Royal Navy Nelson-Class Battleship HMS Nelson Passes Under Forth Bridge En Route to Scrapping, 16 March 1949

On March 16, 1949, the Royal Navy’s Nelson-class battleship, HMS Nelson, made a historic passage under the iconic Forth Bridge in Scotland. This event marked the vessel’s final journey as it headed toward the Thomas W. Ward shipyard in Inverkeithing, where it would be dismantled for scrapping. Named in honor of Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, the victor of the Battle of Trafalgar, HMS Nelson represented a significant chapter in British naval history.

Commissioned in 1927, HMS Nelson served as the flagship of the Royal Navy for many years. It was notable for its distinctive design, with its main armament of 16-inch guns mounted forward, a unique configuration at the time. The battleship saw action during World War II, playing a crucial role in several key operations, including convoy escort missions and bombardments of enemy positions.

As HMS Nelson passed under the Forth Bridge, it symbolized the end of an era for a ship that had once been at the forefront of naval warfare. The scene was a poignant reminder of the changing times, as battleships like the Nelson were gradually replaced by newer, more advanced vessels in the post-war era.

The decision to scrap HMS Nelson was part of a broader move to modernize the Royal Navy’s fleet. Although the ship’s active service had come to an end, its legacy lived on in the memories of those who served aboard and in the history of naval engineering. The journey to Inverkeithing was a final salute to a vessel that had proudly borne the name of one of Britain’s greatest naval heroes.