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NELSON (September 3rd, 1925) |
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| Displacement: | 33,950 tons (Nelson), 33,900 tons (Rodney), (full load, about 38,000 tons). |
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| Complement: | as flagship, 1361; as private ship, 1314. In wartime, 1640 |
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| Length: | (pp.) 660 feet, (w.l.) 702 feet |
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| Beam: | 106 feet |
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| Draught: | 30 feet |
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| Guns: | 9 - 16 inch. 12 - 6 inch. 6 - 4,7 inch A.A. in Nelson 8 - 4 inch AA. in Rodney 16 - 40 mm. AA. 48 - 2 pdr. pompons 61 - 20_mm. A.A. Torpedo tubes (submerged) 2 - 24,5 inch. |
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| Armour: | Is largely concentrated over guns and magazines in fore part of ship. Internal bulge protection. 14" Belt 16" - 9" Turrets 15" Barbettes 6 1/4" Deck |
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| Machinery: | Brown-Curtis geared turbines. 2 shafts. Boilers: 8 Admiralty 3-drum type (with superheaters). Designes H.P. 45,000=23 kts. Oil fuel: 4,000 tons. Consumption: full speed, 16 tons per hour; cruising speed, 2,7 tons per hour. |
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| General Notes. | Both
laid down under 1922-23 Estimates, the last battleships designed by Sir
E. Tennyson D'Eyncourt while D.N.C. They are reduced editions of the
48,000 ton battle-cruisers ordered in 1921 and cancelled limits which
could not be exceeded, and yet must be approached as closely as
possible, weight estimation and economy was a far more important factor
than in previous designs. The grouping of the main armament forward
allows for a minimum length of armoured citadel with maximum protection
to hull and magazines, and is considered fully to compensate for the
loss of fire astern. The design is therefore peculiar, in that it is
governed more by constructional than tactical principles. By placing
the boiler room abaft the engine rooms smoke interference with the
control positions is obviated. The bridge structure carries 16 inch, 6
inch and 4,7 inch directors, admiral's bridge, torpedo controls,
signalling and navigating bridges, sea cabins and offices. Part of the
material used in these two ships was originally ordered for two battle
cruisers, the construction of which was abandoned in 1919. High freeboard of these ships has proved its value in heavy weather, which makes little difference to their efficiency as compared with earlier designs. A number of scuttles which had been plated over in Nelson were reopened before she proceeded to E. Indies in 1944. Rodney placed in reserve, 1946, pending refit.: |
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| Cost. | Nelson GBP 7,504,055; Rodney GBP 7,617,799. Cost of guns and turret armour approx. GBP 3,000,000; engines, GBP 490,000.
Steering gear is of novel design and rudder can be swung over in 30 secs. At full speed.
Accommodation is on generous lines and all living spaces have natural lighting and ventilation. |
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| Gunnery Notes. | The
first British warships to mount 16-inch guns. Arcs of fire of the 3
turrets reported to be 298, 330 and 250 degrees respectively. Elevation
is 40° and range 35,000 yards. Cost of firing a triple salvo is GBP
700. 6-inch guns have 60° elevation and can be used as AA. They are the
first power worked 6-inch in the service. Special measures have been
taken to protect personnel and instruments form the blast of the after
16-inch guns when fired abaft the beam at full elevation. |
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| Armour | Citadel
belt extends from first 16 inch to aftermost 6 inch turret, with thick
armour deck over same area with specially designed hatches. Underwater
protection is most efficient and the usual external bulges have been
replaced by an alternative system of hull construction developed from a
long series of experiments. |
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| War Service. | Nelson was mined in Dec. 1939; torpedoed in Sept. 1941; and again mined in June 1944. Rodney was with King George V in action with Bismarck in May 1941, when last-named ship was sunk. |
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| This page has been edited from the original with the written consent of Keith Brixworth |
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