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Monday, 18 November 2019

British battleship HMS Victorious 1894-1920 and Indus II 1920-1923

Majestic-class

Laid down at the Chatham Dockyard, England on 28 May 1894, launched by the later queen Mary on 19 October 1895, completed in November 1896, commissioned on 26 November 1896, refitted at Chatham, England between 8 August 1903-February 1904, guard ship in 1914, laid up with main armament removed until September 1915m converted into a repair ship by Palmers, Jarrow between September 1915-February 1916, commissioned on 22 February 1916, stationed at Scapa Flow, renamed Indus II and transferred to Devonport, England in March 1920, refit there to be used with the Indus Establishment cancelled, a conversion into a harbour depot ship was stopped in April 1922, sold to be broken up on 19 December 1922, sale cancelled on 1 March 1923, resold on 9 April 1923 and broken up at Dover, England.

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.