Majestic-class
Laid down at the Portsmouth Dockyard, England on 10 September 1894, launched on 22 August 1895, completed in November 1896, refitted at Portsmouth, England between March-December 1909, in reserve with a decreased crew in December 1910, used as a so-called mine-bumper in the Dardanelles in 1915, paid off at Chatham Dockyard in March 1916, crew transferred to anti submarine vessels, served as auxiliary vessel including as sickbay at Chatham, accommodation ship there between March 1916-May 1918. Converted at Chatham into a destroyer depot ship between May-October 1918, renamed Victorious II in September 1918, added to the Victorious at Scapa Flow, retained her original name in February 1919, for disposal since 21 February 1920, sold to be broken up to a British company on 22 September 1921, resold to a German company in December 1921 and underway towards her final destination wrecked off Camperduin, Netherlands on 30 December 1921. Scrapped en situ becoming a breakwater.
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.
