Difference between revisions of "H.M.S. Invincible (1907)"
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| − | '''H.M.S. ''Invincible''''' was a [[ | + | '''H.M.S. ''Invincible''''' was a [[battlecruiser]] of the [[Royal Navy]], the [[lead ship]] of [[Invincible class (1907)|her class]] of three, and the first battlecruiser to be built by any country in the world. After an initial period of near-constant modification she became an active unit of the Battlecruiser Force. She participated in the [[Battle of Heligoland Bight]], the [[Battle of the Falkland Islands]] and the [[Battle of Jutland]], where she was sunk in action on 31 May, 1916. |
==Construction== | ==Construction== | ||
| − | ''Invincible'' was built at [[Sir W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth & Co., Ltd]] on Tyneside. She was laid down on | + | ''Invincible'' was built at [[Sir W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth & Co., Ltd]] on Tyneside. She was laid down on 2 April 1906, and launched at 3 p.m. on 13 April 1907 by Lady Allendale. |
She was constructed with a new form of turret operation, namely electically powered mountings for the 12" guns - a first in British naval construction. She was fitted with two turrets each built by [[Vickers Ltd.]] and the [[Elswick Ordnance Company]]. Her turbines were constructed by Humphreys of Tennant and was fitted with thirty-one Yarrow boilers. | She was constructed with a new form of turret operation, namely electically powered mountings for the 12" guns - a first in British naval construction. She was fitted with two turrets each built by [[Vickers Ltd.]] and the [[Elswick Ordnance Company]]. Her turbines were constructed by Humphreys of Tennant and was fitted with thirty-one Yarrow boilers. | ||
| − | On | + | On 28 December, while still fitting out, she was hit by the collier ''Oden'', which resulted in the buckling of beams and frames in the hull and five bottom plates were stove in. On 8 September, 1908 Captain [[Mark Edward Frederic Kerr|M.E.F. Kerr]] was appointed to command. She ran her gun trials on 30 October, 1908 off the Isle of Wight. She was officially completed on 16 March 1909, her completion having been delayed by the ''Oden'' incident and the installation of electric turrets. On 17 March, she sailed from the Tyne to [[HM Dockyard, Portsmouth|Portsmouth]], where she would be commissioned. On the way, she collided with the brigantine ''Mary Ann'', and stood by until the lifeboat ''John Birch'' arrived from Yarmouth to take the brigantine in tow. She was commissioned into the fleet on 20 March 1909 and joined the [[British 1st Cruiser Squadron|1st Cruiser Squadron]] (1st C.S.) of the [[British 1st Division|1st Division]], [[British Home Fleet|Home Fleet]]. |
==Early career== | ==Early career== | ||
| − | She participated in fleet manoeuvres in April and June of 1909, the [[Fleet Review, Royal Navy|Spithead Review]] on | + | She participated in fleet manoeuvres in April and June of 1909, the [[Fleet Review, Royal Navy|Spithead Review]] on 12 June 1909, and the [[Fleet Review, Royal Navy|Fleet Review]] off Southend on 2 July. Periodically she had to be taken in hand at Portsmouth for repairs, alterations and additions until 27 March, 1911 when she was reduced to a nucleus crew in preparation for refit. On 28 March Captain Kerr was replaced by Captain [[Richard Purefoy FitzGerald Purefoy|R.P.F. Purefoy]] and the ship went into refit at Portsmouth until 2 June, when she recommissioned at Portsmouth for further service in the 1st C.S.. On 1 May, 1912 Captain [[Michael Culme-Seymour, 4th Baronet|M. Culme-Seymour]] replaced Captain Purefoy. On 1 January, 1913 the 1st C.S. became the [[British 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron|1st Battle Cruiser Squadron]] (1st B.C.S.). On 17 March, 1913 she collided with the submarine C-34 in Stokes Bay (in the Solent), suffering no damage in the process. |
| − | In August, | + | In August, 1913 ''Invincible'' joined the [[British 2nd Battle Cruiser Squadron|2nd Battle Cruiser Squadron]] (2nd B.C.S.) in the [[British Mediterranean Fleet|Mediterranean Fleet]] after annual manoeuvres. At the same time Captain [[Henry Bertram Pelly|H.B. Pelly]] was appointed to command. From 30 October to 5 November, 1913 she was under refit at Malta. In December she returned to Britain to undertake a major refit which began in March, 1914. She was reduced to a nucleus crew while major work was done, Captain Pelly remaining in command until completion of work in July. |
===1914 refit=== | ===1914 refit=== | ||
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During the refit ''Invincible's'' 12" electrically-operated turrets were changed to operate on hydraulic power. The 4" guns atop '''A''' and '''Y''' turrets were removed to the forward superstructure, where they along with the others there were enclosed in unarmoured casemates. Two 4" guns were placed on the shelter deck between the fore funnels, and two 4" guns placed either side of the [[conning tower]] on the conning tower platform. | During the refit ''Invincible's'' 12" electrically-operated turrets were changed to operate on hydraulic power. The 4" guns atop '''A''' and '''Y''' turrets were removed to the forward superstructure, where they along with the others there were enclosed in unarmoured casemates. Two 4" guns were placed on the shelter deck between the fore funnels, and two 4" guns placed either side of the [[conning tower]] on the conning tower platform. | ||
| − | Her foretop was totally reconstructed and a gyro-stabilised ''Argo'' 9' rangefinder fitted aloft. Her chart house and compass platform were rebuilt, and her forward searchlight battery reorganised. Her torpedo nets and booms were removed entirely. A rangefinder hood (for a 9' baselength rangefinder) was added on '''A''' turret. | + | Her foretop was totally reconstructed and a gyro-stabilised ''Argo'' 9' [[Rangefinder|rangefinder]] fitted aloft. Her chart house and compass platform were rebuilt, and her forward searchlight battery reorganised. Her torpedo nets and booms were removed entirely. A rangefinder hood (for a 9' baselength rangefinder) was added on '''A''' turret. |
==First World War== | ==First World War== | ||
| − | At the beginning of the [[First World War]], she took part in the action at the [[Battle of Heligoland Bight]] on | + | At the beginning of the [[First World War]], she took part in the action at the [[Battle of Heligoland Bight]] on 28 August 1914, before being sent along with her sister [[H.M.S. Inflexible (1908)|''Inflexible'']] to the [[South Atlantic]] where she fought in the first [[Battle of the Falkland Islands]] on 8 December 1914. |
===Battle of the Falkland Islands=== | ===Battle of the Falkland Islands=== | ||
| − | After the British defeat at the [[Battle of Coronel]] on | + | After the British defeat at the [[Battle of Coronel]] on 1 November, the Admiralty swiftly assembled a force to destroy [[Maximillian Graf von Spee]]'s [[German East Asia Squadron|East Asia Squadron]]. On 5 November ''Invincible'' was detached from the 2nd B.S. for duty in the South Atlantic, along with her sister ship ''Inflexible''. From 8 November to 11 November she was docked at [[HM Dockyard, Devonport]] refitting and preparing for the cruise ahead. On 9 November Rear-Admiral [[Frederick Charles Doveton Sturdee]] raised his flag in ''Invincible'' with Captain [[Tufton Percy Hamilton Beamish]] as [[flag captain]]. On 11 November ''Invincible'' sailed in company with ''Inflexible'' for South American waters. |
| − | On | + | On 7 December, Sturdee's force, known as the [[British South Pacific and Atlantic Squadron]] arrived in the Falkland Islands, the battlecruisers anchoring off Port William to draw provisions and coal. The next morning smoke was sighted, and while the guardship ''Kent'' sailed to investigate, ''Invincible'' and ''Inflexible'' ceased coaling and proceeded to raise steam. In the meantime Sturdee ordered the ships' companies to breakfast so as to be ready for the expected battle. |
===Battle of Jutland=== | ===Battle of Jutland=== | ||
| − | At the end of May, 1916 the 3rd B.C.S. had joined the Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow. When the fleet put to sea on | + | At the end of May, 1916 the 3rd B.C.S. had joined the Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow. When the fleet put to sea on 30 May the Commander-in-Chief Admiral [[Jellicoe]] ordered it twenty miles ahead of the battle fleet as a scouting force. |
| − | At the beginning of the [[Battle of Jutland]] on | + | At the beginning of the [[Battle of Jutland]] on 31 May 1916 ''Invincible'' with the rest of the 3rd B.C.S. was steaming S.50ºE at 14 knots. At 14:23 [[H.M.S. Indomitable (1907)|H.M.S. ''Indomitable'']] intercepted a signal from H.M.S. ''Galatea'' heralding [[David Beatty, First Earl Beatty|Beatty]]'s [[Battle Cruiser Fleet]]'s (B.C.F.) sighting of the [[High Sea Fleet]]. At 16:00, after the B.C.F. had joined battle, Hood led the 3rd B.C.S. S.S.E. at full speed in order to reinforce Beatty, anticipating Jellicoe's order by five minutes. |
By 17:35 the 3rd B.C.S., with ''Invincible'' in the van, was within earshot of the fighting. Having heard firing on his starboard beam Hood ordered his squadron turn through eight points. At 17:55 ''Invincible'' opened fire on a force of German light cruisers, followed by her sister ships a few minutes later. In a few minutes S.M.S. ''Pillau'', S.M.S. ''Frankfurt'' were damaged and S.M.S. ''Wiesbaden'' was reduced to a floating wreck. | By 17:35 the 3rd B.C.S., with ''Invincible'' in the van, was within earshot of the fighting. Having heard firing on his starboard beam Hood ordered his squadron turn through eight points. At 17:55 ''Invincible'' opened fire on a force of German light cruisers, followed by her sister ships a few minutes later. In a few minutes S.M.S. ''Pillau'', S.M.S. ''Frankfurt'' were damaged and S.M.S. ''Wiesbaden'' was reduced to a floating wreck. | ||
| − | [[H.M.S. Lion (1910)|H.M.S. ''Lion'']] appeared on ''Invincible's'' port side, heavily engaged with Vizeadmiral [[Franz Ritter von Hipper|Hipper's]] [[I. Aufklärungsgruppe|I Scouting Group]]. Having reformed the 3rd B.C.S. in the aftermath of a German torpedo attack Hood's ships joined the B.C.F. from the east, whence Beatty ordered him to take the van. At 18:26 they took position and were taken under fire by Hipper's | + | [[H.M.S. Lion (1910)|H.M.S. ''Lion'']] appeared on ''Invincible's'' port side, heavily engaged with Vizeadmiral [[Franz Ritter von Hipper|Hipper's]] [[I. Aufklärungsgruppe|I Scouting Group]]. Having reformed the 3rd B.C.S. in the aftermath of a German torpedo attack Hood's ships joined the B.C.F. from the east, whence Beatty ordered him to take the van. At 18:26 they took position and were taken under fire by Hipper's battlecruisers. Hood's vessels returned fire, and having the advantage of the light ''Invincible'' scored two hits on [[SMS Lützow (1913)|S.M.S. ''Lützow'']] which ultimately led to Hipper's flagship sinking. |
While engaging [[SMS Derfflinger (1913)|S.M.S. ''Derfflinger'']] and S.M.S. ''Lützow'' she received at 18:32 a hit on the front of "Q" turret, which penetrated and detonated in the gunhouse, blowing off the roof and causing the "Q" magazine to explode, followed by that of "P". The resulting explosion raised debris four hundred feet into the air and forced ''Invincible'' to break in two and sink. Rear-Admiral [[Horace Lambert Alexander Hood|Hood]] was killed along with sixty-one officers, nine hundred and sixty-five men and five civilians. Six men survived, among them the Commander (who was also the Gunnery Officer). Four of the five civilians were canteen staff. | While engaging [[SMS Derfflinger (1913)|S.M.S. ''Derfflinger'']] and S.M.S. ''Lützow'' she received at 18:32 a hit on the front of "Q" turret, which penetrated and detonated in the gunhouse, blowing off the roof and causing the "Q" magazine to explode, followed by that of "P". The resulting explosion raised debris four hundred feet into the air and forced ''Invincible'' to break in two and sink. Rear-Admiral [[Horace Lambert Alexander Hood|Hood]] was killed along with sixty-one officers, nine hundred and sixty-five men and five civilians. Six men survived, among them the Commander (who was also the Gunnery Officer). Four of the five civilians were canteen staff. | ||
| − | H.M.S. ''Invincible'' was officially paid off by the Royal Navy on | + | H.M.S. ''Invincible'' was officially paid off by the Royal Navy on 3 June, 1916. |
After the war, the wreckage was located by a minesweeper at 57-02-40 North Latitude, 06-07-15 East Longitude, 180 feet down. | After the war, the wreckage was located by a minesweeper at 57-02-40 North Latitude, 06-07-15 East Longitude, 180 feet down. | ||
| Line 122: | Line 122: | ||
[[List of Those who Died on H.M.S. Invincible at the Battle of Jutland]] | [[List of Those who Died on H.M.S. Invincible at the Battle of Jutland]] | ||
| − | {{Template: | + | {{Template:Invincible Class (1907)}} |
[[Category:Ship|Invincible (1907), HMS]] | [[Category:Ship|Invincible (1907), HMS]] | ||
[[Category:Invincible Class (1907)|Invincible (1907), HMS]] | [[Category:Invincible Class (1907)|Invincible (1907), HMS]] | ||
Revision as of 18:16, 14 August 2009
| H.M.S. Invincible | |
| Career | Details |
|---|---|
| Pendant Number: | 85 (1914) |
| Built By: | Armstrong's Elswick |
| Ordered: | 1906 Naval Program |
| Laid Down: | 2 April, 1906 |
| Launched: | 13 April, 1907 |
| Commissioned: | 20 March, 1909 |
| Sunk: | 31 May, 1916 |
| Fate: | Sunk at the Battle of Jutland |
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 17,526 tons |
| Length: | 567 ft (172.8 m) |
| Beam: | 78 ft 6 in (23.9 m) |
| Draught: | 25 ft (7.6 m) normal; 29 ft 7 in (9 m) deep |
| Armament: | Eight 12 inch (305 mm) 45 caliber (4x2) Sixteen 4 inch (102 mm) (16x1) Seven Maxim machine guns (7x1) Five 18 inch (45.7 mm) torpedo tubes (4 broadside, 1 stern) One 3 inch anti aircraft gun added 1914 |
| Propulsion: | Parsons geared steam turbines producing 41,000 shp; 4 shafts |
| Speed: | 25.5 knots |
| Range: | 2,270 nautical miles at 23 knots 3,050 nautical miles at 23 knots using fuel oil |
| Complement: | 722 (as designed) 1,032 (as a flagship, May, 1916) |
H.M.S. Invincible was a battlecruiser of the Royal Navy, the lead ship of her class of three, and the first battlecruiser to be built by any country in the world. After an initial period of near-constant modification she became an active unit of the Battlecruiser Force. She participated in the Battle of Heligoland Bight, the Battle of the Falkland Islands and the Battle of Jutland, where she was sunk in action on 31 May, 1916.
Construction
Invincible was built at Sir W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth & Co., Ltd on Tyneside. She was laid down on 2 April 1906, and launched at 3 p.m. on 13 April 1907 by Lady Allendale.
She was constructed with a new form of turret operation, namely electically powered mountings for the 12" guns - a first in British naval construction. She was fitted with two turrets each built by Vickers Ltd. and the Elswick Ordnance Company. Her turbines were constructed by Humphreys of Tennant and was fitted with thirty-one Yarrow boilers.
On 28 December, while still fitting out, she was hit by the collier Oden, which resulted in the buckling of beams and frames in the hull and five bottom plates were stove in. On 8 September, 1908 Captain M.E.F. Kerr was appointed to command. She ran her gun trials on 30 October, 1908 off the Isle of Wight. She was officially completed on 16 March 1909, her completion having been delayed by the Oden incident and the installation of electric turrets. On 17 March, she sailed from the Tyne to Portsmouth, where she would be commissioned. On the way, she collided with the brigantine Mary Ann, and stood by until the lifeboat John Birch arrived from Yarmouth to take the brigantine in tow. She was commissioned into the fleet on 20 March 1909 and joined the 1st Cruiser Squadron (1st C.S.) of the 1st Division, Home Fleet.
Early career
She participated in fleet manoeuvres in April and June of 1909, the Spithead Review on 12 June 1909, and the Fleet Review off Southend on 2 July. Periodically she had to be taken in hand at Portsmouth for repairs, alterations and additions until 27 March, 1911 when she was reduced to a nucleus crew in preparation for refit. On 28 March Captain Kerr was replaced by Captain R.P.F. Purefoy and the ship went into refit at Portsmouth until 2 June, when she recommissioned at Portsmouth for further service in the 1st C.S.. On 1 May, 1912 Captain M. Culme-Seymour replaced Captain Purefoy. On 1 January, 1913 the 1st C.S. became the 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron (1st B.C.S.). On 17 March, 1913 she collided with the submarine C-34 in Stokes Bay (in the Solent), suffering no damage in the process.
In August, 1913 Invincible joined the 2nd Battle Cruiser Squadron (2nd B.C.S.) in the Mediterranean Fleet after annual manoeuvres. At the same time Captain H.B. Pelly was appointed to command. From 30 October to 5 November, 1913 she was under refit at Malta. In December she returned to Britain to undertake a major refit which began in March, 1914. She was reduced to a nucleus crew while major work was done, Captain Pelly remaining in command until completion of work in July.
1914 refit
During the refit Invincible's 12" electrically-operated turrets were changed to operate on hydraulic power. The 4" guns atop A and Y turrets were removed to the forward superstructure, where they along with the others there were enclosed in unarmoured casemates. Two 4" guns were placed on the shelter deck between the fore funnels, and two 4" guns placed either side of the conning tower on the conning tower platform.
Her foretop was totally reconstructed and a gyro-stabilised Argo 9' rangefinder fitted aloft. Her chart house and compass platform were rebuilt, and her forward searchlight battery reorganised. Her torpedo nets and booms were removed entirely. A rangefinder hood (for a 9' baselength rangefinder) was added on A turret.
First World War
At the beginning of the First World War, she took part in the action at the Battle of Heligoland Bight on 28 August 1914, before being sent along with her sister Inflexible to the South Atlantic where she fought in the first Battle of the Falkland Islands on 8 December 1914.
Battle of the Falkland Islands
After the British defeat at the Battle of Coronel on 1 November, the Admiralty swiftly assembled a force to destroy Maximillian Graf von Spee's East Asia Squadron. On 5 November Invincible was detached from the 2nd B.S. for duty in the South Atlantic, along with her sister ship Inflexible. From 8 November to 11 November she was docked at HM Dockyard, Devonport refitting and preparing for the cruise ahead. On 9 November Rear-Admiral Frederick Charles Doveton Sturdee raised his flag in Invincible with Captain Tufton Percy Hamilton Beamish as flag captain. On 11 November Invincible sailed in company with Inflexible for South American waters.
On 7 December, Sturdee's force, known as the British South Pacific and Atlantic Squadron arrived in the Falkland Islands, the battlecruisers anchoring off Port William to draw provisions and coal. The next morning smoke was sighted, and while the guardship Kent sailed to investigate, Invincible and Inflexible ceased coaling and proceeded to raise steam. In the meantime Sturdee ordered the ships' companies to breakfast so as to be ready for the expected battle.
Battle of Jutland
At the end of May, 1916 the 3rd B.C.S. had joined the Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow. When the fleet put to sea on 30 May the Commander-in-Chief Admiral Jellicoe ordered it twenty miles ahead of the battle fleet as a scouting force.
At the beginning of the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916 Invincible with the rest of the 3rd B.C.S. was steaming S.50ºE at 14 knots. At 14:23 H.M.S. Indomitable intercepted a signal from H.M.S. Galatea heralding Beatty's Battle Cruiser Fleet's (B.C.F.) sighting of the High Sea Fleet. At 16:00, after the B.C.F. had joined battle, Hood led the 3rd B.C.S. S.S.E. at full speed in order to reinforce Beatty, anticipating Jellicoe's order by five minutes.
By 17:35 the 3rd B.C.S., with Invincible in the van, was within earshot of the fighting. Having heard firing on his starboard beam Hood ordered his squadron turn through eight points. At 17:55 Invincible opened fire on a force of German light cruisers, followed by her sister ships a few minutes later. In a few minutes S.M.S. Pillau, S.M.S. Frankfurt were damaged and S.M.S. Wiesbaden was reduced to a floating wreck.
H.M.S. Lion appeared on Invincible's port side, heavily engaged with Vizeadmiral Hipper's I Scouting Group. Having reformed the 3rd B.C.S. in the aftermath of a German torpedo attack Hood's ships joined the B.C.F. from the east, whence Beatty ordered him to take the van. At 18:26 they took position and were taken under fire by Hipper's battlecruisers. Hood's vessels returned fire, and having the advantage of the light Invincible scored two hits on S.M.S. Lützow which ultimately led to Hipper's flagship sinking.
While engaging S.M.S. Derfflinger and S.M.S. Lützow she received at 18:32 a hit on the front of "Q" turret, which penetrated and detonated in the gunhouse, blowing off the roof and causing the "Q" magazine to explode, followed by that of "P". The resulting explosion raised debris four hundred feet into the air and forced Invincible to break in two and sink. Rear-Admiral Hood was killed along with sixty-one officers, nine hundred and sixty-five men and five civilians. Six men survived, among them the Commander (who was also the Gunnery Officer). Four of the five civilians were canteen staff.
H.M.S. Invincible was officially paid off by the Royal Navy on 3 June, 1916.
After the war, the wreckage was located by a minesweeper at 57-02-40 North Latitude, 06-07-15 East Longitude, 180 feet down.
Commander Hubert Edward Dannreuther, Lieutenant Cecil Stanley Sandford.
In Command
- Captain M.E.F. Kerr
- Captain R.P.F. Purefoy
- Captain M. Culme-Seymour
- Captain H.B. Pelly
- Captain C. Martin-de-Bartolomé
- Captain T.P.H. Beamish
- Captain Arthur Lindesay Cay
Roll of honour
List of Those who Died on H.M.S. Invincible at the Battle of Jutland
