Pre-Dreadnought Battleships
The British Royal Navy built a series of pre-dreadnought battleships as part of a naval expansion programme that began with the Naval Defence Act 1889. These ships were characterised by a main battery of four heavy guns in two twin mounts, a secondary armament and a high freeboard. Primarily concerned with maintaining its “two-power standard” of numerical superiority over the combined French and Russian fleets, the Royal Navy built or purchased a total of fifty-two
battleships of this type prior to the 1906 completion of the revolutionary all-big-gun Dreadnought, which gave the pre-dreadnoughts their name.
The first class, the Royal Sovereign class, comprised eight ships and introduced the standard armament layout associated with pre-dreadnought type battleships. A trend toward larger secondary batteries in foreign battleships led to the eight-ship King Edward VII class. A final class of two ships was built while Dreadnought was being developed: the Lord Nelson class.
The ships built for the Royal Navy served in a variety of roles across the globe, seeing service in the Mediterranean, Home, and Atlantic Fleets, among others. The second-class ships generally operated abroad on the China Station or elsewhere in the British Empire. As newer ships came into service, older vessels were placed in reserve or converted for subsidiary duties, including serving as barracks ships and depot vessels. With the start of the First World War in 1914, many of the vessels were mobilised for combat, and many served in the Dardanelles campaign, where five were lost to torpedoes and mines. Another five were sunk elsewhere during the war. The surviving vessels were all broken up in the post-war reduction in naval strength. Only HMS Agamemnon was converted into a radio-controlled target ship. She served in this role until 1927.
Royal Sovereign class
Hull | Name | Class | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
-- | HMS Royal Sovereign | Royal Sovereign | 31-05-1892 | 09-09-1909 | Sold for scrap, 07-10-1913 |
-- | HMS Hood | Royal Sovereign | 01-06-1893 | March 1911 | Sunk as a blockship in Portland Harbour 04-11-1914 |
-- | HMS Empress of India | Royal Sovereign | 11-09-1893 | Early 1912 | Sunk as target, 04-11-1913 |
-- | HMS Ramillies | Royal Sovereign | 17-10-1893 | August 1911 | Sold for scrap, 07-10-1913 |
-- | HMS Resolution | Royal Sovereign | 05-12-1893 | 08-08-1911 | Sold for scrap, 02-04-1914 |
-- | HMS Revenge | Royal Sovereign | March 1894 | October 1915 | Ren. Redoubtable, 1915, Sold for scrap, 06-11-1919 |
-- | HMS Repulse | Royal Sovereign | 25-04-1894 | February 1911 | Sold for scrap, 11-07-1911 |
-- | HMS Royal Oak | Royal Sovereign | 14-01-1896 | December 1911 | Sold for scrap, 14 -01-1914 |
Centurion class
Hull | Name | Class | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
-- | HMS Centurion | Centurion class | 14-02-1894 | 01-04-1909 | Sold for scrap, 12-07-1910 |
-- | HMS Barfleur | Centurion class | 22-06-1894 | June 1909 | Sold for scrap, 12-07-1910 |
HMS Renown
Hull | Name | Class | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
-- | HMS Renown | -- | 1897 | 31-01-1913 | Sold for scrap, 01-04-1914 |
Majestic class
Hull | Name | Class | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
-- | HMS Magnificent | Majestic class | 12-12-1895 | April 1921 | Sold for scrapping 09-05-1921 |
-- | HMS Majestic | Majestic class | December 1895 | -- | Sunk, 27-05-1915 |
-- | HMS Victorious | Majestic class | 04-11-1896 | 28-03-1920 | Sold for scrapping 09-04-1923 |
-- | HMS Prince George | Majestic class | 26-11-1896 | 21-02-1920 | Sold for scrapping 22-09-1921 |
-- | HMS Jupiter | Majestic class | 08-06-1897 | February 1918 | Sold for scrapping 15-01-1920 |
-- | HMS Mars | Majestic class | 08-06-1897 | 07-07-1920 | Sold for scrapping 09-05-1921 |
-- | HMS Caesar | Majestic class | 13-01-1898 | 23-04-1920 | Sold for scrapping, 08-11-1921 |
-- | HMS Hannibal | Majestic class | April 1898 | April 1898 | Sold for scrapping 28-01-1920 |
-- | HMS Illustrious | Majestic class | 15-04-1898 | 21-04-1919 | Sold for scrapping 18-06-1920 |
Canopus class
Hull | Name | Class | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
-- | HMS Canopus | Canopus class | 05-12-1899 | April 1919 | Sold for scrapping, 18-02-1920 |
-- | HMS Ocean | Canopus class | 20-02-1900 | -- | Sunk by mine, 18-03-1915 |
-- | HMS Goliath | Canopus class | 27-03-1900 | -- | Torpedoed and sunk, 13-05-1915 |
-- | HMS Glory | Canopus class | 01-11-1900 | 17-09-1921 | Sold for scrapping, 19-12-1922, ren.HMS Crescent |
-- | HMS Albion | Canopus class | 25-06-1901 | August 1919 | Sold for scrapping 11 December 1919 |
-- | HMS Vengeance | Canopus class | 08-04-1902 | 09-07-1920 | Sold for scrapping, 01-12-1921 |
Formidable class
Hull | Name | Class | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
-- | HMS Formidable | Formidable class | 10-10-1901 | -- | Sunk, 01-01-1915 |
-- | HMS Implacable | Formidable class | 10-09-1901 | 1919 | Broken up, 08-11-1921 |
-- | HMS Irresistible | Formidable class | 04-02-1902 | -- | Mined and sunk, 18-03-1915 |
London class
Hull | Name | Class | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
-- | HMS Bulwark | Formidable class | March 1902 | -- | Destroyed by internal explosies, 26-11-1914 |
-- | HMS London | Formidable class | 07-06-1902 | january 1919 | Broken up, 1922 |
-- | HMS Venerable | Formidable class | 12-11-1902 | December 1918 | Broken up, 1922 |
-- | HMS Queen | Formidable class | 07-04-1904 | November 1919 | Broken up, 1921 |
--- | HMS Prince of Wales | Formidable class | 18-05-1904 | 10-11-1919 | Sold for scarp, 12-04-1920 |
Duncan class
Hull | Name | Class | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
-- | HMS Russell | Duncan class | 19-02-1903 | -- | Mined and sunk, 27-04-1916 |
-- | HMS Exmouth | Duncan class | 02-06-1903 | april 1919 | Sold for scrap, 15-01-1920 |
-- | HMS Montagu | Duncan class | 28-07-1903 | -- | Wrecked on Lundy Island, 30-05-1906 |
-- | HMS Duncan | Duncan class | 08-10-1903 | March 1919 | Sold for scrap, 18-02-1920 |
--- | HMS Albemacle | Duncan class | 12-11-1903 | April 1919 | Sold for scarp, 1920 |
-- | HMS Conwallis | Duncan class | 19-02-1904 | -- | Sunk bu U-32, 09-01-1917 |
King Edward VII class
Hull | Name | Class | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
-- | HMS King Edward Vii | King Edward VII | 07-02-1905 | -- | Mined and sunk, 06-01-1916 |
-- | HMS Commonwealth | King Edward VII | 09-05-1905 | February 2921 | Sold for scrap, 18-11-1921 |
-- | HMS New Zealand | King Edward VII | 11-07-1905 | 20-09-1917 | Sold for scrap, 08-11-1921 |
-- | HMS Dominion | King Edward VII | 15-08-1905 | 02-05-1918 | Sold for scrap, 09-05-1921 |
--- | HMS Hindustan | King Edward VII | 22-08-1905 | 15-05-1918 | Sold for scarp, 09-05-1921 |
-- | HMS Brittania | King Edward VII | 08-09-1906 | -- | Sunk, 09-11-1918 |
-- | HMS Africa | King Edward VII | 06-11-1905 | November 1918 | Sold for scrap, 30-06-1920 |
-- | HMS Hibernia | King Edward VII | 02-01-1907 | October 1917 | Sold for scrap, 08-11-1921 |
Swiftsure class
Hull | Name | Class | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
-- | HMS Swiftsure | Swiftsure class | 21-06-1904 | April 1917 | Org. "Constitution", Chile, Sold for scrap, 18-06-1920 |
-- | HMS Triumph | Swiftsure class | 021-06-1904 | -- | Org. "Liberated", Chile, Sold for scrap, 25-05-1915 |
Lord Nelson class
Hull | Name | Class | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
-- | HMS Agamemnon | Lord Nelson class | 25-06-1908 | 20-03-1919 | Sold for scrap, 24-01-1921 |
-- | HMS Lord Nelson | Lord Nelson class | 01-12-1908 | May 1919 | Sold for scrap, 04-06-1920 |
Dreadnought Battleships
The dreadnought was the predominant type of battleship in the early 20th century. The first of the kind, the Royal Navy’s HMSÂ Dreadnought, had such an effect when launched in 1906 that similar battleships built after her were referred to as “dreadnoughts”, and earlier battleships became known as pre-dreadnoughts.
Her design had two revolutionary features: an “all-big-gun” armament scheme, with an unprecedented number of heavy-calibre guns, and steam turbine propulsion. As dreadnoughts became a crucial symbol of national power, the arrival of these new warships renewed the naval arms race between the United Kingdom and Germany.
Successive designs increased rapidly in size and made use of improvements in armament, armour, and propulsion throughout the dreadnought era. Within five years, new battleships outclassed Dreadnought herself. These more powerful vessels were known as “super-dreadnoughts”. Most of the original dreadnoughts were scrapped after the end of World War I under the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty, but many of the newer super-dreadnoughts continued serving throughout World War II.
Dreadnought-building consumed vast resources in the early 20th century, but there was only one battle between large dreadnought fleets. At the Battle of Jutland in 1916, the British and German navies clashed with no decisive result. The term dreadnought gradually dropped from use after World War I, especially after the Washington Naval Treaty, as virtually all remaining battleships shared dreadnought characteristics; it can also be used to describe battlecruisers, the other type of ship resulting from the dreadnought revolution.
HMS Dreadnought
Hull | Name | Class | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
-- | HMS Dreadnought | -- | 02-12-1906 | February 1919 | First Dreanought, Sold for scrap, 09-05-1921 |
Bellerophon class
Hull | Name | Class | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
-- | HMS Bellerophon | Bellerophon class | 27-2-1909 | -- | Sold for scrap, 08-11-1921 |
-- | HMS Superb | Bellerophon class | 25-05-1909 | 26-03-1920 | Sold for scrap, december 1922 |
-- | HMS Temeraire | Bellerophon class | 15-05-1909 | 1921 | Sold for scrap, 07-12-1921 |
St. Vincent class
Hull | Name | Class | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
-- | HMS St. Vincent | St. Vincent class | 03-05-1910 | March 1921 | Sold for scrap, 01-12-1921 |
-- | HMS Collingwood | St. Vincent class | 19-04-1908 | -- | Sold for scrap, 12-12-1922 |
-- | HMS Vanguard | St. Vincent class | 01-03-1910 | -- | Sunk by internal explosion, 09-07-1917 |
HMS Neptune
Hull | Name | Class | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
-- | HMS Neptune | -- | 11-01-1911 | November 1921 | Sold for scrap, september 1922 |
Colossus class
Hull | Name | Class | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
-- | HMS Colossus | Colossus class | 08-08-1911 | -- | Recl. Trainingship, Sold for scrap, 08-11-1921 |
-- | HMS Hercules | Colossus class | 31-07-1911 | October 1921 | Sold for scrap, 08-11-1921 |
Orion class
Hull | Name | Class | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
-- | HMS Orion | Orion class | 02-01-1912 | March 1922 | Sold for scrap, 19-12-1922 |
-- | HMS Monarch | Orion class | 27-04-1912 | 05-05-1922 | Sunk as target ship, 21-01-1925 |
-- | HMS Conqueror | Orion class | 23-11-1912 | June 1922 | Sold for scrap, 19-12-1922 |
-- | HMS Thunderer | Orion class | 15-06-1912 | 1921 | Sold for scrap, 06-11-1926 |
King George V class
Hull | Name | Class | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
-- | HMS King George V | King George V | 16-11-1912 | 26-10-1926 | Sold for scrap, December 1926 |
-- | HMS Centurion | King George V | 25-05-1913 | 1924 | Sunk as block ship Normandie, 07-06-1944 |
-- | HMS Adacious | King George V | 15-10-1913 | -- | Sunk by mine, 27-10-1914 |
-- | HMS Ajax | King George V | 31-10-1913 | April 1924 | Sold for scrap, 10-12-1926 |
Iron Duke class
Hull | Name | Class | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
-- | HMS Iron Duke | Iron Duke class | March 1914 | -- | Sold for scrap, March 1946 |
-- | HMS Marlborough | Iron Duke class | June 1914 | -- | Sold for scrap, 27-06-1932 |
-- | HMS Benbow | Iron Duke class | 07-10-1914 | 1929 | Sold for scrap, march 1931 |
-- | HMS Emperor of India | Iron Duke class | 10-11-1914 | 1931 | Sunk as target ship 1931 |
HMS Agincourt, Erin, Canada
Hull | Name | Class | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
-- | HMS Agincourt | -- | 07-08-1914 | april 1921 | Former "Rio de Janeiro" and "Asman-1 Evvel" Sold for scrap, 19-12-1922 |
-- | HMS Erin | -- | -- | May 1922 | Former "Resad V", Sold for scrap, 19-12-1922 |
-- | HMS Canada | -- | 15-10-1915 | March 1919 | Resold to Chile, april 1920 |
Queen Elizabeth class
Hull | Name | Class | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
00 | HMS Queen Elizabeth | Queen Elizabeth | 22-11-1914 | 1948 | Scrapped, 1948 |
03 | HMS Warspite | Queen Elizabeth | 08-03-1915 | 01-02-1945 | Sold for scrap, 1947 |
04 | HMS Barham | Queen Elizabeth | 19-10-1915 | -- | Sunk by U-331, 25-11-1941 |
02 | HMS Valiant | Queen Elizabeth | 19-02-1916 | 1948 | Solf for scrap, 19-03-1948 |
01 | HMS Malaya | Queen Elizabeth | 01-02-1916 | 01-12-1944 | Sold for scrap, 20-02-1948 |
-- | HMS Agincourt | Queen Elizabeth | -- | -- | Canceled, August 1914 |
Revenge class
Hull | Name | Class | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
06 | HMS Revenge | Revenge class | 01-02-1916 | -- | Scrapped, 1948 |
05 | HMS Royal Sovereign | Revenge class | May 1916 | -- | Loan to Soviet Navy, 30-5-1944, ren. "Arkhangelsk" |
08 | HMS Royal Oak | Revenge class | 01-05-1916 | -- | Sunk by U-47, 14-10-1939 |
09 | HMS Resolution | Revenge class | 30-12-1916 | 1944 | Solf for scrap, 05-05-1948 |
07 | HMS Ramillies | Revenge class | 01-09-1917 | 1945 | Sold for scrap, 02-02-1948 |
-- | HMS Renown | Revenge class | -- | -- | Coverted to battlecruiser |
-- | HMS Repulse | Revenge class | -- | -- | Coverted to battlecruiser |
-- | HMS Resistance | Revenge class | -- | -- | Canceled |
N3 class
The N3 class battleship, along with the G3 class battlecruiser, was planned as the next capital ship for the Royal Navy after World War I, but its construction was canceled due to the Washington Naval Disarmament Treaty, limiting the size and number of warships in their respective navies and thus resulting in the design’s cancellation. 4 ships were planned but had not been ordered nor had contruction been started when they were canceled.
Nelson class
Hull | Name | Class | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
28 | HMS Nelson | Nelson class | 15-08-1927 | February 1948 | Sold for scrap, 05-01-1949 |
29 | HMS Rodney | Nelson class | 07-12-1927 | 1946 | Sold for scrap, 26-03-1948 |
King George V class
Hull | Name | Class | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
41 | HMS King George V | King George V | 01-10-1940 | 1949 | Sold for scrap, 1957 |
53 | HMS Prince of Wales | King George V | 19-01-1941 | -- | Sunk by Japanese air attack, 10 December 1941 |
17 | HMS Duke of York | King George V | 04-10-1941 | November 1951 | Scrapped in 1957 |
79 | HMS Anson | King George V | 14-04-1942 | November 1951 | Scrapped, 17-12-1957 |
32 | HMS Howe | King George V | 29-08-1942 | 1950 | Scrapped, 1958 |
Lion class
The Lion class was a class of six fast battleships designed for the Royal Navy (RN) in the late 1930s. They were a larger, improved version of the preceding King George V class. Only two ships were laid down before the Second World War began in September 1939 and a third was ordered during the war, but their construction was suspended shortly afterwards. The design was modified in light of war experience in 1942, but the two ships already begun were scrapped later in the year. None of the other ships planned were laid down.
HMS Vangauard
Hull | Name | Class | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Status |
23 | HMS Vanquard | -- | 12-05-1946 | 07-06-1960 | Scrapped, 1960 |
References:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pre-dreadnought_battleships_of_the_Royal_Navy
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_dreadnought_battleships_of_the_Royal_Navy