The Fleets at War

by Archibald Hurd

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.