H.M.S. Temeraire (1907)

H.M.S. Temeraire (1907)
Pendant Number:	48 (1914) A2 (Jan 1918) 92 (Apr 1918)
Builder:	Devonport Royal Dockyard
Ordered:	1906
Laid down:	1 Jan, 1907
Launched:	24 Aug, 1907
Commissioned:	1 May, 1909
Sold:	7 Dec, 1921
Fate:	Scrapped

H.M.S. Temeraire was a Bellerophon class battleship of the British Royal Navy built at Devonport Royal Dockyard.

Navigational Equipment

The ship was one of seven which tested Willis and Robinson Electric Revolution Telegraphs. Testing was completed in late 1913.

Performance

Her tactical turning diameter was 412 yards at full speed, with the rudder being put over in 11.75 seconds.

Service

Construction and Early Service

She was ordered under the 1906 Naval Estimates at the cost of £1,751,144. She completed on 15 May, 1909^[2] at Devonport, and commissioned into the 1st Division, Home Fleet. On 31 July, 1909 a man was killed and three injured when a 4-inch gun exploded during the firing of a Royal Salute at the naval review of that year.

With the reorganisation of the home commands in response to the German naval threat she became part of the newly-constituted First Battle Squadron in 1912, and at the outbreak of war of the First World War she was transferred to the Fourth Battle Squadron. In 1910, Temeraire was the best gunnery ship of the 15 tested of the Home Fleet's FIrst Division and First Cruiser Squadron, scoring 81.91 – well ahead of the average 45.798.

She recommissioned at Devonport 30 September, 1913.

On a sweep of the North Sea on 18 March 1915, she unsuccessfully attempted to ram U 29 which had just attacked H.M.S. Neptune. During the summer of that year, she refitted at Devonport Royal Dockyard, where numerous additions and changes were made. Her fire-control suite was updated and modifications made to the searchlight battery.

Jutland

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

At the Battle of Jutland, Temeraire, under the command of Captain E. V. Underhill, fired fifty-four 12-inch shells under the direction of Commander (G) Alick Stokes and received no damage. In October, 1918, she was detached to the Eastern Mediterranean Squadron under the overall command of Vice-Admiral Gough-Calthorpe.

Post-War

With the end of hostilities and the peace with Turkey, the Eastern Mediterranean Squadron was sent to maintain order in Russia during the Civil War.

On Tuesday 26 November, 1918, Temeraire was second in line behind Superb entering Sevastopol harbour. She recommissioned at Devonport on 23 September, 1919. She was converted to a cadet training ship (seagoing) in 1919, taking cadets from Dartmouth and Osborne on board for twenty-four week sessions afloat. In late 1919, she went on a training cruise, calling at Berehaven, Gibraltar, Jamaica and Bermuda.

She was replaced as training ship by the dreadnought Thunderer at Rosyth on 17 April, 1921, having cut short her training cruise in the Mediterranean. With the other 12-inch gunned capital ships she was deemed obsolescent and the decision for her to be paid off was made on 2 February. Téméraire was decommissioned and sold for scrap on 7 December, 1921 to Stanlee Shipbreaking Company.

Life Aboard

Later in the war an exchange was made with the Army whereby an officer from the Western Front visited Temeraire, and a Leading Seaman was sent to the front line. During the visit of one officer the Temeraire lay at anchor and did not even coal ship. The gun room hosted the visiting officer for dinner, and afterwards he accused them all of cowardice and of skulking in harbour.

Notable crew members

• Admiral Sir Charles Morgan, Assistant Navigator (1911-?) - Commanded H.M.S. Valiant in WW II.
• Vice-Admiral Sir Francis Austin, Gunnery Officer (?-1913) - Noted Instructor and Inspector of Merchant Navy Gunnery (1942-1945).
• Prince George, Duke of Kent, Naval Cadet (1920) - Brother of Kings Edward VIII and George VI.

• Lieutenant-Commander D. M. T. Bedford, WWI, (Gunnery Officer)

Ship's Logs

• ADM 53/62474 through ADM 53/62533 for 30 September, 1913 to 31 December, 1920.

Radio

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

Alterations

Turrets

In October 1914, additions of screened-in positions within her turrets required the existing alternative plans for loading to be abolished, and required further alterations to support a new fall-back means of loading.

Director

Temeraire was fitted with a director for her main battery after December, 1915 but prior to the Battle of Jutland.

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

• Captain Alexander L. Duff, 5 January, 1909 – 25 October, 1910
• Captain Arthur H. Christian, 25 October, 1910 – 12 August, 1911
• Captain Reginald A. Allenby, 12 August, 1911 – 5 April, 1913
• Captain Cresswell J. Eyres, 5 April, 1913 – 1 September, 1913
• Captain Edwyn S. Alexander-Sinclair, 1 September, 1913 – 8 February, 1915
• Captain Allen T. Hunt, 8 February, 1915 – 3 March, 1916
• Captain Edwin V. Underhill, 3 March, 1916 – 13 February, 1919  (took ill at end of 1918)
• Acting Captain Edward W. H. Brookfield, 30 December, 1918 – February, 1919  (standing in for Underhill)
• Captain Francis W. Caulfeild, 13 February, 1919 – 20 August, 1919
• Captain Leonard A. B. Donaldson, 20 August, 1919 – before 17 October, 1921

See Also

• Transcribed Ship Logs at naval-history.net
• Wikipedia

Bibliography

• 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).
• May, Commander W. E. (1979). With the Grand Fleet: Appendix. Papers in RNMN/MAY WE in the possesion of the Liddle Collection, University of Leeds.