H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth (1913)

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H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth (1913)
Pendant Number: 10 (Aug 1914)
97 (Jan 1918)
00 (Apr 1918)[1]
Builder: Portsmouth Royal Dockyard[2]
Ordered: 1912 Programme[3]
Laid down: 21 Oct, 1912[4]
Launched: 16 Oct, 1913[5]
Commissioned: 22 Dec, 1914
Sold: 19 Mar, 1948[6]
Fate: Scrapped

Service

Queen Elizabeth joined the Grand Fleet at Scapa on 26 May, 1915.[7] When at sea with the fleet she was attached to Benbow's division in the Fourth Battle Squadron.[8][9]

Re-commissioned 24 September, 1924 for service as flagship of the First Battle Squadron in the Mediterranean.[10]

Paid off into Dockyard Control on 14 June, 1926.[11]

The ship was commissioned at Portsmouth on 20 September 1927.[12]

She was re-commissioned at Portsmouth on 7 May, 1930.[13]

Queen Elizabeth was re-commissioned at Plymouth on 7 February, 1933 for service with the First Battle Squadron in the Mediterranean.[14]

Re-commissioned on 12 May, 1936.[15]

Myths and Rumours

According to R. L. B. Cunliffe, on her Quarter-Deck Queen Elizabeth had a highly-polished coal shovel, beneath which was the caption: "Lest we forget."

In 1917 Queen Elizabeth carried a Sopwith 1½ Strutter aircraft, number A-6006.

Boats

In July 1914, the ship was appropriated 42-foot motor launch No. 248, though the boat was not yet delivered from the contractor.[16]

Fire Control Systems

Rangefinders

Owing to her use as a flagship, by some point Queen Elizabeth had a 9-foot rangefinder for the admiral's use on the bridge. When, late in the war, it was desired to provide an effective additional 9-foot instrument for torpedo control purposes, Queen Elizabeth was to skip getting one on the assumption this instrument would be available for the task on most occasions.[17]

Directors and Gun Groups

Main Battery

Secondary Battery

Unlike her sisters which had pedestal-mounted directors for their secondaries, Queen Elizabeth's 6-in guns were supported by a pair of tripod-mounted directors[18] situated port and starboard high on her forward superstructure[19].

The broadside-mounted secondary guns were in port and starboard groups, and either were laid and fired locally or under the control of the director on their side.

Torpedo Control

In 1919, she was selected to receive one of the first six Renouf Torpedo Tactical Instrument Type Bs and one of the first nine Renouf Torpedo Tactical Instrument Type Fs manufactured by Elliott Brothers.[20]

Transmitting Stations

Dreyer Table

Though Queen Elizabeth eventually was listed as having a Mark IV* table like her sisters, it is possible that she was originally given a Mark IV Dreyer table which was later upgraded to the Mark IV* standard[21].

Alterations

Queen Elizabeth received a director sometime after the war started but prior to May, 1915.[22]

In March, 1915, Open Director Sights were ordered for all[Inference] her turrets. It is uncertain when they were installed, but it was likely before January, 1917.[23]

By the end of 1915, she (along with Warspite) had been equipped with a Torpedo Control Plotting Instrument Mark II in her TCT.[24]

She received a temporary director system for her secondary battery in November-December, 1916 which was replaced by a proper one in March, 1917.[25]

At some point, she and her sisters were also outfitted with Turret Control Tables, although there is no indication whether this was 1 table per ship, or 2 in the controlling turrets, or one in all four turrets.[26]

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

See Also

Footnotes

  1. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 34.
  2. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 34.
  3. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 33.
  4. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 33.
  5. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 34.
  6. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 34.
  7. Add MS 48998. f. 114.
  8. Add MS 48998. f. 125.
  9. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (June, 1918). p. 10.
  10. The Navy List. (April, 1925). pp. 260, 261.
  11. The Navy List. (July, 1927). p. 261.
  12. The Navy List. (February, 1929). p. 261.
  13. The Navy List. (July, 1931). p. 262.
  14. The Navy List. (October, 1935). p. 263.
  15. The Navy List. (July, 1937). p. 265.
  16. Admiralty Weekly Order No. 122 of 10 July, 1914.
  17. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1918. p. 177.
  18. The Director Firing Handbook. p. 143.
  19. The Director Firing Handbook. p. 91.
  20. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1919. pp. 118, 119.
  21. Handbook of Captain F. C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables, 1918. p. 3.
  22. The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 23. pp. 9-10.
  23. The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 23. p. 18.
  24. Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916. p. 38.
  25. The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 23. p. 16.
  26. Handbook of Captain F. C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables, 1918. p. 3.
  27. Hope Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 44.
  28. Hope Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 23/44.
  29. Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  30. Date inferred from departure of predecessor. Hope Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 23/44.
  31. Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
  32. Chatfield Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 346.
  33. The Navy List. (August, 1919). p. 888.
  34. Best Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 430.
  35. Best Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 430.
  36. Blake Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 349.
  37. Blake Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/47. f. 349.
  38. Forbes Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/90. f. 130.
  39. Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  40. Rose Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/14. f. 14.
  41. Rose Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/14. f. 14.
  42. Chetwode Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 228.
  43. Chetwode Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 228.
  44. Walwyn Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45/24. f. 24.
  45. Kekewich Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/340. f. 343.
  46. Kekewich Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/51/340. f. 343.
  47. Monroe Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 438.
  48. Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  49. James Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 32.
  50. Egerton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46. f. 106.
  51. Egerton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46. f. 106.
  52. The Navy List. (July, 1934). p. 263.
  53. Startin Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/105. f. 107.
  54. The Navy List. (July, 1937). p. 264.
  55. Startin Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/105. f. 107.
  56. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  57. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  58. Barry Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/53. f. 150.
  59. Barry Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/53. f. 150.
  60. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  61. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  62. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  63. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  64. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  65. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  66. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  67. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  68. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  69. Uboat.net page on the ship.
  70. Uboat.net page on the man.
  71. Uboat.net page on the man.

Bibliography

  • 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.
  • Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. London: Ian Allan.
  • Admiralty, Technical History Section (1919). The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in H.M. Ships. Vol. 3, Part 23. C.B. 1515 (23) now O.U. 6171/14. At The National Archives. ADM 275/19.
  • 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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