British dreadnought HMS Colossus 1909-1928

HMS Neptune

Colossus-class

Orion-class

Ordered under the 1908 naval Estimates, laid down by Scotts Shipbuilding, Greenock, England on 8 July 1909, launched on 9 April 1910, commissioned on 8 August 1911, for disposal since 30 June 1921, served as a boys’ training ship, training hulk since 23 July 1923, sold to be broken up ito Charlestown Shipbreaking Industries in August 1928 which started on 5 September 1928.

Of the Colossus-class consisting of the Hercules and the Colossus, preceded by the Neptune-class and succeeded by the Orion-class. Originally part of the Neptune-class but with a thicker armour and some other differences classified as an own separate class.

General technical specifications of the Colossus-class. Displacement 19.680 (normal)-22.700 (full load) tons and as dimensions 166 x 26 x 8,0 metres or 546 x 85 x 26.3 feet. The Parson high pressure steam turbines and 18 Babcock&Wilcox boilers supplied via 4 shafts 25.000 shp allowing a speed of 22,6 knots. With a coal bunker capacity of 2.900 ton and 900 ton oil was with a speed of 18,5 knots the range 6.680 nautical miles. Their crew numbered 755 men. The armour consisted of a 28cm/11” thick belt, a 25,4cm/10” thick bulkheads, a 10,2cm/4” thick deck with gun turrets and barbettes protected by respectively 28cm/11” and 28cm/1. The armament consisted of 5x2-30,48cm/12” Mk XI breech loading guns (2 fore, 1 aft and 2 amidships), 12/14 x1-10,16cm/4” Mk VII breech loading guns,4-5,7cm/3pd guns and 3-46cm.18” torpedo tubes which were later removed.