HMS Sovereign

EX-HMS Royal Sovereign. Renamed Arkangelsk on being handed over to Russia. Photo supposedly taken in 1945. © IWM (A 30793)

Having just had a refit in the USA she was placed in reserve on returning home, so was more than ready for the move to the Russian fleet.

Left for Murmansk on 17 August 44. Little is known of her service during her stay with the Russians and was reluctantly returned after much hassle, on 9 February 49.

But being in a poor state was sent to Inverkeithing for scrapping immediately arriving on 18 May 49.

The last of her class to go under the cutters torch.

A sad day indeed.