HMS Vanguard off to breakers, but not before popping to the pub... | Nostalgia

Most of you will have seen aerial photographs of HMS Vanguard when she veered off course leaving Portsmouth Harbour on her final voyage to the breakers on August 4,1960.
By Bob Hind
Published 6th Apr 2021, 14:40 GMT
Seen from the Gosport side of Portsmouth Harbour, HMS Vanguard leaves on her final voyage. Picture: Barry Cox collectionSeen from the Gosport side of Portsmouth Harbour, HMS Vanguard leaves on her final voyage. Picture: Barry Cox collection
Seen from the Gosport side of Portsmouth Harbour, HMS Vanguard leaves on her final voyage. Picture: Barry Cox collection

Here are two photographs from my colleague Barry Cox's collection which I doubt many will have seen.

The tow began at 10am with tugs Antic and Capable at the bows, Grinder on the port side, Forceful on starboard with Samson astern. As the ship passed the Gosport Ferry pontoon something was obviously wrong and Vanguard veered into the mud at Point with her bows just short of the Still and West pub.

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The top photograph shows Vanguard from the Gosport side with many buses in the bus station and thousands of onlookers who had come to say farewell to the 46,000-ton battleship.

HMS Vanguard surrounded by tugs and sightseers' boats shortly after the photograph above was taken. Picture: Barry Cox collectionHMS Vanguard surrounded by tugs and sightseers' boats shortly after the photograph above was taken. Picture: Barry Cox collection
HMS Vanguard surrounded by tugs and sightseers' boats shortly after the photograph above was taken. Picture: Barry Cox collection

The bottom photo was taken shortly after when Vanguard had ploughed into mud short of Point. Thousands were there and many ferrymen took advantage by taking sightseers out for a closer look and, no doubt, hampered attempts to free the ship. After some hours she escaped the mud and made her way to Faslane to be broken up.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Related topics:HMS VanguardPortsmouth Harbour

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