Shipbreaking at Faslane

Faslane was arguably the UK’s leading shipbreaking centre from commencement in 1946 until closure in 1981. This excellent 71 page history tells its story. By the time of closure, sixty eight Royal Navy ships had been cut up as well as a number of merchant vessels. There were six battleships including Britain’s last HMS Vanguard which arrived in 1960 and two KGV class, Anson and Duke of York. The German battle cruiser Derfflinger is shown being cut up in a floating dock in 1946. She was part of the German High Seas Fleet scuttled at Scapa Flow. The book includes around eighty very good photos, few of which have been published before. Most of these are of warships in various stages of demolition.
The demolition of any ship is a sad event but will allow unusual views of the lay out and compartments of the ship in question: for example, a fascinating annotated photo shows the battleship Duke of York well cut down to just below lower deck in August 1959. Another diagram shows a plan of Faslane with all the berths, cranes, other equipment and offices, most illuminating
The shipbreaker is of course in business to make a profit and the book includes some interesting statistics. These confirm that although steel scrap may be the ‘bread and butter’ of the shipbreaker it is non ferrous metals and equipment realising far high prices.
An excellent book packed with information, including a detailed list of all the ships demolished. Not just battleships and aircraft carriers demolished at Faslane, also smaller vessels such as frigates and and midget submarines. Highly recommended.