List of pre-dreadnought battleships of the Royal Navy

Ships of the Royal Navy

A – B – C – D – E – F – G
H – I – J – K – L – M – N
O – P – Q – R – S – T – U
V – W – X – Y – Z

fleet aircraft carriers
escort aircraft carriers
seaplane carriers
amphibious assault shipping
battlecruisers
dreadnought battleships
pre-dreadnought battleships
ironclads
bomb vessels
corvettes and sloops
cruisers
destroyers
fireships
frigates
gun-brigs, gunboats & gunvessels
mine countermeasure vessels
monitors
patrol and attack craft
royal yachts
ships of the line
submarines
support ships
survey vessels
shore establishments
hospitals and hospital ships
air stations
aircraft wings
fleets and major commands
squadrons and flotillas
early English ships • early Scots ships

This is a list of the pre-Dreadnought battleships of the Royal Navy and covers the ships between the monitors and the launching of HMS Dreadnought in 1906.

Contents

Key

Main guns The number and type of the main battery guns
Displacement Ship displacement at full combat load
Propulsion Number of shafts, type of propulsion system, and top speed generated
Service The dates work began and finished on the ship and its ultimate fate
Laid down The date the keel began to be assembled
Commissioned The date the ship was commissioned

Admiral class

Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Service
Laid down Commissioned Fate
HMS Collingwood 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 9,500 long tons (9,700 t)[1] 2 × shafts
2 x steam engines
12 July 1880 Sold for scrap 11 May 1909[1]
HMS Rodney 4 x 13.5 in (34 cm) 10,300 long tons (10,500 t)[1] 2 × shafts
2 x steam engines
6 February 1882 Sold for break up 16 June 1909[1]
HMS Howe 4 x 13.5 in (34 cm) 10,300 long tons (10,500 t)[1] 2 × shafts
2 x steam engines
7 June 1882 Sold for scrap 10 November 1910[1]
HMS Camperdown 4 x 13.5 in (34 cm) 10,600 long tons (10,800 t)[1] 2 × shafts
2 x steam engines
18 December 1882 Sold for scrap 11 July 1911[1]
HMS Anson 4 x 13.5 in (34 cm) 10,600 long tons (10,800 t)[1] 2 × shafts
2 x steam engines
Sold for break up 13 July 1909[1]
HMS Benbow 4 x 16.25 in (41.3 cm) 10,600 long tons (10,800 t)[1] 2 × shafts
2 x steam engines
1 November 1882 Sold for break up 13 July 1909[1]

Victoria class


Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Service
Laid down Commissioned Fate
HMS Victoria 2 x 16.5 in (42 cm)
1 x 10 in (25 cm)
11,020 long tons (11,200 t) 2 × shafts
2 x triple expansion engines
13 June 1885 March 1890 Accidentally rammed and sunk, 22 June 1893
HMS Sans Pareil 2 x 16.5 in (42 cm)
1 x 10 in (25 cm)
10,470 long tons (10,640 t)[1] 2 × shafts
2 x triple expansion engines
21 April 1885 8 July 1891 Sold for break up 9 April 1907[1]

Trafalgar class


Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Service
Laid down Commissioned Fate
HMS Trafalgar 4 x 13.5 in (34 cm) 12,590 long tons (12,790 t)[1] 2 x shafts
18 January 1886 2 April 1890 Sold for break up 9 March 1911[1]
HMS Nile 4 x 13.5 in (34 cm) 12,590 long tons (12,790 t)[1] 2 x shafts
8 April 1886 30 June 1891 Sold for break up 9 July 1912[1]

Royal Sovereign class


Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Service
Laid down Commissioned Fate
HMS Royal Sovereign 4 x 13.5 in (34 cm) 14,150 long tons (14,380 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 x coal-fired steam engines
8 x boilers
30 September 1889 31 May 1892 Sold for break up 7 October 1913[1]
HMS Empress of India 4 x 13.5 in (34 cm) 14,150 long tons (14,380 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 x coal-fired steam engines
8 x boilers
9 July 1889 11 September 1893 Sunk as target 4 November 1913[1]
HMS Repulse 4 x 13.5 in (34 cm) 14,150 long tons (14,380 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 x coal-fired steam engines
8 x boilers
1 January 1890 25 April 1894 Sold for break up 27 July 1911[1]
HMS Ramillies 4 x 13.5 in (34 cm) 14,150 long tons (14,380 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 x coal-fired steam engines
8 x boilers
11 August 1890 17 October 1893 Sold for break up 7 October 1913[1]
HMS Resolution 4 x 13.5 in (34 cm) 14,150 long tons (14,380 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 x coal-fired steam engines
8 x boilers
14 June 1890 5 December 1893 Sold for break up 2 April 1914[1]
HMS Revenge
renamed HMS Redoubtable in 1913[1]
4 x 13.5 in (34 cm) 14,150 long tons (14,380 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 x coal-fired steam engines
8 x boilers
12 February 1891 March 1894 Sold for break up 16 November 1919[1]
HMS Royal Oak 4 x 13.5 in (34 cm) 14,150 long tons (14,380 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 x coal-fired steam engines
8 x boilers
29 May 1890 14 January 1896 Sold for break up 14 January 1914[1]
HMS Hood 4 x 13.5 in (34 cm) 14,150 long tons (14,380 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 x coal-fired steam engines
8 x boilers
17 August 1889 1 June 1893 Sunk as a blockship 4 November 1914[1]

Centurion class


Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Service
Laid down Commissioned Fate
HMS  Centurion 4 x 10 in (25 cm) 10,500 long tons (10,700 t)[1] 2 x shafts
triple expansion steam engines
8 x boilers
30 March 1890 14 February 1894 Sold for scrap 12 July 1910
[1]
HMS Barfleur 4 x 10 in (25 cm) 10,500 long tons (10,700 t)[1] 2 x shafts
triple expansion steam engines
8 x boilers
12 October 1890 22 June 1894 Sold for scrap 12 July 1910
[1]
HMS Renown 4 x 10 in (25 cm) 12,390 long tons (12,590 t)[1] 2 x shafts
triple expansion steam engines

8 x boilers
1 February 1893 January 1897 Sold for scrap 2 April 1914
[2]

Majestic class


Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Service
Laid down Commissioned Fate
HMS Magnificent 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 14,820 long tons (15,060 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 x oil and coal, triple expansion steam engines
8 x water tube boilers
18 December 1893 12 December 1895 Sold for scrap 9 May 1921[1]
HMS Majestic 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 14,820 long tons (15,060 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 x oil and coal, triple expansion steam engines
8 x water tube boilers
5 February 1894 12 December 1895 Torpedoed and sunk 27 May 1915[1]
HMS Prince George 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 14,820 long tons (15,060 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 x oil and coal, triple expansion steam engines
8 x water tube boilers
10 September 1894
[3]
26 November 1896
[3]
Sold for scrap 21 September 1921[1]
HMS Victorious 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 14,820 long tons (15,060 t)[1] 2 x shafts
oil and coal, triple expansion steam engines
8 x water tube boilers
28 May 1894
[3]
4 November 1896
[4]
Sold for scrap 9 April 1923
[4]
HMS Jupiter 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 14,820 long tons (15,060 t)[1] 2 x shafts
oil and coal, triple expansion steam engines
8 x water tube boilers
26 April 1894[3] 8 June 1897[3] Sold for scrap 15 January 1920[5]
HMS Mars 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 14,820 long tons (15,060 t)[1] 2 x shafts
oil and coal, triple expansion steam engines
8 x water tube boilers
2 June 1894[3] 8 June 1897[6] Sold for scrap 9 May 1921[1]
HMS Hannibal 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 14,820 long tons (15,060 t)[1] 2 x shafts
oil and coal, triple expansion steam engines
8 x water tube boilers
1 May 1895 April 1898[5] Sold for scrap 28 January 1920[5]
HMS Caesar 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 14,820 long tons (15,060 t)[1] 2 x shafts
oil and coal, triple expansion steam engines
8 x water tube boilers
25 March 1895 13 January 1898[7] Sold for scrap 8 November 1921[6]
HMS Illustrious 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 14,820 long tons (15,060 t)[1] 2 x shafts
oil and coal, triple expansion steam engines
8 x water tube boilers
11 March 1895[3] 15 April 1898[5] Sold for scrap 18 June 1920[5]

Canopus class


Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Service
Laid down Commissioned Fate
HMS Canopus 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 13,150 long tons (13,360 t)[1] 2 x shafts
1 x vertical triple expansion steam engines, water-tube boilers
4 January 1897 5 December 1899 Sold for scrap 18 February 1920[1]
HMS Goliath 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 13,150 long tons (13,360 t)[1] 2 x shafts
1 x vertical triple expansion steam engines, water-tube boilers
4 January 1897 27 March 1900 Torpedoed and sunk, 13 May 1915[1]
HMS Albion 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 13,150 long tons (13,360 t)[1] 2 x shafts
1 x vertical triple expansion steam engines, water-tube boilers
3 December 1896 25 June 1901 Sold for scrap 11 December 1919[1]
HMS Ocean 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 13,150 long tons (13,360 t)[1] 2 x shafts
1 x vertical triple expansion steam engines, water-tube boilers
15 February 1897 20 February 1900 Sunk by mine, 18 March 1915[1]
HMS Glory 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 13,150 long tons (13,360 t)[1] 2 x shafts
1 x vertical triple expansion steam engines, water-tube boilers
1 December 1896 1 November 1900 Sold for scrap 19 December 1922[1]
HMS Vengeance 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 13,150 long tons (13,360 t)[1] 2 x shafts
1 x vertical triple expansion steam engines, water-tube boilers
23 August 1898 8 April 1902 Sold for scrap 1 December 1921[1]

Formidable class


Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Service
Laid down Commissioned Fate
HMS Formidable 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 14,500 long tons (14,700 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 × steam engines, water-tube boilers
21 March 1898 10 October 1904 Torpedoed and sunk, 1 January 1915[1]
HMS Irresistible 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 14,500 long tons (14,700 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 × steam engines, water-tube boilers
11 April 1898 4 February 1902 Sunk by mine, 18 March 1915[1]
HMS Implacable 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 14,500 long tons (14,700 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 × steam engines, water-tube boilers
13 July 1898 10 September 1901 Sold for scrap 8 November 1921[1]
HMS London 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 14,500 long tons (14,700 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 × steam engines, water-tube boilers
8 December 1898 7 June 1902 Sold for scrap 4 June 1920[1]
HMS Bulwark 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 14,500 long tons (14,700 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 × steam engines, water-tube boilers
20 March 1899 11 March 1902 Blown up 26 November 1914[1]
HMS Venerable 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 14,500 long tons (14,700 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 × steam engines, water-tube boilers
2 January 1899 12 November 1902 Sold for scrap 4 June 1920[1]
HMS Queen 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 14,500 long tons (14,700 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 × steam engines, water-tube boilers
12 March 1901 7 April 1904 Sold for scrap 4 September 1920[1]
HMS Prince of Wales 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 14,500 long tons (14,700 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 × steam engines, water-tube boilers
20 March 1901 18 May 1904 Sold for scrap 12 April 1920[1]

Duncan class


Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Service
Laid down Commissioned Fate
HMS Russell 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 13,270 long tons (13,480 t)[1] 2 x shafts
24 x boilers[8]
11 March 1899 19 February 1903 Sunk by mine 27 March 1916[1]
HMS Albemarle 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 13,440 long tons (13,660 t)[8] 2 x shafts
24 x boilers[8]
8 January 1900 12 November 1903 Sold for scrap 19 November 1919[1]
HMS Montagu 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 13,420 long tons (13,640 t)[1] 2 x shafts
24 x boilers[8]
23 November 1899 28 July 1903 Wrecked on 30 May 1906[1]
HMS Duncan 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 13,640 long tons (13,860 t)[1] 2 x shafts
24 x boilers[8]
10 July 1899 8 October 1903 Sold for scrap up 18 February 1920[1]
HMS Cornwallis 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 13,745 long tons (13,966 t)[1] 2 x shafts
24 x boilers[8]
19 July 1899 9 February 1904 Torpedoed and sunk 9 January 1917[1]
HMS Exmouth 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 13,500 long tons (13,700 t)[1] 2 x shafts
24 x boilers[8]
10 August 1899 2 June 1903 Sold for scrap 15 February 1920[1]

King Edward VII class


Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Service
Laid down Commissioned Fate
HMS King Edward VII 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 15,630 long tons (15,880 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 × steam engines
10 x boilers[9]
8 March 1902 7 February 1905 Sunk by mine 6 January 1916[1]
HMS Commonwealth 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 15,610 long tons (15,860 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 × steam engines
16 x boilers
17 June 1902 9 May 1905 Sold for scrap 18 November 1921[1]
HMS Dominion 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 16,350 long tons (16,610 t) 2 x shafts
2 × steam engines
16 x boiler
23 May 1902 15 August 1905 Sold for break up 9 May 1921[1]
HMS Hindustan 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 15,645 long tons (15,896 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 × steam engines
16 x boilers
25 October 1902 22 August 1905 Sold for scrap 9 May 1921[1]
HMS New Zealand
renamed Zealandia 1911[1]
4 x 12 in (30 cm) 15,585 long tons (15,835 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 × steam engines
16 x boilers
9 February 1903 11 July 1905 Sold for scrap 8 November 1921[1]
HMS Britannia 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 15,810 long tons (16,060 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 × steam engines
18 x boilers[10]
4 February 1902 8 September 1906 Torpedoed and sunk 9 November 1918[1]
HMS Africa 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 15,740 long tons (15,990 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 × steam engines
15 x boilers[9]
27 January 1904 6 November 1906 Sold for scrap 30 June 1920[1]
HMS Hibernia 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 15,745 long tons (15,998 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 × steam engines
16 x boiler [9]
6 January 1904 2 January 1907 Sold for scrap 8 November 1921[1]

Swiftsure class


Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Service
Laid down Commissioned Fate
HMS Swiftsure 4 x 10 in (25 cm) 11,800 long tons (12,000 t)[1] 2 x shafts
3 x steam engines
12 x boilers[11]
26 February 1902 21 June 1904 Sold for scrap 18 June 1920[1]
HMS Triumph 4 x 10 in (25 cm) 11,985 long tons (12,177 t)[1] 2 x shafts
3 x steam engines
12 x boilers[11]
26 February 1902 21 June 1904 Torpedoed and sunk 25 May 1915[1]

Lord Nelson class


Ship Main guns Displacement Propulsion Service
Laid down Commissioned Fate
HMS Lord Nelson 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 16,090 long tons (16,350 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 x steam engines
15 x boilers
18 May 1905 1 December 1908 Sold for scrap 4 June 1920[1]
HMS Agamemnon 4 x 12 in (30 cm) 15,925 long tons (16,181 t)[1] 2 x shafts
2 x steam engines
15 x boilers
15 May 1905 25 June 1908 Sold for scrap 24 January 1927[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl Gardiner (1985), p.6.
  2. ^ Burt (1988), p. 110
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Burt (1988), p.114.
  4. ^ a b Burt (1988), p.136.
  5. ^ a b c d e Burt (1988), p.134.
  6. ^ a b Burt (1988), p.133.
  7. ^ Burt (1988), p.132.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Gardiner (1979), p. 37.
  9. ^ a b c Gardiner (1979), p.38.
  10. ^ Burt (1988), p.232.
  11. ^ a b Gardiner (1979), p.39.
  • Addington, Larry H. (1994). The Patterns of War Since the Eighteenth Century. Indiana: Indiana University Press. ISBN 0253208602. 
  • Archibald, E.H.H (1971). The Metal Fighting Ship in the Royal Navy 1860-1970. London: Blandford Press. ISBN 0713705515. 
  • Brown, David (1972). Carrier Air Groups: HMS Eagle:Volume 1. Windsor, UK: Hylton Lacy. ISBN 850641039. 
  • Burt, R. A. (1988). British Battleships 1889-1904. Annapolis, Maryland:: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0870210610. 
  • Friedman, Norman (1985). U.S. Battleships. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0870217151. 
  • Gardiner, Robert; Randal, Gray; Przemyslaw, Budzbon. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1906-1921, Conway's Naval History after 1850 Series. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0851772455. 
  • Gardiner, Robert (1979). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1860-1905. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 087021912X. 
  • Gardiner, Robert; Lambert, Andrew (2001). Steam, Steel and Shellfire: The Steam Warship 1815–1905-Conway's History of the Ship. Edison, New Jersey: Book Sales. ISBN 9780785814139. 
  • Ireland, Bernard (1997). Jane's War at Sea, 1897-1997. London: Harper Collins. ISBN 0004720652. 
  • Keegan, John (1999). The First World War. London: Pimlico. ISBN 0712666451. 
  • Kennedy, Paul M. (1983). The Rise and Fall of British Naval Mastery. London: Penguin. ISBN 0333350944. 
  • Maiolo, Joseph A (1998). The Royal Navy and Nazi Germany, 1933-39: a Study in Appeasement and the Origins of the Second World War. Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 0312214561. 
  • Parkinson, Roger (2008). The late Victorian Navy: the Pre-Dreadnought Era and the Origins of the First World War. Woodbridge, Suffolk: Boydell Press. ISBN 1843833727. 
  • Purnell's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Modern Weapons and Warfare (Part work 1978-1979). London: Phoebus. 
  • Roberts, John (1989). Warship, Volume 3. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0851772048. 
  • Sandler, Stanley (2004). Battleships: an Illustrated History of their Impact. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 1851094105. 
  • Sondhaus, Lawrence (2001). Naval warfare, 1815-1914, Volume 2000, Warfare and History. New York: Routledge. ISBN 041521478. 
  • Sumrall, Robert (1973). The Battleship and Battlecruiser. London: Conway Maritime. ISBN 0851776078. 
  • Konstam, Angus; Wright, Paul (2009). British Battleships 1939-45 1: Queen Elizabeth and Royal Sovereign Classes, Volume 154 of New Vanguard. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1846033888.