Laid down in March 1926 as one of four County-class cruisers, Devonshire was built at the South Yard of Devonport Royal Dockyard, and she was launched at midday on Sunday 23 October 1927 by Lady Elizabeth Mildmay, the wife of the Lord Lieutenant of Devon, who broke a bottle of Devonshire cider over the bows of the new cruiser.

HMS LEOPARD was Commissioned on 30 September 1958.
Monday 6th October 1958. Leopard put to sea for the first time. The first days sea trials went well, with kind weather and not to bad a sea. This was short lived as the second day, and many days thereafter, were a severe test for those tender bellies unused to small ships or delicate from to many years shore based. Sea legs were soon found, which was just as well, for much rougher weather would soon be met when we headed to the South Atlantic.

History of HMS Devonshire. From Sail to Turbine - Barfleur is a familiar name in Naval histories. Off this cape on the Cherbourgh peninsula in May 1692, in a day long action broken off only in the evening fog, a combined Anglo Dutch fleet commanded by Captain Henry Houghton shattered the French under Admiral Tourville. Two days later the battle was resumed some 30 miles to the West, off Cap de la Hague.