Majestic-class
Laid down by J&G Thomson, Clydebank, Scotland on 24 April 1894, launched on 18 November 1895, completed at the Chatham Dockyard in May 1897, commissioned on 8 June 1897, refitted at Portsmouth, England in 1909-1910 and again in 1911-1912, seagoing gunnery training ship at the Nore between June 1912-January 1913, guard ship since October 1914, icebreaker at Archangelsk, Russia since 5 February 1915, paid off 19 May 1915, refitted at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, England between 19 May-August 1915, guard ship at Aden since 21 October 1915, stationed at Port Said, Egypt April-November 1916, paid off at Devonport, England and her crew transferred to anti submarine vessels, now serving as a special service vessel and auxiliary patrol vessel, paid off in February 1918, accommodation ship, for disposal since April 1919, sold to be broken up on 15 January 1920 and towed on 11 March 1920 to Blyth.
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.
