List of dreadnought battleships of the Royal Navy

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

RN Ensign
Ships of the Royal Navy
  • fleet aircraft carriers
  • escort carriers
  • seaplane carriers
  • amphibious assault shipping
  • battlecruisers
  • dreadnought battleships
  • pre-dreadnought battleships
  • ironclads
  • bomb vessels
  • breastwork monitors
  • corvettes and sloops
  • cruisers
  • destroyers
  • torpedo boats
  • fireships
  • frigates
  • gun-brigs
  • gunboats and gunvessels
  • mine countermeasure vessels
  • monitors
  • patrol and attack craft
  • royal yachts
  • ships of the line
  • submarines
  • support ships
  • survey vessels
  • shore establishments
  • hospitals and hospital ships
  • air stations
  • aircraft wings
  • fleets and major commands
  • squadrons and flotillas
    		•
    HMS Benbow leads a line of three battleships.

    This is a list of dreadnought battleships of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom.

    In 1907, before the revolution in design brought about by

    dreadnoughts. Possession of modern battleships was not only vital to naval power, but also represented a nation's standing in the world. Germany, France, the Russian Empire, Japan, Italy, Austria-Hungary, and the United States all began dreadnought programmes; second-rank powers including the Ottoman Empire, Argentina, Brazil, and Chile commissioned dreadnoughts to be built in British and American shipyards.[2]

    The

    German Imperial Navy did come into contact on occasions, notably in the Battle of Jutland,[4]
    but there was no decisive naval battle where one fleet came out the victor.

    The inter-war period saw the battleship subjected to strict international limitations to prevent a costly arms race breaking out.

    Second World War.[7]

    The treaty limitations meant that fewer new battleships were launched from 1919–1939 than from 1905–1914. The treaties also inhibited development by putting maximum limits on the weights of ships and forced the Royal Navy into compromise designs for the Nelson and King George V classes. Designs like the projected British N3-class battleship continued the trend to larger ships with bigger guns and thicker armour, but never got off the drawing board. Those designs which were commissioned during this period were referred to as treaty battleships.[8] After the Second World War, the Royal Navy's four surviving King George V-class ships were scrapped in 1957 and Vanguard followed in 1960.[9] All other surviving British battleships had been sold or broken up by 1949.[10]

    Key

    Main guns The number and type of the main battery guns
    Armour Waterline belt thickness
    Displacement Ship displacement at full combat load
    Propulsion Number of
    shafts
    , type of propulsion system, and top speed generated
    Service The dates work began and finished on the ship and its ultimate fate
    Laid down The date the keel began to be assembled
    Commissioned The date the ship was commissioned

    HMS Dreadnought

    HMS Dreadnought
    Main article: HMS Dreadnought (1906)

    HMS Dreadnought was the first

    belt armour ranged from 4 inches (102 mm) to 11 inches (279 mm) of Krupp armour. Dreadnought sparked a naval arms race that soon had all the world's major powers building new and bigger warships in her image.[11] Although her concepts would be improved upon for decades, Dreadnought's construction set an unbeaten record of 15 months for the fastest construction of a battleship ever.[18]

    From 1907 until 1911, Dreadnought served as the flagship of the

    4th Squadron until 10 December 1914.[20] While patrolling the North Sea on 18 March 1915, she rammed and sank U-29, becoming the only battleship to have sunk a submarine.[21][a] Dreadnought did not participate in the Battle of Jutland as she was undergoing a refit. Two years later, she resumed her role as flagship of the 4th Squadron, but was moved into the reserve in February 1920 and sold for scrap on 9 May 1921.[23] She was broken up 2 January 1923.[24]

    Ship Main guns Armour Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Dreadnought 10 × 12 in (305 mm)[16] 4–11 in (102–279 mm)[25] 18,120 long tons (18,410 t)[15] 4 × shafts
    2 x Parsons turbines[13]
    21.6 kn (40.0 km/h; 24.9 mph)[26]     		2 October 1905[17] 2 December 1906[17] Sold for scrap 9 May 1921[17]

    Bellerophon class

    HMS Bellerophon
    Main article: Bellerophon-class battleship

    The Bellerophon-class battleships,

    belt armour, 10 inches (254 mm) at its thickest, was an inch thinner than that of Dreadnought's at her thickest.[30]

    Upon commissioning, all three ships were assigned to the 1st division of the

    The Nore and was sold for scrap 8 November 1921 and broken up 14 September 1922, and Superb relieved Bellerophon as a gunnery training vessel and then served briefly as a target ship before sold for scrapping in December 1923.[36]

    Ship Main guns Armour Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Bellerophon 10 × 12 in (305 mm)[27] 8–10 in (203–254 mm)[30][29] 18,596 long tons (18,890 t)[35] 4 × shafts
    2 x Parsons turbines
    21 kn (39 km/h; 24 mph)[37]     		3 December 1906[38] 27 February 1909[38] Sold for scrap 8 November 1921[39]
    HMS Superb 6 February 1907[38] 29 May 1909[40] Sold for scrap 12 December 1923[34]
    HMS Temeraire 1 January 1907[38] 15 May 1909[41] Sold for scrap 7 December 1921[35]

    St Vincent class

    HMS Vanguard
    Main article: St Vincent-class battleship

    The St Vincent-class was a line of three, originally four,

    armour belt 8–10 inches (203–254 mm) thick, as was the case for the Bellerophon class.[46]

    Upon commissioning, the St Vincent-class battleships were all assigned to the

    King George V on 24 June 1911 and HMS Collingwood became the flagship of the 1st Squadron two days later. After a lengthy refit in mid-1914, the sisters participated in the mobilisation and British responses to the July Crisis and joined the Home Fleet at Scapa Flow on 22 July 1914.[47] All three sisters participated in the Battle of Jutland and fired upon SMS Wiesbaden; Collingwood and Vanguard also fired at SMS Moltke and SMS Derfflinger. The three sisters inflicted little damage, despite firing 98 shots during the battle.[48] After the battle, Collingwood and St Vincent joined their sister Vanguard in the 4th Squadron, who had been transferred there in April 1916,[47] and continued to serve with the Home Fleet until the end of the war.[49] On 9 July 1917, one of Vanguard's magazines exploded, killing 840 of her crew and two Australian sailors aboard HMAS Sydney.[50] After the war, St Vincent became a gunnery training ship March 1919, before being made the flagship of the Reserve Fleet in June. In December, she was relieved and then sold for scrap 1 December 1921.[49] Collingwood was also assigned to the Reserve Fleet, briefly served as a training vessel, and then was also sold for scrap 12 December 1922.[51]

    Ship Main guns Armour Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS St Vincent 10 × 12 in (305 mm)[43] 8–10 in (203–254 mm)[46] 19,700 long tons (20,000 t)[52] 4 × shafts
    2 x Parsons turbines
    21.7 kn (40.2 km/h; 25.0 mph)[45]     		30 December 1907[44] 3 May 1910[49] Sold for scrap 1 December 1921[49]
    HMS Collingwood 3 February 1908[44] 19 April 1910[49] Sold for scrap 12 December 1922[49]
    HMS Vanguard 2 April 1908[44] 1 March 1910[49] Sunk by internal explosion 9 July 1917[53]

    HMS Neptune

    Main article: HMS Neptune (1909)
    HMS Neptune

    HMS Neptune, the only ship of her class, was the only battleship constructed during the 1908–1909 Naval Programme, and was the first British battleship to use

    Mk VII 4-inch (100 mm) secondary guns did not have shielding in the superstructure, a first for British dreadnoughts.[56]

    HMS Neptune was commissioned on 19 January 1909. She replaced

    4th Battle Squadron and never again saw combat. Neptune was placed in the reserve 1 February 1919 and sold for scrap in September 1922.[57]

    Ship Main guns Armour Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Neptune 10 × 12 in (305 mm)[60] 8–10 in (203–254 mm)[60] 19,680 long tons (20,000 t)[60] 4 × shafts
    2 x Parsons turbines
    21 kn (39 km/h; 24 mph)[37]     		19 January 1909[61] 11 January 1911[57] Sold for scrap September 1922[57]

    Colossus class

    HMS Colossus
    Main article: Colossus-class battleship (1910)

    The two Colossus-class battleships were the final members of the first generation of British dreadnoughts.

    displacement (now up to 20,030 long tons (20,350 t)).[63][64]

    Upon commission, Colossus and Hercules were both assigned to the 2nd Division, renamed the

    4th Squadron, Colossus becoming second-in-command,[68] and entered another period of relative inactivity. Both ships were present at the surrender of the German fleet at Rosyth, Scotland on 21 November, and Hercules took the Allied Naval Armistice Commission to Kiel, Germany, then joined the Reserve Fleet in February 1919 a month after her sister ship had briefly become flagship. Colossus was for a time listed for scrapping, but was then made a boys' training vessel in September 1921 and was refitted. Colossus was then returned to the list the following year, but was once again removed and hulked for use by the training establishment HMS Impregnable and was finally sold for scrap in August 1928, with Hercules having preceded her on 8 November 1921.[69]

    Ship Main guns Armour Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Colossus 10 × 12 in (305 mm)[70] 8–11 in (203–279 mm)[58] 20,030 long tons (20,350 t)[70] 4 × shafts
    2 x Parsons turbines
    21 kn (39 km/h; 24 mph)[37]     		8 July 1909[71] 8 August 1911[72] Sold for scrap July 1928[73]
    HMS Hercules 30 July 1909[71] 31 July 1911[74] Sold for scrap November 1921[75]

    Orion class

    HMS Orion
    Main article: Orion-class battleship

    The four Orion-class

    Mk VII 4-inch (102 mm) secondary guns of the previous battleships.[79][80]

    All four sister ships were assigned to the

    Reserve Fleet, but Monarch was transferred to Portsmouth in early 1920.[86] In the summer of that year, Thunderer and Monarch were recommissioned to ferry troops to and from the Mediterranean Sea, and Orion joined Monarch at Portsmouth later in the year and became the flagship of the Reserve Fleet before being relieved in this duty by Conqueror in mid-1921 to once again ferry troops. In 1921, Thunderer and Orion were transformed into training vessels and were sold for scrap the following year in accordance with the Washington Naval Treaty. Monarch was hulked and used for weapons testing until finally sunk in 1925. Thunderer, the last of the sisters, was sold for scrap in 1926.[81][87]

    Ship Main guns Armour Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Orion 10 × 13.5 in (343 mm)[76] 8–12 in (203–305 mm)[79] 21,922 long tons (22,270 t)[88] 4 × shaft
    2 x Parsons turbines
    21 kn (39 km/h; 24 mph)[88]     		29 November 1909[89] 2 January 1912[90] Sold for scrap 19 December 1922[90]
    HMS Monarch 1 April 1910[89] 27 April 1912[90] Sunk as a target 21 January 1925[91]
    HMS Conqueror 5 April 1910[89] 23 November 1912[91] Sold for scrap 19 December 1922[91]
    HMS Thunderer 13 April 1910[89] 15 June 1912[92] Sold for scrap 6 November 1926[91]

    King George V class (1911)

    HMS Ajax
    Main article: King George V-class battleship (1911)

    The King George V-class battleships,

    belt armour, but were longer at 597 feet 9 inches (182 m) and displaced 25,420 long tons (25,830 t). In addition, although the King George V class again retained the two Parsons steam turbines and their four shafts, they were faster than previous British battleships with a top speed of 22.9 kn (42.4 km/h; 26.4 mph) and enjoyed much-needed corrections in the arrangement of its funnels that made the spotting tops much easier to use.[93][94]

    All four of the King George V-class ships were assigned to the

    mulberry harbor established on Omaha Beach.[101]

    Ship Main guns Armour Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS King George V[d] 10 × 13.5 in (343 mm)[103] 12 in (305 mm)[103] 25,420 long tons (25,830 t)[103] 4 × shaft
    2 x Parsons turbines
    22.9 kn (42.4 km/h; 26.4 mph)[103]     		16 January 1911[104] 16 November 1912[95] Sold for scrap December 1926[105]
    HMS Centurion 16 January 1911[104] 22 May 1913[106] Sunk as a
    block ship 9 June 1944[107]
    HMS Audacious 23 March 1911[108] 15 October 1913[105] Sank after striking a mine 27 October 1914[109]
    HMS Ajax 27 February 1911[104] 31 October 1913[106] Sold for scrap 9 November 1926[106]

    Iron Duke class

    HMS Iron Duke
    Main article: Iron Duke-class battleship

    The four Iron Duke-class battleships,

    displaced 25,000 long tons (25,000 t).[110] As with previous British battleships, the Iron Duke-class sisters had four shafts powered by two Parsons steam turbines for a top speed of 21.5 knots (39.8 km/h; 24.7 mph), but they possessed an improved secondary armament of twelve 45-calibre Mk VII 6-inch (150 mm) naval guns.[111]

    New for British dreadnoughts, the four Iron Duke-class sisters were fairly separated from each other in their careers. On completion, Iron Duke joined the

    Great fire of Smyrna and following Allied deliberations on Greece.[122][123] Benbow relieved Iron Duke for a major refit of her own in May 1928, then was decommissioned and sold for scrap in March 1931.[124] Marlborough and Emperor of India followed her the next year after being used as target ships, sold for scrap in February and June 1932, respectively.[125][126][127] Iron Duke survived into World War II, serving at Scapa Flow as a floating anti-aircraft battery and was twice attacked and heavily damaged by Luftwaffe Junkers Ju 88s, and was refloated after the war and then sold for scrap in March 1946.[128][129]

    Ship Main guns Armour Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Iron Duke 10 × 13.5 in (343 mm)[111] 12 in (305 mm)[111] 25,000 long tons (25,400 t)[118] 4 × shafts
    2 x Parsons turbines
    21.5 kn (39.8 km/h; 24.7 mph)[111]     		12 January 1912[130] 10 March 1914[111] Sold for scrap March 1946[128]
    HMS Marlborough 25 January 1912[111] 2 June 1914[111] Sold for scrap 27 June 1932[131]
    HMS Benbow 30 May 1912[111] 7 October 1914[111] Sold for scrap March 1931[124]
    HMS Emperor of India 31 May 1912[116] 10 November 1914[116] Sold for scrap 6 February 1932[112]

    HMS Agincourt

    Main article: HMS Agincourt (1913)
    HMS Agincourt

    HMS Agincourt was laid down in

    belt armour 9 inches (229 mm) thick.[134]

    After being commissioned into the Royal Navy on 7 August 1914, Agincourt joined the Grand Fleet's 4th Battle Squadron on 7 September 1914 but was reassigned to the 1st Battle Squadron on 31 May 1916, just in time for the Battle of Jutland.[136][137] She engaged a German battlecruiser and destroyers and a Kaiser-class battleship with her main and secondary guns,[138][139] firing a total of 144 of her main battery shells and secondary shells, but is not known to have hit any enemy ship.[136] Agincourt's participation in the Royal Navy's sorties after Jutland is not well explored, but she did sortie once with HMS Hercules from Scapa Flow to protect merchant convoys from Norway to the United Kingdom on 23 April 1918.[140] After being transferred to the 2nd Battle Squadron,[136] Agincourt was present for the surrender of the High Seas Fleet and was then placed in reserve in March 1919.[141] The Brazilian government was not interested in purchasing her, so Agincourt was listed for disposal and then sold for scrap on 19 December 1922 in accordance with the Washington Naval Treaty.[142]

    Ship Main guns Armour Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Agincourt 14 × 12 in (305 mm)[135] 9 in (229 mm)[143] 27,850 long tons (28,300 t)[144] 4 × shafts
    4 x Parsons turbines
    22 kn (41 km/h; 25 mph)[145]     		14 September 1911[132] 7 August 1914[132] Sold for scrap December 1922[142]

    HMS Erin

    Main article: HMS Erin
    See also: Reşadiye-class battleship
    HMS Erin

    HMS Erin, originally the Turkish battleship Reşadiye, was one of two battleships being built for the

    displaced 22,780 long tons (23,150 t). Unlike either the Orion or King George V-class battleships, Erin had four Parsons steam turbines driving four shafts for a top speed of 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph).[146]

    On 29 July 1914, Reşadiye was seized under the orders of First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill, and on the 31st it entered the Royal Navy as HMS Erin.[147] She joined the Grand Fleet's 4th Battle Squadron on 5 September of the same year and participated in the fleet's early war sorties and drills, most importantly in response to the German attack on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby.[148] At some point from September to December 1915, Erin was transferred to the 2nd Battle Squadron.[149][150] She participated in the Battle of Jutland, but was hindered by poor visibility and was the only British capital ship to not fire her main battery guns and only fired six 6-inch shells.[151] After Jutland, Erin returned to active participation in the Grand Fleet's North Sea operations, sortieing against High Seas Fleet raids on merchant convoys and at the end of war was present for the surrender of the High Seas Fleet at Rosyth, Scotland on 21 November 1918.[152][153] On 1 May 1919, Erin was assigned to the Home Fleet's 3rd Battle Squadron, but entered the reserves at Portland Harbour in October at the Nore.[85] From July to August 1920 Erin underwent a refit as a gunnery practice ship, but came to be in violation of the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 and was sold for scrap on 19 December 1922.[154][155]

    Ship Main guns Armour Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Erin 10 × 13.5 in (343 mm)[156] 12 in (305 mm)[142] 22,780 long tons (23,150 t)[157] 4 × shafts
    4 x Parsons turbines
    21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)[158]     		6 December 1911[157] 31 August 1914[154] Sold for scrap December 1922[154]

    HMS Canada

    Main article: Chilean battleship Almirante Latorre
    HMS Canada

    In 1911,

    Mk XI 6-inch (150 mm) secondary guns, but lightly armoured with only 9 inches (230 mm) on her belt, making her an oddity in the Royal Navy. Her propulsion means was also unusual for British battleships. Four shafts were powered by two sets of Brown & Curtis and Parsons steam turbines gave Canada a top speed of 24 kn (44 km/h; 28 mph), making her one of the Royal Navy's fastest battleships.[160]

    On 9 September 1914, the British government purchased Almirante Latorre from Chile and christened her HMS Canada and undertook some minor alterations.[161] She was commissioned on 15 October 1915, and assigned to the 4th Battle Squadron. She participated in the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916, firing a totality of 42 shells from her main guns and 109 secondary shells at SMS Wiesbaden, an unspecified German capital ship, and several destroyers, but did not make or receive any hits.[162][163] Canada was transferred to the 1st Battle Squadron on 12 June 1916 and subsequently underwent more modification, and was placed in the reserves in March 1919. In April of the next year, she was sold back to Chile and resumed her original name.[162]

    Ship Main guns Armour Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Canada 10 × 14 in (356 mm)[164] 9 inches (229 mm)[164] 28,622 long tons (29,080 t)[164] 4 × shafts
    2 x Brown & Curtiss, 2 x Parsons turbines
    23–24 kn (43–44 km/h; 26–28 mph)[165]     		27 November 1911[166] 15 October 1915[162] Resold to Chile, April 1920[162]

    Queen Elizabeth class

    HMS Queen Elizabeth
    Main article: Queen Elizabeth-class battleship

    The Queen Elizabeth-class

    15-inch (381 mm) guns arranged in four twin turrets. The new calibre guns were intended to still give the Royal Navy an advantage in range over newer American and Japanese ships which the Admiralty expected were to be armed with 14-inch guns. The initial design was for a five turret ship, but was reduced to four when it was found that even just four turrets of the new 15 inch guns would still provide greater broadside hitting power (15,000 pounds (6,800 kg)) compared to the previous Iron Duke-class
    (14,000 pounds (6,400 kg)). Secondary armament was fourteen 6-inch, two 3-inch anti-aircraft and four 21-inch torpedoes tubes. The space saved by the reduction of one turret was used to house additional boilers which gave the ships a speed of 24–25 knots (44–46 km/h; 28–29 mph).

    Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Queen Elizabeth 8 × 15 in (381 mm) 27,500 long tons (27,940 t) 4 × shafts
    Parsons turbines (Queen Elizabeth, Warspite, Malaya)
    Brown & Curtiss turbines (Barham and Valiant)
    24 × boilers     		21 October 1912 January 1915 Sold for scrap April 1948
    HMS Warspite 31 October 1912 March 1915 Sold for scrap July 1946
    HMS Barham 24 February 1913 October 1915 Torpedoed and sunk 25 November 1941
    HMS Valiant 31 January 1913 February 1916 Sold for scrap March 1948
    HMS Malaya 20 October 1913 February 1916 Sold for scrap February 1948
    HMS Agincourt — Cancelled August 1914

    Revenge class

    HMS Royal Oak
    Main article: Revenge-class battleship

    The Revenge class (sometimes known as the Royal Sovereign class) were designed as a cheaper alternative to the

    Second World War
    .

    Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Revenge 8 × 15 in (381 mm)/42 Mk I 28,000 long tons (28,450 t) 4 × shafts
    Parsons turbines
    18 × boilers     		22 December 1913 March 1916 Sold for scrap February 1948
    HMS Royal Sovereign 15 January 1914 May 1916 Sold for scrap February 1949
    HMS Royal Oak 15 January 1914 May 1916 Torpedoed and sunk by U-47 14 October 1939
    HMS Resolution 29 November 1913 May 1916 Sold for scrap February 1949
    HMS Ramillies 12 November 1913 September 1917 Sold for scrap 1948
    Renown 12 November 1913 20 September 1916 Converted to Battlecruiser
    Repulse 12 November 1913 Converted to Battlecruiser
    Resistance Canceled

    N3 class

    Main article: N3-class battleship

    The N3-class, like the contemporary

    G3-class battlecruiser design, was planned in response to other nations' intentions to build superior navies. The design concentrated the main guns forward of the bridge to save weight (while still allowing thick enough armour over the critical parts) by shortening the length of the armoured citadel - although, they still would've been about twice the displacement of their predecessors. The design was approved in late 1921, but, in early 1922 the major naval powers signed the Washington Naval Treaty, limiting the size and number of warships in their respective navies and thus resulting in the design's cancellation. (The treaty set an upper limit of 35,000 long tons (36,000 t) displacement
    and 16-inch guns.) The ships had not been ordered nor had construction been started when they were canceled.

    Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Notes
    4 ships 9 × 18 in (457 mm) about 48,000 long tons (48,800 t) 2 shafts, geared steam turbines Never ordered

    Nelson class

    HMS Nelson
    Main article: Nelson-class battleship

    The two ships of the Nelson class were the only new battleships the Royal Navy were allowed to build under the terms of the

    20 mm Oerlikon cannon
    .

    Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Nelson 9 × 16 in (406 mm)[168] 33,900 long tons (34,440 t) 2 × shafts
    Brown-Curtis turbines
    8 × boilers     		28 December 1922[169] 15 August 1927 Sold for scrap 15 March 1949
    HMS Rodney 28 December 1922[169] 10 November 1927 Sold for scrap 26 March 1948

    King George V class (1939)

    HMS Anson at Devonport March 1945.
    Main article: King George V-class battleship (1939)

    The King George V class of ships were criticized for having 14-inch main guns (the preceding Nelson class had larger, though relatively lighter 16 inch guns). The decision to use 14-inch guns was taken in October 1935, while the

    2-pounder "pom-pom" anti-aircraft mountings (King George V and Prince of Wales the later ships all had six mountings). Anson and Howe had eighteen Oerlikon 20 mm cannon and the Duke of York six. They were all fitted with amidships catapults for the three Supermarine Walrus spotter/patrol aircraft they carried. The King George V class were designed to reach a speed of over 27 knots. As the treaty negotiations collapsed, this lack of speed and the smaller size of their main armament left them slower and with a lesser broadside than foreign battleships that were being produced around the same time. However, their main armour belt was thicker than others, with the exception of the two very large ships of the Yamato class from Japan.[170]

    Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS King George V 10 × 14 in (356 mm) 36,730 long tons (37,320 t) 4 × shafts
    Parsons turbines
    8 × boilers[171]     		1 January 1937 1 October 1940 Sold for scrap 1957
    HMS Prince of Wales 1 January 1937 31 March 1941 Sunk December 1941 by Japanese air attack
    HMS Duke of York 5 May 1937 4 November 1941 Sold for scrap 1957
    HMS Anson 20 July 1937 22 June 1942 Sold for scrap 1957
    HMS Howe 1 June 1937 29 August 1942 Sold for scrap 1958

    Lion class

    Lion Drawing
    Main article: Lion-class battleship

    During the Second London Naval Treaty of 1936, the upper limit for battleships was agreed by the powers attending but an escalator clause allowed for increases if parties defaulted. By 1938 concerns about the Japanese prompted Britain and the United States to raise the limits allowed to 45,000 long tons (46,000 t) and 16 in (406 mm) guns. The Admiralty had planned to scrap the ineffective Revenge class when the King George V ships entered service. These plans were soon changed, the Admiralty's new ambition was to raise a battle fleet of 20 ships, 15 of them to match the new standard, keeping the Revenge class until at least 1942. To meet this target the navy wanted three battleships added to the 1938 plans, but in the end only two were given the go ahead and even then they had to use reserve slipways, normally only used in emergencies.[172] At the same time it was identified that unless the 1938 ships were completed by 1942, the Royal Navy between 1940 and 1943 would be at a disadvantage with only twelve modern and eight older battleships against a combined German–Japanese fleet of twenty modern ships.[173] Construction work was halted at start of war so that resources could be diverted to more important production and although design was revised during war no further work took place.

    Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Lion 9 × 16 in (410 mm) 40,000 long tons (41,000 t) — 4 July 1939 — Scrapped 15 October 1945
    HMS Temeraire 1 June 1939
    HMS Conqueror Cancelled
    HMS Thunderer

    HMS Vanguard

    Main article: HMS Vanguard (23)
    Vanguard in 1950

    Parsons steam turbines, one shaft each, that gave her a top speed of 31.57 kn (58.47 km/h; 36.33 mph).[174]

    Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Service
    Laid down Commissioned Fate
    HMS Vanguard 8 × 15 in (381 mm)[175] 44,500 long tons (45,200 t)[176] 4 × shafts
    4 x Parsons turbines
    31.57 kn (58.47 km/h; 36.33 mph)[177][178]     		2 October 1941 25 April 1946 Sold for scrap 4 August 1960

    See also

    Notes

    Footnotes

    1. ^ USS New York may have sunk a submarine in October 1918, when she accidentally collided with what was suspected to be a submerged U-boat but this was never confirmed.[22]
    2. ^ The fourth St Vincent-class ship would become HMS Neptune.[42]
    3. ^ While Burt makes no mention of Orion's activity from January 1914 to May 1916, it is to be assumed that she participated in the activities of the 2nd Squadron.[81]
    4. ^ HMS King George V's name originally was to be HMS Royal George, but this was changed in 1910, before construction began.[102]
    5. ^ There was originally to be a sixth Queen Elizabeth-class battleship, HMS Agincourt, but she was cancelled before construction began.[167]

    Citations

    1. ^ Keegan (1999), p. 209.
    2. ^ Keegan (1999), p. 281.
    3. ^ Sondhaus (2001), p. 161.
    4. ^ "The First World War and the Inter-war years 1914–1939". Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 13 January 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
    5. ^ Friedman (1985), pp. 181–82.
    6. ^ Kennedy (1983), p. 277.
    7. ^ Ireland (1997), pp. 124–126, 139–142.
    8. ^ Sumrall (1973), pp. 25–28.
    9. ^ "Vanguard to Trident 1945–2000". Royal Navy. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
    10. ^ Gardiner (2001), pp. 7, 14.
    11. ^ a b Gardiner (1992), p. 18.
    12. ^ Massie (1991), p. 474.
    13. ^ a b Burt (1986), p. 31.
    14. ^ Sturton (2008), pp. 76–77.
    15. ^ a b Burt (1986), p. 29.
    16. ^ a b Roberts (1992), p. 28.
    17. ^ a b c d Gardiner & Gray (1985), p. 21.
    18. ^ Roberts (1992), pp. 13, 16.
    19. ^ Roberts (1992), pp. 18–20, 50.
    20. ^ Roberts (1992), p. 21.
    21. ^ Sturton (2008), p. 79.
    22. ^ Jones (1995), pp. 66–67.
    23. ^ Johnston & Buxton (2013), pp. 41, 44.
    24. ^ Roberts (1992), pp. 22–23.
    25. ^ Roberts (1992), pp. 31–32, 139–43.
    26. ^ Roberts (1992), p. 26.
    27. ^ a b Friedman (2015), p. 97.
    28. ^ Brooks (1995), pp. 41–42.
    29. ^ a b Parkes (1990), p. 498.
    30. ^ a b Burt (1986), pp. 62, 64.
    31. ^ Burt (1986), pp. 71, 73–74.
    32. ^ Campbell (1986), pp. 156–57, 208, 210, 212, 231–32, 349.
    33. ^ Dreadnought Project: HMS Bellerophon.
    34. ^ a b Burt (1986), p. 73.
    35. ^ a b c Burt (1986), p. 64.
    36. ^ Burt (1986), pp. 71–73.
    37. ^ a b c Burt (1986), pp. 31, 64.
    38. ^ a b c d Gardiner & Gray (1985), p. 22.
    39. ^ Burt (1986), pp. 71–72.
    40. ^ Burt (1986), pp. 72–73.
    41. ^ Burt (1986), pp. 73–74.
    42. ^ Friedman (2015), pp. 97–102.
    43. ^ a b Friedman (2011), pp. 59, 62.
    44. ^ a b c d Parkes (1990), p. 503.
    45. ^ a b Burt (1986), pp. 31, 64, 76, 80.
    46. ^ a b Burt (1986), pp. 76, 78.
    47. ^ a b Burt (1986), pp. 86, 88.
    48. ^ Campbell (1986), pp. 157, 205, 208, 212, 214, 229–30, 232–34, 349..
    49. ^ a b c d e f g Burt (1986), p. 86.
    50. ^ Scapa Flow Wrecks: HMS Vanguard.
    51. ^ Corbett (1997), p. 431.
    52. ^ Burt (1986), p. 76.
    53. ^ Burt (1986), p. 83.
    54. ^ Friedman (2015), pp. 105–07, 109.
    55. ^ Burt (1986), pp. 31, 112.
    56. ^ Parkes (1990), p. 509.
    57. ^ a b c d Burt (1986), p. 116.
    58. ^ a b Burt (1986), p. 122.
    59. ^ Campbell (1986), pp. 156, 202, 205, 207, 210, 212, 349, 358.
    60. ^ a b c Burt (1986), p. 112.
    61. ^ Gardiner & Gray (1985), p. 25.
    62. ^ Brooks (1995), pp. 42–44.
    63. ^ Burt (1986), pp. 31, 64, 121–22, 124.
    64. ^ Parkes (1990), p. 519.
    65. ^ Burt (1986), pp. 128–29.
    66. ^ Burt (1986), pp. 128–30.
    67. ^ Campbell (1986), pp. 156–58, 204–05, 207–08, 210, 212, 214, 218, 226–29, 296, 346, 349, 358.
    68. ^ Dreadnought Project: Fourth Battle Squadron.
    69. ^ Burt (1986), pp. 129–130.
    70. ^ a b Burt (1986), p. 121.
    71. ^ a b Gardiner & Gray (1985), p. 26.
    72. ^ Burt (1986), p. 128.
    73. ^ Burt (1986), p. 129.
    74. ^ Burt (1986), pp. 129–30.
    75. ^ Burt (1986), p. 130.
    76. ^ a b Friedman (2015), p. 111.
    77. ^ Burt (1986), p. 132.
    78. ^ Parkes (1990), pp. 510, 525–26.
    79. ^ a b Burt (1986), pp. 134, 136.
    80. ^ Parkes (1990), p. 253.
    81. ^ a b c Burt (1986), pp. 146, 148, 150.
    82. ^ Burt (1986), pp. 148, 150.
    83. ^ Campbell (1986), pp. 156–58, 193–95, 204–10, 218–20, 226–29, 276–77, 346–47.
    84. ^ Dreadnought Project: Operation ZZ.
    85. ^ a b Admiralty (May 1919), p. 5.
    86. ^ Admiralty (April 1920), p. 707a.
    87. ^ Admiralty (November 1920), pp. 695–6, 707a.
    88. ^ a b Burt (1986), p. 136.
    89. ^ a b c d Gardiner & Gray (1985), p. 28.
    90. ^ a b c Burt (1986), p. 146.
    91. ^ a b c d Burt (1986), p. 150.
    92. ^ Burt (1986), p. 148.
    93. ^ Burt (1986), pp. 176–79.
    94. ^ Brooks (1995), pp. 45, 47–48.
    95. ^ a b Admiralty (March 1913), p. 269.
    96. ^ Burt (1986), p. 186-88.
    97. ^ Goldrick (2015), pp. 156–58.
    98. ^ Jellicoe (1919), pp. 149, 167–68, 173, 185.
    99. ^ Goldrick (2015), pp. 200–14.
    100. ^ Campbell (1986), pp. 204, 207–09, 346–47.
    101. ^ Burt (1986), p. 181, 186–188.
    102. ^ Colledge & Warlow (2006), p. 188.
    103. ^ a b c d Burt (1986), p. 176.
    104. ^ a b c Gardiner & Gray (1985), p. 30.
    105. ^ a b Burt (1986), p. 187.
    106. ^ a b c Burt (1986), p. 188.
    107. ^ Lenton (1998), p. 574.
    108. ^ Friedman (2015), p. 438.
    109. ^ Jellicoe (1919), p. 149.
    110. ^ Hore (2006), pp. 44–45.
    111. ^ a b c d e f g h i Gardiner & Gray (1985), p. 31.
    112. ^ a b c d Gardiner & Gray (1985), p. 32.
    113. ^ Jellicoe (1919), p. 7.
    114. ^ Jellicoe (1919), pp. 168–169, 172, 173–174.
    115. ^ Burt (1986), p. 230.
    116. ^ a b c Burt (1986), p. 226.
    117. ^ Campbell (1986), pp. 16, 121–22, 151–157, 164, 167, 188–91, 205, 206, 209, 210, 212, 296, 335.
    118. ^ a b Hore (2006), p. 45.
    119. ^ Burt (1986), p. 215, 226, 228, 230, 231.
    120. ^ Halpern (2011), pp. 32–33.
    121. ^ Halpern (2011), p. 251, 434.
    122. ^ Burt (1986), p. 219, 228, 230, 231.
    123. ^ Halpern (2011), p. 376.
    124. ^ a b Colledge & Warlow (2006), p. 37.
    125. ^ Burt (1986), p. 227, 229.
    126. ^ Brown (2006), pp. 20, 63–65, 68.
    127. ^ Brown (2006), p. 22.
    128. ^ a b Burt (1986), p. 231.
    129. ^ Colledge & Warlow (2006), p. 198.
    130. ^ Burt (1986), p. 216.
    131. ^ Burt (1986), p. 229.
    132. ^ a b c Burt (1986), p. 245.
    133. ^ Hough (1967), pp. 72, 75, 109–122.
    134. ^ a b Burt (1986), p. 244-45, 250.
    135. ^ a b Gardiner & Gray (1985), p. 37.
    136. ^ a b c Parkes (1990), p. 605.
    137. ^ Hough (1967), p. 174.
    138. ^ Tarrant (1999), pp. 131, 133.
    139. ^ Hough (1967), p. 183.
    140. ^ Newbolt (1931), pp. 236–37.
    141. ^ Hough (1967), p. 186.
    142. ^ a b c Burt (1986), p. 250.
    143. ^ Burt (1986), p. 224.
    144. ^ Burt (1986), p. 244.
    145. ^ Burt (1986), pp. 245, 250.
    146. ^ Burt (1986), pp. 247–48, 252.
    147. ^ Silverstone (1984), p. 230.
    148. ^ Jellicoe (1919), pp. 129–33, 135–37, 143, 156, 158, 163–65, 179, 182–84.
    149. ^ Admiralty (July 1915), p. 10.
    150. ^ Admiralty (December 1915), p. 10.
    151. ^ Campbell (1986), pp. 96, 148, 197–98, 248, 273–74, 346, 358.
    152. ^ Halpern (1995), pp. 330–32, 418–20.
    153. ^ Admiralty (March 1919), p. 10.
    154. ^ a b c Burt (1986), p. 256.
    155. ^ Admiralty (January 1920), pp. 695–6, 770–1.
    156. ^ Burt (1986), pp. 247–48.
    157. ^ a b Burt (1986), p. 248.
    158. ^ Burt (1986), p. 247-248.
    159. ^ Chilean Navy: Almirante Latorre.
    160. ^ Burt (1986), pp. 257–60, 262–63.
    161. ^ Gardiner & Gray (1985), p. 38.
    162. ^ a b c d Burt (1986), p. 266.
    163. ^ Campbell (1986), pp. 157, 206–07, 210.
    164. ^ a b c Burt (1986), p. 260.
    165. ^ Burt (1986), p. 262-63.
    166. ^ Burt (1986), p. 265.
    167. ^ Parkes (1990), p. 600.
    168. ^ Bennett (2008), p. 118.
    169. ^ a b Garzke (1985), p. 5.
    170. ^ Roberts (1989), p. 13.
    171. ^ Roberts (1989), p. 14.
    172. ^ Maiolo (1998), pp. 148–150.
    173. ^ Maiolo (1998), p. 151.
    174. ^ Raven & Roberts (1976), pp. 284, 297, 321, 325, 334, 339.
    175. ^ Raven & Roberts (1976), p. 325.
    176. ^ Raven & Roberts (1976), p. 297.
    177. ^ Garzke & Dulin (1980), pp. 297.
    178. ^ Raven & Roberts (1976), p. 334.

    References

    Further reading

    • Burt, R. A. (2012). British Battleships 1919–1945. Naval Institute Press.
      ISBN 9781591140528
      .

    External links
    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_dreadnought_battleships_of_the_Royal_Navy&oldid=1202433416"