Dates: 1944 - 1975
HMS Lion was a light cruiser of the Royal Navy, ordered in 1942 as one of the Minotaur class and laid down that same year as Defence by Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company at Greenock on 6 June 1942.
Partially complete, Lion was launched on 2 September 1944 by Lady Edelson, but work was suspended in 1946 and Defence was laid up at Gareloch. Construction of Defence and two other cruisers was later resumed to a revised Tiger class design. Defence was renamed Lion in 1957 and construction continued at the yards of Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson at Wallsend. She was finally commissioned in July 1960.
In September 1964 Lion was present at the Maltese Independence celebrations, and later that year she was rammed under the Forth Road Bridge by HMS Lowestoft. Lion then undertook a period of reserve at Devonport from 1964 until 1972, when she was placed on the disposal list - plans to convert her along the lines of her sisters HMS Tiger and HMS Blake having been rejected as too costly. On 15 May 1973 she arrived at Rosyth and was subsequently stripped of parts and equipment for use with Tiger and Blake. Lion was sold for breaking up on 12 February 1975 for ?262,500. On 24 April 1975 Lion arrived at Inverkeithing where she was scrapped by Wards. Some equipment from her was salvaged and sold to Peru for use with their former British Crown Colony class cruisers.
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Lion
" Following migt be of interest and bring back old memories to a few, I think Doog joined about this time,I joined ’58 and can remember lots of these ships, no wonder the Gut closed down, not enough Matalots left to spend their money. On July 1st, 1956, the strength of the Fleet was as ..."
Click For More
" Quoting: Gordon Oliver Following migt be of interest and bring back old memories to a few, I think Doog joined about this time,I joined ’58 and can remember lots of these ships, no wonder the Gut closed down, not enough Matalots left to spend their money. On July 1st, 1956, the strength of ..."
Click For More
" Hi Does anyone have the words to this Monologue it is a re write for the Hms Lion taken from the original "Albert and the Lion" by Stanly Holloway Heres Hoping Thanks "
Click For More
" Quoting: Ron Shilton Hi Does anyone have the words to this Monologue it is a re write for the Hms Lion taken from the original "Albert and the Lion" by Stanly Holloway Heres Hoping Thanks Hello Ron - if you have a look on here there are the lyrics by Stanley Holloway if that will help. homepage.ntlworld.com/Stanley Holloway. "
Click For More
" Quoting: Ron Shilton Hi Does anyone have the words to this Monologue it is a re write for the Hms Lion taken from the original "Albert and the Lion" by Stanly Holloway Heres Hoping Thanks Hi Ron, Your question brings back quite a few memories for me as I first learned this ..."
Click For More
