PRE-DREADNOUGHTS.
KING EDWARD CLASS.
(Completed 1904-06.)
KING EDWARD VII.
ZEALANDIA.
BRITANNIA.
HIBERNIA.
DOMINION.
COMMONWEALTH.
HINDUSTAN.
AFRICA.
The King Edward class is considered to be the finest homogeneous group of pre-Dreadnought battleships in the world. The displacement is 16,350 tons, length 425 ft., and engines of 18,000 h.p. give a speed of over 19 knots. The armament consists of four 12-in., four 9·2-in., ten 6-in., twelve 12-pounder, and twelve 3-pounder guns, with four torpedo tubes.
All eight big guns are mounted in armoured turrets, the 6-in. weapons being in a box battery. Broadside fire is from four 12-in., two 9·2-in., and five 6-in. guns. A 9-in. armour belt protects vital parts. On the main turrets there is 12-in. plating, and the smaller guns also have good protection. The maximum coal supply is 2,200 tons. A complement of 820 officers and men is carried. These ships each cost about £1,450,000 to build and equip.
SWIFTSURE CLASS.
(Completed 1904.)
SWIFTSURE.
TRIUMPH.
These battleships were built for the Chilian Government, but both were purchased by Great Britain before they were completed. The displacement is 11,980 tons, length 436 ft., and engines of 12,500 h.p. give a speed of 20 knots. For their size the armament of these vessels is most formidable. It comprises four 10-in., fourteen 7·5-in., and fourteen 14-pounder guns, with two torpedo tubes. The 10-in. weapons are in two twin turrets, the 7·5-in. guns being in an armoured battery.
The waterline and vital parts are protected by 7-in. of armour, which is increased to 10-in. on the turrets and there is 6-in. plating over the secondary battery. The coal supply is 2,000 tons. A complement of 700 officers and men is carried. The ships each cost £845,000 to build and complete. In all but very calm weather they lose much of their fighting value owing to the nearness of the 7·5-in. battery to the water, a position which makes it impossible to work these guns in a seaway. In other respects, too, the type is considered inferior to standard British design.
H.M.S. Dreadnought. Photo: Sport & General.
DREADNOUGHT.
Displacement: 17,900 tons.
Speed: 22 knots; Guns: 10 12in., 24 12pdrs.; Torpedo tubes: 5.
| Astern fire: | Broadside: | Ahead fire: |
|---|---|---|
| 6 12in. | 8 12in. | 6 12in. |
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.