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HMS London (1899)
Encyclopedia
HMS London was a Formidable class
battleship
in the British
Royal Navy
, often considered to be part of the London class or subclass
.
Like the first three Formidable-class ships, London and her four London-class sisters were similar in appearance to the Majestic
and Canopus
classes that preceded them, and had the same armament. The Formidables and Londons are often described as improved Majestics, but in design they were effectively enlarged Canopuses. While the Canopus class took advantage of the greater strength of the Krupp armour
employed in their construction to allow the ships to remain the same size as the heavier Majestics, devoting more to higher speed and less to armour without sacrificing protection; the Formidables' and Londons' Krupp armour was used to improve protection without reducing the size of the ships. The Formidables and Londons were thus larger than the two preceding classes, and enjoyed greater protection than the Majestics combined with the higher speed of the Canopus class. The armour scheme of the Formidables and Londons was similar to that of the Canopuses, but the armour belt ran all the way to the stern and measured 215 feet (65.5 m) long, 15 feet (4.8 m) deep and 9 inches (229 mm) thick, tapering at the stem to 12 feet (3.7 m) deep and 3 inches (76.2 mm) thick; and at the stern to 8 feet (2.4 m) deep and 1.5 inches (38.1 mm) thick. The main battery turrets had 10 inches (254 mm) of Krupp armour on their sides and 8 inches (203 mm) on their backs.
The Formidables and Londons improved on the main and secondary armament of previous classes, being upgunned from 35-caliber to 40-caliber 12-inch (305 mm) guns, and from 40-caliber to 45-caliber 6-inch (152 mm) guns. The 12-inch guns could be loaded at any bearing and elevation, and a split hoist beneath the turrets with a working chamber beneath the guns reduced the chance of a cordite
fire spreading from the turret to the shell and powder handling rooms and to the magazines.
The Formidables and Londons had an improved hull form that endowed better handling at high speeds than the Majestics. They also had inward-turning screws, which allowed reduced fuel consumption and slightly higher speeds than in previous classes but at the expense of less maneuverability at low speeds.
A change in design from that of the first three Formidables occurred in London and the other four Londons, which is why they are often considered a separate class. The main difference from the first three ships was thinner deck armour and other detail changes to the armour scheme.
Like all predreadnoughts, London was outclassed by the dreadnought
battleships that began to appear in 1906. Like other predreadoughts, however, London took on some first-line duties during the early part of World War I
.
. Before departing home waters, she served as flagship
for the Coronation Review for King Edward VII at Spithead
on 16 August 1902. While in the Mediterranean
, she underwent refits at Malta
in 1902-1903 and 1906.
In March 1907, London transferred to the Nore Division, Home Fleet, at the Nore
, then to the Channel Fleet
on 2 June 1908, serving as Flagship, Rear Admiral, Channel Fleet. She underwent a refit at Chatham Dockyard
in 1908, and paid off there on 19 April 1909 to undergo an extensive refit.
Her refit complete, London commissioned at Chatham on 8 February 1910 to serve as Second Flagship
, Rear Admiral
, Atlantic Fleet. Under the fleet reorganization of 1 May 1912, she became part of the Second Home Fleet at the Nore, reduced to a nucleus crew and assigned to the 3rd Battle Squadron. She collided with the merchant steamer SS Don Benite on 11 May 1912. She transferred to the 5th Battle Squadron
and was used in experiments with flying off aircraft from May 1912 until 1913, employing a ramp built over her forecastle
which had been transferred from the battleship Hibernia
. During these experiments, Commander Charles Rumney Samson
-- who had made the worlds first takeoff from a moving ship in May 1912 from Hibernia using a Short Improved S.27 biplane
and the same ramp—repeated his feat by taking off in the same airplane from London on 4 July 1912 while London was underway.
in August 1914, the 5th Battle Squadron was assigned to the Channel Fleet
and based at Portland. Their first task was to escort the British Expeditionary Forceacross the English Channel. A number of experimental paint schemes were tried during the first month of the war but these were quickly abandoned in favour of battleship grey.
It was briefly planned to deploy the squadron to replace the ships lost during the Action of 22 September 1914
but the orders to transfer to the Medway were rescinded.
The squadron transferred to Sheerness
on 14 November 1914 to guard against a possible German invasion. While there HMS London was present when HMS Bulwark
exploded and London's crew joined in the attempts to rescue survivors. The enquiry into the explosion was carried out aboard HMS London.
The squadron returned to Portland on 30 December 1914.
for service in the Dardanelles Campaign
. She joined the British Dardanelles Squadron at Lemnos
on 23 March 1915, and supported the main landings at Gaba Tepe and Anzac Cove
on 25 April 1915.
, HMS Queen
, and HMS Prince of Wales
, was transferred to the 2nd Detached Squadron, organized to reinforce the Italian Navy
in the Adriatic Sea
when Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary
. She was based at Taranto
, Italy, and underwent a refit at Gibraltar
in October 1915 during her Adriatic service.
In October 1916, London returned to the United Kingdom, paid off at Devonport Dockyard
to provide crews for antisubmarine vessels, and was laid up. While inactive, she underwent a refit in 1916-1917.
and began conversion to a minelayer
. The conversion included removal of all four of her 12-inch (305-mm) guns and her antitorpedo nets, replacement of her after main-battery turret with a 6-inch (152-mm) gun, and installation of minelaying equipment on her quarterdeck
, including rails for 240 mines
, and of a canvas
screen to conceal the entire quarterdeck from external view. The conversion was completed in April 1918, and on 18 May 1918 London recommissioned at Rosyth for service in the Grand Fleet's 1st Minelaying Squadron. Before the war ended on 11 November 1918, London had laid 2,640 mines in the Northern Mine Barrage.
. As part of a post-war fleet organization, she was assigned to the 3rd Fleet there.
Formidable class battleship
The Royal Navy's Formidable class battleships was an eight-ship class of pre-dreadnoughts designed by Sir William White and built in the late 1890s...
battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
in the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, often considered to be part of the London class or subclass
Formidable class battleship
The Royal Navy's Formidable class battleships was an eight-ship class of pre-dreadnoughts designed by Sir William White and built in the late 1890s...
.
Technical Description
HMS London was laid down at Portsmouth Dockyard on 8 December 1898, launched on 21 September 1899, and completed in June 1902.Like the first three Formidable-class ships, London and her four London-class sisters were similar in appearance to the Majestic
Majestic class battleship
The Majestic class was a class of pre-dreadnought battleships, built under the Spencer Programme of 8 December 1893, that sought to counter the growing naval strength of France and the Russian Empire...
and Canopus
Canopus class battleship
The Canopus class was a group of six pre-dreadnought battleships of the Royal Navy which were designed by Sir William White for use in the Far East and entered service between 1899 and 1902. The lead ship was which was followed by , , , and...
classes that preceded them, and had the same armament. The Formidables and Londons are often described as improved Majestics, but in design they were effectively enlarged Canopuses. While the Canopus class took advantage of the greater strength of the Krupp armour
Krupp armour
Krupp armour was a type of steel armour used in the construction of capital ships starting shortly before the end of the 19th century. It was developed by Germany's Krupp Arms Works in 1893 and quickly replaced Harvey armour as the primary method of protecting naval ships.The initial manufacturing...
employed in their construction to allow the ships to remain the same size as the heavier Majestics, devoting more to higher speed and less to armour without sacrificing protection; the Formidables' and Londons' Krupp armour was used to improve protection without reducing the size of the ships. The Formidables and Londons were thus larger than the two preceding classes, and enjoyed greater protection than the Majestics combined with the higher speed of the Canopus class. The armour scheme of the Formidables and Londons was similar to that of the Canopuses, but the armour belt ran all the way to the stern and measured 215 feet (65.5 m) long, 15 feet (4.8 m) deep and 9 inches (229 mm) thick, tapering at the stem to 12 feet (3.7 m) deep and 3 inches (76.2 mm) thick; and at the stern to 8 feet (2.4 m) deep and 1.5 inches (38.1 mm) thick. The main battery turrets had 10 inches (254 mm) of Krupp armour on their sides and 8 inches (203 mm) on their backs.
The Formidables and Londons improved on the main and secondary armament of previous classes, being upgunned from 35-caliber to 40-caliber 12-inch (305 mm) guns, and from 40-caliber to 45-caliber 6-inch (152 mm) guns. The 12-inch guns could be loaded at any bearing and elevation, and a split hoist beneath the turrets with a working chamber beneath the guns reduced the chance of a cordite
Cordite
Cordite is a family of smokeless propellants developed and produced in the United Kingdom from 1889 to replace gunpowder as a military propellant. Like gunpowder, cordite is classified as a low explosive because of its slow burning rates and consequently low brisance...
fire spreading from the turret to the shell and powder handling rooms and to the magazines.
The Formidables and Londons had an improved hull form that endowed better handling at high speeds than the Majestics. They also had inward-turning screws, which allowed reduced fuel consumption and slightly higher speeds than in previous classes but at the expense of less maneuverability at low speeds.
A change in design from that of the first three Formidables occurred in London and the other four Londons, which is why they are often considered a separate class. The main difference from the first three ships was thinner deck armour and other detail changes to the armour scheme.
Like all predreadnoughts, London was outclassed by the dreadnought
Dreadnought
The dreadnought was the predominant type of 20th-century battleship. The first of the kind, the Royal Navy's had such an impact when launched in 1906 that similar battleships built after her were referred to as "dreadnoughts", and earlier battleships became known as pre-dreadnoughts...
battleships that began to appear in 1906. Like other predreadoughts, however, London took on some first-line duties during the early part of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Pre-World War I
HMS London commissioned at Portsmouth Dockyard on 7 June 1902 for service in the Mediterranean FleetMediterranean Fleet
Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...
. Before departing home waters, she served as flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
for the Coronation Review for King Edward VII at Spithead
Spithead
Spithead is an area of the Solent and a roadstead off Gilkicker Point in Hampshire, England. It is protected from all winds, except those from the southeast...
on 16 August 1902. While in the Mediterranean
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
, she underwent refits at Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
in 1902-1903 and 1906.
In March 1907, London transferred to the Nore Division, Home Fleet, at the Nore
Nore
The Nore is a sandbank at the mouth of the Thames Estuary, England. It marks the point where the River Thames meets the North Sea, roughly halfway between Havengore Creek in Essex and Warden Point in Kent....
, then to the Channel Fleet
Channel Fleet
The Channel Fleet was the Royal Navy formation of warships that defended the waters of the English Channel from 1690 to 1909.-History:The Channel Fleet dates back at least to 1690 when its role was to defend England against the French threat under the leadership of Edward Russell, 1st Earl of...
on 2 June 1908, serving as Flagship, Rear Admiral, Channel Fleet. She underwent a refit at Chatham Dockyard
Chatham Dockyard
Chatham Dockyard, located on the River Medway and of which two-thirds is in Gillingham and one third in Chatham, Kent, England, came into existence at the time when, following the Reformation, relations with the Catholic countries of Europe had worsened, leading to a requirement for additional...
in 1908, and paid off there on 19 April 1909 to undergo an extensive refit.
Her refit complete, London commissioned at Chatham on 8 February 1910 to serve as Second Flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
, Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
, Atlantic Fleet. Under the fleet reorganization of 1 May 1912, she became part of the Second Home Fleet at the Nore, reduced to a nucleus crew and assigned to the 3rd Battle Squadron. She collided with the merchant steamer SS Don Benite on 11 May 1912. She transferred to the 5th Battle Squadron
British 5th Battle Squadron
The British 5th Battle Squadron was a squadron consisting of battleships. The 5th Battle Squadron was initially part of the Royal Navy's Home Fleet. During the First World War, the Home Fleet was renamed the Grand Fleet.-August 1914:...
and was used in experiments with flying off aircraft from May 1912 until 1913, employing a ramp built over her forecastle
Forecastle
Forecastle refers to the upper deck of a sailing ship forward of the foremast, or the forward part of a ship with the sailors' living quarters...
which had been transferred from the battleship Hibernia
HMS Hibernia (1905)
HMS Hibernia was a King Edward VII-class predreadnought battleship of Britain's Royal Navy. Like all ships of the class she was named after an important part of the British Empire, namely Ireland....
. During these experiments, Commander Charles Rumney Samson
Charles Rumney Samson
Air Commodore Charles Rumney Samson CMG, DSO & Bar, AFC was a British naval aviation pioneer. He also operated the first British armoured vehicles in combat...
-- who had made the worlds first takeoff from a moving ship in May 1912 from Hibernia using a Short Improved S.27 biplane
Biplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...
and the same ramp—repeated his feat by taking off in the same airplane from London on 4 July 1912 while London was underway.
World War I
Upon the outbreak of World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in August 1914, the 5th Battle Squadron was assigned to the Channel Fleet
Channel Fleet
The Channel Fleet was the Royal Navy formation of warships that defended the waters of the English Channel from 1690 to 1909.-History:The Channel Fleet dates back at least to 1690 when its role was to defend England against the French threat under the leadership of Edward Russell, 1st Earl of...
and based at Portland. Their first task was to escort the British Expeditionary Forceacross the English Channel. A number of experimental paint schemes were tried during the first month of the war but these were quickly abandoned in favour of battleship grey.
It was briefly planned to deploy the squadron to replace the ships lost during the Action of 22 September 1914
Action of 22 September 1914
The Action of 22 September 1914 was a naval engagement that took place during the First World War, in which three Royal Navy cruisers were sunk by one German submarine while on patrol. Approximately 1450 sailors were killed, and there was a public outcry at the losses...
but the orders to transfer to the Medway were rescinded.
The squadron transferred to Sheerness
Sheerness
Sheerness is a town located beside the mouth of the River Medway on the northwest corner of the Isle of Sheppey in north Kent, England. With a population of 12,000 it is the largest town on the island....
on 14 November 1914 to guard against a possible German invasion. While there HMS London was present when HMS Bulwark
HMS Bulwark (1899)
HMS Bulwark belonged to a sub-class of the Formidable-class of pre-dreadnought battleships of the Royal Navy known as the London-class.-Technical description:...
exploded and London's crew joined in the attempts to rescue survivors. The enquiry into the explosion was carried out aboard HMS London.
The squadron returned to Portland on 30 December 1914.
Dardanelles campaign
On 19 March 1915, London was transferred to the DardanellesDardanelles
The Dardanelles , formerly known as the Hellespont, is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with its counterpart the Bosphorus. It is located at approximately...
for service in the Dardanelles Campaign
Naval operations in the Dardanelles Campaign
The naval operations in the Dardanelles Campaign of the First World War were mainly carried out by the Royal Navy with substantial support from the French and minor contributions from Russia and Australia. The Dardanelles Campaign began as a purely naval operation...
. She joined the British Dardanelles Squadron at Lemnos
Lemnos
Lemnos is an island of Greece in the northern part of the Aegean Sea. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within the Lemnos peripheral unit, which is part of the North Aegean Periphery. The principal town of the island and seat of the municipality is Myrina...
on 23 March 1915, and supported the main landings at Gaba Tepe and Anzac Cove
Anzac Cove
Anzac Cove is a small cove on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey. It became famous as the site of World War I landing of the ANZAC on April 25, 1915. The cove is a mere long, bounded by the headlands of Ari Burnu to the north and Little Ari Burnu, known as Hell Spit, to the south...
on 25 April 1915.
Mediterranean operations
London, along with battleships HMS ImplacableHMS Implacable (1899)
HMS Implacable was a Formidable-class battleship of the British Royal Navy, the second ship of the name.-Technical Description:HMS Implacable was laid down at Devonport Dockyard on 13 July 1898 and launched on 11 March 1899 in a very incomplete state to clear the building way for construction of...
, HMS Queen
HMS Queen (1902)
HMS Queen was a London or Queen class battleship, a sub-class of the Formidable class battleships of the British Royal Navy, and the tenth Royal Navy ship to bear the name.-Construction and design:...
, and HMS Prince of Wales
HMS Prince of Wales (1902)
HMS Prince of Wales was a London- or Queen-class predreadnought battleship, a sub-class of the Formidable-class battleships of the British Royal Navy...
, was transferred to the 2nd Detached Squadron, organized to reinforce the Italian Navy
Italian Navy
Italian Navy may refer to:* Pre-unitarian navies of the Italian states* Regia Marina, the Royal Navy of the Kingdom of Italy * Italian Navy , the navy of the Italian Republic...
in the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
when Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
. She was based at Taranto
Taranto
Taranto is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto and is an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base....
, Italy, and underwent a refit at Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
in October 1915 during her Adriatic service.
In October 1916, London returned to the United Kingdom, paid off at Devonport Dockyard
HMNB Devonport
Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport , is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy . HMNB Devonport is located in Devonport, in the west of the city of Plymouth in Devon, England...
to provide crews for antisubmarine vessels, and was laid up. While inactive, she underwent a refit in 1916-1917.
Minelaying operations
In February 1918, London moved to RosythRosyth
Rosyth is a town located on the Firth of Forth, three miles south of the centre of Dunfermline. According to an estimate taken in 2008, the town has a population of 12,790....
and began conversion to a minelayer
Minelayer
Minelaying is the act of deploying explosive mines. Historically this has been carried out by ships, submarines and aircraft. Additionally, since World War I the term minelayer refers specifically to a naval ship used for deploying naval mines...
. The conversion included removal of all four of her 12-inch (305-mm) guns and her antitorpedo nets, replacement of her after main-battery turret with a 6-inch (152-mm) gun, and installation of minelaying equipment on her quarterdeck
Quarterdeck
The quarterdeck is that part of a warship designated by the commanding officer for official and ceremonial functions. In port, the quarterdeck is the most important place on the ship, and is the central control point for all its major activities. Underway, its importance diminishes as control of...
, including rails for 240 mines
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
, and of a canvas
Canvas
Canvas is an extremely heavy-duty plain-woven fabric used for making sails, tents, marquees, backpacks, and other items for which sturdiness is required. It is also popularly used by artists as a painting surface, typically stretched across a wooden frame...
screen to conceal the entire quarterdeck from external view. The conversion was completed in April 1918, and on 18 May 1918 London recommissioned at Rosyth for service in the Grand Fleet's 1st Minelaying Squadron. Before the war ended on 11 November 1918, London had laid 2,640 mines in the Northern Mine Barrage.
Post-World War I
In January 1919, London was reduced to reserve at Devonport as a depot shipDepot ship
A depot ship is a ship which acts as a mobile or fixed base for other ships and submarines or supports a naval base. Depot ships may be specifically designed for their purpose or be converted from another purpose...
. As part of a post-war fleet organization, she was assigned to the 3rd Fleet there.