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This site is dedicated to the British Cruiser H.M.S. Superb, the old Super B. I have tried to start the site off with information that I either know myself or can find easily, I hope that others can supply more interesting stories, history or whatever, just contact me.

    There have been ten Royal Navy ships bearing the name Superb, the first was a French third rate captured by H.M.S. Kent on 29th July 1710, and the last (at 1999) is a Swiftsure class nuclear powered fleet submarine launched in 1974.

    The cruiser H.M.S.Superb was a Minotaur class cruiser, or was it a Swiftsure or Tiger class, all leading authorities disagree, of 8800 tons (standard), 11000 tons full load. Built by Swan Hunter at Wallsend on Tyne and launched on 31st August 1943, completed 16th November 1945 and commissioned in December 1945. At the end of her days she arrived at Dalmuir on 8th August1960 to be broken up, her hull was finally broken up at Troon in 1961.

    Her service career was an interesting one, particularly on the America and West Indies station where she was deployed to maintain a presence within reach of the Falklands, there are other interesting episodes in her career which I hope to include later.

THE SUPERB WAS ALWAYS A CHATHAM SHIP

    So of course all of her crew were perfect gentlemen, and were known as Chatham Gentlemen, unlike the rough sailors from Portsmouth and the oggie wafflers from Guzz.

With acknowledgements to H.M.S.Cossack Newsletter1/99:

CHATHAM GENTLEMEN (CG)

    Between the innocence of infancy and the recklessness of maturity comes the unique specimen of humanity known as Chatham gentlemen.

    CGs can be found in bars, in arguments, in bed, in debt, and intoxicated. They like "Friday Whiles",receiving mail, nude pin-ups, sympathy, complaining, and beer.

    A CG's secret ambition is to change places with the Captain for just one trip and grant make and mends to all his Oppos, to own a brewery, to be seduced by a raving nymphomaniac on an "up homers" weekend, and to be loved by everyone in the world.

    A CG is a Sir Galahad in a Japanese brothel, a psychologist with Readers Digest on the table, Don Quixote with a discharge note, the saviour of mankind with his back teeth awash, Valentino with a fiver in his pocket, and democracy personified in a Red Chinese prison cell.

    A CG is a provider in war and a parasite in peace. No one is subjected to so much abuse, wrongly accused, so often misunderstood by so many. He has the patience of Job, the honesty of a fool and the heaven sent ability to laugh at himself.

    A CG will befriend animals, children, pensioners, down and outs, innkeepers, and the occasional "lady of the night". Play your cards right and he can be your friend too. Membership open to all. Cheers!

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