Laid down at the shipyard of Vickers, Barrow on Furness, England on 2 May 1910, launched on 24 April 1911, completed in November 1912, laid up in reserve in 1920, efforts to sale her to Chile in 1920 were without success, sold to be broken up as a result of the Washington Naval Treaty in December 1922 and arrived at her final destination on 13 August 1923. Building costs 2.89.178 (with guns)-2.092.214 (estimated with guns pound sterling.
Of the Lion-class preceded by the Indefatigable-class and succeeded by the Queen Mary and consisting of the Lion and the, Princess Royal nicknamed Splendid Cats. This class was realized as a result of the German arms race and to be able to destroy the German Moltke-battle cruisers.(1)
SMS Moltke
Displacement 26.690 tons/26.270 long tons (normal load)-31.310 tons/30.820 long tons (deep load) and as dimensions 213,4 x 27,0 x 9,9 (deep load) x 1,8 (metacentric height at deep load) metres or 700’ x 88‘6.75”x 32.5’ x 6‘. The 2 paired sets Parsons direct-drive steam turbines in separate engine-rooms manufactured by Vickers and 42 Yarrow boilers (in 7 boiler rooms) supplied via 4 shafts 70.000 (design)-96.238 (trials) shp allowing a speed of 28 (design)-28,5 (trials) knots. With a speed of 10 knots and a coal bunker capacity of 3.556 tons and 1.153 tons fuel oil was the range 5.610 nautical miles. Their crew numbered 1.092 men. The armour consisted of a 10,2-22,9cm/4-9” thick belt, 10,2cm/4” thick bulkheads, 6,4cm/2.5” thick decks with the gun turrets, barbettes and conning tower protected by respectively 22,9c./9”, 20,3-22,9cm/8-9” and 25,4cm/10”. The original armament consisted of 4x2-34,3cm/13.5” breech loading Mk V guns, 16x1-10,2cm/4” breech loading guns and 2x1-53,3cm/21” torpedo tubes. In begin 1918 carrying with her 2 planes launched from platforms on top of the Q and X turrets.
Note
1. Moltke-class. Sister ship the Goeben. Building ordered on 17 September 1908. Laid down at the shipyard of Blohm&Voss, Hamburg, Germany on 7 December 1908, baptized by Helmuth von Moltke the Younger and launched on 7 April 1910, commissioned on 30 August 1911 and scuttled by her own crew to prevent that she fell into British hands on 21 June 1919, raised in 1927 and broken up at Rosyth between 1927-1929. Displacement 22.979 tons/22.616 long tons (design)-25.400 tons/25.000 long tons (full loaded) and as dimensions 186,6 x 30 x 9,2 metres or 612.2 x 98.5 x 30.3 feet. The Parsons turbines supplied via 4 screws 51.289 (design)-84.609 (maximum) shp allowing a speed of 25,5 (design)-28,4 (maximum) knots and with a speed of 14 knots a range of 4.120 nautical miles. Her crew numbered 1.053 men included 43 officers. The armour consisted of a 10-29cm/3.9-11” thick belt. a 2,54-7,62cm/1-3” inch deck with the gun turrets, barbettes and conning tower protected by respectively 23cm/9.1”, 23cm/9.1” and 34cm/14”. The armament consisted of 5x2-28cm/11” L/50 guns, 12-15cm/5.9” guns and 12-8,8cm/3.5“ guns.
