From The Dreadnought Project

H.M.S. Dreadnought (1906) Pendant Number: 00 (1914)

56 (Jan 1918)

73 (Apr 1918)[1] Builder: Portsmouth Royal Dockyard[2] Ordered: 1905 Laid down: 2 Oct, 1905[3] Launched: 10 Feb, 1906[4] Commissioned: 2 Dec, 1906 Sold: 9 May, 1921[5] Fate: Broken up

H.M.S. Dreadnought was a British battleship of the Royal Navy whose design had a revolutionary impact on not only her own navy, but of many others.

The only member of her class, she was the first all-big-gun battleship to be laid down, launched, and commissioned. Her design also featured the novel elements of turbine propulsion and rendered all other battleships building or in service obsolescent, thus lending her name to an entire generation of all-big-gun warships: all which came after her were branded "Dreadnoughts", and all those before as "Pre-Dreadnoughts."

Construction

Extraordinary steps were taken to ensure a swift delivery time before construction even started. The hull had been designed to be as simple as possible while being able to withstand the shock of firing a broadside of eight guns. The variety of types of steel size was kept to a minimum and where possible the size of armour plating, in its various thicknesses, was standardised. As much materiel as possible was ordered in quantity and stockpiled in advance. By the time construction began, £12,217 had been spent on labour; £29,078 had been spent on materiel and 1,100 men had been engaged.[6]

Hitherto there has been some confusion as to whether 12-inch mountings ordered for Lord Nelson and Agamemnon were diverted to Dreadnought. The order for the turntables of Lord Nelson and Agamemnon were placed on 8 December, 1904. The companies concerned, Sir W. G. Armstong, Whitworth & Co., and Vickers, Sons, and Maxim, were ordered to proceed with turntables for Dreadnought on 6 January, 1905. At some point all 12-inch gun machinery started for the Lord Nelson class was appropriated to the Dreadnought, and the orders interchanged.[7]

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

Service

Bloomsbury Hoax

On 10 February, 1910 she attracted the attention of notorious hoaxer Horace de Vere Cole, who persuaded the Royal Navy to arrange for a party of Abyssinian royals to be given a tour of a ship at Weymouth. In reality, the "Abyssinian royals" were some of Cole's friends in blackface and disguise, including a young Virginia Woolf and her Bloomsbury Group friends; it became known as the Dreadnought hoax. Cole had picked Dreadnought because she was at that time the most prominent and visible symbol of Britain's naval might.

Pre war

On 27 July, 1910, soon after ascending to the throne, HM King George V visited Dreadnought at Torbay. For two days Dreadnought, under the command of Captain Herbert Richmond in company with the Commander-in-Chief William May went to sea on exercises.

In mid-1913, she was serving as flagship of Fourth Battle Squadron.[36]

War Service

On 19 March 1915, Dreadnought was still serving as part of the Fourth Battle Squadron and under the command of Captain Alderson when she rammed and sank U 29, which had fired torpedoes at the ships as they steamed back to Cromarty.[37]

Post-War

Dreadnought reduced to C. & M. Party at Rosyth on 31 March, 1920.[38]

Boats

In July 1914, the ship was appropriated 42-foot motor launch No. 258, though the boat was not yet delivered from the contractor.[39]

Navigational Equipment

The ship was one of seven which tested Willis and Robinson Electric Revolution Telegraphs. Testing was completed in late 1913.[40]

Performance

The ship was applauded for being easy to handle, almost like a destroyer, her design permitting easy visibility from the bridge. In turning trials, six runs were tried. The interpretation of "Distance in turning" is not clear.[41]

Run Speed

in knots Distance

in turning Time to turn

4 pts 1 17.72 359 yds 36.0 secs 2 14.8 268 yds 25.0 secs 3 10.9 156 yds 27.5 secs 4 9.02 165 yds 32.7 secs 5 8.9 175 yds 34.8 secs 6 7.71 169 yds 39.0 secs

Habitability

Lieutenant Lionel Dawson later recalled that Dreadnought "was a very uncomfortable ship." And:

The mess-decks were small and cramped, and, being aft, most inconvenient for the internal economy of the ship.



She was the first battleship in which the greater part of the officers' quarters were forward. It was by no means an unqualified advantage. Cabins were small and distributed all over the ship, wherever room could be found for them. My first cabin was in one of the mess-decks aft, and a horrible place it was to live in. From it one had to walk half the length of the ship to the officers' bathroom. My second was forward, all mixed up with the chain cables and a Diesel engine that provided an auxiliary supply light for the fore part of the ship when necessary, and whose vibrations made life in its vicinity very uncomfortable when it was running. There was a good wardroom forward—very light and airy, and on the upper deck; the Admiral's quarters, on the deck below, were also good.[42]

In late 1913, a study aboard Dreadnought of excessively low humidity in winter attributable to heating prompted an Admiralty Order that mess decks be kept no warmer than 60 degrees Fahrenheit, rather than the previous standard of 70 degrees. It was noted that American experiments with humidifying equipment had proven problematic.[43]

Radio

In 1908, the ship was one of just nine equipped with the "C" Tune Gear, capable of transmitting (only?) on "S", "U" and "W" tunes. It was to receive a Service Mark II set in 1909.[44]

At the end of 1909, she was to receive one of eleven Short Distance Radio Sets, to be installed at her next refit behind armour near the fore bridge, intended to supplant flag signaling.{ARTS1909|Wireless Appendix, p. 25}} In mid-1913, this gear was redesignated as Type 3.[45]

Armament

In early 1913, new pattern G. 329 trainer's telescopes of 2.5 power and 20 degree field were issued to these and many other capital ships, to replace the 5/12, 5/15 and 5/21 variable power G.S. telescopes that had previously been in use.[46]

Main Battery

The five turrets were labelled "A", "X", and "Y" on the centre line and "P" to port and "Q" to starboard.[47]

This section is sourced in The Sight Manual, 1916 except as otherwise cited.[48]

The ten 12-in guns were Mark X mounted in B VIII turrets designed by Vickers and tendered in July, 1905. "X" and "Y" mountings were built by Vickers at a cost of £69,860 per mounting. Armstrong constructed "A", "P" and "Q" mountings, at a tendered cost of £70,092.[49] The mountings could elevate between 13.5 degrees and 5 degrees depression.

The gun sights were gear-worked sights with telescopes (periscopes would not debut until St. Vincent) with a range gearing constant of 32 and limited to 15 degrees elevation, but 6 degree super-elevation prisms would have been provided by 1916.

The deflection gearing constant was 82.5 in the side positions and 82.66 in the centre, with 1 knot equalling 2.53 arc minutes, calculated as 2700 fps at 5000 yards. Range drums were provided for 2 CRH projectiles at full charge at 2650 fps, reduced charge at 2225 fps, as well as 12-pdr guns on the roof and 6-pdr sub-calibre guns and .303-in aiming rifles. By some time in 1916, dials and drums were on hand for 4 CRH heads.

Muzzle velocity was corrected by adjustable pointer between +/- 75 fps. The adjustable temperature scale plate could vary between 18 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit, and a "C" corrector could alter the ballistic coefficient between -10% and +15%.

Drift was corrected by inclining the sight bracket by 2 degrees and using 1 knot permanent left deflection when firing 4 CRH shells.

The side position sighting lines were 36 inches above and 41.35 inches abreast the bore, and the central scopes were 36.75 inches above and 42 inches abreast. The side sights had dials and were set from the side, and the central sights had drums and were set from the front. Oddly, the deflection dials were set without use of handwheels or gearing.

An arrow etched in her deflection dial at 1 knot right was inscribed, "Zero for sight testing."

The first shells provided were 2crh until 1915 or 1916 when 4crh shells were supplied. These later shells were more aerodynamically efficient and manufactured to tighter tolerances, yielding an increase in range from 16,450 to 18,850 yards and improving accuracy.[50]

The layout of guns offered an 8 gun broadside from 60 degrees before the beam to 50 degrees abaft, at which point it reduced to 6 guns aft and 4 guns forward.[51]

The hydraulic controls in training and elevation were no more agile than in preceding ships, and the inability to smoothly follow a point of aim obviated the goal of continuous aim for the fastest possible salvo firing. Dreadnought used two three-cylinder training engines controlled by a two-position lever for direction and a hand-wheel operated "creep valve" to control the speed of traversal. This clumsy control method was to be superseded by a hand wheel which controlled both functions. Dreadnought received this in a retrofit by November, 1909.[52]

Secondary Battery

The high velocity 12-pdr 18 cwt guns were mounted on P IV* mountings, similar to those in the Lord Nelson, King Edward VII and Minotaur classes.[53]

The mounting could elevate to 20 degrees and depress to 10 degrees, but though its sight could match the 20 degree elevation, the range dial was only graduated to 14.5 degrees (7,900 yards). This was fine, as there was limited fire control support provided for them and the weapons proved to have little effectiveness at the ranges where torpedo attack became deeply worrying.

The gear-worked sights were similar to the P IV type, but added a cross-connected trainer's sight. They had a range gearing contant of 54 and range dials for 2550 fps, 1962 fps, and 1-in and .303-in aiming rifles. The first series produced corrected for MV with detachable cams for 2600, 2575, 2550, 2525 and 2500 fps. The second series replaced these with an adjustable pointer for +/- 50 fps.

The deflection gearing constant was 63.38 with 1 knot equal to 2.96 arc minutes, corresponding to 2600 fps at 2000 yards. Drift was corrected by inclining the sight carrier arm 2 degrees.

The layer's and trainer's sight lines were 10 inches above the bore, and 10.25 inches abreast.

The sight lacked a "C" corrector. There do not seem to be temperature correctors or open sights.

The gun was worked by a crew of six and could fire about 20 rounds per minute.[54]

Torpedoes

Dreadnought carried five submerged 18-in tubes:[55]

two forward, depressed 1 degree and angled 15 degrees before the beam, axis of tube 11 foot 2 inches below load water line and 2 foot 5 inches above the deck.

two aft, depressed 1 degree and angled at 15 degrees abaft the beam; axis of tube 9 feet 9 inches below load water line and 2 foot 5 inches above the deck.

one in the stern, depressed 1 degree; axis of tube 8 feet 6 inches below load water line and 1 foot 9 inches above the deck.

In 1909, it was decided that Dreadnought should carry 10 heater torpedoes, distributed with six in the forward submerged flat, two in the aft, and two at the stern tube. The goal, when supplies were made good, was to have the ten heaters be Mark VI* H. or Mark VI** H..[56]

In 1913, it was approved as part of a general reallocation of 18-in torpedoes, to replace the Mark VI** H. or 18-in Mark VI*** H. torpedoes on Neptune, St. Vincent, Bellerophon and Dreadnought classes with with Mark VII* or Mark VI**.[57] The Admiralty had simultaneously imposed a limit of gyro angle settings of 20 degrees in these same ships. This restriction was lifted just before the war.[58]

In 1916-1917, the stern tube was removed altogether.[59]

Fire Control

Rangefinders

Dreadnought was completed with two 9-foot rangefinders, and a variety of other 9-foot instruments were added over her service life.[60]

Evershed Bearing Indicators

Dreadnought was fitted with this equipment early in 1914.

Her transmitting positions were

Fore control platform (transmitters to port and starboard with a local switch to select the one to use)

"A" turret

"X" turret

"Y" turret

Upper aft conning tower

The protocols for how her crew should handle wooding of the turrets was outlined in the Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914.[61]

In 1917, it was approve that all ships of Dreadnought class and later should have Evershed equipment added to their C.T., able to communicate with either the fore top or a controlling turret. If there were not enough room in the C.T., a bearing plate with open sights and 6-power binoculars would be added to the C.T.. At the same time, all directors were to be fitted with receivers and, "as far as possible", ships were to have fore top, G.C.T. and controlling turrets fitted to transmit as well as receive, though this was noted as being impossible in some earlier ships.[62]

Spotting

In late 1913, the ship landed a Pattern 740 Zeiss stereo spotting telescope Mark II at Portsmouth in order to take on a Ross Pattern 873 model for a three-month comparative evaluation.[63]

At some point prior to 1920, Dreadnought was equipped with a pair of Mechanical Aid-to-Spotter Mark Is, one on each side of the foretop, keyed off the Evershed rack on the director.[64] As the need for such gear was apparently first identified in early 1916, it seems likely that these installations were effected well after Jutland.[65]

In 1917, it was decided that these should have mechanical links from the director and pointers indicating the aloft Evershed's bearing.[66]

Gunnery Control

Dreadnought's control arrangements were as follows.[67]

Control Positions

Fore top

Main top

"A" turret (after 1912-13)

"Y" turret (ditto)[68]

Some ships had C.O.S.es within the control positions so they could be connected to either T.S.[69]

Control Groups

The five 12-in turrets were each a separate group with a local C.O.S. [Inference] so that it could be connected to

Forward T.S.

After T.S.

Local control from officer's position within turret

Directors

Main Battery

Dreadnought was completed without a director,[70] but between April and May 1916 was fitted with a geared tripod-type director in a light aloft tower over the foretop[71][72] along with a directing gun in "Y" turret.[73] The battery was not divisible into groups for split director firing.[74]

The main control positions were in the fore top and on a platform on the roof of the signal tower, each with a 9 foot FQ2 rangefinder. The aft control position was eventually done away with.[75]

The turret Elevation Receivers were pattern number H. 2, capable of matching the 13.5 degree elevation limit of the mountings. The Training Receivers were the single dial type, pattern number 7.[76]

Secondary Battery

The 12-pdrs never had directors installed.[77]

Torpedo Control

Torpedo Control Systems in Invincible class[78].

Dreadnought was similar, but lacked facilities in the conning tower. was similar, but lacked facilities in the conning tower.

Arrangements were generally similar to those in the Invincible class, which were documented in the Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1913, except that she had no control position in the conning tower — all control was asserted from the torpedo control tower aft.[79]

By the end of 1917, common torpedo control additions to all capital ships were to be adopted where not already in place. Those for Dreadnought and later classes with 18-in tubes were to include:[80]

duplication of firing circuits and order and gyro angle instruments to allow all tubes to be directed from either C.T. or T.C.T.

navyphones from both control positions to all tube positions

bearing instruments between "control position, and R.F., and course and speed of enemy instruments where applicable, between the transmitting stations and the control positions."

range circuits between R.F.s and control positions

Transmitting Stations

Like all large British ships of the era prior to King George V and Queen Mary,[81] Dreadnought had 2 T.S.es on her middle deck, the main one in the lower conning tower and one in the lower signal tower.[82]

The placement on the middle deck left the T.S.es above the armour deck, although they had some added splinter shielding and the main T.S. was somewhat covered by the "A" barbette and the secondary one by "P" and "Q" barbettes. However, this was recognized as a problem, and the main T.S. was moved to the lower deck in 1908-1909.[83]

The T.S.es had voicepipe connections to the control positions, possibly just the nearest one.[84]

Dreyer Table

Dreadnought was retro-fitted with a Mark I Dreyer Table sometime around 1913,[85][86] but was never given Dreyer Turret Control Tables[87]

Fire Control Instruments

By 1909, Dreadnought had Vickers, Son and Maxim instruments for range, orders and deflection, and Barr and Stroud instruments for rate.[88]

The equipment listed in the Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909 is as follows (Vickers, unless otherwise noted):[89]

Range transmitters: 10

Deflection transmitters: 10

Combined Range and Deflection receivers: 31

C.O.S.: 8

Check fire switches: 9

Rate: 3 transmitters, 6 receivers (Barr and Stroud)

Additionally, Dreadnought had the following Siemens equipment:[90]

Turret fire gongs: 15 with 5 keys (Siemens, plus 10 Vickers gongs fitted "as relays")

Captain's Cease Fire Bells: 10 with 1 key (supplier not stated)

The ship also had Target Visible and Gun Ready signals, with indications of which turret could see the target and which guns were ready being visible in the T.S.es and control positions.[91]

In 1908-9, Barr and Stroud rate instruments were added between T.S.es and control positions.[92]

In 1911, it was decided that the ship should be fitted with "range, buzzer and bearing instruments for communication between control positions, control turrets and transmitting and plotting stations." It was further detailed that she should have Siemens Pattern 120 turret fire gongs adapted so they could be rung mechanically.[93]

In 1912-1913, the turrets were given a means of local control, wherein range and deflection transmitters in the turrets could drive the receivers at the gunsights. Presumably, this also involved installation of a COS and involved a local firing push. At the same time, "A" and "Y" turrets were equipped to act as alternate control positions, being given additional instruments, navyphones and voicepipes to communicate with the TS, and probably requiring a fancier C.O.S. in each T.S..[94]





Alterations

John Roberts compiled a variety of important modifications to Dreadnought over her service life:[95]

1908-1909 Main T.S. moved from middle deck to lower deck, old space being made into a plotting room. [96]

1912-1913 Turrets provided with local control transmitters in the officer's position. [97] Turrets "A" & "Y" configured as alternate control positions. [98]

30 April 1913 9-foot F.T. 8 rangefinder added to "A" turret (with range transmitter). 9-foot F.Q. 2 rangefinder added to compass platform.

2 April 1914 Evershed Bearing Indicators added to fore top

7 June 1915 Fore top rebuilt to receive director tower 36-in searchlight platforms added to foremast struts 9-foot F.T. 8 R.F.s added to "P", "Q", "X", and "Y" turrets bridge wings removed searchlight control gear installation begins open sights added to all turrets 12-pdr guns removed from "A" turret and placed on quarterdeck two 6-pdr H.A. guns added to quarterdeck aft control position atop signal tower removed. [99]

by mid 1916, perhaps ending on May 25th torpedo nets removed director for her main battery added to roof of fore top given a Dreyer Table Mark I in main T.S. [100]

late 1916 6-pdr H.A. guns replaced by two 3-in H.A. guns

27 Jan 1917 extra 0.75 to 1-in armor added to middle deck over magazines

19 August 1917 anti-flash scuttles added to magazine doors Type 16 W/T installed in former Lamp Room Four 36-in searchlights replace main top with control position underneath stern torpedo tube removed upper 12-pdr magazine converted into T.S. Two 12-pdrs on quarterdeck converted to H.A. mountings pedestals for Evershed equipment added in fore bridge bearing indicators added to 3-in and 12-pdr H.A. guns Henderson gear being added to director adding a Sperry gyrocompass

1917 deflection scales painted on "A" and "Y"

1917-1918 semaphore machine on bridge removed

1 June 1918 converted upper 12-pdr magazine to Type 31 W/T room

31 December 1918 wind screen added to director tower turrets get open director sights open trainer's sight added to director canopy "A" turret's F.T. 8 R.F. replaced by 9-foot F.T. 24 Henderson gear and Sperry gyro completely installed Argo R.F. moved to aft end of fore top, able to train all around aircraft flying platforms added to "A" and "Y" new 36-in searchlights installed



Also, in September 1914, the ship was to be sent eight 3/9 power telescopes and to return the same number of 2.5 power scopes, Pattern G. 329 upon receipt. These were likely to serve as trainer telescopes. Constrained supplies meant that 26% of the scopes actually supplied her may have wound up being 5/12 or 5/21 scopes.[101]

Fire Control Systems

Directors

Main Battery

Dreadnought was completed without a director but by mid 1916 was fitted with a geared tripod-type director in a light aloft tower on the fore top along with a directing gun in "Y" turret.[102][103] The battery was not divisible into groups for split director firing.[104] The main director was fitted with Henderson Firing Gear in 1917-1918.[105]

Secondary Battery

The 12-pdrs never had directors installed.[106]

Control was exercised from either the spotting or main top, with the control officer in the top communicating via navyphone to the sightsetters of his assigned groups of 12-pdrs who wore telaupads.[107]

Torpedo Control

Transmitting Stations

Dreyer Table

Dreadnought was retro-fitted around mid 1916[108] with a Mark I Dreyer Table, but was never given Dreyer Turret Control Tables.[109]

Miscellaneous

Dreadnought was fitted with Evershed Bearing Indicators in fore top between in extended work between a stop in Portsmouth 9 August, 1913 and one in Gibraltar, 2 April, 1914.

See Also

Bibliography



