Formidable Class Battleship (1898)
Overview of 3 vessels | |||||
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Citations for this data available on individual ship pages | |||||
Name | Builder | Laid Down | Launched | Completed | Fate |
Formidable | Portsmouth Royal Dockyard | 21 Mar, 1898 | 17 Nov, 1898 | 10 Oct, 1901 | Torpedoed 1 Jan, 1915 |
Implacable | Devonport Royal Dockyard | 13 Jul, 1898 | 11 Mar, 1899 | 10 Sep, 1901 | Sold 8 Nov, 1921 |
Irresistible | Chatham Royal Dockyard | 11 Apr, 1898 | 15 Dec, 1898 | 4 Feb, 1902 | Mined 18 Mar, 1915 |
Armament
In early 1913, new pattern G. 329 trainer's telescopes of 2.5 power and 20 degree field were issued to these and many other capital ships, to replace the 5/12, 5/15 and 5/21 variable power G.S. telescopes that had previously been in use.[1]
During the war, along with those of other older ships, the eight 6-inch guns casemated on the first deck proved of little use in practical sea states. It was decided to remove the eight casemate guns, plate their ports over and move 4 of them to the upper deck. Four of the twelve 12-pdr guns were also surrendered due to this alteration.[2][Fact Check]
Main Battery
The 12-in guns were Mark IX, mounted in B. VI turrets.[3][Fact Check]
Secondary Battery
In February, 1913, the 6-in mountings, along with many other 4-in and 6-in mountings in various capital ships and cruisers were to have illumination added for their training index racers.[4]
Other Guns
Twelve 12-pdr guns, later reduced to eight when the 6-in casemate guns were relocated.[5][Fact Check]
Torpedoes
Four submerged 18-in tubes. The forward ones were angled 10 degrees forward of the beam and the aft 25 degrees abaft the beam.[6]
Fire Control
Though it may have little relevance given the age difference, the general system of wiring between the T.S.es in ships prior to Lord Nelson class is illustrated in Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914.[7]
Rangefinders
Evershed Bearing Indicators
It is unlikely that this equipment was ever provided.[Inference]
Directors
These ships never received directors for main or secondary batteries.[8]
Gunnery Control
The ship's guns were organized in 3 groups:[9]
- Two 12-in turrets
- Starboard 6-in guns ("A" & "X')
- Port 6-in guns ("B" & "Y")
Local Control in Turrets
There was no provision in these ships for local turret control wherein the receivers in the turret could be driven by transmitters in the officer's position at the back of the turret.[10]
Transmitting Stations
These ships likely had fore and aft T.S.es.[11][Inference]
A C.O.S. allowed[Inference] control options of
- Fore
- After
- Separate
Each control group had transmitters with a pair of receivers, one wired directly to the transmitter as a tell-tale, and the other fed off the wires going to the distant guns (i.e., the aft guns for the fore T.S. and vice-versa) as a repeat. "These repeat receivers are necessary to keep the idle transmitters in step; when changing back from separate control they are required to enable both halves of the group to be set alike before being paralleled on to one transmitter."[12]
Dreyer Table
These ships never received Dreyer tables.[13]
Fire Control Instruments
The 3 ships in this class were equipped in 2 separate styles.
By 1909, Formidable and Implacable were equipped with:[14]
- Range (B. & S. Mark II): 6 transmitters, 30 receivers
- Orders (B & S Mark I): 6 transmitters, 20 receivers
- Rate (B. & S. Mark II): 4 transmitters, 8 receivers
- Deflection (Vickers): 6 transmitters, 26 receivers
Additionally, this class had the following Siemens fire control equipment:[15]
- Group Switches: 3 (converted by Chatham)
- Turret fire gongs: 8 with 2 keys
- Fire Gongs: 12 with 4 keys
- Captain's Cease Fire Bells: 18 with 1 key
Irresistible was equipped with Vickers, Son and Maxim instruments for range, deflection and orders and with Barr and Stroud rate instruments[16] Detailed information is lacking, but might be similar to London class or another such.[Inference]
These ships lacked Target Visible and Gun Ready signals.[17]
In mid-1913 it was approved that these ships receive a Mark III Dumaresq, Pattern 760. Having been supplied with the Mark III variant, each was to surrender a Mark I instrument previously allotted.[18]
Torpedo Control
See Also
Footnotes
- ↑ Admiralty Weekly Orders. 28 Feb, 1913. The National Archives. ADM 182/4.
- ↑ The Technical History and Index, Vol. 4, Part 36. p. 9. I am inferring here that this class was treated as part of London, Duncan or Canopus classes which are unmentioned in the source, but which straddle this in time.
- ↑ The Sight Manual, 1916. p. 109.
- ↑ Admiralty Weekly Orders. The National Archives. ADM 182/4. 21 Feb, 1913 entries. pp. 3-4.
- ↑ ditto the inference under "Armament"
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1898. p. 598.
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914. p. 50 & Plates 50 and 54(I).
- ↑ The Director Firing Handbook. pp. 142-3.
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914. p. 8.
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914. p. 50.
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914. p. 50 & Plates 50 and 54(I).
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914. pp. 50-1.
- ↑ Handbook of Captain F. C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables, 1918. p. 3.
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909. pp. 58-9.
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909. p. 59.
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909. p. 56.
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914. p. 11.
- ↑ Admiralty Weekly Order No. 283 of 6 June, 1913.
Bibliography
- Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1910). Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909. Copy No. 173 is Ja 345a at Admiralty Library, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
- Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1914). Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914. G. 01627/14. C.B. 1030. Copy 1235 at The National Archives. ADM 186/191.
- Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1917). The Director Firing Handbook. O.U. 6125 (late C.B. 1259). Copy No. 322 at The National Archives. ADM 186/227.
- Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1918). Handbook of Captain F. C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables, 1918. C.B. 1456. Copy No. 10 at Admiralty Library, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
- Parkes, O.B.E., Ass.I.N.A., Dr. Oscar (1990). British Battleships 1860–1950. London: Pen & Sword Ltd. ISBN 0850526043. (on Bookfinder.com).
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