CHAPTER II The British Navy BRITISH BATTLESHIPS DREADNOUGHTS IRON DUKE CLASS. IRON DUKE (Flagship of Vice-Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, Commander-in-Chief of the Home Fleets). MARLBOROUGH. EMPEROR OF INDIA. BENBOW. (Completed 1914.)

These fine ships are the very latest additions to the British battle-fleet. The displacement is 25,000 tons, but with a full supply of coal, ammunition, and stores on board the actual figure is nearly 27,000 tons. The length over all is 645 ft., the maximum breadth is 89¹/₂ ft., and under normal conditions the ship draws 28 ft. of water. Parsons’ turbines, designed for 29,000 h.p., give a speed of 21 knots, which was exceeded by over one knot on trial. An extremely powerful armament is carried. It consists of ten 13·5-in. and twelve 6-in. guns, with some small quick-firers on high-angle mountings for use against aircraft.

The big guns, mounted in twin turrets, are all on the centre line, and can thus be trained on either broadside, while four train ahead and the same number astern. Ten of the 6-in. guns are disposed in an upper-deck battery forward, the remaining two in casemates right at the stern. This disposition was adopted owing to the fact that torpedo attacks are usually delivered from ahead, and it is necessary, therefore, that as many quick-firing guns as possible can be trained on the approaching boats before they are able to discharge their torpedoes.

Armour protection is very complete in this class. On the waterline there is a 12-in. belt, with 10-in. armour rising above this as far as the upper deck. The belt thins to 6-in. forward and aft, but the extreme ends of the ship are unarmoured. On the turrets there is 12-in. armour, with 6-in. plating over the secondary battery. Four 21-in. submerged torpedo tubes are fitted. The fuel supply is well over 3,000 tons. The complement of these ships totals more than 1,000 officers and men. They each cost over £2,000,000 to complete.

AGINGOURT.
(Completed 1914.)

This battleship, although she was only launched in January, 1913, has had a very chequered career. Originally laid down as the Rio de Janeiro for the Brazilian Government at Elswick, she was purchased before completion by Turkey, and was on the point of leaving for Turkish waters under the name of Osman I., when she was taken over by the British Admiralty on the outbreak of war with Germany. Turkey is understood to have made a protest, but the transfer is an accomplished fact, and this fine vessel has already passed into our battle fleet. She is quite unique in design. The displacement is 27,500 tons, length 632 ft., and the designed speed, which was made on trial, 22 knots.

Her main armament consists of no fewer than fourteen 12-in. guns, mounted in seven double turrets on the centre-line, an arrangement which permits all fourteen weapons to be fired on either broadside. In the secondary battery are mounted twenty 6-in. quick-firing guns, and the tale of weapons is completed by sixteen small quick-firers and three torpedo tubes. The ship is armoured with 9-in. plates amidships, tapering to 6 in. and 4 in. at the ends. Armour of the same thickness (9-in.) protects the 12-in. turrets, and there is 6-in. plating over the secondary guns. The maximum coal capacity is 3,500 tons. A complement of 1,100 officers and men is required to work this huge vessel, which cost nearly £2,700,000 to build and equip.

ERIN.
(Completed 1914.)

This vessel was laid down at Barrow for the Turkish Government, and named Reshadieh, but was taken over by the British Admiralty on the outbreak of war with Germany. Launched in September, 1913, she displaces 23,000 tons, is 525 ft. long, and has turbines of 31,000 h.p., which are expected to give a speed of 21 knots. In general her design corresponds to that of the Iron Duke class. The armament consists of ten 13·5-in., sixteen 6-in., and four 12-pounder guns, with five submerged torpedo tubes.

The five double turrets in which the big guns are mounted are on the centre-line, thus allowing all ten weapons to be used on each broadside. Armour protection is very complete, the main belt being 12 in., the turrets 12 in., and the secondary battery 5 in. thick. Her coal capacity is 2,100 tons. The complement is 900 officers and men. The price paid for this ship has not yet been made public.

KING GEORGE V. CLASS.
(Completed 1912-13.)

KING GEORGE V.
CENTURION.
AJAX.
AUDACIOUS.

These fine vessels are among the most powerful of our super-Dreadnought battleships. The displacement is nominally 23,000 tons, but when in service, with maximum fuel, stores, &c., on board, they displace about 25,000 tons. They are 596 ft. in length, with a beam of 89 ft., and their turbines of 27,000 h.p. drive them at a speed of 21¹/₂ knots. The armament consists of ten 13·5-in. and sixteen 4-in. guns, with three submerged torpedo tubes.

All the big guns, which are mounted in pairs in turrets on the centre line, can fire on either broadside. Protection is afforded by a 12-in. armour belt amidships, with thinner plating above and at the ends. The turrets are of 11-in. armour. The secondary battery of 4-in. quick-firers is practically unprotected. A maximum fuel supply of 2,700 tons can be carried. The complement is 900 officers and men. Each of these ships cost more than £1,900,000 to build and equip.

ORION CLASS.
(Completed 1911-12.)

ORION.
MONARCH.
CONQUEROR.
THUNDERER.

Super-Dreadnoughts of 22,500 tons displacement and 545 ft. in length. The Orion class, to which these ships belong, inaugurated the “super-Dreadnought” era by reason of the super-calibre guns with which they are armed. They are propelled by Parsons’ turbines of 27,000 h.p. at a speed of 21 knots, but did considerably better than this on the trial runs. The main armament comprises ten 13·5-in. breech-loading guns, firing a 1,250 lb. projectile at the rate of two per minute.

These guns are mounted in five twin turrets on the centre line of the vessel, and all of them can be trained on either broadside. Sixteen 4-in. quick-firers are mounted for use against torpedo craft, and there are three 21-in. submerged torpedo tubes. The armour belt is 12-in. thick amidships, the turrets 11-in. Some of the smaller guns are protected by 4-in. armour. Coal and oil to the amount of 2,700 tons can be carried. The complement of these ships is 900 officers and men. They cost complete nearly £2,000,000.

NEPTUNE CLASS.
(Completed 1911.)

NEPTUNE.
HERCULES.
COLOSSUS.

These are Dreadnought battleships of 20,000 tons displacement. They are 510 ft. in length, and have Parsons’ turbines of 25,000 h.p., which give them a speed of 21 knots. The main battery consists of ten 12-in. guns, 50 calibres (i.e., 50 ft.) long, mounted in five twin turrets. Two of these turrets are in echelon amidships, the remaining three being on the centre line, an arrangement that permits all ten guns to come into action on either broadside through a limited arc.

In the class to which these ships belong the super-posed turret appeared for the first time in the British Navy. Sixteen 4-in. quick-firers and three submerged torpedo tubes complete the armament. There is an 11-in. armour belt on the waterline, similar protection being given to the big guns. The fuel capacity is 2,700 tons. The complement numbers over 800 officers and men. These vessels cost about £1,700,000 apiece to complete.

ST. VINCENT CLASS.
(Completed 1910.)

ST. VINCENT.
VANGUARD.
COLLINGWOOD.

These are Dreadnought battleships with a displacement of 19,250 tons. They are 500 ft. long, and have Parsons’ turbines of 24,500 h.p., which give them a top speed of 21 knots. Their main battery comprises ten 12-in. guns of powerful type, mounted in five twin turrets, the disposition of which allows eight guns to be used on either beam. They also carry eighteen 4-in. quick-firers, some mounted on top of the turrets, and others in the superstructure. There are three submerged torpedo tubes.

The waterline is protected by armour barely 10-in. thick, this being also the thickness of the turret armour. Coal and oil to the amount of 2,700 tons can be carried. The complement of these battleships numbers rather more than 800 officers and men. They cost about £1,700,000 to build and complete.

BELLEROPHON CLASS.
(Completed 1909.)

BELLEROPHON.
SUPERB.
TEMERAIRE.

These ships are some of our earliest Dreadnoughts. Their displacement is 18,900 tons, length 490 ft. Parsons’ turbines of 23,000 h.p. propel them at a maximum speed of 21 knots, which they can maintain for several hours without difficulty. Ten 12-in. guns form the primary armament, which is mounted in five twin turrets, so disposed as to allow eight guns to fire on the broadside. They carry, further, sixteen 4-in. quick-firing guns to repel attack by torpedo craft, and there are three torpedo tubes below water.

On the waterline and the big-gun positions there is 11-in. armour. The maximum supply of coal and oil is 2,700 tons. The complement is 800 officers and men. These battleships cost about £1,700,000 to build and complete.

DREADNOUGHT.
(Completed 1906.)

This famous battleship was laid down at Portsmouth in October, 1905, and completed by December, 1906, and thus established a record for speedy construction. She was designed by a committee of experts to meet the requirements of modern naval tactics, and with various modifications the main principles she embodied have since been almost universally adopted. She displaces 17,900 tons, and is 520 ft. long. Parsons’ turbines of 23,000 h.p. give her a speed of 21 knots. She was the first battleship ever fitted with turbine machinery.

The armament consists of ten 12-in. guns, mounted in five twin turrets, which are so placed as to give a broadside fire of eight and an axial fire of six guns. For keeping off torpedo craft a battery of twenty-four 12-pounder quick-firers is provided. There are five submerged torpedo tubes. Waterline and vitals are protected by 11-in. armour, as also are the gun turrets. The ship has a great amount of internal protection against mine or torpedo explosion. She can carry 2,700 tons of coal. The complement numbers about 800 officers and men. This battleship cost upwards of £1,800,000 to build and equip.

LORD NELSON CLASS.
(Completed 1908-09.)

LORD NELSON.
AGAMEMNON.

These battleships are sometimes called semi-Dreadnoughts, because they approximate to the Dreadnought type in tonnage and armament. The displacement is 16,500 tons, length 410 ft., and engines of 16,750 h.p., giving a speed of over 18 knots. Each of these vessels is armed with four 12-in. and ten 9·2-in. breech-loading guns, all mounted in armoured turrets. The four 12-in. and eight of the 9·2-in. guns are in twin turrets, the other two 9·2-in. being in single turrets. The disposition of the armament is such that four 12-in. and five 9·2-in. can fire on each broadside. An outstanding defect is the smallness of the double 9·2-in. turrets, which hardly give elbow room to the crews and do not allow full advantage to be taken of the extraordinary rapidity with which the 9·2-in. piece can be worked when there is plenty of space.

On the whole, however, these ships are extremely powerful units. For driving off torpedo craft there are twenty-four 12-pounder quick-firers mounted in the superstructure. Five torpedo tubes are fitted. Armour protection consists of a 12-in. belt amidships, and there is similar plating on the 12-in. turrets, the smaller turrets having 8-in. armour. The fuel capacity is 2,500 tons. Each battleship carries 750 officers and men and cost £1,650,000 to build and complete.

BATTLE CRUISERS

TIGER.
(Completed 1914.)

This is the largest battle cruiser in the British Navy. She was built at Clydebank, and was approaching completion at the outbreak of war. The displacement is 28,000 tons, length 660 ft., and Parsons’ turbines of 100,000 h.p. give a speed of at least 28 knots. Her armament comprises eight 13·5-in., twelve 6-in., and some smaller guns, with three torpedo tubes. The big guns are in double turrets on the centre-line, and all can be fired on either broadside. The 6-in. guns are mounted in an armoured battery.

For a battle cruiser this ship is heavily armoured. She has a belt at least 10 in. thick amidships, and the turrets are of equal thickness. She can store as much as 4,000 tons of coal and oil. The complement is about 1,100 officers and men. In appearance the “Tiger” is quite unlike other British battle cruisers. She has three equal-sized funnels and only one mast. Her total cost is understood to be not less than £2,200,000.

LION CLASS.
(Completed 1912-13.)

LION.
QUEEN MARY.
PRINCESS ROYAL.

These battle cruisers displace 27,000 tons, are 660 ft. in length, and 88¹/₂ ft. broad. They have turbines of about 70,000 h.p., which enable them to steam at 28 knots, though this speed has been greatly exceeded in service. The main armament consists of ten 13·5-in. guns, discharging a projectile of 1,400 lb. weight, at the rate of two rounds per minute.

DREADNOUGHT.

Displacement: 17,900 tons.

Speed: 22 knots; Guns: 10 12in., 24 12pdrs.; Torpedo tubes: 5.

DUNCAN CLASS.
(Completed 1903-04.)

DUNCAN.
EXMOUTH.
CORNWALLIS.
ALBEMARLE.
RUSSELL.

These are vessels of 14,000 tons displacement, 405 ft. in length, with engines of 18,000 h.p., and a speed of 20 knots. Their armament consists of four 12-in., twelve 6-in., and ten 12-pounder guns, with four submerged torpedo tubes. The 12-in. guns are in turrets, the 6-in. in casemates. Broadside fire is from four 12-in. and six 6-in. guns.

The class to which these ships belong was designed with a view to speed, to gain which sacrifices were necessary. Hence the armour protection is very light, the thickness of the belt being only 7-in. on the waterline. The turrets are of the same moderate thickness. The maximum fuel capacity is 2,000 tons. A complement of 750 officers and men is carried. The average cost was £1,000,000 to build and complete.

FORMIDABLE CLASS.
(Completed 1901-04.)

FORMIDABLE.
IMPLACABLE.
VENERABLE.
PRINCE OF WALES.
IRRESISTIBLE.
LONDON.
BULWARK.
QUEEN.

This class displaces 15,000 tons, is 400 ft. long, and has engines of 15,000 h.p., giving a speed of about 18¹/₂ knots. It is armed with four 12-in., twelve 6-in., and sixteen 12-pounder guns, with four submerged torpedo tubes. The waterline is armoured with 9-in., the turrets with 12-in. plates, and there is 6-in. armour on the casemates containing the secondary guns. The full coal capacity is 2,100 tons. These ships carry 780 officers and men. They cost more than £1,000,000 to build and equip.

CANOPUS CLASS.
(Completed 1900-02.)

CANOPUS.
GOLIATH.
VENGEANCE.
OCEAN.
GLORY.
ALBION.

These ships belong to a class of old pre-Dreadnoughts which are rapidly losing their fighting value. They displace 12,950 tons, are 390 ft. long, and have engines of 13,500 h.p., which give a speed of nearly 19 knots. The armament comprises four 12-in., twelve 6-in., and ten 12-pounder guns, all of obsolescent pattern. There are four torpedo tubes. A belt only 6-in. thick protects the waterline, but there is 12-in. armour on the gun turrets. Coal to the amount of 1,750 tons can be carried. The complement numbers 750 officers and men. These ships cost about £850,000 each. They were designed with very light draught to enable them to navigate the Suez Canal. They are still comparatively fast steamers.

MAJESTIC CLASS.
(Completed 1895-98.)

MAGNIFICENT.
MAJESTIC.
VICTORIOUS.
PRINCE GEORGE.
ILLUSTRIOUS.
JUPITER.
CÆSAR.
MARS.
HANNIBAL.

The Majestic class is the oldest group of battleships in the Navy. The displacement is 14,900 tons, length 390 ft. and engines of 12,000 h.p. give them a maximum speed of 17¹/₂ knots. They are armed with four 12-in., twelve 6-in., and sixteen 12-pounder guns of old type, with five torpedo tubes. The armour belt is 9-in. amidships, and there is 14-in. armour on the big gun turrets. Coal to the amount of 1,900 tons can be stowed. A complement of 750 officers and men is carried. The ships cost slightly more than £900,000 each to build and complete.

ARMOURED CRUISERS

MINOTAUR CLASS.
(Completed 1908.)

MINOTAUR.
DEFENCE.
SHANNON.

These vessels are armoured cruisers of 14,600 tons, 490 ft. in length, and have engines of 27,000 h.p., giving a speed of 23 knots. They carry a very powerful armament, consisting of four 9·2-in., ten 7·5-in., and sixteen 12-pounder guns. The 9·2-in. and 7·5-in. guns are in armoured turrets, the four first named being mounted in pairs, the 7·5 in. singly.

Protection is afforded by a 6-in. belt amidships, with 8-in. armour on the 9·2-in. turrets, and 6-in. armour on the smaller turrets. The maximum coal supply is 2,250 tons. A complement of about 800 officers and men is borne. These ships cost more than £1,400,000 each to build and complete.

WARRIOR CLASS.
(Completed 1906-07.)

WARRIOR.
ACHILLES.
NATAL.
COCHRANE.

These are armoured cruisers of 13,550 tons. They are 480 ft. in length, and have engines of 23,000 h.p., giving a speed of 23 knots. The armament consists of six 9·2-in. and four 7·5-in. guns, all mounted in single turrets, and so disposed that six heavy guns bear on each broadside. There are, besides, twenty-four 3-pounder quick-firers for use against torpedo-craft, and three submerged torpedo tubes. The armour belt and turrets are 6 in. thick. The maximum coal capacity is 2,000 tons, and a complement of over 700 officers and men is carried. Each vessel cost about £1,200,000 to build and complete.

BLACK PRINCE CLASS.
(Completed 1906.)

BLACK PRINCE.
DUKE OF EDINBURGH.

These armoured cruisers have a displacement of 13,550 tons, are 480 ft. long, and have engines of 23,000 h.p., giving a speed of 23·3 knots. They are armed with six 9·2-in., ten 6-in., and twenty 3-pounder guns, with three torpedo tubes. The big guns are mounted in single turrets, the 6-in. weapons being in an armoured battery.

Owing to the low freeboard of these ships, their 6-in. guns are too near the water to be worked in rough weather. They are protected on the waterline by a 6-in. armour belt, with similar plating on the gun turrets and battery. The full coal capacity is 2,000 tons. These cruisers carry 700 officers and men. They cost nearly £1,200,000 to build and complete.

DEVONSHIRE CLASS.
(Completed 1905-06.)

ANTRIM.
CARNARVON.
HAMPSHIRE.
DEVONSHIRE.
ROXBURGH.
ARGYLL.

Armoured cruisers displacing 10,850 tons, 450 ft. in length, with engines of 20,500 h.p., giving a speed of 22·3 knots. The armament is weak for vessels of this size, and consists only of four 7·5-in. and six 6-in. guns, with twenty small quick-firers and two torpedo tubes.

The 7·5-in. guns are mounted in turrets, the 6-in. weapons in casemates. There is a 6-in. belt amidships, and 6-in. plating on the turrets and casemates. The maximum coal capacity is 1,800 tons. A complement of 655 officers and men is carried. The average cost, complete, of these ships was nearly £900,000.

“COUNTY” CLASS.
(Completed 1903-04.)

KENT.
ESSEX.
MONMOUTH.
BERWICK.
SUFFOLK.
DONEGAL.
LANCASTER.
CORNWALL.
CUMBERLAND.

The displacement of this class is 9,800 tons. They are 440 ft. in length, and have engines of 22,000 h.p., which drive them at a speed of 23 knots. The armament consists of fourteen 6-in., eight 12-pounder, and three smaller quick-firing guns. Four of the 6-in. weapons are mounted in twin turrets placed at the bow and stern, the remainder being in casemates. There are two torpedo tubes.

Protection is very light throughout, there being only a 4-in. belt amidships, with 5-in. armour on the turrets. The full coal supply is 1,600 tons. A complement of 540 officers and men is carried. Each ship cost complete about £750,000.

DRAKE CLASS.
(Completed 1902-03.)

DRAKE.
LEVIATHAN.
GOOD HOPE.
KING ALFRED.

These vessels are among the best of the older armoured cruisers. Each displaces 14,100 tons, is 500 ft. long, and has engines of 30,000 h.p., giving a speed of 23 knots. On trial and in service this speed has been much exceeded, and the ships can still steam at 24 knots. They are armed with two 9·2-in. breech-loaders, sixteen 6-in., and twelve 12-pounder quick-firing guns.

The big weapons are in single turrets, one placed at each end of the ship, the 6-in. guns being mounted in casemates. Two torpedo tubes are fitted. The armour protection on the turrets, casemates, and belt has a uniform thickness of 6-in. Coal to the amount of 2,500 tons is stored in the bunkers. The complement consists of 900 officers and men. These cruisers averaged about one million sterling complete.

CRESSY CLASS.
(Completed 1901-04.)

CRESSY.
SUTLEJ.
ABOUKIR.
HOGUE.
BACCHANTE.
EURYALUS.

The Cressy group are the oldest class of armoured cruisers on the active list. They displace 12,000 tons, are 440 ft. in length, and have engines of 21,000 h.p., producing a speed of 21 knots, which was exceeded on trial by one knot. The armament comprises two 9·2-in. breech-loaders, twelve 6-in., and twelve 12-pounder quick-firing guns, with two torpedo tubes.