London Class Battleship (1899): Difference between revisions
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{ship | {ship | ||
name=Bulwark | name=Bulwark | ||
pend= | pend=95 (1914){{DittColl|p. 30}} | ||
builder=[[Devonport Royal Dockyard]] | builder=[[Devonport Royal Dockyard]]{{DittColl|p. 30}} | ||
order=27 June, 1898 | order=27 June, 1898 | ||
laid=20 March, 1899 | laid=20 March, 1899 | ||
launch=18 October, 1899 | launch=18 October, 1899{{DittColl|p. 30}} | ||
comm=11 March, 1902 | comm=11 March, 1902 | ||
fate=Exploded | fate=Exploded | ||
fate2= | fate2=in Medway | ||
fatedate=26 November, 1914 | fatedate=26 November, 1914{{DittColl|p. 30}} | ||
} | } | ||
{ship | {ship | ||
name=London | name=London | ||
pend= | pend=70 (1914)<br>81 (Jan 1918)<br>N.41 (Apr 1918){{DittColl|p. 30}} | ||
builder=[[Portsmouth Royal Dockyard]] | builder=[[Portsmouth Royal Dockyard]]{{DittColl|p. 30}} | ||
order= | order= | ||
laid=8 Dec, 1898 | laid=8 Dec, 1898 | ||
launch=21 Sep, 1899 | launch=21 Sep, 1899{{DittColl|p. 30}} | ||
comm=7 Jun, 1902 | comm=7 Jun, 1902 | ||
fate=Sold | fate=Sold | ||
fate2=Scrapped | fate2=Scrapped | ||
fatedate=4 Jun, 1920 | fatedate=4 Jun, 1920{{DittColl|p. 30}} | ||
} | } | ||
{ship | {ship | ||
name=Prince of Wales | name=Prince of Wales | ||
pend= | pend=81 (1914)<br>94 (Jan 1918)<br>N.46 (Apr 1918){{DittColl|p. 30}} | ||
builder=[[Chatham Royal Dockyard]] | builder=[[Chatham Royal Dockyard]] | ||
order= | order= | ||
laid=20 Mar, 1901 | laid=20 Mar, 1901 | ||
launch=25 Mar, 1902 | launch=25 Mar, 1902{{DittColl|p. 30}} | ||
comm=18 May, 1904 | comm=18 May, 1904 | ||
fate=Sold | fate=Sold | ||
fate2=Scrapped | fate2=Scrapped | ||
fatedate=12 Apr, 1920 | fatedate=12 Apr, 1920{{DittColl|p. 30}} | ||
} | } | ||
{ship | {ship | ||
name=Queen | name=Queen | ||
pend= | pend=82 (1914)<br>96 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 30}} | ||
builder=[[Devonport Royal Dockyard]] | builder=[[Devonport Royal Dockyard]] | ||
order= | order= | ||
laid=12 Mar, 1901 | laid=12 Mar, 1901 | ||
launch=8 Mar, 1902 | launch=8 Mar, 1902{{DittColl|p. 30}} | ||
comm=7 Apr, 1904 | comm=7 Apr, 1904 | ||
fate=Sold | fate=Sold | ||
fate2=Scrapped | fate2=Scrapped | ||
fatedate=4 Nov, 1920 | fatedate=4 Nov, 1920{{DittColl|p. 30}} | ||
} | } | ||
{ship | {ship | ||
name=Venerable | name=Venerable | ||
pend= | pend=96 (1914)<br>A8 (Jan 1918)<br>N.36 (Apr 1918){{DittColl|p. 30}} | ||
builder=[[Chatham Royal Dockyard]] | builder=[[Chatham Royal Dockyard]] | ||
order= | order= | ||
laid=2 Jan, 1899 | laid=2 Jan, 1899 | ||
launch=2 Nov, 1899 | launch=2 Nov, 1899{{DittColl|p. 30}} | ||
comm=12 Nov, 1902 | comm=12 Nov, 1902 | ||
fate=Sold | fate=Sold | ||
fate2=Scrapped in Germany | fate2=Scrapped in Germany | ||
fatedate=4 Jun, 1920 | fatedate=4 Jun, 1920{{DittColl|p. 30}} | ||
} | } | ||
Revision as of 20:25, 16 September 2012
The five battleships of the London Class were completed between 1902 and 1904.
Searchlights
In 1907, these ships, along with battleships of the Majestic, Canopus, and Duncan classes, along with armoured cruisers of the Powerful, Drake, Cressy, Monmouth and Devonshire classes were to land their searchlights from their tops and obtain two additional 24-inch models from their dockyards for placement on the shelter or boat deck. These were to be augmented by (or further upgraded to?) a pair of 36-in searchlights when they became available.[1]
Armament
During the war, along with those of other older ships, the eight 6-inch guns casemated on the first deck proved of little use in practical sea states. It was decided to remove the eight casemate guns, plate their ports over and move 4 of them to the upper deck. Four of the twelve 12-pdr guns were also surrendered due to this alteration.[2]
Main Battery
The 12-in guns were Mark IX, mounted in B VI turrets.[3]
Secondary Battery
Other Guns
Twelve 12-pdr guns, later reduced to eight when the 6-in casemate guns were relocated.
Fire Control
Though it may have little relevance given the age difference, the general system of wiring between the TSs in ships prior to Lord Nelson class is illustrated in Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914.[4]
Rangefinders
Evershed Bearing Indicators
It is not known if this equipment was ever provided.
Directors
These ships never received directors for main or secondary batteries.[5]
Gunnery Control
The ship's guns were organized in 3 groups:[6][Inference]
- Two 12-in turrets
- Starboard 6-in guns ('A' & 'X')
- Port 6-in guns ('B' & 'Y')
Local Control in Turrets
There was no provision in these ships for local turret control wherein the receivers in the turret could be driven by transmitters in the officer's position at the back of the turret.[7]
Transmitting Stations
These ships likely had fore and aft T.S.es.[8][Inference]
A C.O.S. allowed[Inference] control options of
- Fore
- After
- Separate
Each control group had transmitters (of various type, see below) with a pair of receivers, one wired directly to the transmitter as a tell-tale, and the other fed off the wires going to the distant guns (i.e., the aft guns for the fore TS and vice-versa) as a repeat. "These repeat receivers are necessary to keep the idle transmitters in step; when changing back from separate control they are required to enable both halves of the group to be set alike before being paralleled on to one transmitter."[9]
Dreyer Table
Prince of Wales was the original home to the Original Dreyer Table for some period between early-mid 1911 until Captain Dreyer took it with him to Hercules.[10] Beyond that, these ships never received Dreyer tables.[11]
Fire Control Instruments
By 1909, the ships were equipped with Vickers, Son and Maxim instruments for range, deflection and orders and with Barr and Stroud Fire Control Instruments for rate.[12]
The equipment listed in the Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909 is as follows:[13]
- Vickers range transmitters: 6
- Vickers deflection transmitters: 6
- Vickers combined range and deflection receivers: 26
- Vickers C.O.S.: 3
- Vickers Check fire switches: 6
- Barr and Stroud rate transmitters: 4
- Barr and Stroud rate receivers: 8
- Siemens turret fire gongs: 8 with 2 keys
- Vickers fire gongs: 12 with 4 keys
- Captain's Cease Fire Bells: 18 with 1 key (supplier not stated)
These ships lacked Target Visible and Gun Ready signals.[14]
Torpedo Control
Radio
Based on initiatives in 1901 to equip older battleships, these vessel were likely completed with W/T equipment in place or received them soonafter completion.[15]
See Also
Footnotes
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1907. p. 35. The location for each ship type was placement stipulated in C.N.2 11884/13066, 13.12.1906.
- ↑ Technical History and Index Vol. 4, Part 36, p. 9.
- ↑ The Sight Manual, 1916, p. 109.
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914. p. 50 & Plates 50 and 54(I).
- ↑ Director Firing Handbook, 1917, pp. 142-3.
- ↑ possibly omitted from a section at Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914, p. 8.
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914. p. 50.
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914. p. 50 & Plates 50 and 54(I).
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914, pp. 50-1.
- ↑ Pollen Aim Correction System, Part I. p. 12.
- ↑ Handbook of Capt. F.C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables, p. 3.
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909, p. 56.
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909, p. 60.
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914. p. 11.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1901. pp. 111-112.
Bibliography
- Admiralty, Technical History Section (1920). The Technical History and Index: Alteration in Armaments of H.M. Ships during the War. Vol. 4, Part 34. C.B. 1515 (34) now O.U. 6171/20. At The National Archives, Kew, United Kingdom.
- Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1910). Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909. Copy No. 173 is Ja 345a at Admiralty Library, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
- Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1914). Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914. G. 01627/14. C.B. 1030. Copy 1235 at The National Archives. ADM 186/191.
- 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.
- Dreyer, Frederic; Usborne, Cecil through Gunnery Branch, Admiralty. (1913). Pollen Aim Corrector System, Part I. Technical History and Technical Comparison with Commander F. C. Dreyer's Fire Control System. P. 1024. in Admiralty Library, Portsmouth.
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