H.M.S. Malaya (1915)

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H.M.S. Malaya (1915)
Pendant Number: 3A (Aug 1914)
84 (Jan 1918)
06 (Apr 1918)[1]
Builder: Armstrong, Whitworth & Company[2]
Ordered: 1912 Programme[3]
Laid down: 20 Oct, 1913[4]
Launched: 18 Mar, 1915[5]
Commissioned: 28 Jan, 1916[6]
Sold: 20 Feb, 1948[7]
Fate: Scrapped

Service

Malaya was commissioned at Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 1 February, 1916.[8]

Malaya allegedly had the first billiards table in the Grand Fleet.[9]

Malaya began preliminary gun trials on 21 February, 1916, during which a boy in Fore Control was knocked unconscious by a blow on the head and had to be lowered down from the Fore Top in a splint stretcher.[10]

Jutland

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

According to notes made by Lawder on signal forms (S.—1320c.) Malaya turned 16 points in succession at 4.58.[11]

In July, 1916 a Lieutenant of Marines, Lieutenant "Pongo" Kitchen, was dismissed the ship after writing an uncensored letter to his father, the editor of the Glasgow Herald. He had bypassed the ship's censor Surgeon Lorimer, R.N.V.R. by posting it ashore at Alness.[12]

On 24 August, 1916 Malaya was presented with a silver bell from the Federated Malay States, in a ceremony attended by the High Commissioner for the Straits Settlements, Sir Ernest Beach, Admiral Sir John Jellicoe and Rear-Admiral Hugh Evan Thomas. Four smaller bells were made for the Captain, the Wardroom, the Gunroom and the Warrant Officers' Mess. Admiral Jellicoe rang the bell into service by sounding off eight bells.[13]

Post-War

Malaya was re-commissioned at Portsmouth on 4 September, 1923.[14]

She was re-commissioned at Portsmouth on 13 September, 1926.[15]

Malaya was reduced to a Care and Maintenance Party at Portsmouth on 20 September, 1927.[16] She would not be ready for service until being commissioned for trials on 2 January, 1928 and for eventual completion to full complement at Devonport on 21 February, 1928.[17]

She was again re-commissioned for trials at Portsmouth on 2 January, 1929.[18]

Re-commissioned at Devonport on 3 September, 1931 for service with the Second Battle Squadron.[19]

Malaya paid off into Dockyard Control at Devonport on 20 October, 1934.[20]

Boats

In July 1914, the ship was appropriated 42-foot motor launch No. 246, though the boat was not yet delivered from the contractor.[21]

Fire Control Systems

Rangefinders

When in 1918 it was desired to give each capital ship possible an additional effective 9-foot rangefinder to support torpedo control, Malaya proposed a pair of transversing mountings atop the beef screen, one each side. Vernon did not want the transversing mountings, owing to the loss in efficiency they incurred on the rangefinder.[22]

Directors

Main Battery

Malaya was fitted with two tripod-type directors, one in an armoured tower and one in a light aloft tower[23].

Secondary Battery

Her 6-in guns were to be served by a pair of pedestal-mounted directors[24], possibly situated high on her forward superstructure.

Torpedo Control

Transmitting Stations

Dreyer Table

Like all her sisters except Queen Elizabeth (which had a Mark IV), Malaya had a Mark IV* Dreyer table.[25] At some point, the class was also outfitted with Turret Control Tables, although there is no indication whether this was 1 table, or 2 in her controlling turrets, or one in all four turrets.[26]

Alterations

Malaya was completed with director firing installed, as all capital ships were supposed to do after 2 January, 1915.[27]

In March, 1915, Open Director Sights were ordered for all[Inference] her turrets. These may have been in place by the time she was completed.[28]

Between late 1915 and mid 1917, she was fitted with a Torpedo Control Plotting Instrument Mark II in the TCT.[29][30]

Her secondary battery directors were installed in April, 1917.[31]

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

See Also

Footnotes

  1. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 34.
  2. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 33.
  3. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 33.
  4. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 33.
  5. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 34.
  6. The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 807.
  7. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 34.
  8. Campbell. p. 42.
  9. Transcript of interview with Paymaster Rear-Admiral Keith MacLeod Lawder in possession of the Liddle Collection. University of Leeds Library. f. 16.
  10. Liddle Collection. University of Leeds Library. RNMN/Lorimer. f. 114
  11. Liddle Collection. University of Leeds. RNMN/Lawder K M/3. f. 2.
  12. Liddle Collection. University of Leeds Library. RNMN/Lorimer. f. 133.
  13. Liddle Collection. University of Leeds. RNMN/Lorimer. f. 135.
  14. The Navy List. (April, 1925). p. 254.
  15. The Navy List. (July, 1927). p. 254.
  16. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Thursday, Nov 03, 1927; pg. 5; Issue 44729.
  17. "Naval, Military & Air Force." The Times (London, England), Saturday, Dec 01, 1928; pg. 9; Issue 45065.
  18. The Navy List. (July, 1931). p. 252.
  19. The Navy List. (July, 1934). p. 254.
  20. The Navy List. (October, 1935). p. 254.
  21. Admiralty Weekly Order No. 122 of 10 July, 1914.
  22. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1918. p. 177.
  23. The Director Firing Handbook. p. 142.
  24. The Director Firing Handbook. p. 143.
  25. Handbook of Captain F. C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables, 1918. p. 3.
  26. Ibid.
  27. The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in H.M. Ships. p. 10.
  28. The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in H.M. Ships. p. 18.
  29. Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916. p. 38.
  30. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1915. p. 60.
  31. The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in H.M. Ships. p. 16.
  32. The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 395zz.
  33. Boyle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 169.
  34. Day of month taken from successor. Woollcombe Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 267.
  35. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 840.
  36. Woollcombe Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 267.
  37. Woollcombe Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 267.
  38. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 403.
  39. Buller Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 403.
  40. The Navy List. (January, 1923). p. 781.
  41. The Navy List. (January, 1923). p. 781.
  42. Backhouse Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 474.
  43. Backhouse Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 474.
  44. Backhouse Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 474.
  45. The Navy List. (April, 1925). p. 253.
  46. Tomlin Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 228.
  47. Tomlin Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 228.
  48. Astley-Rushton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 55.
  49. Astley-Rushton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 55.
  50. The Navy List. (July, 1927). p. 253.
  51. Usborne Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/115. f. 118.
  52. Usborne Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/115. f. 118.
  53. Archdale Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/90. f. 187.
  54. Archdale Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/90. f. 187.
  55. Shipway Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 218.
  56. Shipway Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 218.
  57. Salmond Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 312.
  58. Salmond Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 312.
  59. The Navy List. (July, 1934). p. 254.
  60. Hallifax Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49. f. 35.
  61. Hill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/54/121. f. 121.
  62. Hill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/54/121. f. 121.
  63. Hill Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/54/121. f. 121.
  64. Buckley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51. f. 10/1098.
  65. Buckley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51. f. 10/1098.
  66. Day of month not legible.
  67. Superseded that day. Palliser Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/290. f. 663.
  68. Palliser Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52/290. f. 663.
  69. Coppinger succeeded him. Coppinger Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52. f. 684.
  70. Coppinger Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52. f. 684.
  71. Coppinger Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52. f. 684.
  72. Perhaps not until 28 July. Coppinger Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52. f. 684.
  73. Left that day. O'Donnell Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/56. f. 14.
  74. O'Donnell Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/56. f. 14.
  75. O'Donnell Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/56. f. 14.
  76. Bush Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/122/11. f. 11.
  77. Bush Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/122/11. f. 11.
  78. Bush Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/122/11. f. 11.
  79. Fallowfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/242. f. 243.
  80. Fallowfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/242. f. 243.

Bibliography

  • Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1917). The Director Firing Handbook. O.U. 6125 (late C.B. 1259). Copy No. 322 at The National Archives. ADM 186/227.
  • Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1918). Handbook of Captain F. C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables, 1918. C.B. 1456. Copy No. 10 at Admiralty Library, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
  • Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. London: Ian Allan.
  • 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.
  • 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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