hms hms sister ship monitors originally built coastal defence ships respectively purchased norway beginning world war completed launched years earlier engaged targets occupied flanders months war fired shots war targets october target ship attempts sell fallen sold scrap background ordered norway supplement older class class classes coastal defense ships known norway stands armoured ship old norwegian city trondheim world war broke royal_navy warships construction britain foreign powers thirds purchase price paid construction description laid june launched june renamed earlier monitor completion greatly delayed modifications british included modifying boilers use oil coal conversion double tanks carry oil work began january suspended following estimated months work remained allow faster progress large light cruisers building armstrong naval yard september work resumed new design added large anti torpedo hull length suppression torpedo tubes millimetre guns planned large mast fitted single funnel carry directors inch inch guns guns use standard british ammunition mount inch gun modified maximum elevation gave gun maximum range yards addition cost knots mph speed prevented extra weight resulting changes deepening draft finally completed june displaced long tons deep load built length feet beam feet inches maximum main hull beam feet draught feet inches powered vertical triple expansion steam engines developed total indicated horsepower yarrow boilers gave maximum speed knots mph armed inch guns arranged single gun turrets turret fore aft secondary armament consisted inch guns single gun turrets inch turrets positioned superstructure anti aircraft gun mounted center line inch turret carried pounder pounder guns high angle mounts service arrived dover june spent weeks working engagement july fired rounds range yards german battery guns fire control system provoked response german millimetre gun south days later accompanied marshal bombardment spent month half patrol english channel preparing bombardment scheduled end september support major offensive coast september company anchored nmi belgium opened fire bridge belgium range conditions good wind tide stern anchor cable parted swung bow anchor rear turret bear target aircraft available spot little chance hit fired rounds monitors attacked times day german aircraft little effect coast defense batteries attempted engage motor launches supporting operation fired thirteen shells day attempt destroy bridge claimed hit confirmed subsequent observations october repeated experience target batteries fired rounds morning range yards accompanied vice admiral destroyer reconnaissance mission germans holding coast strength fire soon notions contrary forced turn away maximum speed knots mph faster trials hit splinters near misses following day returned original target fired rounds minutes shots war fired german batteries belgian coast sent portsmouth end war available investigate cause sister ship magazine explosion moved devonport temporary tender stone frigate vivid april paid august joined september offered rejected unsuitable requirements especially broad dock attempts sell disarmed target ship evaluate effects bombs underwater near ship effects inch gunfire finally sold scrap august broken naval dockyard
HMS Gorgon (1914)