British battleship HMS Magnificent 1893-1922

Majestic-class

Laid down at the Chatham Dockyard on 18 December 1893, launched on 19 December 1894, completed in December 1895, commissioned on12 December 1895, turret drill ship and stokers’ training ship at Devonport, England since 27 September 1910, tender to the turret drill ship Vivid in February 1911, seagoing gunnery training ship since 14 May 1912, guard ship in 1914 until 16 February 1915, except for part of her secondary armament disarmed at Belfast, Ireland between February-April 1915, laid up Loch Goil until 9 September 1915, used as troop ship in the Dardanelles, paid off at Devonport on 3 March 1916, overflow ship there until August 1917, refitted at Harland&Wolff, Belfast in a ammunition ship between August 1917-October 1918, for disposal on 4 February 1920, still used as ammunition store ship at Rosyth, Scotland until April 1921, sold to be broken up on 9 May 1921 which was done at Inverkeithing in 1922.

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.