Difference between revisions of "Lion Class Battlecruiser (1910)"

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===Evershed Bearing Indicators===
 
===Evershed Bearing Indicators===
  
All units were likely fitted with this equipment by late 1914<ref>''Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914'', p. 37.</ref>.
+
All units were likely fitted with this equipment by late 1914.<ref>''Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914'', p. 37.</ref>
  
 
The transmitting positions were  
 
The transmitting positions were  
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* 'Q' turret  ('X' turret for ''Queen Mary'')
 
* 'Q' turret  ('X' turret for ''Queen Mary'')
  
The protocols for how her crew should handle [[Wooding|wooding]] of the turrets was outlined in the ''Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914''<ref>''Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914'', p. 37.</ref>.
+
The protocols for how her crew should handle [[Wooding|wooding]] of the turrets was outlined in the ''Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914''.<ref>''Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914'', p. 37.</ref>
  
 
===Gunnery Control===
 
===Gunnery Control===
  
''Queen Mary'' differed from her sisters by mimicking ''King George V'' whereas ''Lion'' and ''Princess Royal'' were likened to ''Orion''<ref>''Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914'', p. 8.</ref>. The control arrangements were likely as follows, with some inferences being drawn due to fundamental differences between these ships and their dreadnought archetypes.
+
''Queen Mary'' differed from her sisters by mimicking ''King George V'' whereas ''Lion'' and ''Princess Royal'' were likened to ''Orion''.<ref>''Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914'', p. 8.</ref>  The control arrangements were likely as follows, with some inferences being drawn due to fundamental differences between these ships and their dreadnought archetypes.
  
 
====Control Positions====
 
====Control Positions====
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* 'Q' turret ('X' turret for ''Queen Mary'')
 
* 'Q' turret ('X' turret for ''Queen Mary'')
  
Some ships had C.O.S.s within the control positions so they could be connected to either TS<ref>''Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914'', p. 7.</ref>. It is not clear if this applied to ''Lion'' and ''Princess Royal''.
+
Some ships had C.O.S.s within the control positions so they could be connected to either TS.<ref>''Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914'', p. 7.</ref>  It is not clear if this applied to ''Lion'' and ''Princess Royal''.
  
 
====Control Groups====
 
====Control Groups====
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====Main Battery====
 
====Main Battery====
  
At some point, the ships were fitted with a cam-type tripod-mounted director in a light aloft tower on the foremast along with a directing gun (in 'Y' turret?)<ref>''The Director Firing Handbook, 1917''.  pp. 88, 142.</ref>. The battery was divisible into forward ('A' & 'B') and aft ('Q' & 'Y') groups, and a [[C.O.S.]] in the [[TS]] allowed the following modes of control<ref>''The Director Firing Handbook, 1917''.  p. 88.</ref>:
+
At some point, the ships were fitted with a cam-type tripod-mounted director in a light aloft tower on the foremast along with a directing gun (in 'Y' turret?).<ref>''The Director Firing Handbook, 1917''.  pp. 88, 142.</ref>  The battery was divisible into forward ('A' & 'B') and aft ('Q' & 'Y') groups, and a [[C.O.S.]] in the [[TS]] allowed the following modes of control:<ref>''The Director Firing Handbook, 1917''.  p. 88.</ref>
 
* All turrets on aloft director
 
* All turrets on aloft director
 
* All turrets on directing gun
 
* All turrets on directing gun
 
* Forward group on aloft, aft group on directing gun
 
* Forward group on aloft, aft group on directing gun
  
By 1917, ''Lion'' and ''Princess Royal'' were awaiting fitting of a second tripod-type director aft, at which time they would have been fitted with a 5-way C.O.S., possibly in the manner<ref>''The Director Firing Handbook, 1917''.  p. 88.</ref>:
+
By 1917, ''Lion'' and ''Princess Royal'' were awaiting fitting of a second tripod-type director aft, at which time they would have been fitted with a 5-way C.O.S., possibly in the manner:<ref>''The Director Firing Handbook, 1917''.  p. 88.</ref>
 
* All turrets on forward aloft director
 
* All turrets on forward aloft director
 
* All turrets on aft director
 
* All turrets on aft director
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====Secondary Battery====
 
====Secondary Battery====
  
The 4-in broadside guns are not listed as ever having had directors installed<ref>''The Director Firing Handbook, 1917''.  pp. 143.</ref>.
+
The 4-in broadside guns are not listed as ever having had directors installed.<ref>''The Director Firing Handbook, 1917''.  pp. 143.</ref>
  
 
===Torpedo Control===
 
===Torpedo Control===
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===Dreyer Table===
 
===Dreyer Table===
  
At the [[Battle of Jutland]], ''Lion'' and ''Princess Royal'' carried Mark III Dreyer tables<ref>Sumida, Jon. ''In Defence of Naval Supremacy'', p. 300.</ref> they were completed with<ref>Brooks, John. ''Dreadnought Gunnery and the Battle of Jutland'', p. 8.</ref>, while ''Queen Mary'' was using a Mark II Dreyer table when she was destroyed<ref>Sumida, Jon.  ''In Defence of Naval Supremacy'', p. 252.</ref><ref>Brooks, John. ''Dreadnought Gunnery and the Battle of Jutland'', p. 166.</ref>.
+
At the [[Battle of Jutland]], ''Lion'' and ''Princess Royal'' carried the [[Mark III Dreyer Table]]s<ref>Sumida, Jon. ''In Defence of Naval Supremacy'', p. 300.</ref> they were completed with,<ref>Brooks, John. ''Dreadnought Gunnery and the Battle of Jutland'', p. 8.</ref> while ''Queen Mary'' was using a [[Mark II Dreyer Table]] when she was destroyed.<ref>Sumida, Jon.  ''In Defence of Naval Supremacy'', p. 252.</ref><ref>Brooks, John. ''Dreadnought Gunnery and the Battle of Jutland'', p. 166.</ref>
  
Sometime prior to 1919, ''Lion'' and ''Princess Royal'' had been upgraded to Mark IV* Dreyer tables, but had no Turret Control Tables<ref>''Handbook of Capt. F.C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables'', p. 3.</ref>.
+
Sometime prior to 1919, ''Lion'' and ''Princess Royal'' had been upgraded to [[Mark IV* Dreyer Table]]s, but had no [[Dreyer Turret Control Table]]s.<ref>''Handbook of Capt. F.C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables'', p. 3.</ref>
  
===Shipwide Network===
+
===Fire Control Instruments===
  
[[Vickers]] [[F.T.P.]] Mark III instruments sent range and deflection data to gun sights, and [[Barr and Stroud]] (probably Mark II*{{INF}}) instruments used elsewhere<ref>''Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914'', pp. 72.</ref>.
+
[[Vickers]] [[F.T.P.]] Mark III instruments sent range and deflection data to gun sights, and [[Barr and Stroud]] (probably Mark II*{{INF}}) instruments used elsewhere.<ref>''Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914'', pp. 72.</ref>
  
''Gun Ready'' signals mounted in the TS(s) and control positions indicated which which guns were ready<ref>''Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914'', p. 11.</ref>.
+
''Gun Ready'' signals mounted in the TS(s) and control positions indicated which which guns were ready.<ref>''Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914'', p. 11.</ref>
  
''Lion'' and ''Princess Royal'' also had ''Target Visible'' signals mounted in their TSs and control positions to indicated which turrets could see the target.  ''Queen Mary'' and later ships lacked this equipment<ref>''Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914'', p. 11.</ref>.
+
''Lion'' and ''Princess Royal'' also had ''Target Visible'' signals mounted in their TSes and control positions to indicated which turrets could see the target.  ''Queen Mary'' and later ships lacked this equipment.<ref>''Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914'', p. 11.</ref>
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
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==Footnotes==
 
==Footnotes==
<small>
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{{reflist}}
<references/>
+
</small>
+
  
 
==Bibliography==
 
==Bibliography==
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{{BibUKJutlandOfficialDespatches}}
 
{{BibUKJutlandOfficialDespatches}}
 
</small>
 
</small>
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 +
[[Category:Ship Class|Lion Class (1910), HMS]]
  
 
{{Template:Lion Class (1910)}}
 
{{Template:Lion Class (1910)}}
 
[[Category:Ship Class|Lion Class (1910), HMS]]
 

Revision as of 13:30, 22 September 2009

Fire Control

Rangefinders

Evershed Bearing Indicators

All units were likely fitted with this equipment by late 1914.[1]

The transmitting positions were

  • Gun control tower
  • Conning tower (transmitters to port and starboard with a local switch to select one in use)
  • 'B' turret
  • 'Q' turret ('X' turret for Queen Mary)

The protocols for how her crew should handle wooding of the turrets was outlined in the Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914.[2]

Gunnery Control

Queen Mary differed from her sisters by mimicking King George V whereas Lion and Princess Royal were likened to Orion.[3] The control arrangements were likely as follows, with some inferences being drawn due to fundamental differences between these ships and their dreadnought archetypes.

Control Positions

  • Control top (for Lion and Princess Royal)
  • Gun control tower
  • 'B' turret
  • 'Q' turret ('X' turret for Queen Mary)

Some ships had C.O.S.s within the control positions so they could be connected to either TS.[4] It is not clear if this applied to Lion and Princess Royal.

Control Groups

The four 13.5-in turrets were separate groups, each with a local C.O.S. so that it could be connected to

  • Forward TS
  • After TS
  • Local control from officer's position within turret

Directors

Main Battery

At some point, the ships were fitted with a cam-type tripod-mounted director in a light aloft tower on the foremast along with a directing gun (in 'Y' turret?).[5] The battery was divisible into forward ('A' & 'B') and aft ('Q' & 'Y') groups, and a C.O.S. in the TS allowed the following modes of control:[6]

  • All turrets on aloft director
  • All turrets on directing gun
  • Forward group on aloft, aft group on directing gun

By 1917, Lion and Princess Royal were awaiting fitting of a second tripod-type director aft, at which time they would have been fitted with a 5-way C.O.S., possibly in the manner:[7]

  • All turrets on forward aloft director
  • All turrets on aft director
  • All turrets on directing gun
  • Forward group on forward director, aft group on aft director
  • Forward group on forward director, aft group on directing gun

Secondary Battery

The 4-in broadside guns are not listed as ever having had directors installed.[8]

Torpedo Control

Transmitting Stations

Like most previous large British ships of the era, Lion and Princess Royal[9] had 2 TSs, but Queen Mary established the new pattern of using a single TS[10].

Dreyer Table

At the Battle of Jutland, Lion and Princess Royal carried the Mark III Dreyer Tables[11] they were completed with,[12] while Queen Mary was using a Mark II Dreyer Table when she was destroyed.[13][14]

Sometime prior to 1919, Lion and Princess Royal had been upgraded to Mark IV* Dreyer Tables, but had no Dreyer Turret Control Tables.[15]

Fire Control Instruments

Vickers F.T.P. Mark III instruments sent range and deflection data to gun sights, and Barr and Stroud (probably Mark II*[Inference]) instruments used elsewhere.[16]

Gun Ready signals mounted in the TS(s) and control positions indicated which which guns were ready.[17]

Lion and Princess Royal also had Target Visible signals mounted in their TSes and control positions to indicated which turrets could see the target. Queen Mary and later ships lacked this equipment.[18]

See Also

Footnotes

  1. Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914, p. 37.
  2. Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914, p. 37.
  3. Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914, p. 8.
  4. Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914, p. 7.
  5. The Director Firing Handbook, 1917. pp. 88, 142.
  6. The Director Firing Handbook, 1917. p. 88.
  7. The Director Firing Handbook, 1917. p. 88.
  8. The Director Firing Handbook, 1917. pp. 143.
  9. Admiralty. Battle of Jutland: Official Despatches, p. 387.
  10. Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914, pp. 6-7.
  11. Sumida, Jon. In Defence of Naval Supremacy, p. 300.
  12. Brooks, John. Dreadnought Gunnery and the Battle of Jutland, p. 8.
  13. Sumida, Jon. In Defence of Naval Supremacy, p. 252.
  14. Brooks, John. Dreadnought Gunnery and the Battle of Jutland, p. 166.
  15. Handbook of Capt. F.C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables, p. 3.
  16. Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914, pp. 72.
  17. Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914, p. 11.
  18. Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914, p. 11.

Bibliography

Template:BibUKDirectorFiringHandbook1917 Template:BibUKDreyerTableHandbook1918 Template:BibSumidaIDNS Template:BibBrooksDreadnoughtGunnery Template:BibUKJutlandOfficialDespatches Template:Lion Class (1910)