) but elsewhere also in ACP113 etc, but that long term plans in the Admiralty had sidelined these ships as being no longer required in the 'new' navy, i.e., that of the period 1970 onwards, even though, clearly from the Disposal List, some saw service in the first half of the 70's: but regrettably, they were not on the list post mid-1974 onwards! If you have a need to know any of the callsigns of ships listed in the disposal list, please get in touch. Thank you.