H.M.S. Tiger

The ultimate in conventional gun-armed cruisers

H.M.S. Tiger carried out her sea trials in January 1959

The Tiger was the first of three ships of her class to be completed, the other two being H.M.S. Lion and H.M.S. Blake. She was the third warship of the name to be built by Messers. John Brown and Co. During the twentieth century and represented the ultimate in conventional gun-armed cruisers.

On Wednesday 18th March 1959, she was handed over to the Royal Navy. I was there as member of the Royal Marines detachment, which consisted of 26 Royal Marines and 26 Royal Marine Bandsmen. Captain Aubrey-Smith was our Commanding Officer, we also had a Sgt Major, a Sargeant and four Corporals.

Her hull was similar to the earlier H.M.S. Superb and, although launched at Clydebank thirteen and a half years ago, it had been preserved in excellent condition by the builders.

With her extensive radar and radio equipment and her new armament the Tiger was a complete addition to the Royal Navy as a command ship for the following 10 to 15 years.

Some of the new features incorporated in the ship were:

Quick firing fully automatic radar controlled 6-inch and 3-inch guns.

Automatic boiler control.

Remote control of main machinery.

Dining halls for ship's company with cafeteria type feeding arrangements.

A bunk for every man in the ship.

Greatly improved steam-heated vetilation with alternative air cooling arrangements in many spaces.

The extensive use inside the ship of modern plastic materials in place of steel or aluminium.

Captain R.E. Washbourn, D.S.O., O.B.E., RN

Captain Washbourn was a New Zealander who entered the Royal Navy as a Public School Entry Cadet in 1927. He was a specialist in Gunnery and was awarded the D.S.O. in 1939 for his part in the "Graf Spee" action, during which he controlled the gunfire of H.M.S. Achillies. He was closely associated with the gunnery equipment of H.M.S. Tiger during the design and developement stages.

Gunnery

H.M.S. Tiger was fitted with two 6-inch twin rapid firing turrets and three 3-inch twin fully automatic turrets. Each turret had its own fire control system and was capable of acquiring and engaging a target in automatic radar control.

The gun armament, which was the result of many years research and developement at Admiralty establishments and associated firms, and trials by H.M.S. Cumberland, was designed to meet the threat of modern types of attack. It was probably the most advanced equipment of its type at sea, in those days, and would fill the interval for some years until the Royal Navy had built a Guided Missile fleet.

Aircraft targets could be detected at long ranges by the ship's warning radar and in turn those targets were indicated to the armament through the Ship's Operaion Room which was the brain centre of the ship. Here the Captain, assisted by his specialist officers, fights the ship, both in surface and anti-aircraft actions.

Navigation and Direction

The Navigation and Direction Departments' responcibilities range from the safe navigation of the ship and safety of aircraft controlled by the ship, to the manning and operating of the Action Information Organisation.

From radar, radio and information passed in by the lookouts pictures of the air and surface situations are compiled in the Operations Room by the Radar Plot rating.

It is from this picture that the Captain, and Admiral when embarked, can fight the ship or squadron in battle. Information to the weapon control systems to enable guns to engage selected targets also comes from the Operations Room.

N.D. Officers and R.P. ratings are primarily membersof the Seaman Branch and together form a large proportion of the ship's seamen complement. When they were not engaged on their specialist work they were employed throughout the ship on normal seamen duties.

Engineering

The duty of the Engineering Department was to provide the basic power for propelling the ship and steering it, for generating electric power and for various "hotel" services.

The ship was driven by four propellers and four Admiralty design boilers and geared steam turbines. Altough this propulsion plant is conventional in design, it has been brought fully up to date for modern warfare by the addition of the latest automatic remote control devices and fuel burning equipment.

The total propulsive power available exceeded 70,000 horse-power giving a speed of over 30 knots. Electro-hydraulic steering gear was used.

Four large turbo-generators provided electric power totalling 4,000 killowatts. Distilling plant was provided capable of producing more than fifty gallons per man per day for all domestic purposes in addition to feed water for the steam plant. An air conditioning plant was fitted to give controlled climate conditions in necessary spaces and cooling required when closed down to resist automatic fall-out.

The Engineering Department provided steam for cooking and heating etc. and operated a high capacity refrigeration plant giving deep-freeze and cold storage facilities for food stocks. A fully equipped modern laundry was also operated on board.

Electrical

H.M.S. Tiger generated enough electric power to supply the combined domestic loads of Stratford-on-Avon and Alloway. The total length of the electric cables in the ship would have reached from London to Paris, with a bit to spare.

This ship had modern eletronic computers to control her weapons, and the newest radar and wireless sets. Powerful electric motors drove her capstans; gun-turrets; crane; winches; steering; directors; ammunition supply; ventillation services.

The whole complex operation of fighting with this modern warship was linked together by a complicated system of telephones and broadcasts. These were much sub-divided to minimise their vulnerability in action.

The electric services of a modern community were also provided, including television; cinema; rediffused radio and gramaphone programs, and even electric laundering, cooking, floor-polishing and paint scaling.

All of the equipment conformed with common N.A.T.O. Standards, to simplify interchangeabillity, economy and mutual support. This ranged from supplies of electric power generated ashore in dockyards, to the supply of spare parts.

All these services cover the whole field of modern electrical engineering, including Power; Light Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Servo Mechanisms; Wireless; Radar and Ultrasonics.

Communications

Though the Communications Department was one of the smallest in Tiger, it was probably true to say that upon their efforts depends, to some small extent, the smooth running of many other departments in the ship.

The aim of this department was to achieve a smooth flow of signals into and out of the ship. Those signals may have ranged from operational orders from a Senior Officer to weather forecasts from the Admiralty, from a brief report from aircraft overhead to a private telegram from someone's mother at home.

To this end H.M.S. Tiger was fitted with a selection of communication equipment including teleprinters, facsimile equipment and the latest in ultra high frequency transceivers.

These combined with the most modern aerial system to be fitted in one of Her Majest's ships, an automatic dial telephone system, and numerous other devices provided the rapid communications essential in peace and war.

Supply and Secretariat

H.M.S, Tiger was a self-contained community, self-supporting for long periods anywhere in the world.

The people responsible on board for getting, keeping and issuing the equipment and spares necessary to keep the ship running; for keeping everyone's service records and pay accounts; and for feeding them and clothing them-are the officers, writers, stores ratings, cooks and stewards of the supply department of the ship. These people are the "pussers" and their first duty was to serve the shipmates.

Nevertheless every warship runs on valuation or "house-keeping" allowances based on size of the ship and the number of men borne; the supply officer has to see that the allowances are not exceeded and are economically spent. He must also provide the Admiralty regularly with full accounts showing exactly how the money has been spent.

An idea of the extent of the work can be given by figures.

Because a ship is often at sea, unconnected to the shore by telephone, much of her business was done by letter; about 50 official letters were written each day with a corresponding number of replies. The cash turnover each month was £15,000. About 2,000 cooked meals were served each day in three dining halls. The ship used 40 tons of provisions in a month, and carried 110 tons of refrigerated stores.

There were over 300 different kinds of clothing in the clothing store, the total value in 1959 was over £35,000. The Naval Store had a range of about 12,000 types of spares, hardware and ironmongery; a total of 200,000 items every one which must be readily available.

Last, but not least, was the rum. Every man over 21 was entitled to his tot and this meant an issue of about 35 pints a day.

Education

The keynote of this department was further education; in this ship, as in any other in the Service, provision was made for people to increase their knowledge in both scientific and general subjects. This was accomplished either in the Ship's schoolroom in organised or voluntary classes or by correspondence courses.

The department also dealt with resettlement problems for those leaving the Service, giving details of relevent employment and arranging Educational Vocational Training courses in the home ports.

The ship's libraries, fiction, non-fiction and reference sections, come within the sphere of the department together with the ordering and vending of E.V.T. materials such as rug sets, marquetry and other allied do-it-yourself pastimes.

One important aspect of the Ship's life, Meteorology, was carried out by an Instructor Officer. Observations were made by the Meteorological Officer and these, together with shoreside, weather ship and aircraft reports were compiled and charted thrice daily.

Medical and Dental

Sailors are normally very healthy, but those who were unfortunate enough to fall ill could receive full medical attention in the sick bay which was a miniture hospital. Here in-patients can be nursed and surgical operations performed on the high seas, both for the ship's company and for other sea forces in need of medical aid.

The motto of H.M.S. Tiger is "Who shall draw my teeth". For those serving in her there was a dentist to perform this task working in a fully equipped dental surgery.

These are the facilities available to take care of the sick; in addition all members of the ship's company are subjected to preventative medicine in the form of inoculation so that disease cannot be brought ashore from overseas lands.

Royal Marines

Finally. Their names are always on the back page of the ship's register. For centuries past, Her/His Majesty's Ships have carried detachments of Royal Marines.

Their role was to stand sentry over the more important or dangerous parts of the ship, to form guards of honour, and perform ceremonial duties, though not exactly in name-to act as police, or at any rate be a constant reinforcement to the powers of law and order.

They also provided "Landing Parties" to deal with emergencies that may arise at short notice, in any part of the world. They worked alongside the seamen and manned one of the ship's power boats. They also manned and helped to maintain a considerable part of the ship's armament.

The Royal Marine Band is a military band whose members are also able to combine as an orchestra or a dance band. They also act as strecher bearers in times of Active Service.

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