British armoured cruiser HMS Natal 1904-1915

Warrior-class

Minotaur-class

Laid down by Vickers, Barrow-in-Furness, England on 6 January 1904, launched on 30 September 1905, completed on 5 March 1907, refitted at Cromarty, Scotland in January 1915 and on 30 December 1915 while anchored in the Cromarty Forth, Scotland just after 15.25 o’clock sunk after an internal ammunition explosion killing 390-421 persons. What was left after salvage attempts was in the 1970s removed with explosions to prevent danger for passing ships. Building costs 1.218.244. Machinery manufactured by shipyard. Built under the 1903-1904 Naval Programme. Of the Warrior-class consisting of the Warrior, Achilles. Cochrane and Natal., preceded by the Duke of Edinburg-class and succeeded by the Minotaur-class.

General technical class specifications. With a displacement of 12.790 tons (Natal 13.770 (as built)-14.700 (full loaded)) and as dimensions 146,3 (between perpendiculars)-154,1 (over all) x 22,4 x 8,4 metres or 480-505.5 x 73.5 x 27,5 feet. The two vertical 4 cylinder triple expansion steam engines and 19 Yarrow and 6 cylindrical boilers supplied via 2 shaft 23.000 ihp allowing a speed of 23 knots or with a speed of 10 knots a range of 8.130 nautical miles. The crew numbered 770-789 men. The armour consisted of  a waterline belt with a thickness of 7,6-15,2cm/3-6”, a 1,9-3,8cm/0.75-1.15” thick deck, 5,1-15,2cm/2-6” thick bulkheads and the gun turrets, barbettes and conning tower protected by respectively 11,4-19,1cm/4.5-7.5”, 7,6-15,2cm./3-6” and 25,4cm/10”.  The armament consisted of 6x1-23,4cm/9” breech loading Mk X guns, 4x1-19,1cm/8.5” breech loading Mk II guns, 24x1-4,7cm/3pd quick firing Vickers guns and 3-45cm/18” torpedo tubes.