An Iron Duke class battleship was one of a series of four British dreadnoughts which were commissioned in 1914. All four saw combat action during World War I. They were heavily armed with ten 13.5-inch (343mm) guns mounted in five twin turrets and well protected by 300mm-thick belt armor. They were HMS Iron Duke, Marlborough, Benbow, and Emperor of India.
The design of the Iron Duke class battleship was based on that of the King George V class. However, her hull was 7.6 m (25 ft) longer than that of the King George V dreadnought, with a slightly wider beam and a deeper draft. They also had identical main armament consisting of ten 343-mm guns set up in five double centerline turrets, but the secondary armament was recast, with a battery of twelve 152-mm (6-inch) guns replacing the less powerful 102mm (4-inch). Ten of the 152-mm guns were placed in single casemates forward and close to the waterline, making them subject to interference from heavy seas and spray.
All four Iron Duke class battleships took part in the Battle of Jutland in 1916. During this naval engagement, HMS Marlborough was torpedoed amidships. The explosion tore out a gaping hole about 21 m long and 6 m deep in her side abreast the boiler room. Then speed had to be reduced to 17 knots, yet she remained in action until a starboard list prevented her guns from bearing on the enemy ships. Next she sailed at 10 knots under her own steam until she reached Humber, where she would be repaired.
After the war, all four dreadnought battleships were in the Gran Fleet in 1919, when they were assigned to the Mediterranean Sea, and, in 1926, they were attached to the Atlantic Fleet. Three of them were sold for scrap in 1932 and 1933. HMS Iron Duke served as a depot ship during World War II, until she was finally scrapped in 1946.
Specifications
Type: dreadnought battleship
Displacement: 25,000 tons (standard); 29,560 tons (full loaded)
Length: 189.8 m (623 ft)
Beam: 27.4 m (90 ft)
Draft: 9 m (29.5 ft)
Propulsion: four Parsons steam turbines, with four shafts, fed by 18 boilers, generating 29,000 HP.
Maximum Speed: 21 knots
Range: 7,780 nautical miles at 10 knots
Crew: 1,102 sailors and officers.
Below, the Iron Duke class battleships, with HMS Benbow spearheading the pack in 1916.
A colorized photo of HMS Emperor of India in 1918.
Below, HMS Iron Duke in 1914.
