Vincent Black Prince The frame was also modified, re-siting the oil tank previously contained within the "Upper Frame Member" under the fuel tank, to underside of the new-design seat. A replacement single tubular strut bolted to the steering head and a single spring-damper unit replaced the twin rear shocks. The Black Prince was launched at the 1954 Earls Court motorcycle show, together with the 998 cc Vincent Black Knight and the 500 cc Vincent Victor (which never went into production as only the prototype was ever built). There was a lot of interest but much of it was critical, and the Black Prince
HMS Black Prince (81) the modernisation had to be cancelled, and "Black Prince" was placed in reserve until 1953. She returned to service after refitting with simplified secondary armament with a single quad pom pom in Q position and 8 x 1 Mk3 40mm electric Bofors guns. The ship was decommissioned again two years later, and returned to the Royal Navy in 1961. "Black Prince" did not re-enter service, and was towed from Auckland to the Osaka breakage yards for scrapping in 1962. "Black Prince" was a modified "Dido" design, sometimes called "Dido" Group 2, or the "Bellona" subgroup with only four 5.25-inch mounts