Majestic-class
Laid down at the Chatham Dockyard, England on 11 March 1895, launched on 17 September 1896, completed in April 1898, commissioned on 15 April 1898, refitting completed in early 1906, guard ship since August 1914, paid off at Grimsby on 26 November 1915, converted into a disarmed harbour ship which was completed in March 1916, at Chatham commissioned as munitions store ship on 20 November 1916, decommissioned on 21 April 1919, for sale on 24 March 1920 and sold to be broken up on 18 June 1920 executed at Barrow.
Of the Majestic-class consisting of the Majestic, Caesar, Hannibal, Illustrious, Jupiter, Magnificent, Mars, Prince George and Victorious, preceded by the HMS Renown and succeeded by the Canopus-class. Built under the Spencer Programme. In 1891 requested Controller rear admiral Jackie Fisher for a new 12cm battleship. As a response designed Director of Naval Construction William Henry White a 12.500 tons battleships with 4-12” guns and a 22,9cm/9” thick belt presenting this to the Board on 27 January 1892. The design of the Majestic-class was used by for instance Japan as a basic for the Shikishima-class and the Mikasa.
General technical class specifications. Displacement 16.060 tons and as dimensions 120 (between perpendiculars-128 (over all)x 23 x 8,2 x 7,6 (freeboard fore)-526 (amidships)-5,64 (aft) metres or 421 x 75 x 27 x 25-17.3-18.6 feet. Two-3 cylinder triple expansion steam engines and 8 coal-fuelled single-ended Scotch marine boilers delivering 10.000(normal draught)-12.000 (forced draught) ihp and a speed of 16 (normal draught)-17 (forced draught) knots. Coal bunker capacity 1.100ton(standard)-1.900 maximum) ton. Around 1908 fitted out with coal and oil fuelled boilers. Then also an oil bunker capacity of 400-500 tons allowing a range of 4.420-7.000 nautical miles with a speed of respectively 14,6 and 10 knots. Crew numbered 600 men. The armour consisted of a 23cm/9” thick belt, 6,4-11,4cm/2.5-4.5” thick deck and the barbettes and conning tower protected by 36cm/14” thick armour. The Harvey armour consisted of 2x2-30,5cm/12” Mk VIII breech loading guns (1 fore, 1 aft), 12-15,2cm.6” quick firing guns in casemates in two gun decks amidships, 12-7,6cm/12pd guns, 12-4,7cm/3pd quick firing guns and 5-45cm/18” torpedo tubes.
