HMS
Swiftsure. Launched 12th January 1903. Served in the
Home Fleet until July 1906 where HMS Swiftsure joined the Channel Fleet
until October 1908. She moved to the Mediterranean between March 1909 and
May 1912, returning to the 3rd Fleet at Portsmouth in May. Swiftsure went
into refit September 1912 to March 1913. After refit, she became the flag
ship to the East Indies Squadron and during August 1914 began Red Sea
patrols and escorted Indian troop ships to Aden. November 1914, HMS
Swiftsure became the flag ship to the navy forces defending the Suez
canal. She went to the Dardanelles in March 1915 and took part in the
bombardments, staying until after the evacuation and returned to Chatham
in December 1915 and went into reserve. After the first world war, HMS
Swiftsure was used as a target ship in 1919, being broken up in June 1920.
Some
interesting points of the ship were, due to the Ship being built to
Chilean ideas of comfort. The Captains quarters had a marble
bath. and more of a advance was the installation of two cranes
instead of the usual cumbersome derrick
Armament: four 10 inch guns in pairs, fourteen 7.5 inch guns in
singles, fourteen 14 pdr guns, two 2 pdr guns, four maxims and two torpedo
tubes. Displacement: 11,800. Complement: 700.
Speed: 20 knots.
