History of the battleship in the Royal
Navy. Major historical naval website detailing short histories of each
battleship and battleship class from pre-dreadnought battleships to the
very last HMS Vanguard. Included on each web page are battleship data
detailing displacement, armaments, complement, speed and range.
The Royal Navy battleships are also
shown in photographs supplied by ex-crew members and their families and
fine art prints supplied courtesy of Cranston Fine Arts, the naval art
company. Each battleship or class has its own notice board for leaving messages for
ex-crew and families and information supplied by enthusiasts as well as
requests for information.
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LIST
OF ALL ROYAL NAVAL BATTLESHIPS BUILT BETWEEN 1857 AND 1944.
To see details of the ships class click the
'view class' link. To see details on a specific ship click the ships
name.
To
See Photographs of life on board a Pre Dreadnought click here
To
View List of only Pre - Dreadnought Battleships Click Here |
NAME OF BATTLESHIP |
LAUNCHED |
FATE |
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Coastal
Defence Turret Ships
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WARRIOR CLASS
IRONCLADS
View
Class
|
HMS WARRIOR |
29TH DECEMBER 1860 |
CONVERTED TO DEPOT SHIP IN 1902 AND
SUBSEQUENTLY RENAMED AS VERNON III. HULKED AND USED AS AN OIL
PIPELINE PIER AT PEMBROKE. RENAMED C77 IN 1945. |
HMS BLACK PRINCE |
27TH FEBRUARY 1861 |
BECAME TRAINING SHIP IN 1899,
RENAMED EMERALD IN 1903 THEN IMPREGNABLE IN 1910. |
|
DEFENCE CLASS
IRONCLADS
View Class |
HMS DEFENCE |
24TH APRIL 1861 |
BECAME TRAINING SHIP INDUS IN 1898.
SCRAPPED IN 1935. |
HMS RESISTANCE |
11TH APRIL 1861 |
USED FOR TARGET PRACTICE IN 1880s.
SOLD IN 1898 BUT SANK IN HOLYHEAD BAY. SHE WAS RAISED AND SCRAPPED. |
|
HECTOR CLASS
IRONCLADS
View Class |
HMS HECTOR |
26TH SEPTEMBER 1862 |
THE FIRST SHIP TO BE FITTED WITH
WIRELESS. PART OF THE TORPEDO SCHOOL IN 1900. SOLD FOR SCRAP IN
1905. |
HMS VALIANT |
14TH OCTOBER 1863 |
USED FOR HARBOUR SERVICE IN 1898 AND
RENAMED INDUS. RENAMED VALIANT IN 1916, THEN VALIANT III IN 1919.
SOLD FOR SCRAP IN 1957. |
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HMS ACHILLES
(Egmont or Egremont) |
23RD DECEMBER 1863 |
BECAME BASE SHIP HIBERNIA IN 1902,
EGMONT IN 1904, THEN EGREMONT IN 1918 AND FINALLY PEMBROKE IN 1919.
SOLD FOR SCRAP IN 1925. |
|
MINOTAUR
CLASS IRONCLADS
View
Class |
HMS MINOTAUR |
12TH DECEMBER 1863 |
CONVERTED TO A TRAINING SHIP AND RENAMED
BOSCAWEN IN 1904 THEN GANGES IN 1906 AND RENAMED AGAIN IN 1908 AS
GANGES II. BROKEN UP IN 1922. |
HMS AGINCOURT |
27TH MARCH 1865 |
CONVERTED TO A TRAINING SHIP AND RENAMED
BOSCAWEN III IN 1904, THEN GANGES II IN 1906. BROKEN UP IN 1927. |
HMS
NORTHUMBERLAND |
17TH APRIL 1866 |
CONVERTED TO A TRAINING SHIP IN 1904 AND RENAMED ACHERON. SOLD 1927 |
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PRINCE
CONSORT CLASS IRONCLADS
View
Class |
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HMS RESEARCH |
15TH AUGUST 1863 |
WENT INTO RESERVE 1878. SOLD FOR
SCRAP IN 1884. |
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HMS Research, 1864.
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HMS Research, 1869.
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HMS ENTERPRISE |
9TH FEBRUARY 1864 |
WENT INTO RESERVE IN 1871. SOLD FOR
SCRAP IN 1886. |
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HMS Enterprise, 1860s. |
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HMS FAVORITE |
5TH JULY 1864 |
WENT INTO RESERVE IN 1876. SOLD FOR
SCRAP IN 1886. |
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HMS Favorite, 1866.
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HMS ZEALOUS |
7TH MARCH 1864 |
BECAME GUARDSHIP AT SOUTHAMPTON
1873. SOLD FOR SCRAP IN 1886. |
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HMS Zealous, 1866.
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|
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HMS REPULSE |
25TH APRIL 1868 |
WENT INTO RESERVE IN 1885 SOLD FOR
SCRAP IN 1889. |
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LORD CLYDE
CLASS
View
Class |
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HMS PALLAS |
14TH MARCH 1865 |
SOLD FOR SCRAP IN 1886. |
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HMS
BELLEROPHON |
26TH MAY 1865 |
BECAME PORTGUARD SHIP IN 1892.
CONVERTED TO TRAINING SHIP IN 1904 AND RENAMED INDUS III. SOLD FOR
SCRAP IN 1922. |
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HMS PENELOPE |
18TH JUNE 1868 |
PRESENT AT BOMBARDMENT OF
ALEXANDRIA. BECAME PRISON HULK IN 1897. SOLD FOR SCRAP IN 1912. |
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AUDACIOUS
CLASS IRONCLADS
View Class |
HMS AUDACIOUS |
27TH FEBRUARY 1869 |
HARBOUR SERVICE IN 1902, RENAMED
FISGARD IN 1904, THEN IMPERIEUSE IN 1914. SOLD FOR SCRAP IN 1922. |
HMS INVINCIBLE |
29TH MAY 1869 |
BOMBARDED ALEXANDRIA. RENAMED
EREBUS IN 1904, THEN FISGARD II IN 1906. SANK WHILE ON TOW OFF
PORTLAND ON 17TH SEPTEMBER 1914. |
HMS IRON DUKE |
1ST MARCH 1870 |
SOLD FOR SCRAP IN 1906. |
HMS VANGUARD |
3RD JANUARY 1870 |
SANK AFTER COLLIDING WITH IRON DUKE
ON 1ST SEPTEMBER 1875. |
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HMS SULTAN |
31ST MAY 1870 |
BOMBARDED ALEXANDRIA. SANK ON 6TH
MARCH 1889 IN THE COMINO CHANNEL BUT WAS REPAIRED. RENAMED FISGARD IV IN 1906. 1931
REVERTED TO SULTAN. SOLD FOR SCRAP IN 1946. |
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HMS Sultan, 1871.
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Wreck of HMS Sultan, 1889.
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HMS Sultan, 1896, after her re-floating and
modernisation. |
SWIFTSURE
CLASS IRONCLADS VIEW CLASS |
HMS
SWIFTSURE |
15TH JUNE 1870 |
RENAMED ORONTES IN 1904. SOLD FOR
SCRAP IN 1908. |
HMS
TRIUMPH |
27TH SEPTEMBER 1870 |
RENAMED TENEDOS IN 1904, INDUS IV IN
1912, THEN ALGIERS IN 1914. SOLD FOR SCRAP IN 1921. |
|
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HMS
HERCULES |
10TH FEBRUARY 1868 |
ACCOMMODATION SHIP IN 1905, RENAMED
CALCUTTA IN 1909, THEN FISGARD II IN 1915. SOLD FOR SCRAP IN 1932. |
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HMS TEMERAIRE |
9TH MAY 1876 |
RENAMED INDUS II IN 1904, THEN TO
AKBAR IN 1915. SOLD FOR SCRAP IN 1921. |
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BELLEISLE CLASS
View
Class |
HMS BELLEISLE |
12TH FEBRUARY 1876 |
USED AS A TARGET 1900-1903. SOLD FOR
SCRAP IN 1904. |
HMS ORION |
23RD JANUARY 1879 |
USED FOR HARBOUR SERVICE. RENAMED
ORONTES IN 1909. HS 1910, SOLD JULY 1913 |
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HMS SUPERB |
16TH
NOVEMBER 1875 |
SOLD FOR B/U 1906 |
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HMS Superb, c.1892. |
SCORPION
CLASS masted turret ships
|
HMS SCORPION |
JULY 1863 |
SOLD FOR B/U 1903.
FOUNDERED ON PASSAGE TO BOSTON 17TH JUNE 1903 |
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HMS Scorpion, 1865.
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|
HMS WIVERN |
29TH AUGUST
1863 |
SOLD FOR B/U 1922 |
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HMS Wivern, 1865.
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HMS Wivern, 1870s.
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|
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HMS MONARCH |
25TH MAY 1868 |
TOOK PART IN THE BOMBARDMENT OF
ALEXANDRIA BEFORE BECOMING A GUARDSHIP IN 1897. SHE WAS RENAMED
SIMOOM IN 1904 WHEN SHE BECAME A DEPOT SHIP. SOLD FOR SCRAP IN 1905. |
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HMS CAPTAIN |
27TH MARCH 1869 |
CAPSIZED OFF CAPE FINISTERRE ON 7TH
SEPTEMBER 1870 ONLY FIVE MONTHS AFTER COMMISSIONING. ONLY 17 SURVIVORS. |
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CERBERUS
CLASS coast defence monitors
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HMS CERBERUS |
2ND DECEMBER
1868 |
SUNK AS BREAKWATER 1926 |
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HMS Cerberus, with tug Moselle, 1870.
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HMS Cerberus, with Steam Yacht Sunbeam, 1870.
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HMS Cerberus, 1870.
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HMS Cerberus, as a breakwater, c1926.
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HMS MAGDALA |
2ND MARCH
1870 |
SOLD FOR B/U 1904 |
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HMS Magdala, 1870.
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|
HMS Magdala, 1870.
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|
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HMS ABYSSINIA |
19TH
FEBRUARY 1870 |
SOLD FOR B/U 1903 |
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HMS Abyssinia, 1870.
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|
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HMS GLATTON |
8TH MARCH
1871 |
SOLD FOR B/U 1903 |
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HMS Glatton, 1872.
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HMS Glatton, 1872.
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HMS Glatton, 1872.
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HMS HOTSPUR |
19TH MARCH 1870 |
SOLD FOR SCRAPPING IN 1904. |
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DEVASTATION
CLASS
View
Class |
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DREADNOUGHT CLASS |
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CYCLOPS
CLASS coast defence monitors |
HMS CYCLOPS |
18TH JULY
1871 |
SOLD FOR B/U 1903 |
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HMS Cyclops, 1877.
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|
HMS GORGON |
14TH OCTOBER
1871 |
SOLD FOR B/U 1903 |
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HMS Gorgon, 1874.
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|
HMS Gorgon.
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|
HMS HECATE |
30TH
SEPTEMBER 1871 |
SOLD FOR B/U 1903 |
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HMS Hecate.
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|
HMS HYDRA |
28TH
DECEMBER 1871 |
SOLD FOR B/U 1903 |
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HMS Hydra, 1876.
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|
|
|
INFLEXIBLE
CLASS |
|
AGAMEMNON CLASS
TURRET SHIPS
View
Class |
HMS AGAMEMNON |
17TH SEPTEMBER 1879 |
BROKEN UP FOR SCRAP IN 1903. |
HMS AJAX |
10TH MARCH 1880 |
SOLD FOR SCRAPPING IN 1904. |
|
COLOSSUS CLASS |
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CONQUEROR CLASS
View Class |
HMS CONQUEROR |
8TH SEPTEMBER 1881 |
SOLD FOR B/U 9TH APRIL 1907 |
HMS HERO |
27TH OCTOBER 1885 |
SUNK AS TARGET 18TH FEBRUARY 1908 |
|
ADMIRAL CLASS
View
Class |
HMS COLLINGWOOD |
22ND NOVEMBER 1882 |
SOLD FOR B/U 11TH MAY 1909 |
HMS ANSON |
17TH FEBRUARY 1886 |
SOLD FOR B/U 13TH JULY 1909 |
HMS CAMPERDOWN |
24TH NOVEMBER 1885 |
SOLD FOR B/U 11TH JULY 1911 |
HMS HOWE |
28TH APRIL 1885 |
SOLD FOR B/U 10TH NOVEMBER 1910 |
HMS RODNEY |
8TH OCTOBER 1884 |
SOLD FOR B/U 16TH JUNE 1909 |
HMS BENBOW |
15TH JUNE 1885 |
SOLD FOR B/U 13TH JULY 1909 |
|
VICTORIA CLASS |
HMS
VICTORIA |
9th JUNE 1887 |
SUNK IN COLLISION WITH HMS
CAMPERDOWN 22ND JUNE 1893. |
HMS SANS PAREIL |
9TH MAY 1887 |
SOLD FOR B/U 9TH APRIL 1907 |
|
TRAFALGAR CLASS |
HMS TRAFALGAR |
20TH SEPTEMBER 1887 |
SOLD FOR B/U 9TH MARCH 1911 |
HMS NILE |
27TH MARCH 1885 |
SOLD FOR B/U 9TH JULY 1912 |
|
ROYAL SOVEREIGN
CLASS |
|
HOOD CLASS |
HMS HOOD |
30 JULY 1891 |
SUNK AS BLOCKSHIP 4TH NOVEMBER 1914 |
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CENTURION CLASS |
|
RENOWN CLASS |
HMS RENOWN |
8TH MAY 1895 |
SOLD FOR B/U 2ND APRIL 1914 |
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MAJESTIC CLASS
View Class |
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CANOPUS
CLASS
View Class |
HMS ALBION |
21ST JUNE 1898 |
SOLD FOR B/U 11TH DECEMBER 1919 |
HMS CANOPUS |
12TH OCTOBER 1897 |
SOLD FOR B/U 28TH JANUARY 1920 |
HMS GLORY |
11TH MARCH 1899 |
SOLD FOR B/U 19TH DECEMBER 1922 |
HMS GOLIATH |
25TH MARCH 1898 |
TORPEDOED 13TH MAY 1915 |
HMS OCEAN |
5TH JULY 1898 |
MINED 18TH MARCH 1915 |
HMS VENGEANCE |
25TH JULY 1899 |
SOLD FOR B/U 1ST DECEMBER 1921 |
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FORMIDABLE
CLASS
View
Class |
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LONDON CLASS
View Class |
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DUNCAN CLASS
View Class |
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KING EDWARD VII
CLASS
View
Class |
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SWIFTSURE CLASS
View
Class |
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LORD NELSON CLASS
View Class |
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BATTLESHIPS BUILT AFTER 1906
To see details of the ships class click the
'view class' link. To see details on a specific ship click the ships
name. |
DREADNOUGHT CLASS |
|
BELLEROPHON CLASS
View
Class |
HMS BELLEROPHON |
27TH JULY 1907 |
SOLD FOR SCRAP 8TH NOVEMBER 1921. |
HMS SUPERB |
7TH NOVEMBER 1907 |
SOLD FOR SCRAP 12TH DECEMBER 1923. |
HMS TEMERAIRE |
24TH AUGUST 1907 |
SOLD FOR SCRAP 7TH DECEMBER 1921. |
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ST VINCENT CLASS
View
Class |
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INVINCIBLE CLASS
View
Class |
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NEPTUNE CLASS |
HMS NEPTUNE |
30TH SEPTEMBER 1909 |
SOLD FOR SCRAP IN SEPTEMBER 1922. |
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COLOSSUS CLASS
View
Class |
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INDEFATIGABLE
CLASS
View
Class |
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ORION CLASS
View
Class |
HMS CONQUEROR |
1ST MAY 1911 |
SOLD FOR SCRAP IN DECEMBER 1922. |
HMS MONARCH |
30TH MARCH 1911 |
SUNK AS A TARGET 20TH JANUARY 1925. |
HMS ORION |
20TH AUGUST 1910 |
SOLD FOR SCRAP IN DECEMBER 1922. |
HMS THUNDERER |
1ST FEBRUARY 1911 |
SOLD FOR SCRAP DECEMBER 1926. |
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LION CLASS
View
Class |
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QUEEN MARY CLASS
(sometimes known as the third Lion Class) |
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CENTURION
CLASS
View
Class |
HMS KING GEORGE V |
9TH OCTOBER 1911 |
SOLD FOR SCRAP IN DECEMBER 1926. |
HMS CENTURION |
18TH NOVEMBER 1911 |
USED AS A TARGET SHIP 1927, THEN
SCUTTLED 9TH JUNE 1944. |
HMS AUDACIOUS |
14TH SEPTEMBER 1912 |
MINED ON 27TH OCTOBER 1914. |
HMS AJAX |
21ST MARCH 1912 |
SOLD FOR SCRAP 9TH NOVEMBER 1926. |
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IRON DUKE CLASS
View
Class |
HMS IRON DUKE |
12TH OCTOBER 1912 |
USED AS A GUNNERY TRAINING SHIP IN
1931. SHE WAS THEN SOLD FOR SCRAP 2ND MARCH 1946. |
HMS MARLBOROUGH |
24TH OCTOBER 1912 |
SOLD FOR SCRAP 27TH JUNE 1932 |
HMS BENBOW |
12TH NOVEMBER 1913 |
SOLD FOR SCRAP in march 1931. |
HMS EMPEROR OF INDIA |
27TH NOVEMBER 1913 |
sunk
as a target ship 1st september 1931. |
|
tiger
class |
HMS TIGER |
15TH DECEMBER 1913 |
SOLD FOR SCRAP 7TH MARCH 1932. |
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QUEEN ELIZABETH
CLASS
View
Class |
HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH |
16TH OCTOBER 1913 |
SOLD FOR SCRAP 19TH MARCH 1948. |
HMS WARSPITE |
26TH NOVEMBER 1913 |
SOLD FOR SCRAP 12TH JULY 1946. |
HMS VALIANT |
4TH NOVEMBER 1914 |
SOLD FOR SCRAP 19TH MARCH 1948. |
HMS BARHAM |
31ST OCTOBER 1914 |
SUNK 25TH NOVEMBER 1941. |
HMS MALAYA |
18TH MARCH 1915 |
SOLD FOR SCRAP 20TH FEBRUARY 1948. |
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REVENGE
CLASS
View
Class |
|
ERIN CLASS |
HMS ERIN |
3RD SEPTEMBER 1913 |
SOLD FOR SCRAP DECEMBER 1922. |
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AGINCOURT CLASS |
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CANADA CLASS |
HMS CANADA |
27TH NOVEMBER 1913 |
RETURNED TO CHILE IN APRIL 1920. |
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REPULSE CLASS
View
Class |
HMS RENOWN |
4TH MARCH 1916 |
SOLD FOR SCRAP 19TH MARCH 1948. |
HMS
REPULSE |
8TH JANUARY 1916 |
SUNK 10TH DECEMBER 1941. |
|
Courageous
Class
View
Class |
HMS
COURAGEOUS |
5TH
FEBRUARY 1916 |
SERVED
WITH 3RD CRUISER SQUADRON THEN 1ST CRUISER SQ. CONVERTED TO
MINELAYER AND FOUGHT AT HELIGOLAND BIGHT. CONVERTED
TO CARRIER 1924-28. |
HMS GLORIOUS |
20TH MAY 1916 |
FLAGSHIP TO 3RD CRUISER SQ. THEN TO
1ST CRUISER SQ, FOUGHT AT HELIGOLAND BIGHT. BECAME FLAGSHIP OF
RESERVE FLEET BEFORE BEING CONVERTED TO CARRIER 1924-30. |
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FURIOUS CLASS |
HMS FURIOUS |
15TH AUGUST 1916 |
CONVERTED TO CARRIER 1917. |
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HOOD CLASS |
HMS HOOD |
22ND AUGUST 1918 |
SUNK 24TH MAY 1941. |
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NELSON CLASS
View Class |
HMS NELSON |
3RD SEPTEMBER 1925 |
BROKEN UP AND SOLD 1948. |
HMS RODNEY |
17TH DECEMBER 1925 |
BROKEN UP AND SOLD 1948. |
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KING GEORGE V
CLASS
View Class |
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VANGUARD CLASS |
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