HC Deb 03 March 1948 vol 448 cc69-71W
71. Commander Noble

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what alterations have been made since the war to the five battleships recently announced to be scrapped; at what cost; and on what duties were each of them employed during this period.

72. Commander Maitland

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty, how long a refit H.M.S. "Valiant" had after the war, at what date this was completed, whether the engines were removed and the technical equipment brought up to date, and what was the total overall cost of the refit.

Mr. Dugdale

The following are the details of alterations since the war to the five battleships announced to be scrapped. Owing to very heavy damage while in the East Indies, H.M.S. "Valiant" was taken in hand at Devonport from 14th February, 1945, to 20th April, 1946, for refit, damage repairs, and alterations and additions, to prepare her for service in the Pacific. The main engines were not removed. Improvements were made to living and working conditions and these included additional ventilation, air conditioning, W.C. and bathroom facilities, evaporating plant, refrigerating plant and water coolers, and mess space. Improvements were also made to the cinema. The radar was modernised and minor improvements were made to W/T, and the action information centre. Improved air defence and damage control positions were fitted and internal communications were brought up to date. Improvements were made to the existing H/A and L/A fire control, and one 8-barrel porn-porn and four saluting guns were fitted. Existing workshops were improved, an additional workshop was fitted, and improvements were also made to control arrangements for electric generating plant. The cost of the alterations was £100,000 before V/J Day and £120,000 afterwards. In addition, H.M.S. "Valiant" had to undergo extensive repairs. The date of handing this ship over to the shipbreakers has not yet been decided.

H.M.S. "Nelson" was in hand from 21st November, 1945, to the 22nd December, 1945, for docking and repair, during which 31 Oerlikon guns and splinter screens were removed. She was again in hand from 10th April, 1946, to 1st June, 1946, in order to fit lecture rooms and additional davits and stowage for boats prior to her service in the Training Squadron. The total cost of those two periods was £7,000.

No alterations have been made to His Majesty's ships "Queen Elizabeth," "Renown" and "Rodney."

Since the war the ships have been employed as follows:

H.M.S. "Valiant" on completion of her refit was attached to the Stokers' Establishment at Devonport from 21st June, 1946.

H.M.S. "Nelson" was part of the East Indies Fleet until October, 1945. She arrived in the United Kingdom in November, 1945, and became Flag Ship of the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet, until 10th April, 1946, when she became Flag Ship of Flag Officer Training Battleships until October, 1947, when she began to reduce to reserve.

H.M.S. "Queen Elizabeth" arrived in the United Kingdom from the Eastern Fleet in August, 1945. Until she reduced to reserve at Portsmouth on 12th February, 1946, she was administered by the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet.

H.M.S. "Renown" arrived in the United Kingdom from the East Indies Fleet in April, 1945. She was used as accommodation ship at Plymouth from 1st September, 1945.

H.M.S. "Rodney" was the Flag Ship of Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet, until 23rd November, 1945, and then a unit of the Home Fleet until she was ordered to reduce to reserve in April, 1946.