Difference between revisions of "British Adoption of Director Firing"
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The Royal Navy's adoption of the director occurred in a blizzard of activity immediately prior to the war and throughout its duration. Priority was placed on the ships with the largest guns and those most likely to see front-line service in the face of the enemy: dreadnoughts, battle cruisers and monitors. | The Royal Navy's adoption of the director occurred in a blizzard of activity immediately prior to the war and throughout its duration. Priority was placed on the ships with the largest guns and those most likely to see front-line service in the face of the enemy: dreadnoughts, battle cruisers and monitors. | ||
| − | ==Trials | + | ==Early Trials in H.M.S. ''Africa''== |
Directors of various forms had been tried for over twenty years, but the type used in the war traced its lineage to that proposed by [[Percy Scott]] in 1905.<ref name=brooks>{{BibBrooksDreadnoughtGunnery}}, p. 48.</ref> [[H.M.S. Africa (1905)|''H.M.S. Africa'']] conducted the first tests of an elevation-only director in 1907<ref name=ukfc>{{BibUKFireControlInHMShips1919}}, p. 4.</ref>, and a variant from Bacon was tested in ''Dreadnought'' and ''Bellerophon''. | Directors of various forms had been tried for over twenty years, but the type used in the war traced its lineage to that proposed by [[Percy Scott]] in 1905.<ref name=brooks>{{BibBrooksDreadnoughtGunnery}}, p. 48.</ref> [[H.M.S. Africa (1905)|''H.M.S. Africa'']] conducted the first tests of an elevation-only director in 1907<ref name=ukfc>{{BibUKFireControlInHMShips1919}}, p. 4.</ref>, and a variant from Bacon was tested in ''Dreadnought'' and ''Bellerophon''. | ||
Successes in the 1909 Battle Practice and thereafter built support for the concept, culminating in successful trials in May 1910, although Hugh Evan-Thomas argued against it.<ref name=brooks/> | Successes in the 1909 Battle Practice and thereafter built support for the concept, culminating in successful trials in May 1910, although Hugh Evan-Thomas argued against it.<ref name=brooks/> | ||
| + | ==Trials in H.M.S. ''Neptune''== | ||
Even then, a final change from a fixed-elevation system (where the guns would fire when own ship's roll brought the sights on) to one allowing adjustable elevation as well as training. [[H.M.S. Neptune (1909)|''Neptune'']] tried this [[Vickers]]-produced director. By early in 1911, confidence was sufficient that the ''Orion''- and ''Lion''-classes were to be completed with the extensive wiring required for the directors, but a variant in [[H.M.S. Thunderer (1911)|''Thunderer'']] was required to address issues of reliability and accuracy in the ''Neptune'' design. | Even then, a final change from a fixed-elevation system (where the guns would fire when own ship's roll brought the sights on) to one allowing adjustable elevation as well as training. [[H.M.S. Neptune (1909)|''Neptune'']] tried this [[Vickers]]-produced director. By early in 1911, confidence was sufficient that the ''Orion''- and ''Lion''-classes were to be completed with the extensive wiring required for the directors, but a variant in [[H.M.S. Thunderer (1911)|''Thunderer'']] was required to address issues of reliability and accuracy in the ''Neptune'' design. | ||
| − | The acceptance of | + | ==Trials in H.M.S. ''Thunderer''== |
| + | Issues of reliability and accuracy in the Neptune system prompted some alterations and another trial fitting reflecting the changes in [[H.M.S. Thunderer (1911)|''Thunderer'']]. This system was subjected to a competitive shoot-out against [[H.M.S. Orion (1910)|''Orion'']], which clearly demonstrated the advantages and utility of director firing. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The acceptance of the refined Thunderer prototype in 1913 pushed the Royal Navy to the point it was ready to deploy the equipment in new construction and also to equip its existing fleet. | ||
==Early Orders== | ==Early Orders== | ||
| Line 15: | Line 19: | ||
The "Twelve Ship Order" was to replace the prototype director in ''Thunderer'' with production gear, and to provide sets also for [[H.M.S. Monarch (1911)|''Monarch'']], [[H.M.S. Benbow (1913)|''Benbow'']], [[H.M.S. Emperor of India (1913)|''Emperor of India'']], [[H.M.S. Marlborough (1912)|''Marlborough'']], [[H.M.S. Iron Duke (1912)|''Iron Duke'']], [[H.M.S. King George V (1911)|''King George V'']], [[H.M.S. Ajax (1912)|''Ajax'']] (which received the first production set), [[H.M.S. Centurion (1911)|''Centurion'']], [[H.M.S. Audacious (1912)|''Audacious'']], [[H.M.S. Queen Mary (1912)|''Queen Mary'']] and [[H.M.S. Tiger (1913)|''Tiger'']]. | The "Twelve Ship Order" was to replace the prototype director in ''Thunderer'' with production gear, and to provide sets also for [[H.M.S. Monarch (1911)|''Monarch'']], [[H.M.S. Benbow (1913)|''Benbow'']], [[H.M.S. Emperor of India (1913)|''Emperor of India'']], [[H.M.S. Marlborough (1912)|''Marlborough'']], [[H.M.S. Iron Duke (1912)|''Iron Duke'']], [[H.M.S. King George V (1911)|''King George V'']], [[H.M.S. Ajax (1912)|''Ajax'']] (which received the first production set), [[H.M.S. Centurion (1911)|''Centurion'']], [[H.M.S. Audacious (1912)|''Audacious'']], [[H.M.S. Queen Mary (1912)|''Queen Mary'']] and [[H.M.S. Tiger (1913)|''Tiger'']]. | ||
| − | The successive "Seventeen Ship Order" covered | + | The successive "Seventeen Ship Order" covered ''Orion'', [[H.M.S. Colossus (1910)|''Colossus'']], [[H.M.S. Hercules (1910)|''Hercules'']], [[H.M.S. Neptune (1909)|''Neptune'']], [[H.M.S. St. Vincent (1908)|''St. Vincent'']], [[H.M.S._Collingwood_(1908)|''Collingwood'']], [[H.M.S._Bellerophon_(1907)|''Bellerophon'']], [[H.M.S._Superb_(1907)|''Superb'']], [[H.M.S._Temeraire_(1907)|''Temeraire'']], [[H.M.S._Dreadnought_(1906)|''Dreadnought'']], [[H.M.S._Lion_(1910)|''Lion'']], [[H.M.S._Queen_Mary_(1912)|''Princess Royal'']], [[H.M.S._Indefatigable_(1909)|''Indefatigable'']], [[H.M.S._New_Zealand_(1911)|''New Zealand'']], [[H.M.S._Invincible_(1907)|''Invincible'']], [[H.M.S. Indomitable (1907)|''Indomitable'']] and [[H.M.S. Inflexible (1907)|''Inflexible'']]. |
The combined result of these orders and the trial installations was that 8 dreadnoughts were equipped with director firing for their main battery: ''Neptune'' possibly still with her prototype gear from 1911, ''Thunderer'' with her director from 1912 possibly updated, ''Ajax'' from 1913, and ''Iron Duke'', ''Marlborough'', ''King George V'', ''Centurion'' and ''Monarch'' from earlier in 1914.<ref name=ukfc>pp. 9-10.</ref> | The combined result of these orders and the trial installations was that 8 dreadnoughts were equipped with director firing for their main battery: ''Neptune'' possibly still with her prototype gear from 1911, ''Thunderer'' with her director from 1912 possibly updated, ''Ajax'' from 1913, and ''Iron Duke'', ''Marlborough'', ''King George V'', ''Centurion'' and ''Monarch'' from earlier in 1914.<ref name=ukfc>pp. 9-10.</ref> | ||
Revision as of 18:07, 1 December 2010
The Royal Navy's adoption of the director occurred in a blizzard of activity immediately prior to the war and throughout its duration. Priority was placed on the ships with the largest guns and those most likely to see front-line service in the face of the enemy: dreadnoughts, battle cruisers and monitors.
Contents
Early Trials in H.M.S. Africa
Directors of various forms had been tried for over twenty years, but the type used in the war traced its lineage to that proposed by Percy Scott in 1905.[1] H.M.S. Africa conducted the first tests of an elevation-only director in 1907[2], and a variant from Bacon was tested in Dreadnought and Bellerophon.
Successes in the 1909 Battle Practice and thereafter built support for the concept, culminating in successful trials in May 1910, although Hugh Evan-Thomas argued against it.[1]
Trials in H.M.S. Neptune
Even then, a final change from a fixed-elevation system (where the guns would fire when own ship's roll brought the sights on) to one allowing adjustable elevation as well as training. Neptune tried this Vickers-produced director. By early in 1911, confidence was sufficient that the Orion- and Lion-classes were to be completed with the extensive wiring required for the directors, but a variant in Thunderer was required to address issues of reliability and accuracy in the Neptune design.
Trials in H.M.S. Thunderer
Issues of reliability and accuracy in the Neptune system prompted some alterations and another trial fitting reflecting the changes in Thunderer. This system was subjected to a competitive shoot-out against Orion, which clearly demonstrated the advantages and utility of director firing.
The acceptance of the refined Thunderer prototype in 1913 pushed the Royal Navy to the point it was ready to deploy the equipment in new construction and also to equip its existing fleet.
Early Orders
At the outset of the program of equipping the fleet, a large number of suitable platforms for retrofit were on hand, and they were handled in sets as finances, dock time and equipment availability permitted. Vickers was to perform most of the work of manufacture and installation.
The "Twelve Ship Order" was to replace the prototype director in Thunderer with production gear, and to provide sets also for Monarch, Benbow, Emperor of India, Marlborough, Iron Duke, King George V, Ajax (which received the first production set), Centurion, Audacious, Queen Mary and Tiger.
The successive "Seventeen Ship Order" covered Orion, Colossus, Hercules, Neptune, St. Vincent, Collingwood, Bellerophon, Superb, Temeraire, Dreadnought, Lion, Princess Royal, Indefatigable, New Zealand, Invincible, Indomitable and Inflexible.
The combined result of these orders and the trial installations was that 8 dreadnoughts were equipped with director firing for their main battery: Neptune possibly still with her prototype gear from 1911, Thunderer with her director from 1912 possibly updated, Ajax from 1913, and Iron Duke, Marlborough, King George V, Centurion and Monarch from earlier in 1914.[2]
See Also
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Template:BibBrooksDreadnoughtGunnery, p. 48.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Template:BibUKFireControlInHMShips1919, p. 4.
Bibliography
