Last British Battleship: HMS Vanguard, 1946-1960

The ninth HMS Vanguard, commissioned in 1946, was the last and largest battleship of Britain's Dreadnought era. It was built during WWII and incorporated existing twin 15in mountings. Recognizable by her transom stern and high flared bow, she had fine sea-keeping ability but was broken up in 1960. This book by R. A. Burt covers her design, construction, and career, with 35 superb plans, profiles, and photographs.

Format: Hardback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 20 May 2019
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

The ninth HMS Vanguard, renowned for its illustrious history in the Royal Navy, carried one of the most esteemed names, with honors spanning from the Armada to Jutland. Commissioned in 1946, it stood as the final and largest battleship of Britain's fleet. Her design drew inspiration from the King George V class, incorporating significant elements of the unfinished battleships Lion and Temeraire, which were laid down in 1939. With an overall length of 813 feet and a displacement of 42,300 tons, Vanguard was the world's last battleship of its class. Built during World War II, she incorporated existing twin 15-inch mountings as part of the Royal Navy's response to the growing threat posed by German and Japanese battleships in the early 1940s. Immediately recognizable by her distinctive transom stern and high-flared bow, Vanguard boasted excellent sea-keeping capabilities. Post-war, her appearance and substantial crew requirements posed challenges for the Royal Navy. However, her most notable role was serving as the Royal Yacht during the royal family's tour of South Africa in 1947. Vanguard was decommissioned in 1960 and subsequently broken up at Faslane. In his latest book, R. A. Burt delves into the design, construction, and career of this remarkable battleship. The book meticulously examines armor, machinery, power plants, and weaponry, accompanied by 35 exquisite plans, profiles, and other line drawings renowned for the author's expertise. Furthermore, the text is enriched by an array of 80 color and black-and-white photographs from the author's collection, enhancing its visual appeal. Prior to this publication, the author's previous three volumes were considered definitive works on British battleships before 1945. With this latest offering, Burt concludes the story of the Dreadnought era, vividly bringing to life the final chapter of a magnificent vessel that the world will unlikely witness again.

Weight: 1074g
Dimension: 257 x 296 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526752260