renown class battlecruiser renown class comprised pair battlecruisers built world war royal_navy originally laid improved versions revenge class battleships construction suspended outbreak war grounds ready timely manner admiral lord fisher sea lord gained approval restart construction battlecruisers built enter service quickly director naval construction quickly produced entirely new design meet admiral lord fisher requirements builders agreed deliver ships months meet ambitious goal delivered months world largest fastest capital ships completion ship class combat world war participated second battle bight ships reconstructed twice wars 1920s reconstruction increased armour protection lesser improvements 1930s reconstruction thorough especially renown accompanied battlecruiser hood round world cruise protected british interests spanish civil war renown frequently conveyed royalty foreign tours served flagship hood ships served second world war searched admiral participated april june searched german battleship sunk december japanese aircraft renown spent assigned escorting convoys fought inconclusive briefly assigned home_fleet provided cover arctic convoys early ship transferred force operation torch spent transporting winston_churchill staff conferences allied leaders early renown transferred indian_ocean supported numerous attacks japanese occupied facilities indonesia island groups indian_ocean ship returned home_fleet early refitted placed reserve end war renown sold scrap genesis improved revenge class battleships battleships naval programme consisted improved revenge class ships named renown resistance member queen elizabeth class called resistance built royal renown awarded design approved improvements revenge class consisted consistent thickness inches protective wing bulkheads enlarged torpedo control tower enlarged conning tower armour rearranged better access protected spotting position bow width keel increased provide rigid structure amidships resist stress docking shell main guns increased rounds gun changes little change size ships comparison predecessors decrease draught feet inches foot inches older ships knots mph slower revenge class ships provided shaft horsepower shp predecessors work ships suspended beginning world war ships built royal cancelled august believed completed end war admiral lord fisher returned office sea lord october began winston_churchill lord admiralty allow convert suspended contracts renown new class battlecruisers capable high speed knots mph churchill argued construction interfere construction programmes absorb resources finished time fisher countered arguing building time minimum dreadnought material ordered battleships possible including inch gun turrets churchill experiences august battle december demonstrate high speed heavy gun power potent combination fisher long held belief viability battlecruiser actions plus pressure admiral commander grand_fleet vice admiral commander caused churchill gain approval cabinet build ships december battlecruisers admiral lord fisher presented requirements new ships december approved wanted long high bow like pre dreadnought higher inch guns twin turrets anti torpedo boat armament inch guns mounted high protected gun shields speed knots oil fuel armour scale battlecruiser days fisher increased number guns added torpedo tubes minor revisions initial estimate december preliminary design completed december following week department examined material delivered battleships decided new design contract transferred lacked long use new ship usable material transferred builders received information department lay ships january altered contracts completed march description general characteristics renown class ships overall length feet inches beam feet inches draught feet inches deep load displaced long tons standard load long tons deep load feet longer predecessor tiger displaced long tons older ship deep load ships proved good sea boats reinforced construction additional pillars forecastle deck cure minor structural problems forward metacentric height feet deep load built complete double propulsion original plan ships use lightweight machinery producing total shaft horsepower required considerable time complete design risk delaying completion ships machinery addition extra boilers provide required power needed additional speed ship paired sets direct drive steam turbines housed separate engine rooms set comprised high pressure ahead astern turbines driving shaft low pressure ahead astern turbines housed driving inner shaft bladed propellers feet inches diameter turbines powered water tube boilers boiler rooms working pressure psi kpa cm2 designed produce total shaft horsepower achieved shp renown trials reached speed knots mph fastest capital ships existence arrival hood designed normally carry long tons fuel oil maximum capacity long tons capacity renown class ships steam speed knots mph nautical miles ships steam driven oil driven turbine driven supplied common ring main volts armament renown class ships mounted calibre inch guns twin powered gun turrets designated rear guns depressed elevated loaded angle loading high angles tended slow gun return battery firing position ships carried shells gun fired pound projectiles muzzle velocity provided maximum range armour piercing shells ships designed seventeen calibre inch mark guns fitted triple single mounts manually powered use required crew thirty men load train triple gun mounts gun rate fire rounds minute kept getting way maximum depression maximum elevation fired pound high explosive shell muzzle velocity maximum elevation guns maximum range yards ships carried rounds gun ship mounted pair inch cwt anti aircraft guns single high angle mounted shelter deck abreast rear funnel gun maximum depression maximum elevation fired pound shell muzzle velocity rate fire rounds minute maximum effective ceiling ships carried torpedoes mounted inch submerged torpedo tubes fitted forward barbette fire control main guns renown class ships controlled fire control directors primary director mounted conning tower armoured hood fore foremast data rangefinder armoured hood input located converted range data use guns target data recorded plotting table assist gunnery officer predicting movement target secondary armament controlled directors mounted platforms mast turret provided foot rangefinder armoured housing turret roof war number size increased renown carried foot turret armoured hood conning tower foot mounted turrets torpedo control tower mainmast armoured hood fore equipped foot rangefinder anti aircraft guns controlled simple inch rangefinder mounted aft superstructure foot mounted bridge armour armour protection renown class ships similar waterline belt krupp cemented armour measured inches thick amidships ran barbette barbette length feet feet high inch armour aft inch armour forward continued belt ends ship reached bow stern enclosed transverse bulkheads thickness length main belt upper belt high steel inches thick intended splinter protection gun turrets inches thick face sides inches thick rear plates roofs inches thick barbettes protected inches armour upper deck inches deck conning tower sides inches thick inch roof walls communication tube inches thick torpedo control tower inch walls inch cast steel roof designed high steel decks ranged inches thickness ships completing extra inch high steel added main deck magazines despite additions ships felt vulnerable fire ship refitted additional horizontal armour weighing approximately long tons added decks magazines steering mechanism renown class ships fitted shallow anti torpedo integral hull intended explode torpedo hit hull proper vent underwater explosion surface ship later testing proved deep accomplish task lacked layers compartments necessary absorb force explosion construction service world war ships spent remainder early hands having armour upgraded conducting routine patrols north_sea assigned 1st duration war relieved lion flagship 1st second battle bight course admiralty concerned german efforts north_sea sweep paths british laid minefields intended restrict actions high_seas_fleet german submarines preliminary raid german forces october light forces destroyed small ships admiralty decided larger operation destroy escorting light cruisers based intelligence reports admiralty decided november light cruiser squadrons 1st covered reinforced 1st renown battleships 1st battle squadron operation german ships light cruisers destroyers divisions filled detonate mines sinking mark swept route spotted rising sun light battlecruiser courageous light cruiser cardiff opened fire forward guns seven minutes later germans responded laying effective smoke screen british continued pursuit lost track smaller ships smoke concentrated fire light cruisers opportunity permitted detached long raced forward speed engage enemy ships opened fire scoring single hit light cruiser sms battle german battleships sms kaiser sms spotted british broke pursuit covered retreat aided heavy fog came september capital ship fitted aircraft flying platforms turrets successfully took platform mounted turret october repeated achievement october turret renown received platforms early december renown sea elements fleet unsuccessful attempt intercept german 3rd half flotilla destroyers destroyed scandinavian convoy escorts rest war ships patrolled north_sea ships present surrender high_seas_fleet flow november inter war service began major refit portsmouth december intended drastically improve armour protection existing inch armour belt replaced inch armour plates surplus conversion battleship originally ordered chile purchased war began aircraft carrier eagle old armour fitted main upper decks new armour belt additional high plating added decks magazines ship anti torpedo deepened reworked lines installed battleship covered hull submerged torpedo room magazine inner compartments filled crushing tubes added feet inches beam foot inches draught refit added long tons displacement raised metacentric height feet deep load foot added torpedo tubes twin mounts upper deck flying platforms removed grand_fleet disbanded april renown assigned june refitted preparation tour canada newfoundland united_states edward prince wales flying platforms removed january march renown refitted extensively royal yacht aft inch mounting inch guns removed extra accommodation deck built large built shelter deck funnels port housed court starboard cinema ship sailed march australia new_zealand entourage aboard stops route returned portsmouth october placed reserve november renown recommissioned september tour india japan sailed portsmouth october ship arrived portsmouth june placed reserve following month ship began reconstruction month lines sister changes based experiences renown main armour belt removed new inch belt installed remaining plates new armour installed feet higher offset increase draught tapered armour fitted underneath main belt shell beneath water surface inches thick inches ship deck armour heavily reinforced adjacent machinery spaces magazines longitudinal bulkheads added upper main decks ran base conning tower end boiler rooms reworked based queen elizabeth class battleships crushing tubes abreast magazines rear triple inch gun mount replaced flying platform turret reinstated high angle control position added fore pair inch guns single inch gun mounts removed replaced inch guns maximum depression maximum elevation fired pound high explosive shell muzzle velocity rate rounds minute guns maximum ceiling effective range reconstruction added long tons ship displacement inches draught recommissioned january joined november hood accompanied number class cruisers 1st set world cruise west east panama canal returned home months later september shortly return ship pair inch guns single inch gun mounts removed replaced inch guns visited lisbon february participate celebrations continuing mediterranean exercises court added starboard funnels tour africa south_america lasted march october return refitted november july added fore renown finished reconstruction september assigned ship detached convey prince albert york australia january july return rejoined renown flagship hood hood role flagship recommissioned renown paid refit high angle control system mark fitted director roof fore replaced high angle rangefinder conning tower platform enlarged accommodate pair pounder gun mounts elevate maximum mark viii pounder gun fired millimetre pound shell muzzle velocity distance yards gun rate fire approximately rounds minute mount initially available director fitted starboard renown triple inch mount removed room aircraft catapult fitted port mark pounder mount finally fitted albeit director year ship carried reconnaissance purposes flying platform removed 1930s completed refit remained commission aside brief refit july september paid june prior beginning reconstruction april existing layers high steel constituted ship horizontal armour replaced non cemented armour plates inches thickness torpedo control tower removed aft superstructure fixed catapult replaced inch triple mount hangar built rear funnel house ship aircraft additional aircraft carried deck catapult electric cranes mounted hangar handle aircraft inch guns moved pair abreast rear funnel level hangar roof pair abreast fore funnel forecastle deck prototype inch dual purpose guns added twin gun mark mounts abreast mainmast pounder mounts fitted extensions conning tower platform abreast fore funnel pair quadruple inch vickers machine gun added mounts elevate maximum machine guns fired bullet muzzle velocity gave gun maximum range effective range received directors fore mark mounted pedestal rear superstructure submerged torpedo tubes removed vacant spaces sub divided turned store rooms renown began thorough reconstruction september based battleship superstructure funnels razed level upper deck masts taken ship main secondary armament removed large splinter proof tower superstructure built topped director control tower main armament directors armoured hood mounted conning tower rear superstructure ship engines boilers replaced parsons geared turbine sets admiralty drum boilers saved long tons weight allowed forward boiler rooms converted inch magazines uses renown deck protection somewhat upgraded adding non cemented armour added earlier protecting new inch magazines built abreast rear funnel catapult fitted rear funnel aft superstructure ship inch gun turrets modified mark standard elevation increased dual purpose inch guns twin replaced inch guns gun turrets abreast forward funnel remaining mounted abreast main mast mounts elevation limits gun fired pound high explosive shell muzzle velocity rate fire rounds minute maximum effective ceiling guns controlled dual purpose directors mounted rear bridge structure remaining aft superstructure fed tracking data analog computer high angle targets control clock mark vii low angle targets gun provided round ammunition pounder mounts fitted platform funnels rear aft superstructure provided director quadruple vickers calibre mounts added forward rear submerged torpedo tubes removed water torpedo tubes added assigned mediterranean_fleet recommissioned april transported refugees france late start spanish civil war ship present sent july maintain order selected convey king queen refitted october march role twin inch guns replaced mark guns additional quadruple calibre mounts added king queen ultimately traveled aboard liner escorted half journey second world war beginning second world war found assigned home_fleet patrolled norwegian coast north_sea search german ships enforce blockade early war aft triple inch mount replaced barrel pounder mount late october transferred halifax aircraft carrier furious protect convoys search german raiders escorted convoy bringing 1st britain mid december reassigned home_fleet ship supported allied operations april june accompanied renown attempted intercept german battleship sailed trondheim germany july ship escorted convoys unsuccessfully searched german ships diverted escorting convoy assist search german battleship break search early running low fuel ship refitted june august received millimetre type surface gunnery radar escorted troop convoy cape good hope august october transferred deter japanese aggression far_east late winston_churchill determined send small group fast capital ships modern aircraft carrier singapore indian_ocean ordered november rendezvous battleship prince wales form carrier supposed join delayed ran aground working caribbean ships escorting destroyers arrived singapore december force departed evening december attempt destroy japanese troop convoys protect army flanks japanese landings rear spotted japanese reconnaissance aircraft following afternoon rest day admiral sir decided cancel operation japanese alerted force turned evening spotted early morning december hours later japanese bombers arrived attacked high altitude slightly damaged bomb hit port hangar second wave consisted torpedo bombers missed scored hit prince wales wave consisted high altitude level bombers missed entirely fourth wave torpedo bombers managed hit amidships port final wave torpedo bombers hit torpedoes ship capsized loss officers men sinking prince wales contributed rapid fall singapore malaya japanese demonstrated dominance air power capital ships backbone naval power renown recommissioned august home_fleet like sister spent september patrolling north_sea transferred force help search pocket battleship admiral ship joined force cape good hope november prevent admiral breaking unsuccessful sank blockade runner december remained admiral scuttled december return home_fleet march ship flagship hood paid refit month renown supported british forces briefly engaged german battleships april renown opened fire hit shells slightly damaged minutes later hit inch inch shells knocked main fire control director damaged rangefinder turret german ships faster renown heavy weather able successfully ship repaired april provided cover evacuation norway early june renown transferred august relieved hood flagship november force covered small aircraft carrier flew hurricane fighters bound malta position south later month force participated inconclusive renown bombarded genoa february little effect renown force escorted convoys inside outside mediterranean march summoned atlantic search force escorted convoy malta july renown returned home repairs month ship transferred home_fleet november repairs complete provided cover convoys soviet_union early march flagship force formed escort carriers carrying fighters flown malta april renown rejoined home_fleet missions completed transferred force october participate returned britain refit february june ship brought winston_churchill staff september conveyed november rejoined home_fleet december time transferred weeks later renown arrived end january flagship 1st battle squadron april participated port oil facilities island sumatra ship bombarded japanese occupied facilities car april renown supported java operation follow attack port blair june july ship bombarded city bombarded facilities october november renown replaced flagship ship began refit december february recalled home waters march remaining german heavy ships final sortie reached april given brief refit concern proved placed reserve renown partially disarmed july inch turrets removed light guns ship hosted meeting king president august route home aboard heavy cruiser decision dispose ship announced january towed scrapping august
Renown-class battlecruiser