Bellona Class, The New Improved Dido Class Cruiser. History of  Royal Navy cruisers. Royal Navy cruiser website dedicated to the Bellona Class. HMS Bellona, HMS Black Prince, HMS Diadem, HMS Royalist, HMS Spartan including crew and families of ex-crew members notice board for the Bellona Class (New Improved Dido Class)  cruisers.

Specifications for HMS Bellona, HMS Black Prince, HMS Diadem, HMS Royalist and HMS Spartan

The Bellona Class was similar to the Dido Class.

Displacement: 5,950 tons   Speed: 32kts    Complement: 530

Armament: Eight 5.25 inch guns in pairs.   Twelve 2pdr pompom guns in fours as well as six 21 inch torpedo tubes.

HMS Spartan was hit by a bomb which caused sufficient damage to sink her in under two hours.

HMS Bellona was lent to New Zealand after world war two as were HMS Black Prince and HMS Royalist. HMS Diadem went to the Pakistani navy and was renamed Babur.

HMS Bellona

HMS Bellona as completed in 1944 with a 2pdr AA gun instead of the turret and twelve 20mm AA guns in pairs fore, amidships and aft.

HMS Bellona, 1946.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP1428

Original republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size).  Price £5 Click here to order.  Order Code  MP1428

The photos in this section were submitted to our forum by user tim lewin on the thread entitled HMS Bellona.  Click here to go to the forum home page

HMS Bellona, June 1945.

From the collection of Admiral of the Fleet Lord Lewin.  Supplied by his son Mr Tim Lewin.

HMS Bellona.

From the collection of Admiral of the Fleet Lord Lewin.  Supplied by his son Mr Tim Lewin.

HMS Bellona.

From the collection of Admiral of the Fleet Lord Lewin.  Supplied by his son Mr Tim Lewin.

HMS Diadem

HMS Diadem, November 1948.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP1430

Original republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size).  Price £5 Click here to order.  Order Code  MP1430

HMS Diadem, November 1948.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP1431

Original republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size).  Price £5 Click here to order.  Order Code  MP1431

HMS Diadem, May 1949.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP1432

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HMS Diadem.

Image courtesy of Carl Proctor

HMS Diadem with submarine Tantalus alongside.  (Possibly Hong Kong). 

A reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x 7" approx available.  Order photograph here  © Walker Archive. Order Code  PHC459

HMS Royalist

HMS Royalist, 1965.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP1433

Original republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size).  Price £5 Click here to order.  Order Code  MP1433

HMS Royalist, 1965.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP1434

Original republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size).  Price £5 Click here to order.  Order Code  MP1434

HMS Royalist entering Grand Harbour Malta, 14th January 1946. 

A reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x 7" approx available.  Order photograph here  © Walker Archive. Order Code  PHC460