H.M.S. Lion (1910)

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H.M.S. Lion
Career Details
Pendant Number: 67 (Apr 1918)[1]
Built By: Devonport Royal Dockyard
Laid Down: 29 November, 1909
Launched: 6 August, 1910
Commissioned: 4 June, 1912
Sold: 31 January, 1924
Fate: Scrapped

Construction

Armament

Lion was equipped with the Vickers-designed[2] 13.5-inch gun and mounting. Her mountings were constructed by Armstrongs and fired the lighter 1,250lb projectile, and were designated Mk II. The gun firing circuits were powered by on-mounting dynamos driven by water-turbine Pelton wheels fed by the hydraulic main.[3]

Secondary Battery

Lion differed from Princess Royal (and probably Queen Mary) in using a P IV* mounting as in the Colossus class for her sixteen 4-in guns.

Reconstruction

Lion was taken in hand by Devonport Dockyard on 12 February, 1912. At that time her acceptance trial was projected to take place on 11 March.[4] She commissioned at Devonport on 4 June as Flagship of Rear-Admiral Lewis Bayly.[5]

Career

Lion taking aboard 13.5-inch shells.
Photo: Library and Archives Canada PA-6591.

Late war Gunnery Officer William Bayard Hynes

Jutland

Main article

The officer in charge of the T/S at Jutland was Sub-Lieutenant R.P. Selby.

According to the notes of Lieutenant-Commander Gerald Fortescue Longhurst, Lion's "A", "B", and "X" turrets expended 314 rounds of 13.5-inch A.P.C. Lyddite shell. "A" turret expended 95, "B" 107, "X" 112, and "Q" turret 12 before loss. At 20:38 "A" turret had 56 rounds per gun remaining, "B" 50, and "X" 50.[6]

Alterations

In 1913, Lion was slated as part of the seventeen ship order to receive a director. It was fitted sometime after the war started but prior to May, 1915.[7]

In May, 1917, in recognition of shortcomings in the use of directing guns, it was ordered that Lion and Princess Royal should be fitted with a second tripod-type director aft, as described on the class page. Lion received her second director during a refit in September, 1918.[8]

Fate

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

See Also

Footnotes

  1. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919
  2. Roberts. Battlecruisers. p. 87.
  3. Roberts. Battlecruisers. p. 88.
  4. "The Battle Cruiser Lion" (News). The Times. Tuesday, 13 February, 1912. Issue 39820, col B, p. 8.
  5. Roberts. Battlecruisers. p. 123.
  6. British Library. Jellicoe Papers. Add. MSS. 49029. f. 107.
  7. The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in HM Ships, pp. 9-10.
  8. The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in HM Ships, pp. 18-9.
  9. "Naval Appointments" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Monday, 11 September, 1911. Issue 39687, col G, p. 11.
  10. Roberts. Battlecruisers. p. 123.
  11. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 7 February, 1913. Issue 40129, col C, p. 11.
  12. The Navy List (November, 1917). p. 395d.
  13. Sinclair Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 368.
  14. The Navy List (December, 1918). p. 832.
  15. The Monthly Navy List (August, 1919). p. 832.

Bibliography


Lion Class Battlecruiser
  Lion Princess Royal Queen Mary  
<– Indefatigable Class Major Cruisers (UK) H.M.S. Tiger –>