Battleship histories. Royal naval
battleship HMS Queen Elizabeth, HMS Warspite, HMS Valiant, HMS Malaya and HMS
Barham. Battleship website dedicated to
the history of HMS Queen Elizabeth, HMS Warspite, HMS Valiant, HMS Malaya and HMS
Barham from their launch to their
participation in major wars also notice board for families of ex-crew of
HMS Queen Elizabeth, HMS Warspite, HMS Valiant, HMS Malaya and HMS Barham.
Queen Elizabeth Class: HMS Warspite, HMS Valiant, HMS Malaya and HMS Barham were all present at he
battle of Jutland where three received serious damage: HMS Barham was hit
six times and underwent repairs for 5 weeks; HMS Malaya was hit eight
times and was under repair for eight weeks while HMS Warspite was hit with
nearly 15 shells and was close to foundering. After the battle all ships
received an extra 1 inch of deck armour.
Displacement:
29,700 Speed: 23.0 knots Compliment:
950 and up to 1,220 in 1918
Armament:
Eight 15-inch guns in pairs and fourteen 6 -inch guns. Two 3 inch Anti Aircraft Guns
in 1917, two 4-inch anti aircraft guns.
HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH
HMS Queen Elizabeth was built at Portsmouth and re-engined at
Fairfield and launched on the 16th October 1913. She was the sister ship
to HMS Warspite, Valiant, Barham, and Malaya. HMS Queen Elizabeth
was the only ship of the class to have a full compliment of sixteen
6-inch guns, She was the only ship of the class not be be involved during
the Battle of Jutland. But her first world war service included being part
of the Dardanelle's campaign. She bombarded the forts on the Narrows in
the support of the Gallipoli landings between February 25th and May 14th
1915. She fired a total of 86 15-inch shells and 71 6-inch shells. The
short supply of 15-inch shells and a direct order from the Admiralty not
to ware out her guns. After the battle of Jutland (She was in refit at the
Time,) She became the flagship of the Home Fleet in February 1917. HMS
Queen Elizabeth had two major refits between the Wars. At the start
of World War II she was in the middle of her second refit, being
reconstructed at Portsmouth, due to the chance of enemy bombing she was
moved to Rosyth. Being completed and ready for service in May 1941. HMS
Queen Elizabeth was transferred to The Mediterranean fleet. It was
at Alexandria, along with her sister ship HMS Valiant that both ships were
mined by Italian Frogmen. HMS Queen Elizabeth sank in shallow water, raised and
temporarily repaired. But due to the serious damage she had
sustained she was transferred to the US Navy Yard in Norfolk, being
repaired there between September 1942 till 1st June 1943.
She joined the Eastern fleet and In January 1944 onwards was joined
by HMS Valiant and took part in the carrier raids in Indonesia against Japanese
bases. Returning to Britain in July 1945. and finally scrapped at
Dalmuir on the Clyde 7th July 1948 and at Troon (Hull only)
