H.M.S. Bulwark (1899)
| H.M.S. Bulwark | |
| Career | Details |
|---|---|
| Ordered: | 27 June, 1898 |
| Builders: | Devonport Royal Dockyard |
| Laid down: | 20 March, 1899 |
| Launched: | 18 October, 1899 |
| Commissioned: | 11 March, 1902 |
| Fate: | Destroyed by internal explosion 26 November, 1914 |
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 15,366 tons (load); 15,995 tons (deep) |
| Length: | 431 feet 9 in (131 m) |
| Beam: | 75 ft |
| Draught: | 27 ft 3 in (load); 28 ft 2 in (deep) |
| Propulsion: | Two sets 3-cylinder vertical triple expansion engines, two in-turning propellers |
| Speed: | 18 knots |
| Range: | 5,550 nautical miles at 10 knots |
| Complement: | 750; 766 as flagship, 1904 |
| Armament: | 4 × Mk IX 12 inch guns 12 × Mk VII 6 inch guns 16 × 12 pdr quick-firing guns 2 × 12 pdr boat and field guns 6 × 3 pdr guns 2 × machine guns 4 × 18 in submerged torpedo tubes |
| Aircraft: | None |
| Motto: | |
H.M.S. Bulwark was a Pre-Dreadnought battleship of the Royal Navy.
Career
Bulwark commissioned at Devonport on 18 March, 1902, under Captain Frederick T. Hamilton, to relieve Royal Oak in the Mediterranean, where she would become flagship of the Commander-in-Chief.[1] On 1 May Admiral Sir Compton E. Domvile hoisted his flag in her, before going on leave.[2] She recommissioned at Devonport under Commander Edward M. Phillpotts, acting Flag Captain to Admiral Lord Charles Beresford. In May, 1905, Captain Osmond de B. Brock was appointed in command. Paid off in March, 1907, Bulwark was recommissioned as flagship of Rear-Admiral Frank Finnis, Rear-Admiral in the Nore Division, Home Fleet. Captain Bertram M. Chambers took command, with the crew from the paid-off battleship Resolution.
On 4 June, 1912, Captain Herbert Chatterton commissioned Bulwark at Chatham, for service in the Fifth Battle Squadron.[3]
- Captain Guy L. Sclater, 17 November, 1913.[4]
Torpedoes
In 1904, in a competition to investigate how rapidly submerged tubes could be fired four times sequentially, starting with the tube loaded and the bar out, the ship's crew was able to do this in 2 minute, 2 seconds, later improved to 1 minute 35 seconds. The best time was achieved by Cressy at 50.75 seconds, though 2:30 was more typical.[5]
Footnotes
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 19 March, 1902. Issue 36719, col D, pg. 8.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 2 May, 1902. Issue 36757, col C, pg. 8.
- ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 4 June, 1912. Issue 39916, col C, pg. 6.
- ↑ Navy List (December, 1914). p. 287.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1904, pp. 45-7.
Bibliography
- Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. London: Ian Allan.
- Template:BibParkesBritishBattleships
- Preston, Antony (1972). Battleships of World War I. New York, NY: Galahad Books. ISBN 0883653001.
