battleship iron duke class group dreadnought battleships built british_royal_navy world war class comprised ships emperor india launched october november class royal_navy super dreadnoughts ships essentially repeats king george class battleships retained inch guns twin gun turrets iron improved armour powerful secondary armament inch weapons instead inch mounted earlier ships ships advanced battleships royal_navy outbreak world war soon surpassed ships queen elizabeth class saw extensive service war grand_fleet acted flagship fleet commander admiral ships present battle jutland emperor india missed battle dock periodic refit class battleships saw limited active duty following end war terms london naval treaty signed reduced training depot ship lasted role scrapped scrapped followed emperor india sunk gunnery target design general characteristics iron duke class ships feet inches metres long overall beam draught increase length width preceding king george class ships iron displaced long tons tonnes tons tonnes heavier preceding king george primarily increase calibre secondary battery ships powered shaft parsons turbines steam provided turbines yarrow boilers engines rated shaft horsepower delivered speed knots mph sisters fuel storage capacity long tons coal long tons oil enabled maximum range nautical miles cruising speed mph armament primary battery iron duke class ships mounted main battery inch guns twin gun turrets mounted turrets placed superfiring pair forward turrets turret amidships turret directly funnels superfiring pair aft rear superstructure turrets gun houses turrets weighed tons tonnes allowed depression elevation despite range time construction graduated degrees super allow elevation guns issued time forward aft gun turrets train direction limited range engage targets arc centerline beam ship guns rate fire rounds minute gun fired variety shells including high explosive armour piercing rounds weighed guns loaded charges weighed stored silk bags provided muzzle velocity meters second maximum elevation guns range yards maximum effective elevation range somewhat shorter approximately range gun penetrate krupp cemented steel armour type contemporary german dreadnoughts secondary battery secondary battery consisted inch vii guns mounted casemates hull forward superstructure guns chosen inch guns earlier battleships deemed weak short range effectively combat torpedo boats newer powerful torpedoes admiral opposed idea increasing secondary battery retired post sea lord result designed received larger inch gun guns fired shells rate minute shells fired muzzle velocity mps guns capable higher reduced order performance inch guns royal_navy service range calculations guns calibre guns elevate enabled maximum range significant problems guns early equipped plates designed close opening heavy seas plates easily washed away water easily entered ship caused significant flooding problem compounded fact mounted low hull subjected heavier pounding rough seas problem eventually corrected addition dwarf bulkheads gun houses rubber seals plates armament british battleship mounted anti aircraft weaponry guns fitted aft superstructure primarily defend german guns fired rounds minute expected fire approximately shells replacement repair necessary shells fired high explosive manually operated maximum effective ceiling customary capital ships period iron duke class ships equipped submerged torpedo tubes ships carried tubes beam launched torpedoes carried tnt speed settings mph mph knots range range considerably reduced armour iron duke class battleships armour belt thick central area ship ammunition magazines machinery spaces vital parts ship located belt tapered bow stern barbettes contained main gun turrets sides rear shells likely hit turrets thick sides ships armoured deck thick battle jutland tonnes armour added ships primarily deck main battery turrets increase bulkheads ammunition magazines construction laid january launched exactly months later october fitting work commenced finished march commissioned flagship admiral second ship class built followed nearly weeks laid january launched october fitting work proceeded somewhat slower ship wasn finished june laid months older sisters launched november completed october emperor india battleships originally ordered delhi laid vickers day launched november completed november ships commissioning assigned home_fleet fleet flagship outbreak world war royal_navy reorganized home_fleet atlantic fleet combined form grand_fleet retained position fleet flagship ship took major fleet actions ended combat sortie resulted battle jutland jutland assigned 4th battle squadron stationed centre british line following end war transferred mediterranean_fleet ship operated black_sea support white russians russian civil war mandated removed active roster remained fleet short time having transferred duty assignment lasted years removed active service training ship gun turrets good deal armour removed speed reduced mph removal boilers later depot ship scapa_flow starting outbreak second world war year remaining guns removed shore defences luftwaffe bombers attacked october scored direct hits near misses caused significant damage repairs effected ship resumed duties depot vessel end war finally sold scrapping heavily engaged ship class battle jutland fired total heavy calibre shells total entire class assigned 6th division 1st battle squadron rear british line served flagship vice admiral cecil battle hit torpedo amidships torpedo tore hole despite damage able position line speed reduced mph continued fire main guns list increased point prevented guns effectively employed ship eventually withdrew undertook months repairs post war joined mediterranean remained transferred tour duty lasted point withdrawn active duty ship sold scrapping like sisters assigned grand_fleet duration world war assigned 4th battle squadron december flagship admiral commander 4th battle squadron battle jutland directly ahead admiral commanded fleet sister battle ship remained undamaged like transferred mediterranean provided artillery support white russian forces black_sea followed stricken sold scrap emperor india emperor india assigned 4th battle squadron december missed jutland dock periodic refit end war transferred mediterranean ships class emperor india returned england refit resumed duties mediterranean likewise joined alongside sisters stricken instead scrapped gunnery target sunk raised shortly sold ship breakers february
Iron Duke-class battleship