Casgliadau Arlein

¾ Starboard bow view of H.M.S. TIGER entering the Queen Alexandra Dock, Cardiff, October 1966.

The 9,550 ton cruiser HMS Tiger entering the Queen Alexandra Dock in October 1966. Laid down on the Clyde in 1941 as HMS Bellerophon, she was not completed until 1959. During this particular visit to Cardiff, her crew were called upon to assist in rescue work at the Aberfan disaster. This was also the vessel on board which discussions took place between Harold Wilson and Ian Smith following the latter's declaration of independence for Rhodesia in 1965. Having been laid up at Plymouth for some years, this vessel was broken up at Castellon, Spain, in 1986.

Source: Shipping at Cardiff: Photographs from the Hansen Collection 1920-1975 by David Jenkins, 1993.

Built : 1959. Laid down by John Brown Shipyard in 1945 as a “Minotaur” class light-cruiser BELLEROPHON but construction suspendedfollowing the end of WW2. She was eventually completed and commissioned in 1959 as HMS TIGER of the new “Tiger-class” cruisers. 1966 – Held in reserve. During this period, she was the venue for talks between Prime Minister Harold Wilson and Ian Smith of Rhodesia regarding that country’s independence. 1968 – Conversion to a “helicopter and command cruiser” at HM Devonport Dockyard, involving construction of a flight deck and an on-board hanger to accommodate four Wessex helicopters . 1972 – Recommissioned into her new role. 1978 – Placed in reserve and laid up at Chatham. Considered for use in the Falklands war in 1982, but unable to be recommissioned in time. 1986 – Sold for scrap and towed to castellon, Spain to be broken up. (wikipedia) (clydesite.co.uk)(worldnavalships.com)