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HMS. Blake, 2c stamp, is a cruiser of the "Tiger" class her pennant number "C99" can be seen clearly on the stamp on the hull below the bridge. Originally designed as an orthodox cruiser, work at H.M Dockyard, Portsmouth was stopped in July 1946,and she lay there for eight years. On October 15, 1954, it was decided to go ahead with the building, but construction was further delayed owing to conversion to a new design until 1955.There were two sister-ships of the class, the other being H.M.S. Tiger. The latter cost £13,113,000 and the Blake £14,940,000, but this was before conversion to helicopter carrying. The conversion increased the cost of the Blake an extra £5,500,000, but for the Tiger the conversion cost more than the cost of the original ship. £13,250,000, surely the most expensive cruiser ever built for the Royal Navy at a total of £26,363,000. The Blake was converted into a command helicopter cruiser at H.M. Dockyard, Portsmouth, from early 1965 until she was commissioned on April 23, 1969. She was built and engined by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Co. at Govan, and was laid down on August 17, 1942; launched on December 20, 1945; and completed on March 8, 1961. She has a standard displacement of 9,500 tons; and 12,080 full load. Length between perpendiculars 538ft. (164.0m); waterline 550ft. (167.0m); overall length 565ft. (172.8m). Aircraft carried: four Sea King helicopters. She has two quadruple Seacat missile launchers. SG835

Built as a cruiser under yard No. 710 by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd., Govan, Scotland for the Royal Navy.
17 August 1942 keel laid down, as HMS BLAKE.
1944 Renamed in HMS TIGER.
20 December 1945 launched under the name HMS BLAKE (C99), she was christened by Lady Jean Blake, wife of Vice Admiral Sir Geoffrey Blake, two sisters HMS TIGER and LION.
She was named after Admiral Robert Blake a 17th century British admiral.
Displacement 9.550 tons standard, 12.080 tons full load. Dim. 169.32 x 19.51 x 5.48m (draught).
Powered by Parsons geared steam turbines, 80.000 shp., four shafts. Speed 31.5 knots.
Range 8.000 miles by a speed of 15 knots.
1946 Construction was suspended, and she was laid up at Gareloch.
1954 Construction resumed, till a new design.
Armament: 4 – 152mm Mk 26 DP guns, 6 – 76.2mm Mk 6 DP guns.
Crew 716.
18 March 1961completed, the last cruiser completed for the Royal Navy.

21 March 1963 she entered reserve, the extensive specialist manpower required to operate her was much more needed to man more modern ships in the Royal Navy.
From 1965 till 1969 was she converted into a Helicopter Cruiser at the Portsmouth Dockyard.
In 1966 during this conversion a fire broke out in which she got heavy damage.
Her after 152mm and 76.2mm guns were removed making place for a helicopter flight-deck and hangar.
Got new radar installation, and her two funnels were made smaller.
Armament after conversion 2 -152mm, 2 – 76.2mm guns and 2 – Seacat quad missile launchers.
Crew 885 after conversion.
23 April 1969 re-commissioned.

1969 During the closure of the Spanish-Gibraltar border the BLAKE was deployed in Gibraltar together with other ships of the Royal Navy.
The same year a Royal Air Force Harrier jet landed on BLAKE.
1971 Deployed to the United States and West Indies, transited the Panama Canal for the British Trade Fair in San Francisco. On her homeward bound voyage received orders to proceed to Malta.
1971 She was present at the withdrawal of the Royal Navy from Malta.
1977 At the Silver Jubilee Fleet review at Spithead.
06 December 1979 paid off at Portsmouth Dockyard, she was the last cruiser in the Royal Navy service and marked this by firing her 6-152mm guns in the English Channel.
After paid off she underwent a refit in Rosyth.
13 May 1980 arrived at Chatham, due to her large crew, she became to expensive to operated and was put in Standby Squadron.
When Chatham Dockyard was closed down the Standby Squadron was put up for disposal.
25 August 1982 she was sold for breaking up, to Shipbreaking (Queenborough) Ltd. for £210.000.
29 October 1982 towed from Chatham to Cairnryan, Scotland for breaking up, where she arrived on 07 November 1982.

Sources: Ships of the Royal Navy by Colledge. http://www.btinternet.com/~warship/Post ... /tiger.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Blake_(99) The Encyclopedia of Warships.