The last battleship built for the Royal Navy, HMS Vanguard was laid down on 2 October 1941, launched on 30 November 1944 and commissioned on 12 May 1946. Designed to take advantage of 15-inch gun turrets available, Vanguard was anticipated to be in service faster than the Lion-class battleships then under construction. The Lion-class would take longer to complete, due to the complexity of their triple 16-inch turrets.
During the Second World War, construction of Vanguard was stopped and restarted several times, due to competing priorities in ship construction. The designed was also altered to incorporate war experience. Vanguard served until 1955 when she was placed in reserve. She was sold and scrapped in 1960.
HMS Vanguard under constructionHMS Vanguard Fitting OutHMS Vanguard under constructionHMS Vanguard under constructionHMS Vanguard being launchedHMS Vanguard being launched 30 November 1944HMS Vanguard Fitting OutHMS Vanguard’s turrets under constructionHMS Vanguard fitting outHMS Vanguard Fitting OutHMS Vanguard Forward 15 inch guns
HMS Vanguard in 1946
HMS Vanguard 1946HMS Vanguard 2 May 1946HMS Vanguard Steaming at high speed while running trials in 1946HMS Vanguard on trials 1946HMS Vanguard Entering Dry Dock after trials 17 July 1946HMS Vanguard
HMS Vanguard in 1947
The two whip type receiving aerials fitted right aft in HMS Vanguard January 1947HMS Vanguard January 1947HMS Vanguard seen in Cape Town, South Africa during the Royal Tour of South Africa in April 1947HMS Vanguard sailing towards Cape Town South Africa 1947HMS Vanguard 1947HMS Vanguard 27 April 1947 departing Cape Town South AfricaHMS Vanguard January 1947
HMS Vanguard in 1948
HMS Vanguard 1948HMS Vanguard May 1948HMS Vanguard September 1948
HMS Vanguard in 1949
HMS Vanguard April 1949 at Grand Harbour MaltaHMS Vanguard 16 May 1949HMS Vanguard 16 May 1949HMS Vanguard 16 May 1949HMS Vanguard 16 May 1949HMS Vanguard 16 May 1949HMS Vanguard May 1949
HMS Vanguard in 1950
HMS Vanguard 1950
HMS Vanguard in 1952
HMS Vanguard taking in oil fuel from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Wave Premier during Exercise Mainbrace Sep 1952HMS Vanguard and USS Midway in the Firth of Clyde during Exercise Mainbrace, September 1952HMS Vanguard 1952 with ice covered gunsHMS Vanguard and USS Quincy (CA-71) at anchor in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland during Operation Mainbrace in September 1952HMS Vanguard 1952HMS Vanguard 1952HMS Vanguard visiting the Netherlands July 1952
HMS Vanguard in 1953
HMS Vanguard June 1953HMS Vanguard 1953HMS Vanguard and Illustrious 1953HMS Vanguard September 1953 during Exercise MarinerHMS Vanguard Leaving Portsmouth May 1953HMS Vanguard 1953HMS Vanguard 15 June 1953HMS Vanguard 2 June 1953 at WeymouthHMS Vanguard 1953A helicopter from USS Bennington lands on HMS Vanguard September 1953 during Exercise MarinerA Sikorsky Dragonfly from HMS Eagle lands on HMS Vanguard September 1953 during Exercise Mariner
HMS Vanguard in 1954
HMS Vanguard at Gibraltar 28 January 1954, Entering No. 1 DockHMS Vanguard at Gibraltar 28 January 1954, Entering No. 1 DockHMS Vanguard at Gibraltar 1954HMS Vanguard at Gibraltar 28 January 1954, Entering No. 1 DockHMS Vanguard at Gibraltar 28 January 1954, Entering No. 1 DockHMS Vanguard during a port visit to Oslo, 21 June 1954
HMS Vanguard in 1956
Looking down at the 15/42 (380mm) forward turrets of HMS Vanguard on Empire Day 1956Looking at the 15/42 (380mm) forward turrets of HMS Vanguard on Empire Day 1956
Undated Photos
HMS VanguardHMS VanguardHMS VanguardHMS VanguardHMS VanguardHMS VanguardHMS VanguardHMS VanguardHMS Vanguard and HoweHMS VanguardLooking at the 15/42 (380mm) forward turrets of HMS VanguardHMS VanguardHMS VanguardHMS VanguardHMS Vanguard in the 1950’sHMS Vanguard in the 1950’sHMS Vanguard at Devonport, EnglandHMS Vanguard at Devonport, EnglandHMS Vanguard at Spithead in the early 1950’s.HMS VanguardHMS VanguardHMS VanguardHMS VanguardHMS VanguardHMS VanguardHMS VanguardHMS VanguardHMS VanguardHMS Vanguard
Internal Detail
Oil Sprayers in the Boiler Room of HMS Vanguard
Helicopters and HMS Vanguard
A Sikorsky Dragonfly on HMS Vanguard 26 February 1951A Sikorsky Dragonfly helicopter from the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious lands on HMS Vanguard making the first landing of a helicopter on the fo’c’sle of a British WarshipA Sikorsky Dragonfly helicopter from the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious lands on HMS Vanguard making the first landing of a helicopter on the fo’c’sle of a British WarshipA Sikorsky Dragonfly from HMS Eagle lands on HMS Vanguard September 1953 during Exercise MarinerA helicopter from USS Bennington lands on HMS Vanguard September 1953 during Exercise Mariner
Scrapping
HMS Vanguard on her way to be scrapped September 1960HMS Vanguard on her way to be scrappedHMS Vanguard run aground in Portsmouth on her way to be scrappedHMS Vanguard run aground in Portsmouth on her way to be scrappedHMS Vanguard run aground in Portsmouth on her way to be scrappedHMS Vanguard having her 15″ guns removedHMS Vanguard with her 15″ guns removed during scrapping at FaslaneHMS Vanguard with her 15″ guns removedHMS Vanguard with her 15″ guns removed during scrapping at FaslaneScrapping one of the turrets of HMS VanguardScrapping HMS Vanguard 1961
