Rotterdam, Netherlands 28 June 1952
National Archive, The Hague, Netherlands.
Photographer Wim Ansenheim, Anefo collection Source
Drawing made by G.J. Naerebout and originally published by G.A.J. Bovens in Van Zee tot Zee.
Although she was the largest, fastest and even the last British battleship, HMS Vanguard was not active in the Second World while was not earlier commissioned in 1946. Her building at the shipyard of John Brown and Company at Clydebank, Scotland was ordered on 14 March 1941 under the 1940 Emergency program. Laid down on 2 October with yard number 567 was she launched on 30 November 1944 and not earlier as on 12 May 1946 commissioned. As soon as 1949 decided the Admiralty that she was of no use and too expensive to keep her in service and decided on 9 October to get rid off her. She decommissioned on 7 June 1960 and finally sold the Iron and Steel Corporation of Great Britain which company broke her up at Faslane, Scotland which was completed mid-1962. Her motto was ‘We Lead’ and the pennant number 23. The reason for the delays during her building was the continuously adjusting of the Lion-class design to the war experiences. Her building costs were 11.530.503 pounds sterling. With a displacement of 44.500 long tons/45.200 tons (standard)-51.420 long tons/52.250 tons (deep load) were her dimensions 248,2 x 32.9 x 11,0 9deep load) metres or 814’4”x 108’x 35’. The four steam turbines of Parsons to which 8 Admiralty boilers were added delivered via 4 shafts 130.000 ship (the equivalent of 97.000 kW) allowing a speed of 30 knots and with a speed of 15 knots a range of 8.250 nautical miles. Her crew numbered 1.975 men. The armament consisted of 4x2-15” guns, 8x2-5.25” guns and , 73-4cm anti aircraft guns. She was also protected by armour, the main gun turrets by 17,8-33cm/7“-13“ the conning tower by 5,1-7,6cm/2”-3” the barbettes by 27,9-33cm/11“-13“, and further more she had 10,2-30,5cm/4“-12“ thick bulkheads, a belt of 11,4-35,6cm/11”-13” thickness and a deck of 6,4-15,2cm/4.5”-6”.
The Dutch newspaper Friese Koerier dated 12 August reported that the retired British navy lieutenant 1st class tried with no success to prevent her being broken up. He wanted to save her for the history as a museum ship and wanted to buy her for 2 million pound of the above mentioned firm. A foundation was to collect the money and preserve her for the future lying near the Waterloo bridge at London. If just 5 million Englishmen gave one pounds sterling became enough money available to buy and maintain her.
