Tug boats towing the world's largest floating dock, Southampton Dock, UK, c.1924 (b/w photo)

View of tug boats towing the Southampton Dock on the River Tyne, c.1924. She was launched at the Walker Naval Yard on 2 May 1923 and when completed in the following year was the largest floating dock in the world. This set of images celebrates the achievements of the Naval Yard at High Walker. The Yard was established by Sir W.G. Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd as a replacement for the firm's Elswick Shipyard. The size of the Elswick yard and its location above Newcastle Swing Bridge meant that by the early twentieth century it had become unsuitable for building large warships. Shipbuilding operations started at the Naval Yard in 1913 and by the end of the First World War all shipbuilding at Elswick had ceased.