SHIP launch maybe ? UK LOCATION help required please

[001uk]

I'll try and clear up a few points in one go:
ScouseBoy - yes it does look like a RN ship and indeed there are women present but almost out of view (along with non ship builders). RN personnel present see image below.
aghadowey - yes, 95% sure it's the UK
mazi - ship IS flying the White Ensign plus the Union Flag and one other
josey - the word(s) you question (PORT CLEAT) I believe is a ship building term
Hazelbea - the background is a perfect match. and I'd say your date is just right so at the moment it looks like the launch of HMS WARSPITE having said that the image submitted by
Kay99 does differ very slightly....has the vessel turned to show the other end? But then I'm no (nautical) expert.

Thanks to everyone for their kind help and interest

[001uk]

Found another image of the HMS WARSPITE launch.

[jess5athome]

....................................... (PORT CLEAT) I believe is a ship building term..................

Hi, it is indeed a nautical term, a cleat is used for securing a rope or line, they are usually on the deck of a ship, the crate could contain cleats for the port side of the vessel, although they are usually identical on both port and starboard sides.

It may be that there is another crate with the words "Starboard cleat" stenciled on it.

Frank. 

[Rudolf H B]

- A ship launch at Devonport Royal Dockyard,
- a battleship or battlecruiser,
- before 1919.

Rudolf

[Little Nell]

Have a look at the US flag and count the stars - there are differences over time according to the number of states in the union at that time.  It might help date the photograph.

Nell

[Trishanne]

I agree that this does look like Devonport when you look at the photo posted by Hazelbea #7. However the bow of the HMS Warspite as seen in #8 by Kay99 and in #10 posted by yourself is totally different to the bow of the ship in your original post so I am sure it is not the launch of the HMS Warspite
Unfortunately for some reason your original photo is now too pixilated to even try to identify it. Can you tell me why it has been pixilated like this?
Pat

[orkrad]

 Hi.  As to the absence of women ( apart from the invited spectators) I was brought up on the Clydeside  and women were not welcomed in the shipyards. I was told that it had something to do with superstition--women bringing bad luck to the building entrprise , but maybe the men  ( and their employers ) didn't want women invading their work space! I doubt it was due to any health and safety regulations which were minimal at that time. I was told that the only time women were allowed in the shipyards was at an official launch.  However I wonder if there were women typists and book keepers who were exempted from the general ban. I expect some knowledgeable person will be along  to explain or correct my observations.

Orkrad 

[Rudolf H B]

@Pat: Thumbs up,

it is not the Grand Old Lady Warspite, it could be the Royal Oak
or a launch in 1917 or 1918?

Rudolf

[ScouseBoy]

The bows of the ship in the original post look much more sleek and sharp,  more like a destroyer than a Cruiser, to my eyes.