TS Tiger - Leicester Sea Cadet Corps

On this page you can find out more about T.S.Tiger, our aims and our achievements.
Also on this page is information about the Sea Cadet Corps, our affiliated ship HMS Quorn and about our namesake HMS Tiger.

T.S.Tiger Sea Cadet Unit is located in a purpose built building on Ross Walk in Leicester.
Being situated on the River Soar we have a spectacular view of The National Space Centre on the opposite Bank.

At the unit we have a Viking SMB (Slow motor boat), an ASC (Admiralty Sea Cadet) Dinghy, two small rowing craft (one of which can be used as a sailing dinghy) and several canoes and kayaks, so being sited next to the river gives us ample opportunity to make good use of them.

The unit comprises of male & female Cadets, Marine Cadets and Junior Cadets aged 10 to 18yrs.

The cadets can learn a lot of different skills and once they reach a certain level of proficiency they are awarded a badge which they can wear on their uniform.
The various badges can be seen here.

As the cadets progress they gain points which leads towards a promotion in rank and they can also earn good conduct stripes.

This is a placeholder, the correct pic will appear soon

All the volunteer members of staff at TS Tiger give up a considerable amount of their own time to train cadets in all aspects of seamanship e.g. sailing, power boating, rope work, first aid etc.

The staff are Sea Cadets Corps trained and qualified and many hold nationally recognised qualifications.

Please note:
All members of staff and committee, in fact all persons who come into regular contact with the cadets
at TS Tiger are required to undergo a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check.
This is to ensure their suitability to work alongside young adults more info here

Unit Management
It may come as a surprise for you to discover that T.S.Tiger is NOT funded by the Royal Navy. It is in fact mostly self funded.
The RN supplies uniforms and boats and also subsidises some training at its establishments but the upkeep of the buildings and the running costs (heating, lighting, training materials etc) are paid for by the T.S.Tiger Unit Management Committee (UMC). The UMC comprises of members of the local community and it is their job to manage the unit effectively.

The unit main deck

Each Sea Cadet Unit is an individual charity and its UMC members are its charity trustees, responsible for housing the Unit, supporting its activities and raising the money to do so.

The volunteer staff and helpers at T.S.Tiger give up their valuable time to make the unit what it is today and we would dearly love to keep it that way.

Each year after the RNI (Royal Naval Inspection) the unit is marked on its success for the year. It is to T.S.Tiger's credit that almost every year since 1959 we have earned a pennant for good overall standards of training and achievement with several burgees for excellent standards. (see the pictures below)

Please help us to keep it that way

If you would like to help the unit in any way by donations of time, money, goods, services or items we could use to fundraise, please do not hesitate to contact the unit. Additionally you could consider bequeathing a sum of money to T.S.Tiger or setting up a trust fund so that we can continue to give something to the community of Leicester.

click to see the full sized version of this picture

January 12th 1937:

Meeting of people interested in forming a Leicester Sea Cadet Corps

March 31st 1937:

First parade night, attended by 32 boys.
The venue being St Martins school Friar lane.
Rent 10/- per week including caretaker, heating and lighting.
Acting Officer Lieutenant Beese.

May 1938:

HQ moves to the old Leicestershire County Cricket grounds and pavilion Rent £5 per year

April 1939:

Lieutenant C.Whiles is appointed commanding officer. Strength of unit reported at 248 cadets.

August 1941:

Loughborough Unit formed as a sub-unit to Leicester, run under the Leicester Committee.

July 1942:

A second Leicester Unit is formed (North Division) with its Headquarters in Sussex Street.
The Commanding Officer is Lieutenant W.R.Preston.
The original Unit to be designated South Division under the Command of Lieutenant C.Whiles
It is decided each unit is not to exceed 150 cadets.

May 1944:

The Divisional Officer is Lt Cdr F.W.Timson. While the CO South Div is Lt C.Whiles and North Division is Lt W.R.Preston with Sub Lt T.S.Timson the No1.
Mr O.F. Jordan is the Chairman of the Committee with Mr A.S.Todd the Hon. Treasurer and Mr H.C.Wheeler the Hon. Secretary. The minutes of the committee meeting report a strength of 178 Cadets South Div and 175 North Div.

Jan 1946:

Mr A.S.Todd resigns due to ill health and his son Mr Kenneth Todd takes over as Hon. Secretary.

Nov 1946:

The Committee is informed that the Sussex St (Sth Div HQ) has to be vacated by March 1947.

Jan 1947:

Lt T.S.Timson assumes command of Nth Div following the resignation of Lt W.R.Preston. Also at this time Lt C.Whiles gained promotion to Lieutenant Commander. W.R.Preston continued his association with the Leicester Sea Cadets as a committee member.

March 1947:

A notice to quit the Wellington Street premises by Aug 31st was received by the committee.

May 1947:

Mr J H Corah accepts an Invitation to become the first president of Leicester Sea Cadet Corps

February 1948:

Both units move to joint Headquarters in a part of the Christ Church Schools, Bow Street. The rent is £200 per annum payable quarterly this includes heating, lighting and cleaning. The two divisions maintain their seperate identities and parade on alternate nights with a combined parade on Sundays.

September 1948:

Lt Cdr C.Whiles resigns, Lt W.J.Herbert RNVR becomes OIC South Div

October 1948:

A decision is taken that following a decline in numbers, the two divisions should combine at some time in the future. The strength at this time is reported at around 100 per unit but with attendances of 50 - 60%

January 1949

Lt Cdr F.W.Timson RNVR is awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours.

May/June 1950

The two divisions are amalgamated under the command of Lieutenant W.J.Herbert.
The reported strength is 87 inc 2 P.O. 4 LS (Leading Seaman) and 13 AB's (Able Seaman) and that average attendances were 52-55.
Following the amalgamation a new name was being sought for the ship's company. The names put forward were "Gamecock" and "Leicestershire". The decision to go with Leicestershire was taken and Staff and 6 Cadets attended a Ship Ahoy Ceremony in London.

June 1951:

Following the appointment of Lt W.J.Herbert to District Officer No4 District, Lt C.J.Evans is appointed Commanding Officer.
Unit strength at this time is 50 Full Cadets 16 Boy Cadets and 20 New Entries

January 1952:

The President of Leicester Sea Cadets, Mr John H. Corah is Knighted in the New Year Honours list.

September 1952:

Mr O.F.Jordan steps down as Chairman of the Committee. Mr W.R.Preston is voted into the role.

September 1954:

The Cadets expressed a wish to have the Ship's name on their Cap Tallies. After discussion it was decided that "TS Leicestershire" was too long so the alternative name of "TS Tiger" was put to a vote among the Cadets.

January/February 1955:

The Cadets decide TS Tiger is agreeable so permission is sought from SCC HQ to use the name.
This was agreed and the Cap Tallies and badges are ordered.

May 1955:

Mr W.R.Preston resigns as Chairman, he is replaced by Lt Cdr F.W.Timson MBE

May 1956:

An application is made to make use of land by the river and at the bottom of Holden St for the purposes of building a new HQ.

January 1957:

The Commanding Officer, Lt C.J.Evans, is promoted to Lieutenant Commander.

May 1959:

Unit moves to its present Headquarters at Ross Walk/Holden Street, purpose built at a cost of £12,500. Admiral Sir Ralph Edwards KCB. CBE, Chairman of the Navy League, performed the opening ceremony.

The unit strength at this time is 65 Seniors, 45 Boys, 23 New Entries & 9 RM Section

August 1959:

The Chairman, Lt Cdr F.W.Timson steps down after 20 years service to Leicester Sea Cadet Corps he is replaced by Capt C.C.Hardy. Also at this time the Hon Secretary, Mr H.C.Wheeler, stepped down, again due to his length of service.
He is succeeded by Mr R.H.Howarth.

October 1959:

The 12 Pounder Gun is received and installed at the unit. Also at this time Mr K.Todd resigns as Hon Treasurer, succeeded by Mr G.E.Hall.

January 4th 1979:

Lt Cdr C.J.Evans retires as C.O. and is succeeded by Lt D.M.Smethurst.

August 18th 1994:

Lieutenant D. Derbyshire resigns
Lieutenant F. Willows becomes Acting O.I.C.

February 2000:

Lieutenant S. Bodycote resigns and
Lieutenant D. Derbyshire becomes O.I.C.

The Sea Cadet movement is a national youth charity providing young people from 10-18 with life skills of teamwork, self-respect and social responsibility – the core qualities of good citizenship.
With 400 Units – called Training Ships – nationwide, the Sea Cadets, jointly sponsored by the Royal Navy and their own national charity The Marine Society & Sea Cadets, dates back over a century to its foundation in the aftermath of the Crimean War.

For the community
The Sea Cadet Units, collectively described as the Sea Cadet Corps, provide youth opportunities with a training programme ranging from seamanship and boating skills to band music, cookery and IT. Each local Unit, staffed by volunteer officers and instructors, provides a community resource – encouraging young people to develop social (and career relevant) awareness following the traditions of the Royal Navy.

How we started (click here for a more detailed history)
The first Sea Cadet Units were in the seaport backstreets. Sailors returning from the Crimean War formed Naval Lads Brigades for orphans of fallen comrades and the movement grew through two World Wars into the network of Units that is the modern Sea Cadet Corps. But the ethos of the Sea Cadets remains the same, preparing young people to meet the challenges of the future.

About us
The Marine Society & Sea Cadets is the national charity that manages essential training resources for the Sea Cadet Corps. Each Unit is a registered charity in its own right run by a management committee and raising its own funds.
The Sea Cadet Corps is administered through an area structure under the overall guidance of the London Headquarters.

Training and qualifications

Cadets
Training is a common thread that runs through all Sea Cadet activity.
Boat-work, sailing, canoeing, seagoing experience under sail and power form the basis, but there’s plenty of scope for competition and fun with the camaraderie of being a member of a team.
In true naval tradition, cadets earn promotion as their skills increase, taking them from new entrant to Petty Officer with opportunities to earn nationally recognised qualifications in vocational or maritime skills. A quarter of the Units have Marine Cadet Detachments sponsored by the Royal Marines, open to boys and girls from the age of 13.

Adults
Adult volunteers also have the opportunity to acquire new skills and qualifications at minimal or no cost, in a range of disciplines, right up to degree level. Uniforms, equipment and training facilities are provided free of charge (although most Units have a small attendance charge) and while cadets may aspire to a career in the Royal or Merchant Navy, there is no requirement to do so. All instructors, both uniformed and civilian, are fully qualified and approved to work with young people.

Our activities
Cadets compete in events ranging from sailing and rowing regattas to band contests and sports, and there are plenty of opportunities to go to sea aboard Royal Navy ships and visit Naval Bases.

The future
Our priority is to promote our Sea Cadet Units as a force for good in the community. We are seeking to expand both our staff and cadet numbers to ensure that this potential is realised. Support is the key, raising funds through imaginative initiatives, attracting new members to the adult ranks, bringing a new generation of cadets on board, and swelling the membership of the parent charity to enable more young people to enjoy the fun and excitement the Sea Cadets can offer them.
Your time, your contribution and your support can help the Sea Cadets achieve these objectives for the benefit of your community.

The Sea Cadet Corps has the longest continuous history of any youth organization in Britain.
A few of the important developments over the years are listed here.

1856:

Sailors returning from the Crimean War set up “Naval Lads Brigades” in Whitstable and other ports

1899:

The Navy League, a group who sponsored maritime thinking in Parliament, decided to sponsor the small number of these independent units, together with their own "Training Brigs" .These Units become known as the Navy League Brigades.

1919:

The Navy League applied to the Admiralty for recognition of its 34 units. An officer on the staff of the admiral commanding reserves granted this subject to an annual efficiency inspection by an officer on the staff of the admiral commanding reserves the title of “Navy League Sea Cadet Corps” was adopted

1939:

At the outbreak of the Second World War there were 100 Units with around 10,000 Cadets.

1942:

The Admiralty recognized the potential of the Sea Cadet Corps as a source of semi-trained manpower for the Fleet. During that year towns up and down the country organized "Warship Weeks" to raise funds to adopt warships. In many cases a new Sea Cadet Unit opened at the same time.
The Corps was renamed the "Sea Cadet Corps" and placed under the direct control of the Admiral Commanding Reserves, while still being administered by the Navy League. Officers were given appointments in the Royal Naval Reserves.
1942 also saw the advent of the Girl's Naval Training Corps as part of the National Association of Girl's Corps.
HM King George VI becomes the first Admiral of The Sea Cadet Corps

1946:

The Admiralty decided to continue its co-sponsorship of the Sea Cadet Corps after the war. The conditions were laid down in an agreement with the Navy League, known as the Sea Cadet Charter. This included, among other things, to-support a maximum of 22,000 Cadets and to supply uniform, boats, training facilities, travel expenses and limited uniform and pay to adult staff.
The Sea Cadet Council was set up to govern the Corps with membership from the Navy League and the Royal Navy. A retired Captain took on the inspection functions as Secretary to the Council, later as Captain, Sea Cadet Corps. The GNTC continued to expand and by the late 1950s there were nearly 50 units and the name was changed to the "Girls Nautical Training Corps".

1952:

Upon the death of the King, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh became the second Admiral of The Sea Cadet Corps

1955:

The' Commandant General Royal Marines expressed a wish to form a Marine Cadet Section to fit in with the existing organization. By 1964 this had expanded from the original 5 detachments to 40. By 1986 73 Units had Marine Detachments.

1976:

The Navy League is renamed the Sea Cadet Association as its sole aim is now the support of The Sea Cadets and The Girls' Nautical Training Corps

1980:

On 31st March the MoD (Navy) approved admission of girls into the SCC within an overall ceiling of numbers.
The Girls Nautical Training Corps ceased to exist as a separate body and its members were absorbed into the SCC to form Girls Nautical Training Contingents.

1990:

Female Officer ranks were changed to their male equivalents to confirm to the changes in the WRNS ranks. Further steps in the amalgamation of the GNTC with the SCC are planned for the near future.

1992:

Following the retirement of his father HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, HRH The Duke of York becomes the third Admiral of The Sea Cadet Corps. Also this year separate GNT contingents were discontinued, and male & female cadets enjoyed equal status.

1999:

The Sea Cadet Corps numbered around 400 Units with a rising membership of around 17,000. Sea Cadet Headquarters maintains a supervisory role over 3 Units in Bermuda and maintains friendly links with Commonwealth Corps in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India; South Africa, Zimbabwe and Hong Kong, and others in Sweden, Holland, Belgium, West Germany and the U.S.A.

2004:

The Sea Cadet Association merges with the Marine Society to become The Marine Society & Sea Cadets

Jan 2009 sees HMS Quorn under a new Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Tim Neild RN. And also sees the ship's 21st birthday celebrations.

2008 sees HMS QUORN begin the transition of a Fishery Protection Vessel back into a Mine Countermeasures Vessel.

In June 2007 HMS Quorn was announced as the proud winner of the Soberton trophy, which has, since 1989, been awarded annually to the Hunt Class MCMV that has made the most “outstanding contribution to Fishery Protection Duties.” Although the trophy itself, which is a Rum barrel, does not contain any rum, the award ceremony did include all of Quorn’s Ship’s Company receiving a well earned tot of Pusser’s Navy Rum, in a Pusser’s tin mug!

For Quorn’s then Commanding Officer, Lt Cdr Mark Taylor, the award was a notable highlight to conclude his successful, and extremely busy command of HMS Quorn, which he handed over to Lt Cdr Matt Bowden on Tuesday 10th July. Lt Cdr Taylor said, “I am extremely proud that Quorn has, again, received the Soberton trophy. To have achieved such professionalism and effectiveness in Fishery Protection, whilst retaining our core capabilities in Mine Warfare, is a testimony to the team-work, dedication and training of our ship’s Company.”

Having finished exercises in Norway and following a period of Maintenance and leave in July and August of 2006 she was be assigned to the Fishery Protection Squadron from September of 2006.

After spending much of 2004/5 undergoing repairs and sea-trials HMS Quorn is now fully operational and has joined The 2nd Mine Countermeasures Squadron (MCM 2).

Built by Vosper Thornycroft shipbuilders at Woolston, Southampton, the Quorn was launched in January 1988 by Lady Rosemary Thompson, wife of Vice-Admiral Sir Hugh Thompson. Lady Thompson was guest of honour again a year later when the Quorn was accepted into service and three months after that when the ship was commissioned.

Unfortunately, Lieut.-Cdr. Nigel Williams, the ship's new commanding officer, made history by missing his own ship’s commissioning due to an untimely attack of appendicitis!

Hunt class MCMVs are the world’s largest ships to be built of glass reinforced plastic, measuring 60m in length and 10m in breadth. They have a draught of 3 metres and displace 700 tonnes.

The Quorn, like her sister ships, can both sweep and hunt mines. She destroys mines by sweeping them with towed wire or influence sweeps, both magnetic and acoustic, and hunts them using high definition sonar. Any mines detected by sonar are identified and destroyed either by diver or by the ship’s remote controlled mine disposal system (RCMDS).

A 30mm gun, which fires 600 rounds per minute, enables the ship to operate in her secondary role as patrol craft.

The Quorn is powered by two Deltic diesel engines and has a top speed of 15 knots. The slow running necessary for mine warfare is carried out on a third Deltic, providing power via hydrostatic transmission systems, air clutches and main gearboxes.

Manoeuvring at low speed is facilitated by use of a hydraulic bow thruster.

The Computer Assisted Action Information System is fed details by the radars, gyro compasses, log, sonar, Decca, Hyperfix and other navigational systems and in turn gives a display of information required for accurate mine clearage.

HMS Quorn is fitted with the world most advanced mine counter-measures equipment including remote-controlled Mine Disposal Submersible called Seafox which, together with the ship’s Mine Clearance Divers, is used to locate, identify and dispose of mines. The Seafox, which is controlled from the ship, can survey the sea bed and lay explosive charges to detonate any mines found.

Periodically the Quorn will go through the process of degaussing – to achieve and maintain a low magnetic signature; obviously very important when dealing with a magnetically-influenced mine! It is crucial that an expensive (£35m) vessel such as Quorn retains her non-magnetic advantages.

Her affiliations include the Quorn Hunt, after which she is named, the village of Quorn, Melton Mowbray, the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service, Leicestershire County Council and the Melton Mowbray branch of the Royal Naval Association.

HMS Quorn History

There have been two previous ships of the same name. The first was a minesweeper built by Napier & Miller in Glasgow in 1916 and served with the second fleet sweeping flotilla. She was sold after a short period in Southampton on 18th Sept 1922.

HMS Quorn L66 WWII Crest

The second Quorn (L66) was a Hunt class destroyer built by J.P.White and Co.Ltd. at Cowes. She was launched on 27th March 1940 and completed on the 21st September 1940. HMS Quorn then joined the 21 Destroyer Flotilla at Harwich during the latter stages of 1940. She was to spend the whole of her commission with this Flotilla on convoy protection, anti-shipping and patrol duties, being damaged three times before her loss. In April 1941 she was superficially damaged by two delayed action bombs, which exploded twenty yards from her port quarter. Four months later whilst on passage from Harwich to Chatham, Quorn set off a mine forty yards of her port bow. Repairs at Chatham took until September 1941 to complete.

In April 1942 Quorn hit another mine while travelling along at 20 knots, one and a half miles east of the Aldeburgh buoy, this blew a 9' by 15' hole in the port side of the ship. Quorn was successfully towed to Harwich and then to Sheerness where repairs took 4 months to complete. On the 13th October 1942 Quorn had more success as one of the five destroyers that intercepted the German raider Komet in the English Channel. The raider was sunk and two M-class minesweepers in company were both set on fire and heavily damaged. An hour later a second patrolling force of the same operation engaged a group of escort vessels, sinking an R-boat and damaging a T-class torpedo boat. In June 1944 Quorn was an escort for personnel convoys during operation Neptune until, on 3rd August, she was hit and sunk during a heavy attack on the British Assault area by E-boats, explosive motorboats, human torpedos and low flying aircraft. Four officers and 126 ratings were lost.

This is an eye witness account by Norman Ackroyd (a survivor) of the events of the night of 3rd August 1944:

" The ship had been part of the beach head defence force for some nights before, on the night of August 3rd we sailed as normal just before dusk and went to all night action stations (I was part of No 3 guns crew on the quarterdeck) again as normal, this time however we were accompanied by an American radar ship and we were informed over the tannoy that at dawn we were going in close to Le Havre in order to bombard the e-boat pens. HMS QUORN L66

The American ship was to control the shelling. Just before midnight however there was a massive explosion amidships and I understand she had been hit in the boiler rooms, broke in two, and sank in a few minutes. I personally was blown overboard by the blast and found myself in the water fully dressed. A large number of my shipmates must have gone down with the ship but there were quite a lot of us in the water. The American ship left the scene at full speed which caused a lot of resentment at the time but it was explained to us later that if she had stayed she would possibly have sustained the same fate as the Quorn. A lot of those with me in the water did not last the night but quietly slipped away, I was in the water for eight and a half hours before we were picked up by an armed trawler looking for us, by that time we were only a small band. We were informed after that the ship had been sunk by a German human torpedo on which the pilot sat on a type of torpedo which had an explosive torpedo slung underneath and that the German pilot had been picked up by another of our destroyers of the defence force. We were also told that we had run into a number of these torpedoes which were being carried into the beach head by the tide but as a result of the Quorn being sunk the alarm had been raised and the other torpedoes had been dealt with."

During the Second World War (1939-1945) eight Minotaur Class Light Cruisers were planned. Swiftsure, Minotaur, Bellerophon, Defence, Superb and Tiger were ordered under the 1941 Construction Programme, followed by Blake and Hawke under the 1942 Construction Programme. However the end of the War, coupled with the post-war economic crisis, led to the cancellation of many warships under construction or on the drawing board. In addition the war in Asia and the Pacific had highlighted the importance of aircraft carriers, and so the construction of light fleet carriers took priority over that of cruisers.

Of the eight Minotaur Class Cruisers, Swiftsure and Superb were completed and commissioned into the Royal Navy, Minotaur was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy (RAN) upon completion and renamed Ontario, construction of Bellerophon, Defence and Blake was suspended, whilst in March 1946 Tiger and Hawke were cancelled altogether, the latter being broken up on the slipway at Portsmouth.

The looming cancellation of later units led to numerous name changes, so that the best names would see service. Hence in 1945 Bellerophon was renamed Tiger, in 1957 Defence was renamed Lion and in 1944 Blake was renamed Tiger, only to be renamed Blake again in 1945.

As the Second World War era cruisers reached the end of their operational lives, the status of Tiger, Lion and Blake was reconsidered and on October 15th 1954 it was announced work on the three cruisers would resume and they would be completed to a revised ‘Tiger Class’ design. The modified design mainly revolved around the inclusion of rapid fire automatic 3-inch and 6-inch gun turrets, originally envisaged for the abandoned ‘Minotaur Project’, instead of the three triple 6-inch gun turrets and five twin 4-inch turrets originally planned for the Minotaur Class.

As completed the three Tiger Class Cruisers had a standard displacement of 9,550 tons and displaced 11,700 tons fully loaded. They measured 169 metres in length, 19.5 metres in breath and 5.5 metres in draught. Equipped with four Admiralty 3-drum boilers and 4 shaft Parsons SP geared turbines, they had a speed of 31.5 knots. Armament consisted of two twin 6-inch gun turrets (one forward, one aft) and three twin 3-inch turrets (one forward, two amid ships). The automatic turrets could fire twenty rounds per minute- a rate twice as fast as that of any previous cruiser. They numbered 716 in complement and were fully air-conditioned.

Tiger entered service in 1959, followed by Lion in 1960 and finally by Blake in 1961. Despite their sophisticated gun weaponry, the Tiger Class were in many ways already obsolete as more modern vessels were entering service with guided missiles. The three vessels were also manpower intensive, requiring a complement of over 700 officers and men. In the run up to the withdrawal from Malta the priority was to keep the Commando Carriers fully manned and operational. This, coupled with the need to man more modern vessels, led to Blake entering reserve in 1963- less than two years after she first commissioned. She was followed by Lion in 1964 and by Tiger in 1966.

During the 1960s there was a requirement for fast helicopter carrying ships to accompany the fleet and supplement the aircraft carriers. To fulfil this role Tiger and Blake underwent major conversions into Helicopter Cruisers equipped for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations. The conversion involved the reconstruction of the stern: the aft twin 6-inch gun turret was removed and hanger and flight deck facilities were added for four Wessex or Sea King helicopters. Below the flight deck offices, workshops, a briefing room, mess decks and cabins were added. Provision was also made onboard for a detachment of Royal Marine Commandos, who could be transferred ashore by helicopter, and hence Tiger and Blake also had a role as ‘Commando Cruisers’.

Other modifications included the installation of SeaCat anti-aircraft missile launchers amidships in place of the two twin 4-inch gun turrets, which meant Blake and Tiger were the Royal Navy’s first, and last, guided missile cruisers. Finally, extensive command and control facilities were added, giving Tiger and Blake flagship capabilities suited to leading task groups on worldwide deployments.

Tiger demonstrated the flagship capability in 1977 when she led a world wide deployment of a nuclear submarine, six frigates and three RFAs to South America.

The conversions left Tiger and Blake some 380 tons heavier with a full displacement of 12,080 tons and their complements increased by 169 to 885. During conversion they had lost their much loved sleek cruiser lines and there new appearance was criticised for being an ungainly and inelegant ‘push me-pull me’ design, and both vessels were soon nicknamed ‘Ugly Ducklings’. Originally Lion was also to have been converted, although this never materialised: Blake’s conversion had been more expensive than envisaged (£5.5 million) and so funds were no longer available. Ironically Tiger’s conversion cost even more (£13.25 million), such was the level of inflation at the time. Lion was subsequently sold for breaking up.

With Ark Royal’s entry into reserve, Tiger and Blake were the only major Royal Navy vessels capable of performing the fundamental anti-submarine warfare (ASW) role. The conversion had given Tiger and Blake between fifteen and twenty years further service, but by the late 1970s the Royal Navy was suffering a major manpower crisis. With the recommissioning of Hermes and Bulwark as ASW Carriers, Tiger and Blake entered reserve. When Blake decommissioned in 1979 she had the distinction of being the last cruiser to serve the Royal Navy and her passing was marked on December 6th 1979, when she ceremonially fired her 6-inch guns for the last time in the English Channel. Blake was then sold for breaking up in 1982, followed by Tiger in 1986.

This picture shows the dummy HMS Tiger, who was one of two merchantmen that had been disguised as battle cruisers. The idea behind this scheme was to fool the Germans into thinking that a far greater part of the Navy was being sent to the Dardanelles. The plan worked so admirably well, that the Tiger was spotted by the U21, who had already sunk the Majestic and Triumph. After the inevitable torpedo had struck home, and the ship was sinking fast, the German commander could not believe his eyes when he saw the complete superstructure, the turrets and the guns of the Tiger calmly float away on the water.

During World War I the Royal Navy decided to convert a select number of merchant ships, particularly ocean liners, into imitation capital ships. Fourteen ships in total were selected for the task, each re-modelled individually with mock turrets, guns and other sham devices made of wood and canvas, and specially ballasted, to enable them to masquerade as the capital ships of the Grand Fleet. Just how successful these dummy battleships and battlecruisers were is not known. The objective behind the subterfuge was to confuse the enemy over fleet dispositions as well as to mislead them as to the actual total fleet strength Only the Merion, disguised as the battlecruiser, HMS Tiger, was lost during the war, while in support of the Dardanelles Campaign, in the Aegean Sea by UB8 on 30 May 1915

In April 1908 two of the Royal Navy's ships were sunk in The Solent: HMS Tiger and HMS Gladiator.

On 2 April 1908 the 380-ton destroyer HMS Tiger took part in a Home Fleet exercise 20 miles south of the Isle of Wight to test defences against torpedo boats. She had been built in 1900 for the Admiralty by John Brown and Co, Clydebank.
She had a speed of 30 knots and was armed with one 12-pounder and two torpedo tubes.

During the exercise, HMS Tiger crossed the bow of a nearby cruiser, HMS Berwick, and was sliced in half, her bow section sinking almost immediately. Fortunately the stern section stayed afloat long enough for most of her 63 crew to be rescued, but the captain and 27 members of the crew were drowned.