H.M.S.Dreadnought.The
first of the new design making all other battleships obsolete. .Launched in
Feb.1906. Having ten 12inch .guns which were mounted in five turrets,three on
the centreline and one either side forward. In addition having twenty-f
our 12 pounders, and five submerged torpedo tubes. With Parsons
turbines driving four screws giving a speed of 21 knots. Her compliment was
729 officers and men.
H.M.S.Ironduke.Completed in
1914 at a cost of £1,900,000 she had a displacement of 25,000 tons.Length
of 620 ft. beam 89.5 ft. draught 30 ft.Her armament was ten 13.5 inch;twelve
6 inch;four 3 pounders and four 21 inch torpedo tubes.With Parsons turbines
giving an I.H.P.of 29,000 and a speed of 21 knots.At the battle of "Jutland"
May/June 1916 she was the Flagship of Sir John Jellicoe.
H.M.S.Queen
Elizabeth.Completed in 1915 and gave her name to a class of
ships including H.M.S.Warspite.
Having the new 15inch guns weighing 97 tons and 57 ft. long firing a one ton
projectile and having a range of 20 miles.Capable of firing just over 1 round
per minute.The first class of battleships to be powered by oil firing.
Serving through WW1 and seeing action in the far east of WW2.H.M.S.Queen Elizabeth
was scrapped in 1948.
H.M.S.Warspite.Launched
in 1913 at Devonport and having a displacement
of 27,500 tons. Eight 15inch guns in four turrets and sixteen 6inch secondary,and
four 21 inch torpedo tubes.Oil fired boilers gave an I.H.P.of 75,000 and a speed
of 25 knots.Seeing active service at the battle of Jutland through to the Normandy
landings World War2. Was scrapped in 1946 and while under tow broke adrift onto
the rocks at Prussia Cove Cornwall.
H.M.S.Malaya.Built
at Elswick and commissioned in 1916 a gift of the Malayan Government.A member
of the Queen Elizabeth class she saw action at the battle of Jutland and later
served with distinction in World War 2.At the end of WW2 along with the Ramillies
becoming known as Vernon 2,accommodation ships at the Torpedo School Portsmouth.She
was finally scrapped in 1948.
