British Battleships, 1889–1904

R.A. Burt

• Publisher: Seaforth Publishing
• Year: 2013
• ISBN:
  9781473826953
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Military & Maritime History
• Index: History

A comprehensive look at Royal Navy warships in the pre-dreadnought era, with extensive photos and illustrations. The Russian war scare of 1884 and the public's anxiety about the Royal Navy's ability to fight a modern war at sea resulted in the Naval Defense Act of 1889 and a vast program of warship construction. Over the next twenty years a fleet of 52 battleships was built, construction finally interrupted by the revolutionary Dreadnought design. In this volume, the author presents full details of design and construction, armament, protection, machinery and performance, all backed up with accurate data tables listing design figures, trials results, and full particulars at different stages in the ships' careers. The history of each battleship is chronicled and the reader is reminded of their major contribution in the First World War. They bore the brunt of the action at the Dardenelles, bombarded the Belgium coast, patrolled the North Sea and the Channel, reinforced the Italian Fleet, and served in East Africa, the East Indies, and the White Sea. Most were extensively modified during the war and this variety has made them of special interest to the historian, enthusiast, and ship modeler. With the addition of many new photographs from the author's massive collection, this new edition is a must-have addition to every naval library.

Introduction

Development of the Battleship

The late 19th-century battleship – now termed the ‘pre-dreadnought’ – had its conception as far back as 1869, when all vessels, whether cruiser, sloop, frigate or battleship, were fitted with masts, yards and sails. In late 1868, the First Sea Lord, Hugh Childers, asked the Chief Constructor (Edward Reed) to prepare a design to ascertain if a seagoing turret ship smaller than Monarch and Captain (then under construction) was practicable. Reed was asked to limit displacement to about 6,100 tons, and to provide sail rig but only on a limited scale. On. 3 February 1869 Reed reported that such a design would be impracticable but quickly submitted a paper with his own proposals showing certain features:

The object of the Admiralty in the preparation of this design has been to produce a warship of great offensive and defensive qualities, adapted for naval warfare in Europe. The capabilities of the ship to cross the Atlantic has also been considered; but the primary object, and that in which view of the qualities of the ship have been regulated, is that of fitness for engaging the enemies’ ships and squadrons in the British Channel, Mediterranean and other European seas. The offensive power has been regulated by the desire to furnish her with guns which would penetrate the armour of the 1st class of Europe, with few or no exceptions, to give these guns an uninterrupted command in all directions, and to so place and work them, that they may be efficient and secure in a sea-way under all but extreme conditions.

1. Displacement 9,035 tons. Low freeboard, semi-monitor type hull with raised breastwork amidships enclosing the turrets, but not carried out to the sides. Freeboard 9ft along forecastle, by 4½ft to upper deck abaft this. Short high superstructure on breastwork through which funnel uptakes and hatches would lead; a flying deck for boat stowage and navigating position, etc. Prominent ram fitted, and sides strengthened against such an attack.
2. Four 12in (25-ton) guns in two twin turrets, both on centre line on breastwork, one forward and one aft.
3. Side armour 12in maximum, decks 2in, turrets 12in.
4. Twin screws fitted in the event of a shaft breakage.
5. No sail rig, only light poles at end of each breastwork.

The latter item has its advantages in the following: A low free-board type is possible, carrying with it a reduced amount of armour; a clear range for guns all round; half the complement owing to absence of rigging.

The design was actually nothing more than an enlarged edition of the breastwork monitors of the earlier Cerebus class, developed to seagoing proportions within acceptable displacement limits, and resulted in the most controversial warship design ever submitted by the Constructor’s Department to that date.

The adoption of the low-freeboard hull is said to have been influenced to some extent by the visit to Britain of the US monitor Miantonomoh during 1866–7 although Reed’s design was considerably less extreme in this respect. From the point of view of seagoing qualities and habitability it was also the most unsatisfactory, and was subjected to severe criticism as being unsafe.

Devastation in her original black paintwork, 1873–4. Designed by Edward Reed (DNC) with modifications by N. Barnaby after Reed had left office, Devastation represented the initial attempt at producing a seagoing battleship type unobstructed by masts, sail or rigging. On completion, she was the most powerfully armed warship extant.

DEVASTATION

Outboard profile and cutaway, as refitted and rearmed, 1894

Devastation and Thunderer were completely reconstructed during 1890 to 1894 to conform to modern technology. They were reengined and reboilered with inverted triple-expansion machinery and cylindrical boilers; the IHP was thereby raised to 7,000 for 14 knots maximum speed. A navigating bridge was added over the chart house at the forward end of the hurricane deck and a signal bridge at the after end. The funnels were remodelled, and other minor alterations gave them a fresh appearance when the refits were completed in 1894.

1. Boiler rooms.

2. Engine rooms.

3. Magazines and shell rooms.

The design, nevertheless, featured some outstanding innovations, for a seagoing type: low-freeboard, semi-monitor type hull and absence of sail rig. By discarding sail rig, a number of structural and tactical advantages had been secured for the first time in a seagoing ship of such size.

In the 1869–70 programme provision was made for two such ships, Devastation and Thunderer, with a third to be called Fury and laid down in the following year. Following the loss of the rigged turret ship Captain, however, the Devastation type became very suspect, it being held (erroneously) in the service that such ships would probably be similarly overwhelmed and capsize in heavy seas despite the absence of masts and sail.

The severe criticism from both service and public sectors necessitated action to restore confidence in the design and in the technical authorities, and to vindicate the new principles governing naval layouts. A Committee was convened to examine all designs recently laid down, and in particular that of Devastation. At its first meeting, in January 1871, Nathaniel Barnaby (new Chief Constructor, succeeding Reed) proposed modifications to the original Devastation design with a view to improving stability offensive power, protection and habitability:

1. Extension of breastwork right out to sides in the form of a light, enclosed superstructure with wings carried about 30 feet abaft breastwork on each side.
2. Substitution of 12in (35-ton) for the original 12in (25-ton).
3. Increased protection to the horizontal and internal parts of the ship (total of 874 tons added with all improvements).

These modifications, which increased the nominal displacement to 9,900 tons, were approved by the Committee. The additional freeboard provided by the new superstructure resulted in a far more seaworthy and satisfactory design which attained a reputable standard for ships of the semi-monitor type.

Apart from certain general recommendations, which in no way affected the basic principles of the design, the Committee, in a report on Devastation issued in March 1871, expressed great satisfaction with the type in general and approved it as a basis for further development.

DEVASTATION: S...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Title Page
• Acknowledgements
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Preface
• Introduction
• Royal Sovereign Class 1889 Estimates
• Hood 1889 Estimates
• Centurion and Barfleur 1890 Estimates
• Renown 1892 Estimates
• Majestic Class 1893 Estimates
• Canopus Class 1896/7 Estimates
• Formidable Class 1897 Estimates
• Bulwark Class 1898 Estimates
• Duncan Class 1898/9 Estimates
• Queen Class 1900 Estimates
• King Edward VII Class 1901/2/3 Estimates
• Swiftsure and Triumph Purchase from Chile
• Lord Nelson Class 1904/5 Estimates
• Appearance Changes
• Battleship Forts and Battleship Exterminators
• Conclusion
• Bibliography