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.