The Bellerophon-class battleship was one of a series of three British dreadnought battleships, which were in service with the Royal Navy between 1909 and 1921. The class consisted of the HMS Bellerophon, HMS Superb, and HMS Temeraire. They were built between 1906 and 1909 by the Royal Navy Dockyards and Armstrong-Whitworth shipbuilding company. As soon as they were commissioned in 1909, they were assigned to the 1st Division of the Home Fleet in Scapa Flow. In 1916, all three warships took part in the Battle of Jutland, under Admiral Sir John Jellicoe. Having survived World War I, they were scrapped in 1921.
Technical Description
The Bellerophon class battleship was a virtual repeat of the HMS Dreadnought, with the same main armament and propulsion system. Her main battery consisted of ten 12-inch (305-mm) naval guns, which were mounted in five twin turrets. Her power plant was composed of two sets of Parsons steam turbines, with four shafts. These turbines featured a direct drive mechanism. These steam engines were fed by eighteen water-tube boilers. Although her armor belt was slightly thinner than that on the HMS Dreadnought, it was better disposed.
The overall protection of the Bellerophon class battleship was considerably enhanced by new armored anti-torpedo bulkheads, which covered the machinery spaces and magazines, extending down to the double-bottoms. Her conning towers were also protected by 11-inch steel armor plate. Combustion gases were exhausted through two funnels. The tripod foremast was located ahead of the forward funnel and the tripod mainmast was in front of the rear funnel.
Specifications
Type: Dreadnought-type battleship
Displacement: 18,800 tons; 22,100 tons (full load)
Length: 160.3 m (526 feet)
Beam: 25.2 m (82 feet, 5 inches)
Draft: 8.3 m (27 feet, 3 inches)
Propulsion: four Parsons steam turbines, with 4 shafts and 18 boilers, generating 23,000 sHP.
Maximum Speed: 20.8 knots (39 km/h)
Range: 5,720 nautical miles (10,590 km), sailing at 10 knots.
Armor: belt between 250 and 130-mm thick; bulkheads: 203-mm
Armament: ten 305-mm (12-inch) naval guns; sixteen 102-mm guns.
Complement: 733 sailors and officers
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| Above, HMS Superb at the end of the war. |
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| HMS Bellerophon in May 1914. |