HMS Anson was a King George V-class battleship of the Royal Navy. She was launched on 24 February 1940, being completed on 22 June 1942.
Anson saw service in the Second World War, escorting nine Russian convoys in the Arctic by December 1943. She took part in diversionary moves to draw attention away from Operation Husky in July 1943. In February 1944 she provided cover for Operation Tungsten, the successful air strike against the German battleship Tirpitz. Rear Admiral Cecil Harcourt accepted the surrender of Japanese forces occupying Hong Kong on board Anson in August 1945, and after the end of the war the vessel became the flagship of the 1st Battle Squadron of the British Pacific Fleet.
Anson arrived back in British waters on 29 July 1946, spending the next three years in active service with the post-war navy. She was finally placed in reserve and “mothballed” in 1949, spending eight years in this condition. On 17 December 1957 she was sold for scrap.
On Trials
HMS Anson Trials June 1942HMS Anson on Trials June 1942HMS Anson on Trials June 1942HMS Anson on Trials June 1942HMS AnsonHMS Anson on Trials June 1942HMS Anson on Trials June 1942HMS Anson on Trials June 1942HMS Anson on Trials June 1942
HMS Anson
The battleship HMS Anson Nov 1943HMS Anson in a turn to port as she recovers one of her Supermarine WalrusOn the fo’c’sle of HMS Anson in Northern waters Feb 1943HMS Anson seen at Sydney, NSW, Australia in 1946.HMS Anson in Sydney, 1945HMS Anson, in Sydney Harbor, during VP-Day celebrations, 1945HMS Anson seen in 1945.HMS Anson seen at Plymouth, England in 1945.HMS Anson , March 1945.HMS Anson seen in 1946.HMS Anson in 1949
Detail Photos
600 lb armour plate – 14.7 thick – weighing about 30 tons is fitted to HMS Duke of York, April 1940Loading 14″ Shells onto HMS Anson Loading 14″ Shells onto HMS Anson 40mm Bofors Aug 1942 40mm Bofors Aug 1942 40mm Bofors Aug 1942 A Supermarine Walrus being hoisted on board, a view from inside one of the hangers June 1942Whaler’s crew Aug 1942Anson Being Painted 21 December 1943, at RosythPainting the ship’s side Aug 1942HMS Anson, in Sydney Harbor, during VP-Day celebrations, 1945
Scrapping
HMS Duke of York, HMS King George V and HMS Anson anchored at Garelock while awaiting their scrapping
