The Last Cruiser Of British Royal Navy

HMS Blake was a light cruiser of the Tiger class of the British Royal Navy, the last of the traditional Royal Navy gun-armed cruisers in the 20th century. She was named after Robert Blake, a 17th-century admiral who was the "Father of the Royal Navy".

HMS Blake (C99) Cruiser of British Royal Navy

She was ordered in 1942 as one of the Minotaur class of light cruisers. They had a low construction priority due to more pressing requirements for other ship types during World War II, particularly anti-submarine craft.

In 1954, construction of Blake resumed, but to a new design. She would have fully automatic 6 inch guns in twin high-angle mounts with each gun capable of shooting 20 rounds per minute, and a secondary battery of Fully Automatic 3 inch guns which delivered 90 rounds per minute per gun.

HMS Blake Cruiser (C99) During a sea mission

On 18 March 1961, Blake finally commissioned into the Royal Navy to date the last cruiser to do so. Just two years later, she was placed in reserve. From 1965 to 1969, she underwent a major conversion to become a helicopter and command cruiser. This reconstruction included replacing the after 6 inch and 3 inch mounts with a flight deck and hangar. The refit was very expensive, during the conversion a major fire broke out causing considerable damage and raising the costs still further.

In 1969 Blake deployed to Gibraltar along with other Royal Navy units in order to ‘fly the flag’ in response to Spanish hostility following the closure of the Gibraltar-Spain border by General Franco. Also in 1969 a Royal Air Force Harrier jet landed on Blake. In 1971, she was present during the emotional withdrawal from Malta, supporting the commando carrier Bulwark.

VTOL Harrier jet landing on HMS Blake of Royal British Navy

In 1977 she took part in the Fleet Review of the Royal Navy during the Silver Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II, which took place off Spithead. The cruiser was host to the Westland Wessex HAS-3 helicopters of 820 Naval Air Squadron from June 1969 and these were replaced by the Westland Sea King HAS-1 helicopter in December 1972, continuing until Blake was withdrawn from service in 1979.

HMS Blake with four Sea King Helicopter

The advent of the Falklands War led to a rapid ship survey in early April and work was immediately begun to recommission her for service in the conflict, but work was stopped in late May when it was clear she could not be ready in time to deploy. She was the last cruiser serving with the Royal Navy upon her decommissioning and was sold for scrapping in August 1982.