HMS Lord Nelson
Built Palmer, Jarrow, laid down May 1905, completed October 1908, cost £1,651,339.
HMS Agamemnon
Built Beardmore, laid down May 1905, completed June 1908, cost £1,652,347.
Size:
Length 435 feet waterline 443 feet 6 inches overall, beam 79 feet 6 inches, draught 30 feet, displacement 15,358
load 17,820 tons deep.
Propulsion:
2 shaft Triple Expansion, 16,750 ihp, 18kts
Trials:
Lord Nelson 17,526 ihp = 18.73 knots
Agamemnon 16,616 ihp = 18.61 knots
Armour:
12-8in belt, 12in barbettes, 12in gun houses, 4-1in decks
Armament:
4 x 12in 45 cal BL (2 x 2), 10 x 9.2 in BL (4 x 2, 2 x 1), 24 x 12pounder QF (24 x 1), 2 x 3pounder (2 x 1), 5 x 18in TT
Comments:
Designed to provide a considerable step forward in British battleship capabilities. The 9.2 inch guns were
increased in numbers to replace the 6 inch guns giving the class a very heavy secondary armament although spotting for
gunnery control of such a heavy secondary gun was not easy - one of the reasons for the 'all big gun' armament of
future battleships. Both the 12 inch and 9.2 inch guns were of new improved types and a much heavier anti-torpedo
boat armament was also carried. Protection was also substantially increased and subdivision and pumping arrangements
were improved. Crew 752.
World War 1 Service:
Lord Nelson
5th Battle Squadron Channel Fleet as flagship.
February 1915 transferred to Dardanelles.
19 February 1915 onwards involved in various attacks on forts and support of landings. Hit by artillery on
several occasions but no serious damage.
6 May brief engagement with battlecruiser Yavuz Sultan Selim (ex Goeben).
May-June 1915 refit at Malta.
2 December 1915 took part in destruction of Kavak Bridge.
January 1916 Eastern Mediterranean Squadron.
October 1918 refit at Malta.
November 1918 part of Allied squadron through the Dardanelles to Constantinople.
Sold for scrap 1920.
Agamemnon
5th Battle Squadron Channel Fleet.
February 1915 transferred to Dardanelles.
19 February 1915 onwards involved in various attacks on forts and support of landings. Hit by artillery on
several occasions but no serious damage.
May-June 1915 refit at Malta.
2 December 1915 took part in destruction of Kavak Bridge.
January 1916 Eastern Mediterranean Squadron.
5 May 1917 shot down Zeppelin L85.
30 October 1918 Ottoman Empire signed Armistice on board.
November 1918 led Allied squadron through the Dardanelles to Constantinople.
Sold for scrap 1927.
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