HMS Dreadnought
Was HMS Dreadnought part of The Great White Fleet?
In simple terms no it wasn’t. However in previous discussions with regard to the ships involved with this cruise mention was made of the impact of the HMS Dreadnought on naval ships in the pre WW 1 era. To be perfectly honest I had heard of this famous ship but I was blissfully unaware of its true significance in naval history.
Therefore I have attempted in brief the significant facts in relation to this ship.
Photo from US Naval Historical Centre of HMS Dreadnought
1.Her features were so significant they eclipsed all other ships hence all subsequent battleships of the era were generically known as “dreadnoughts” and previous ones disparagingly as “pre dreadnought”.
2.The first ship to have a uniform main battery rather than secondary battery’s of small guns
3.First large battleship to be powered by steam turbines making her the fastest warship of her size
4.Her introduction helped spark a major naval arms race around the world
5.Propulsion Specifications:
Boilers 18 Babcock & Wilcox 3 drum type
4 Parsons geared steam turbines
Power 22,500 shp
Speed 21 knots
Bunkerage 900/2,900 tons coal / 1,120 tons oil
Range 6,620 nautical miles at 10 knots / 4,910 nautical miles at 18.4 knots
6. It was the Parsons steam turbine invented by Charles Algernon Parsons in 1884 which lead to the Dreadnought powerplant and allowed her to outrun any battleship afloat
7. One major innovation was the elimination of longitudinal passageways between compartments below the main deck level
8. Another innovation was the crew arrangement with the Dreadnought’s officers in the forecastle closer to the Bridge and the enlisted personnel aft thereby the crew and officers were closer to their work places
Photo from US Naval Historical Centre of HMS Dreadnought I like the angle of this picture, the wake and state of the water
9. Quick construction HMS Dreadnought was started in October 1905 and launched on 10 February 1906 a total of four months. She went to sea on 30 October 1906 a year and a day after construction started.
Photo from US Naval Historical Centre of HMS Dreadnought showing the launch of the ship I like the paddle steamer and row boats hanging around the launch scene.
10. The Russo–Japanese War had proved only the biggest guns mattered in naval battles at that time and HMS Dreadnought fitted perfectly into that naval strategy of the time.
What was the US response to the HMS Dreadnought and the big gun naval strategy prevalent at the time?
The US influenced by its own William S. Sims was also working on an all big gun design prior to HMS Dreadnought. However they were working a little slower and cautiously. Plans for the USS South Carolina and Michigan were presented to Congress in 1904 and were not authorized until the spring of 1905 and these ships were not laid down until the autumn of 1906 after the HMS Dreadnought had been completed and launched. For example the South Carolina class carried all the main guns in a centerline however they still used the triple expansion machinery, not turbines. The reasoning was that the US required far greater range than greater speed.
There you have it a brief summation of HMS Dreadnought and its significance but please others are welcome to contribute further information and opinions.
The next instalment will cover Admiral Charles Stillman Sperry.
Regards
Sean
