British battleship HMS Hercules 1909-1922

HMS Neptune

Colossus-class

Orion-class

Part of the Colossus-class consisting of the Colossus and the Hercules, preceded by the Neptune-class and succeeded by the Orion-class. Laid down at Palmers, Jarrow, England on 30 July 1909, launched on 10 May 1910, commissioned on 31 July 1911, part of the reserve since February 1919, sold to a German shipbreaker on 8 November 1921 and broken up at Kiel, Germany in 1922.

Displacement 19.680 (normal)-22.700 (full load) tons and as dimensions 166,4 x 25,9 x 8,0metres or 546 x 85 x 26,3feet. Parsons direct drive steam turbines and 18 boilers supplying 25.000 shp via 4 shafts allowing a speed of 21 knots. Crew numbered 755-800 men. The armament consisted of 5x2-30,5cm/12”/50 cal Mk XII breech loading guns, 16x1-10,2cm/4” Mk VII breech loading guns and 3-53,3cm/21” submerged torpedo tubes. The armour consisted of a 28cm/11” thick belt, 25,4cm/10” thick bulkheads, 10,2cm/4” thick decks with the barbettes and turret both protected by 27,9cm/11” thick armour.