{"id":6411,"date":"2018-07-22T09:00:46","date_gmt":"2018-07-22T07:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.naval-encyclopedia.com\/?p=6411"},"modified":"2018-07-22T09:00:46","modified_gmt":"2018-07-22T07:00:46","slug":"king-george-v-class-battleship-1911","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbodesign.com\/ww1\/uk\/king-george-v-class-battleship-1911.php","title":{"rendered":"King George V-class battleship (1911)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n<\/a> United Kingdom (1911)
\nKing George V, Centurion, Ajax, Audacious<\/strong>
\n\n<\/div>\n

If the King George V class battleships are generally assumed to be the one which soldiered in WW2, there was another one which did the same in the previous war, in 1914-18. These were “super-dreadnoughts” (faster with a heavier artillery) presenting a new aspect of the Royal Navy’s line of battle, a second generation following the Orion class and before the Iron Duke class, predecessors of the famous Queen Elisabeth seeing service in both wars. With their five axial twin turrets they seemed a simple repeats of the Orions, but they were improved on many points. HMS Audacious hit a mine in 1914 and was lost, KGV and Ajax were sold in 1926, but HMS Centurion was still around in 1944, used as …a mock Duke of York to deceive German intel.<\/p>\n

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Genesis of Development<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\nOn Brasseys naval annual, – Orion and KGV.<\/em><\/p>\n

These battleships were part of the 1910 Programme. To gain time in design, they were at first planned as “repeat Orions” but lessons from the Lion’s trials helped to alter the design.
\nFor example, they swapped on a pole foremast, stepped ahead of the fore funnel instead of the Orion’s mast.
\nThe second point discussed on the admiralty was the 4-in (102mm) secondary battery. They would have been replaced by 6-on (152mm) due to the threat posed by a new generation of torpedo boat and destroyers, the admiralty was precise, but the DNC (Director of Naval Construction) Sir Philip Watts at the time and until 1912, argued this needed an extra 2,000t displacement just as the Government was trying to reduce naval expenditure.
\nThe slight increase in dimensions granted however allowed a net improvement in deck armour. It was also now time to upgrade the fire control system with something truly revolutionary (see later). Eventually, progresses made in gunnery conducted to chose more powerful guns and heavier shells, made them the best armed capital ships worldwide at the time.<\/p>\n

These four powerful “super-dreadnoughts”, King George V (KGV), Centurion, Audacious and Ajax, although derived from the Orions<\/a>, incorporated all the lessons learned all possible lessons from the trials of the battlecruisers Lion<\/a><\/strong> and Princess Royal<\/strong>. Engineers were able to upgrade the Orion design without taxing much the displacement. Ultimately proved a well upgraded design compared to the Orions. They were copied outright for the next quintet, the Iron Duke class<\/a>, which brought some innovations of its own.<\/p>\n

\"Three
\nThree 2nd squadron battleships saluting the Kaiser at Kiel’s naval review, for the opening of the canal, 24 June 1914.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Design specifics<\/h2>\n

\"HMS<\/a>
\nHMS Centurion in 1917 – The blueprints<\/em><\/p>\n

These 25,420 long tons (25,830 t) battleships, 89 ft 1 in (27.2 m) wide. The design remained classic, with five axial turrets and well-cleared superstructures, tall narrow funnels, a smoke-free firing post, and light secondary artillery (4in guns). Their main innovation was the new ammunition developed for the 13.5 in cannons, shells with heavier additional charges which increased their range, but also improved fire-control arrangements and additional armour.
\nThe general hull shape remained the same as for the Orion class, with a forecastle ending with the secondary battery, a ram bow, and rounded stern. The way the artillery and superstructures were managed was also identical to the Orion class. The superstructure containing all forward secondary guns had six mounts, all capable of firing forward. It started at the base of “B” turret’s barbette. Behind it was located the conning tower, topped by a Barr & Stoud coincidence rangefinder.<\/p>\n

Next was the bridge, three storeys high, with a small closed bridge and open bridge on the roof with chadburn and voice pipes. The main foremast was thicker on Centurion to be able to support the main fire director. There was no aft mast and thus radio cables were hanging from the top of the upper composite main foremast, attached to the bow and aft of turret “C”.
\nFor the best arc of fire, the superstructures were prism-shaped to allow the aft turrets to fire as forward as possible at the same angle as “C” turret amidships.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

All the boats were placed as far from the main gun’s blast as possible to avoid damage:
\nThere were two steam cutters and a steam picket boat as well as a yawl on deck, two more under davits abaft the bridge, four smaller yawls abaft the funnels and a single main crane located between the two funnels, straight and of unequal size. Five to six boats were also on deck immediately aft of “C” turret, and four more yawls under davits aft.
\nThey were fitted with Siemens No.3 Twin Mountings for 24-inches projectors. In 1914, they to be modified allo a 90 degree elevation for night anti-aircraft defence.<\/p>\n

Armament<\/h3>\n

\"Detail
\nDetail of HMS Ajax main guns<\/em><\/p>\n

Main Guns<\/h4>\n

These ships featured an impressive and unrivalled at that time broadside of ten 45-calibre breech-loading (BL) 13.5-inch Mark V guns. They were located in five hydraulically powered turrets, all centreline and twin-mount. The 13.5-in (343mm) Mk.V gun were essentially the same as inaugurated on the Orions, but modified to fire a 636 kg AP shell, further improving the long-range shooting.<\/p>\n

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\n\"\"
\nQuick Specs:<\/strong> +20\u00b0 elevation, range 23,830 yards (21,790 m) range (gun sights +15\u00b0, super-elevating prisms installed 1916).
\n-Loading system later overhauled for the new 1,400-pound (635 kg) shells.
\n-Muzzle velocity AP 2,500 ft\/s (760 m\/s).
\n-Rate of fire: two rounds per minute, on average.
\n-100 shells provided per gun, 500 total.<\/p>\n

Secondary Guns<\/h4>\n

Sixteen secondary 50-calibre BL four-inch (102 mm) Mark VII.
\nIn casemates along the battery deck, but were re-arranged ahead due to a study showing TBs tended to attack on the frontal arc:
\nEight in the forward superstructure, four aft, four in casemates. Hull casemates sprayed heavily in rough seas, later discarded, plated over.
\nElevation +15\u00b0, range 11,400 yards (10,424 m). They fired at 4 rpm a 31-pound (14.1 kg) HE shell at 2,821 ft\/s (860 m\/s).
\nThe tertiary artillery consisted of four 3-pounder (1.9 in (47 mm)) saluting guns.<\/p>\n

Torpedoes<\/h4>\n

Three 21-inch submerged torpedo tubes were in the sides and stern, with 14 torpedoes in storage.<\/p>\n

Fire Control Systems<\/h3>\n

\"\"
\nCrucially however, these ships were the first in the Royal Navy to feature the first modern fire control system that will be adopted for all subsequent British Dreadnoughts.
\nIt was located in the conning tower. Data came from a 9-foot (2.7 m) coincidence rangefinder, an unstabilized Barr and Stroud<\/strong>. From the next series, stabilized Argo units<\/strong> replaced them. Data transmitted were the target’s speed and course, which were fed into a Dumaresq mechanical computer<\/strong>. The result was transmitted to a Dreyer Fire-control Table (Mark III Dreyer-Elphinstone model). The transmitting station was located on the main deck, and final transmission went through a voice pipe or sound-powered telephone. <\/p>\n

Dreyer Fire-control table:<\/strong> It converted data into usable elevation and deflection for the guns, taking in account dispersion and location of the turrets, although to help spotting the shell splashes, minimising the effects of the roll volley fire was the usual practice. Target data was recorded on a plotting table, allowing the gunnery officer to predict the target’s net moves. If destroyed, turret own systems (the two superfiring ones) could take over.<\/p>\n

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\"HMS
\nHMS Agincourt and battleships of the 2nd squadron, Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow in 1918<\/em><\/p>\n

Armour<\/h3>\n

-The Main belt (as most critical armour plating made in KC (Krupp Cemented) armour compound, was protected by 12 in (305mm) on its essential citadel, between barbettes “A” and “Y”.
\nIt was extended on both ends by 6-in fwd, 4-in aft (152-102 mm respectively) forward from barbette “A”. The forward outer belt tapered down just 42 ft (13 m) from stem. It was extended also aft, from barbette “Y”, and 45 feet (14m) from stern. The total height of the belt, waterline and upper, was 20 ft (6.25m) at full length.
\n-The Lower belt extended between the main and middle decks only. Its thickness was 9-in (229 mm between barbettes “A” and “Y”) and tapered down to 6-in (152mm) then 4-in (102mm) and 2.5 in (64mm). -The Upper belt extended between barbettes “A” and “Y” between the main and upper decks. It was 8-in (203mm) thick.
\n-The main belt was closed by a fore 6-in (152 mm) and aft 10-in (254 mm) bulkhead (yes, the aft one was much thicker).
\n-The Upper belt was enclosed by 8-in (203mm) bulkheads. There was a second fore 4-in (102mm) bulkhead at the end of 4-in part main belt and between the two regressed to 1.5 in (38mm). The end of the 2.5 in aft part of the lower belt was closed by a same thickness bulkhead.
\n-The upper deck, between barbettes “A” and “Y” was 1.5 in (38mm) thick. The Main deck reached 2.5 in (64mm) between the first and second fore bulkheads and the first and second aft bulkheads. It was assorted by a 1-in (25mm) middle deck, with same thickness slopes closed citadel.
\n-The lower deck, above the machinery space, was 4-in to 3-in (102-76mm) aft from barbette “Y”. Forward, it was downgraded to 2.5-1 in (64-25mm) from barbette “A”.
\n-The funnel uptakes were protected by 1.5 to 1 in (38-25mm) splinter protection.<\/p>\n

Waterline belt:<\/strong> Made of Krupp cemented armour, 12 in (305 mm), concentrated in the area between the fore and rear barbettes.
\nBelt ends:<\/strong> Reduced to 2.5\u20136 inches (64\u2013152 mm) fore and aft, leaving a gap towards the bow and stern.
\nUpper belt:<\/strong> 16 feet 10.5 inches (5.1 m) above the waterline, extended a meter below the waves.
\nBulkhead<\/strong> connecting the belt main: 9-inch (229 mm), face was protected by 9-10 in.
\nMain turrets:<\/strong> 11-inch (279 mm) frontal arc, 3-4-in roofs.
\nArmoured decks:<\/strong> Four, protecting internal areas 1 to 4 in (25 to 102 mm).
\nConning tower:<\/strong> 11-in thick, roof 3 in.
\nGunnery control tower:<\/strong> 4-in thick and
\nTorpedo-control tower:<\/strong> 6-in.
\nAnti-torpedo longitudinal Bulkheads:<\/strong> Engine rooms and magazines – 1-1.75 inches (25 to 44 mm)
\nBoiler rooms stray:<\/strong> 1\u20131.5-inch (25\u201338 mm) armour plating.<\/p>\n

\"HMS
\nHMS King Georges V at Scapa Flow<\/em><\/p>\n

Propulsion<\/h3>\n

These ships differed little from the precious Orion class: They were also given four shafts propellers, connected to same number of steam turbines sets, fed all by 18 water-tube boilers, for a total of 27,000 shaft horsepower (20,000 kW), and a top speed of 21 knots (39 km\/h; 24 mph). Range was 6,310 nmi (11,690 km; 7,260 mi) at 10 knots (19 km\/h; 12 mph).
\nHowever, they diverged in equipments:
\nHMS Ajax and King George V were given Parsons steam turbines and Babcock & Wilcox boilers.
\nHMS Audacious, Centurion had the same Parsons sets but Yarrow boilers.<\/p>\n

\"Closeup
\nCloseup of HMS centurion<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
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King George’s class construction and modifications<\/h3>\n

These super-dreadnoughts were started at Portsmouth, Devonport, Cammell Laird and Scotts in January-February 1911, launched in October-Nov. 1911 and March-September 1912, and accepted in service in Nov.1912 (KGV) and March (Ajax), May (Centurion) and November 1913 (Audacious). Paradoxically, this latecomer was sunk early in the war (October 27, 1914, after 11 months), and was the only loss of the class.
\n-Masts: The first two ships were completed with a light pole foremast configuration (unable to support a fire director), but the last pair were completed with thicker braced already to carry a larger firing director: Their foremast was indeed braced by struts halfway up. Later Centurion was then altered in the same way, but HMS King George V only received stiffening flanges, and ultimately a full tripod by 1918.
\n-In 1914, QF 3-inch (76 mm) AA guns were fitted to each ship.
\n-In 1915, four single 4-in\/50 (102 mm) DP guns were added, as well as two single BL Mk. VII AA guns).
\n-After May 1916: 81 tons of additional deck armour was added. The KGV was also modified to tow Kite balloons for observation.
\n-In early 1917, a new 4-inch AA gun was installed in replacement for one 3-in gun. The forecastle’s hull fwd casemated guns were removed and plated over. The stern torpedo tube was removed
\n-In 1917-18, the masts were modified as tripods, projectors were protected in armoured towers.
\n-Also in 1917, the bridge was enlarged and the hull’s nets removed.
\n-In 1918 flying-off platforms were fitted on turret roofs of “B” & “X”. They were able to launch a Sopwith 1-1\/2 Strutter for gunnery spotting.<\/p>\n

\"King
\nAuthor’s Illustration of the KG V<\/em>
\nFirst Published July 22, 2018, rewritten and expanded April 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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⚙ KGV specifications<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Dimensions<\/td>\n182.1 x 27.1 x 8.7 m (622’9” x 90′ x 29’6”)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Displacement<\/td>\n23,000 t, 25,700 T FL<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Crew<\/td>\n782 to 990 (wartime)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Propulsion<\/td>\n4 shafts Parsons turbines, 18 boilers, 31,000 ihp<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Speed<\/td>\n21 knots (38 km\/h; 23 mph)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Range<\/td>\n6,310 nmi (11,690 km; 7,260 mi) at 10 knots<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Armament<\/td>\n10 x 13.5 in (5×2), 16 x 4-in, 4 x 3-pdr, 3 x 21-in TTs (sub).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Armor (max)<\/td>\nBelt 12 in, Battery 10 in, Barbettes\/turrets\/CT 11 in, decks 4 in.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Resources<\/h3>\n

\"The
\nThe King Georges V at Scapa Flow – IWM<\/em><\/p>\n

Books<\/h4>\n

Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1984). Conway’s all the world fighting ships 1906-1921 – Maritime Press
\nFriedman, Norman (2011). Naval Weapons of World War One. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth.
\nFriedman, Norman (2015). The British Battleship 1906\u20131946. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing
\nBrown, David K. (2006). Nelson to Vanguard: Warship Design and Development 1923-1945. London: Chatham Publishing.
\nHalpern, Paul G. (1995). A Naval History of World War I. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.
\nParkes, Oscar (1990). British Battleships (reprint of the 1957 ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.<\/p>\n

Links<\/h4>\n

archeosousmarine.net – Centurion in Normandy<\/a>
\nOn historyofwar.org<\/a>
\nOn the dreadnoughtproject.org<\/a>
\nKing George V-class battleship (wikipedia)<\/a>
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Videos<\/h4>\n