H.M.S. Hercules (1910)

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H.M.S. Hercules (1910)
Pendant Number: 47 (1914)
69 (Jan 1918)
54 (Apr 1918)[1]
Builder: Palmer Shipbuilding and Iron Company, Hebburn[2]
Laid down: 30 Jul, 1909[3]
Launched: 10 May, 1910[4]
Completed: 15 June, 1911[5]
Commissioned: 31 Jul, 1911
Sold: 8 Nov, 1921[6]
Fate: Scrapped
First cost: £1,529,540[7]

H.M.S. Hercules was one of two Colossus class battleships completed for the Royal Navy in 1911.

Service

At the end of 1912, Hercules had one of the twelve Short Distance Radio Sets of five-mile range then installed in sea-going ships, situated behind armour near the fore bridge.[8]

From at least December 1913, she served in the First Battle Squadron. In 1913, Hercules was slated as part of the seventeen ship order to receive a director, but it was not fitted until sometime between May and December, 1915.[9]

By the end of 1913, she and the rest of the First Battle Squadron were all equipped with Battleship Auxiliary W/T sets.[10]

In June 1914, the ship was directed to return its Waymouth-Cooke Rangefinder to the manufacturer to replace the long telescope with a shorter one.[11]

She left Scapa for refit at Liverpool at 04:00 on 6 November, 1915, arriving at Liverpool on 08:30 on the 7th.[12]

By the end of 1915, and probably during 1915, she received one of the first three sets of Walker's Instruments, presumably for trial.[13]

Jutland

Main article: H.M.S. Hercules at the Battle of Jutland

Hercules operated at Jutland as part of the First Battle Squadron in the battle, firing ninety-eight 12-in shells under the command of Captain Lewis Clinton-Baker. After the battle, Hercules was transferred to the Fourth Battle Squadron to become that formation's flagship.

In February 1919, Hercules was sent to Rosyth when the Fourth was disestablished,[14] reducing to reserve on 31 January 1919 and becoming flagship of the Reserve Fleet there by mid 1920.[15]

In 1934, her bell was offered for sale to naval officers and others who might be interested, at the price of £10. Interested parties were to write the Director of Stores and were urged to include any special information which might convey the importance they attach to the bell, in light of the Admiralty's understanding that such items carry great sentimental value.[16]

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

See Also

Footnotes

  1. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 32.
  2. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 32.
  3. Navy (Dockyard Expense Accounts). 1912–1913. p. 37.
  4. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 32.
  5. Navy (Dockyard Expense Accounts). 1912–1913. p. 37.
  6. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 32.
  7. Navy (Dockyard Expense Accounts). 1913–1914. p. 137.
  8. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1912. W/T Appendix, p. 8.
  9. The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 23. pp. 9-10.
  10. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1913. W/T Appendix, p. 13.
  11. Admiralty Weekly Order No. 68 of 26 June 1914.
  12. Jellicoe Papers. British Library. Add MS 49001. f. 7.
  13. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1915. p. 60.
  14. See First Battle Squadron and Fourth Battle Squadron pages for references.
  15. The Navy List. (January, 1921). pp. 785, 786.
  16. "Ships' Bells for Sale." The Times (London, England), Wednesday, Apr 18, 1934; pg. 4; Issue 46731.
  17. Kerr Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 30.
  18. Kerr Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 30.
  19. Gilpin-Brown Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 395.
  20. Gilpin-Brown Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 395.
  21. Everett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 23.
  22. Everett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 23.
  23. Hopwood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 16.
  24. The Navy List. (August, 1912). p. 324.
  25. Hopwood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 16.
  26. The Navy List. (March, 1913). p. 323.
  27. The Navy List. (June, 1913). p. 232.
  28. Kerr Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 30.
  29. The Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 329.
  30. Bruce Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 85.
  31. The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 394n.
  32. Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. p. 43.
  33. Clinton-Baker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 394.
  34. The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 395c.
  35. Parker Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 156.
  36. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 812.
  37. Lowndes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 470.
  38. Lowndes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 470.
  39. Adam Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 232.
  40. Adam Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 232.
  41. The Navy List. (August, 1919). p. 812.
  42. Eliot Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/15. f. 15.
  43. The Navy List. (December, 1920). p. 785.
  44. "Reserve FDleet Flagships." The Times (London, England), Friday, June 24, 1921, Issue 42755, p.18.
  45. Parry Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 34.
  46. Parry Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/91. f. 39.

Bibliography

  • Navy (Dockyard Expense Accounts). 1912–1913. London: Printed under the Authority of His Majesty's Stationary Office. 1914.
  • Navy (Dockyard Expense Accounts). 1913–1914. London: Printed under the Authority of His Majesty's Stationary Office. 1915.
  • Admiralty, Technical History Section (1919). The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in H.M. Ships. Vol. 3, Part 23. C.B. 1515 (23) now O.U. 6171/14. At The National Archives. ADM 275/19.
  • Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. London: Ian Allan.
  • Parkes, O.B.E., Ass.I.N.A., Dr. Oscar (1990). British Battleships 1860–1950. London: Pen & Sword Ltd. ISBN 0850526043. (on Bookfinder.com).


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