H.M.S. Iron Duke (1912)

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H.M.S. Iron Duke (1912)
Pendant Number: 94 (Aug 1914)
76 (Jan 1918)
14 (Apr 1918)[1]
Builder: Portsmouth Royal Dockyard[2]
Ordered: 1911 Programme[3]
Laid down: 12 Jan, 1912[4]
Launched: 12 Oct, 1912[5]
Commissioned: 10 Mar, 1914
Sold: 2 Mar, 1946[6]
Fate: Scrapped

H.M.S. Iron Duke served as flagship of the Grand Fleet from 4 August, 1914 until replaced in this role by Queen Elizabeth on 16 February, 1917.[7]

Construction

The keel of the battleship to be known as Iron Duke was laid on 15 January, 1912 at Portsmouth Royal Dockyard. The first keel-plate was laid by Miss Evelyn Moore, sister of the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth, Sir Arthur W. Moore. Also present were the Admiral Superintendent Rear-Admiral Alban G. Tate and Mrs. Tate, Mr. J. Apsey (manager of the Constructive Department) and Mrs. Apsey, Captain William B. Fawckner (Captain of the Dockyard) and Mrs. Fawckner, and other officials.[8] The ship was launched on 12 October on a sunny Saturday before a crowd estimated to be in excess of 60,000 people. The Duchess of Wellington performed the naming ceremony. Also on the launching platform were the new Admiral Superintendent, Herbert L. Heath, his wife and daughters, and a large number of other naval and civil dignitaries.[9]

Career

Iron Duke commissioned at Portsmouth on 10 March, 1914, by Captain Robert N. Lawson as the flagship of the Home Fleets, Admiral Sir George A. Callaghan. She replaced Neptune, which joined the First Battle Squadron.[10] The oiler Rosalind was blown into collision with Iron Duke on 18 March, causing bent awning stanchions and damaging a number of scuttles.[11] The cost of repairing the damage was stated to be "about £10."[12]

Boats

In July 1914, the ship was appropriated 42-foot motor launch No. 195, though the boat was not yet delivered from the contractor.[13]

Habitability

In October 1914, the ship was to be given 7 Pattern 1582 Electric Radiators to warm cabins whose stoves could not be used for heating them.[14]

Alterations

In 1913, Iron Duke was slated as part of the twelve ship order to receive a director along the lines of that developed in Neptune. She was fully equipped sometime in 1914 prior to the start of the war.[15] Her class received their directors after King George V received hers, and likely to a similar design, placing the light aloft tower atop the spotting top.[16]

Her secondary battery directors were installed in May, 1917.[17]

Jutland

Reports

Scrapping

Iron Duke was refloated by Metal Industries on 19 April, 1946 and on 19 August arrived at their newly-leased premises at No. 1 Military Port (Faslane). Her hulk was beached for final demolition at the Smith & Houston yard at Port Glasgow in November, 1948 as the beaching ground at Faslane had not yet been completed.

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

See Also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 33.
  2. ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 33.
  3. ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 31.
  4. ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 31.
  5. ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 33.
  6. ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 33.
  7. ↑ Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. p. 1.
  8. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 16 January, 1912. Issue 39796, col B, p. 13.
  9. ↑ "Launch of the Iron Duke" (News). The Times. Monday, 14 October, 1912. Issue 40029, col C, p. 3.
  10. ↑ "The New Fleet Flagship" (News). The Times. Tuesday, 10 March, 1914. Issue 40467, col E, p. 12.
  11. ↑ "H.M.S. Iron Duke Damaged" (News). The Times. Friday, 20 March, 1914. Issue 40476, col D, p. 16.
  12. ↑ Hansard. HC Deb 23 March 1914 vol 60 cc54-5W.
  13. ↑ Admiralty Weekly Order No. 122 of 10 July, 1914.
  14. ↑ Admiralty Weekly Order No. 512 of 16 Oct, 1914.
  15. ↑ The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 23. pp. 9-10.
  16. ↑ Letter in D'Eyncourt Papers at the National Maritime Museum's Caird Library, DEY/27
  17. ↑ The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 23. p. 16.
  18. ↑ The Navy List (December, 1914). p. 339.
  19. ↑ The Navy List (December, 1916). p. 395m.
  20. ↑ Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
  21. ↑ The Navy List (December, 1918). p. 821. Exact date in February inferred from Chatfield Service Record.
  22. ↑ The Navy List (August, 1919). p. 821.
  23. ↑ The Monthly Navy List, December 1920. p. 793.
  24. ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  25. ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  26. ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  27. ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  28. ↑ Henley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 44.
  29. ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  30. ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  31. ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  32. ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  33. ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  34. ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  35. ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  36. ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  37. ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  38. ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  39. ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.

Bibliography


Iron Duke Class Dreadnought
  Benbow Emperor of India Iron Duke Marlborough  
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