Queen Elizabeth Class Dreadnought Battleship

Queen Elizabeth Class.  The ships formed the 5th Battle squadron and were the subject of a tug of war between Jellicoe and Beatty over who should have the ships.  Jellicoe won but when Beatty replaced him as C-in-C of the Grand Fleet he made Queen Elizabeth the fleet flagship.

HMS Queen Elizabeth
Built Portsmouth Dockyard, laid down October 1912, completed January 1915, cost £3,014,103.

HMS Warspite
Built Devonport Dockyard, laid down October 1912, ,completed April 1915, cost £2,524,148.

HMS Barham
Built John Brown, laid down February 1913, completed October 1915, cost £2,470,113.

HMS Valiant
Built Fairfield, laid down January 1913, completed February 1916, cost £2,537,037.

HMS Malaya
Built Portsmouth Dockyard, laid down October 1913, completed February 1916, cost £2,945,709.

Size:
Length 634 feet  6 inches waterline 639 feet 9 inches overall, beam 90 8 inches feet, draught 33 feet, displacement 27,470 tons light 33,260 tons deep.

Propulsion:
4 shaft Parsons/Brown Curtis turbines, 56,000/75,000 (normal/overload) shp, 23/24 kts.

Armour:
13-6in belt, 10-4in barbettes, 13in turret faces, 3-2in decks.

Armament:
8 x 15in 45cal MK I (4 x 2), 14 x 6in (14 x 1), 4 x 3 pounder (4 x 1), 2 x 3in (2 x 1), 4 x 21in TT

Comments:
Manoeuvres and experience from the Russo-Japanese war indicated the advantages of being able to bring  heavy fire on the front on an enemy battle line.  These ships were designed to fulfil that role with a mix of high speed and heavy firepower along with battleship scale protection.   They introduced the 15inch gun and although carried two fewer weapons than previous ships had a greater broadside with greater penetration.  Protection was generally similar to the Iron Duke class although there was some re-distribution.  The anti-torpedo bulkhead was increased and now covered the full length from the forward magazine to the rear magazine.  In order to achieve the high speed (for a battleship) these were the first battleships to be oil fired.  Not only did this enable higher speeds but also produced less smoke, was easier to refuel, enabled better acceleration and increase range.  Crew 923.

World War 1 Service:
Queen Elizabeth
19 February 1915 arrived at the Dardanelles and saw action bombarding forts.  During which she was hit by shore batteries but no serious damage.
27 April 1915 fired on the former SMS Goeben overland using a kite balloon for spotting.
12 May sent home from Dardanelles owing to risk from submarines.
26 May arrived at Scapa flow and joined the 5th Battle Squadron.
Not present at Jutland as undergoing refit.
November 1916 - February 1917 refit at Newcastle to enable her to become Grand Fleet flagship for Admiral Sir David Beatty 
1948 sold for scrap.

Warspite
April 1915 2nd Battle Squadron Grand Fleet.
16 September grounded in the Forth.
24 November 1915 rejoined Grand Fleet after repairs as part of the 5th Battle Squadron.
3 December 1915 collision with HMS Barham.
Present at the Battle of Jutland 1916. Fired 259 15in rounds. Received 2 11 inch and 13 12 inch hits and sustained 14 killed and 32 injured.
23 July 1916 rejoined Grand Fleet after repairs
24 August 1916 collided with HMS Valiant and under repair until 29 September 1916.
1947 Sold for scrap.

Barham
October 1915 Grand Fleet joining 5th Battle Squadron in November.
3 December 1915 collision with HMS Warspite
1 January 1916 rejoined Grand Fleet after repairs.
Present at the Battle of Jutland 1916 as flagship of 5th BS. Fired 337 15in rounds. Received 1 11 inch and 5 12 inch hits and sustained 26 killed and 46 injured.
4 July 1916 rejoined Grand Fleet after repairs
27 May 1941 sunk by German submarine U331.

Valiant
January 1916 Grand Fleet 5th Battle Squadron.
Present at the Battle of Jutland 1916. Fired 288 15in rounds. Received splinter damage with 1 injured.
24 August 1916 collided with HMS Warspite and under repair until 18 September 1916.
1948 sold for scrap.

Malaya
Paid for as a gift by the Federated Malay States.
April 1916 Grand Fleet 5th Battle Squadron.
Present at the Battle of Jutland 1916. Fired 215 15in rounds. Received 7 12 inch hits and sustained 63 killed and 68 injured.
24 June 1916 rejoined Grand Fleet after repairs.
1948 sold for scrap.

HMS Queen Elizabeth.  They were designed for a top speed of 25 knots and although they never achieved this speed they were capable of 24 knots and as well as playing a prominent role in the Battle of Jutland they went on to see extensive service in World War 2.