invincible class battlecruiser invincible class battlecruisers built royal_navy entered service world battlecruisers admiral sir john fisher man sponsored construction world big gun warship new breed warship armoured cruiser battleship armament high speed combination allow chase ships allowing run powerful designs design philosophy prove successful able use speed run smaller weaker ships classic example invincible sank german armoured cruisers sms virtually loss despite numerous hits german ships successful standing main line battle faced enemy battleships example loss invincible magazine explosion battle jutland explosion owed flaws british ammunition handling practices exposed numerous charges fire turret flaws design ship surviving ships uneventful time rest war conducting patrols north_sea high_seas_fleet forbidden risk losses reserve early sold scrapping december design admiral fisher appointed sea lord october pushed early december decision arm armoured cruiser inch guns speed knots mph shortly convened committee designs investigate report requirements future ships nominally independent served decisions criticism fisher ability consider options decided admiralty fisher appointed members committee president committee meeting february decided outline design fast armoured cruiser turn approved board march minor changes reduction anti torpedo boat armament eighteen guns general characteristics invincible class ships formally known armoured cruisers redesignated battlecruisers admiralty order november unofficially number designations including cruiser battleship dreadnought cruiser battle cruiser significantly larger armoured cruiser predecessors class overall length beam draft deep load displaced long tons load long tons deep load nearly long tons earlier ships propulsion early design process thought power ships traditional vertical triple expansion steam engines persuaded adopt parsons steam turbines required fewer boilers power easier protect damage compact engines kept waterline addition significantly lighter reliable older design direct drive turbines use significant ran relatively high speed required small diameter fine pitch propellers large blade area adversely affected low speeds parsons problem suggestion fitting powerful astern turbines shafts increase reversing turbines needed additional solution fit twin balanced inner shaft contrast single central rudder earlier ships greatly increased effectiveness rudder substantially decreased turning circle comparison earlier ships size paired sets parsons turbines housed separate engine rooms set consisted high pressure ahead astern turbine driving shaft low pressure ahead astern turbine driving inner shaft cruising turbine coupled inner shaft eventually disconnected shaft drove propeller feet diameter turbines designed produce total shaft horsepower reached nearly shp trials designed speed knots knots trials maintained average speed knots days passage north_atlantic august steam plant consisted yarrow invincible large tube boilers arranged boiler rooms maximum approximately long tons coal additional long tons fuel oil sprayed coal increase burn rate fuel capacity ships steam nautical miles speed knots armament carried inch guns powered twin turrets invincible mounted guns electrically driven turrets turrets mounted fore aft identified respectively turrets mounted amidships second funnels identified turret mounted port normally faced forward turret mounted starboard normally faced aft turrets forward enabling fire limited arc starboard likewise fire limited arc port guns mounted british hms dreadnought lord nelson class class brief period firepower nations battleships guns initially depressed elevated turrets modified allow elevation world war fired pound projectiles muzzle velocity provided maximum range armour piercing shells elevation range extended aerodynamic slightly heavier shells rate fire guns rounds minute ships total rounds wartime shells gun ships secondary armament initially intended consist eighteen inch guns firing trials old destroyer showed gun little chance stopping destroyer torpedo boat got close fire torpedoes originally intended pounder guns exchanged sixteen guns early construction process positioned superstructure turret roofs open mounts expected manned ship ship engagement daylight turret roof guns transferred superstructure total number guns reduced remaining guns enclosed casemates given blast shields time better protect gun crews weather enemy action guns mounts maximum depression maximum elevation fired pound projectiles muzzle velocity provided maximum range common pointed shells rate fire rounds minute guns replaced inch guns elevate fired pound shells muzzle velocity maximum range rate fire rounds minute iii guns replaced inch vii guns guns elevate fired pound shells muzzle velocity gave maximum range rate fire rounds minute additional gun fitted april anti aircraft gun mounted high angle mounting maximum elevation reduced charge muzzle velocity earlier anti aircraft guns included pounder hotchkiss gun high angle mounting maximum elevation invincible carried theirs november august fired pound projectiles muzzle velocity rate fire rounds minute provided maximum range maximum effective anti aircraft range fitted single inch cwt gun high angle mount aft end superstructure maximum depression maximum elevation fired pound shell muzzle velocity rate fire rounds minute maximum effective ceiling gray quote additional seven maxim guns confirmed inch submerged torpedo tubes mounted stern fourteen torpedoes carried fire control spotting tops head fore main masts controlled fire main guns data foot rangefinder input mechanical computer electrically transmitted vickers range located station located beneath spotting converted range data use guns target data recorded plotting table assist gunnery officer predicting movement target gun turret transmission equipment turrets spotting tops connected combination firing trials hero revealed system vulnerability gunfire spotting hit twice large splinter severed voice pipe running mast guard possibility turret fitted foot rangefinder rear turret roof equipped control entire main armament fire control technology advanced quickly years immediately preceding world war development advance combined functions range clock simplified version fitted important development director firing system consisted fire control director mounted high ship electrically provided gun data turrets turret crewmen follow director officer fired guns simultaneously aided spotting shell effects roll shells invincible battlecruiser receive system refit april august installation interrupted outbreak war fully working battle november didn receive systems immediately battle jutland protection armour protection given waterline belt measured inches amidships slightly half thickness dreadnought inches belt inches thick roughly fore aft inch gun turrets reduced inches fore turret bow extend aft rear turret inch bulkhead met barbette turret fully armoured citadel gun turrets barbettes protected armour turret roofs cemented armour thickness main deck base barbettes crown base rear conning tower crown base forward conning tower lower deck armour flat inches thick slope aft rear turret increased protect steering gear sides forward conning tower thick rear walls rear conning tower inches thick roof floor conning towers armour inches thick communication tubes signal tower immediately aft forward conning tower inches mild steel torpedo bulkheads inch thickness fitted abreast magazines shell rooms krupp cemented armour mentioned aircraft surviving carried flying ramps fitted turrets platform canvas hangar protect aircraft weather construction ordered time dreadnought naval programme following table gives build details purchase cost members invincible class whilst standard british practice time costs exclude armament stores reason cost quoted class includes armament estimated cost including guns early career ships entered service second half initially invincible assigned home_fleet took prince wales later king george celebrations canada joining home_fleet invincible electrically driven turrets proved failure despite lengthy converted hydraulic power refit early enormous cost situation bad gunnery trials october captain royal_navy gunnery school described operation order given train turret elevate run gun necessary push button switch result flash blue flame fill turret invincible england newer formed nucleus mediterranean_fleet served flagship november mediterranean naval action world war took place british pursued german warships outbreak war world war accompanied command admiral sir encountered battlecruiser light cruiser morning august headed east bombardment french port britain germany war turned shadow germans headed battlecruisers problems boilers able break contact reached morning 5th time war declared german invasion belgium admiralty order respect italian neutrality stay outside mile limit italian coast entrance passage observe port directly stationed northern exit expecting germans break west attack french troop transports light cruiser gloucester southern exit sent better positioned react german sortie germans sortied august headed east constantinople trailed gloucester expecting turn west kept battlecruisers malta shortly midnight august set sail knots spotted hours earlier received incorrect signal admiralty stating britain war austria war declared august order hours later followed standing orders guard adriatic austrian break attempt seek finally august given clear orders chase passed 7th steering north east believe heading dardanelles resolved guard exit unaware intend come remained mediterranean blockade dardanelles ordered home august november churchill ordered british attack dardanelles following opening hostilities turkey russia attack carried french pre dreadnought battleships intention attack test fortifications measure turkish response results encouraging minute bombardment single shell struck magazine fort tip gallipoli peninsula displacing destroying guns killing turkish soldiers significant consequence attention turks drawn strengthening defences set expanding field attack actually took place formal declaration war britain ottoman_empire didn happen november ordered return england december joined 2nd battle bight invincible action battlecruiser force command admiral battle bight operation august ships originally intended distant support british cruisers destroyers closer german coast case large units high_seas_fleet sortied response british attacks turned south speed british light forces failed schedule rising tide meant german capital ships able clear bar mouth jade estuary brand new light cruiser crippled earlier battle fire light cruisers battlecruisers mist able duck evade fire remained visible quickly crippled fire squadron distracted task finishing sudden appearance elderly light cruiser directly turned pursuit reduced hulk range yards turned north general signal retire time invincible trailing main body battlecruisers opened fire fired rounds misses main body encountered crippled shortly turning north sunk lion rear admiral destroyed german german commanded admiral november response admiralty ordered squadron sent destroy germans squadron command admiral sir consisted invincible flag departed november cruisers rocks coast brazil 26th departed following day reached port stanley morning december making voyage atlantic wished destroy radio station port stanley sent armoured cruiser light cruiser harbour clear british warships morning december spotted pre dreadnought grounded defend town wireless station didn receive signal little expecting engagement ships furthermore armoured cruiser cornwall light cruiser bristol engines repair armed merchant cruiser patrolling outer harbour entrance armoured cruiser kent anchored outer harbour scheduled relieve germans weren expecting resistance guns caused sheer planned bombardment wireless station fall main body ships didn sortie harbour retreating german ships southwest horizon fresh dry dock knots mph advantage ships bottoms limited speeds knots mph best light cruiser ships opened fire range dropped yards invincible opened fire shortly ships began leipzig range closed yards ordered squadron separate ordered light cruisers turn southwest armoured cruisers turned north east cover retreat german ships opened fire scored hit sms hit invincible shell burst belt armour sides fired rapidly half hour engagement opened range little ships outside effective range german guns british gunnery poor period scoring hits rounds fired primary cause smoke guns funnels british germans gun invincible turret jammed action thirty minutes turned south hope british vision obscured opened range yards british saw course change futile british battlecruisers gave chase knots mph minutes later british opened fire yards minutes later turned east battle time strategy close range british ships bring secondary armament play successful guns able open fire maximum elevation course smoke bothered sides multiple hits regardless germans failed detonate hit insignificant area contrary starboard engine room action ordered ships wakes gain advantage turned northwest attempt cross british actually bring undamaged starboard guns bear port action british continued hit regularly time ceased fire survivors slowed earlier damage battered hour half invincible ranges yards despite damage crew continued fire ceased firing ready order cease fire ammunition freed shot british continued pound captain given order slowly capsized british able rescue men invincible fired inch shells respectively battle hit times invincible hit times bow compartments flooded hit waterline abreast turret flooded coal bunker temporarily given list man killed wounded aboard battlecruisers battle january force german battlecruisers command admiral sortied clear british fishing boats small craft collect intelligence german movements british reading coded messages sailed intercept larger force british battlecruisers command admiral included contact initiated 24th british light cruiser spotted german light cruiser sms germans spotted force hipper ordered turn south knots mph believing ships saw northwest british battleships increased speed maximum speed knots mph british battlecruisers ordered battlecruisers speed catch germans escape managed exceed knots mph recognised performance signal despite achievement slowest ships gradually fell newer faster battlecruisers heavily damaged fire battlecruisers speed dropped knots mph steering gear jammed ordered attack combination mistake flag lieutenant signalling heavy damage flagship lion knocked radio caused smoke obscure signal couldn communicate ships rest battlecruisers turned away hipper main body engaged fired shells capsized sank end battle ordered tow lion port engines knocked failing number times beneath waterline took day half speeds knots battle invincible repaired refitted gibraltar invincible sailed england joined arrived dardanelles january replaced flagship mediterranean_fleet bombarded turkish fortifications february start little effect march results line british ships march attempted suppress turkish guns minefields swept moderately damaged turkish gunfire seriously damaged probably size blew large hole starboard bow flooded forward torpedo flat drowning men beached island prevent sinking taken long tons water temporarily repaired feet hole sailed malta escorted april nearly worked loose heavy weather route towed stern hours repaired repair malta early june sailed home reached june joined 3rd end year british battlecruiser force organised squadrons 3rd consisting invincible class ships command rear admiral hood invincible 1st 3rd sortied response german bombardment april failed locate german ships heavy weather return home invincible rammed patrol yacht bow embedded invincible partially invincible speed reduced knots mph flooding forced haul line proceed independently repairs lasted battle jutland end 3rd battlecruiser squadron temporarily assigned grand_fleet gunnery practice entire grand_fleet admiral battlecruisers ordered sea prepare excursion german high seas fleet support rear admiral hood took battlecruisers ahead grand_fleet invincible intercepted radio message british light cruiser attached reporting sighting enemy cruisers reports seven enemy ships steering north hood interpreted attempt escape ordered increase speed steered east southeast cut fleeing ships minutes later invincible intercepted message reporting enemy battlecruisers sight later signals reporting engaging enemy south easterly course hood ordered speed course south southeast attempt converge british ships sight hood requested course position speed received reply hood continued course gunfire spotted direction light cruiser chester dispatched investigate gunfire flashes chester encountered light cruisers hipper badly damaged hood turned investigate able drive german cruisers away chester invincible opened fire followed minutes later german ships turned south firing torpedoes attempted find shelter mist turned invincible hit engine room knocked engines hit escorted light cruiser destroyers 2nd 9th 12th half flotilla attacked 3rd succession driven hood remaining light cruiser canterbury destroyers escort confused action germans launched torpedoes disabled destroyer shark gunfire having turned west close ships broadside oncoming torpedoes invincible turned north turned south present profile torpedoes torpedoes missed passed underneath invincible turned north helm jammed come stop fix problem quickly squadron reformed heading west grand fleet hood turned south lead battlecruisers hipper battlecruisers yards away immediately opened fire hipper flagship hit times quickly took hits lion invincible including hits waterline forward invincible ultimately doom invincible abruptly appeared clear target german ships fired invincible sank seconds inch shell struck invincible turret flash detonated magazines ship blew broke killing crew officers men including rear admiral hood remained company rest battle encountered hipper battlecruisers yards away sun setting opened fire hit times battlecruisers rescued pre dreadnought battleships british shifted fire new threat hit able turn career loss battlecruisers jutland led force reorganised squadrons 2nd jutland little significant naval activity routine patrolling thanks kaiser order ships allowed sea assured victory end war saw end older vessels remaining invincible class ships sent paid march end war chile began seeking additional ships navy april chile bought canada destroyers ordered chile prior war outbreak british war planned expansion included secret negotiations acquire leaked press major erupted chile visible came block officers navy publicly opposed possible purchase instead promoted new navy acquire submarines aircraft argued weapons cost country lengthy coastline better protection external threats ships bought reasons cost aircraft supporters hoping sold scrap december
Invincible-class battlecruiser