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HMS BLAKE C99 along side the wharf at Lyness in the early seventies 1973 is a guess but it was in that era.
View Large VersionPicture added on 15 August 2008
The last R.N. cruiser, decommissioned 1979.
Added by John Schollay on 16 August 2008
Yes you are right it was 1973. I remember it well, we had just come from Loch Eriboll doin sea trials after our refit
Added by Andy Peal on 03 April 2009
Nice pic
Added by Geordie Flett on 07 May 2009
I was on the RFA Green Rover during this time and Blake was part of our grpoup 1974-1975, perhaps this photo could have been around the same time
FAR EAST DEPLOYMENT
Ships deploying to the Far East as Task Group 317.2 (HMS Blake, HMS Leander, HMS Diomede, HMS Achilles, HMS Lowestoft, HMS Falmouth, HMs/m Warspite, RFA Green Rover, RFA Stromness and RFA Olna) sailed from their base ports on 17 September and formed up south of the Eddystone Light that evening. The Group then proceeded south to Gibraltar.
FAR EAST DEPLOYMENT
Ships deploying to the Far East as Task Group 317.2 (HMS Blake, HMS Leander, HMS Diomede, HMS Achilles, HMS Lowestoft, HMS Falmouth, HMs/m Warspite, RFA Green Rover, RFA Stromness and RFA Olna) sailed from their base ports on 17 September and formed up south of the Eddystone Light that evening. The Group then proceeded south to Gibraltar.
Added by Alan Marwick on 09 May 2011
Yeah, I remember during the sea trials on that trip we were firing the 6" guns, one of the shells didn't go off in the breach , so all crew were ordered aft waiting for the thing to explode, luckily it didn't, but being part of the 6" magazine crew, spent hours cleaning down the shell casings with wd40 after they were soaked with the sprinkler system .. Another incident was when we had to dump an anchor cos of a faulty capstan cog, we had to fly a sea king off to Plymouth to get a replacement off the then mothballed hms lion .. Happy days on snakey Blake !!
Added by Malc tomlin on 09 December 2012
yes i remember when one of the shells didnt go off
Added by Andy Peal on 17 December 2012
I remember this. Our trials were cut short because of problems with the 3 inch guns and seacats!. Returned to Pompey early. Hurray, as I had just got married!
Added by Stan Walters on 09 January 2013
I also remember said incident, there was some great memories of that deployment, snakey blakey, great days.
Added by Colin Andrew. on 25 April 2016
They were great days the States and West Indies trip good run
Added by Andy (Blue) Hanks on 31 July 2018
Yes Bermuda, New Orleans etc
Added by Mal Tomlin on 18 August 2018
Great trip
Added by Andrew Peal on 28 August 2018
Who remembers the small pub? He had a lottery takings.
Added by Ab george coleman on 14 February 2021
It was actually the Lyness Social Club so takings went back into club.
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Anonymous comment added on 17 March 2021
Hoy and Walls
