Commissioned on the 15th August 1927 HMS Nelson spent her peacetime career with the Atlantic and Home Fleets, usually as the fleet flagship. During the early stages of World War II, she searched for German commerce raiders and was badly damaged by a mine in late 1939.
In mid-1941 Nelson escorted several convoys to Malta before being torpedoed in September. After repairs she resumed doing so before supporting the British invasion of French Algeria during Operation Torch in late 1942.
She covered the invasions of Sicily (Operation Husky) and Italy (Operation Avalanche) in mid-1943 during Operation Baytown.
During the Normandy landings in June 1944, Nelson provided naval gunfire support before being struck by a mine.
She was transferred to the Eastern Fleet in mid-1945 and returned home a few months after the Japanese surrender in September to serve as the flagship of the Home Fleet, then becoming a training ship in early 1946 and was reduced to reserve in late 1947. Sadly she was decommissioned in February 1948 and used as a target for bomb tests.
1. Royal Navy battleship HMS Nelson
April 1929: The HMS Nelson approaches dock. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images) Photo: The News archive
2. Royal Navy battleship HMS Nelson
Here we see, centre General Eisenhower on a visit to the battleship HMS Nelson. Her sister ship was HMS Rodney.Either side of Eisenhower are Rear Admiral Willis to the left and Admiral Cunningham. These men were some of the ‘top brass’ during WW2. Photo: The News archive
3. Royal Navy battleship HMS Nelson
HMS Nelson with other British battleships and cruisers for the 1937 Coronation Fleet Reviewcaption : The British battleship HMS NELSON off Spithead for the 1937 Fleet Review. Anchored in the background are two Queen Elizabeth Class battleships and two cruisers of the London Class. Picture: Imperial War Museum collection no. 4002-05 Photo: The News archive
4. Royal Navy battleship HMS Nelson
HMS Nelson returning home and passing Sally PortThe bridge of the battleship HMS Nelson as she passes Sally Port, Old Portsmouth circa 1930. Photo: The News archive
5. Royal Navy battleship HMS Nelson
April 1929: Sailors on board the HMS Nelson. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images) Photo: The News archive
6. Royal Navy battleship HMS Nelson
Sometime pre-1936 we see the battleship HMS Nelson entering Portsmouth Harbour. Photo: The News archive
7. Royal Navy battleship HMS Nelson
When the Royal Navy ruled the world backed by battleships like HMS Nelson which carried nine 16″ guns. Photo: The News archive
8. Royal Navy battleship HMS Nelson
A beautifully posed photograph of the battleship HMS Nelson passing HMS Victory’s anchor. Photo: The News archive
9. Royal Navy battleship HMS Nelson
Painting the battleship HMS Nelson April 1929: Sailors painting the anchor on the HMS Nelson. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images) Photo: The News archive
10. Royal Navy battleship HMS Nelson
In January 1934 the battleship HMS Nelson ran aground in the Solent. Photo: The News archive
11. Royal Navy battleship HMS Nelson
The Royal Navy Nelson-class battleship HMS Nelson, named in honour of Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson the victor at the Battle of Trafalgar, fires a full broadside with her nine16-inch (406 mm) guns known as Happy, Grumpy, Sneezy, Dopey, Sleepy, Bashful, Doc, Mickey and Minnie after the characters in the film Snow White whilst on operations in the Mediterranean as part of Force H on 1 August 1942 in the Mediterranean near Gibralter. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images). Photo: The News archive
12. Royal Navy battleship HMS Nelson
HMS Nelson passing Portsmouth seafront around 1930. Picture: The News, Portsmouth Photo: The News archive
13. Royal Navy battleship HMS Nelson
The Royal Navy Nelson-class battleship HMS Nelson, named in honour of Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson the victor at the Battle of Trafalgar, passes under the Forth Bridge on her way to the Thomas W Ward shipyard for scrapping in Inverkeithing on 16 March 1949 in the Firth of Forth, Scotland, United Kingdom. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images). Photo: The News archive
14. Royal Navy battleship HMS Nelson
On a misty day the battleship HMS Nelson is overshadowed by the paddle steamer PS Shanklin. Picture: Barry Cox collection Photo: The News archive
15. Royal Navy battleship HMS Nelson
HMS Nelson herself. With HMS Rodney, her sister ship, these were the only two of the class and with all guns forward there was little option but to attack! These magnificent battleships with nine 16″ guns were a sight to see and hundreds used to line Southsea beach to watch them coming and going. Photo: The News archive
16. Royal Navy battleship HMS Nelson
In the foreground lays the broken hull of the Royal Navy Nelson-class battleship HMS Rodney which had played a major role in the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck during World War 2 whilst behind her in the process of being scrapped at the Thomas W Ward shipyard is her sister ship HMS Nelson and HMS Revenge on 4 September 1950 in Inverkeithing,Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom. (Photo by Don Price/ Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images). Photo: The News archive
