List of pre-dreadnought battleships of the Royal Navy

Ships of the Royal Navy
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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This is a list of the pre-Dreadnought battleships of the Royal Navy and covers the ships between the monitors and the launching of HMS Dreadnought in 1906.

Key

Main guns	The number and type of the main battery guns
Displacement	Ship displacement at full combat load
Propulsion	Number of shafts, type of propulsion system, and top speed generated
Service	The dates work began and finished on the ship and its ultimate fate
Laid down	The date the keel began to be assembled
Commissioned	The date the ship was commissioned

Admiral class

HMS Camperdown

Main article: Admiral-class battleship

Ship	Main guns	Displacement	Propulsion	Service
				Laid down	Commissioned	Fate
HMS Collingwood	4 x 12 in (30.5 cm)	9,500 long tons (9,650 t)	2 × shafts 2 × steam engines	12 July 1880	1 July 1887	Sold for scrap 11 May 1909
HMS Rodney	4 x 13.5 in (34.3 cm)	10,300 long tons (10,470 t)	2 × shafts 2 × steam engines	6 February 1882	20 June 1888	Sold for break up 16 June 1909
HMS Howe	4 x 13.5 in (34.3 cm)	10,300 long tons (10,470 t)	2 × shafts 2 × steam engines	7 June 1882	July 1889	Sold for scrap 10 November 1910
HMS Camperdown	4 x 13.5 in (34.3 cm)	10,600 long tons (10,770 t)	2 × shafts 2 × steam engines	18 December 1882	18 July 1889	Sold for scrap 11 July 1911
HMS Anson	4 x 13.5 in (34.3 cm)	10,600 long tons (10,770 t)	2 × shafts 2 × steam engines		28 May 1889	Sold for break up 13 July 1909
HMS Benbow	2 x 16.25 in (41.3 cm)	10,600 long tons (10,770 t)	2 × shafts 2 × steam engines	1 November 1882	14 June 1888	Sold for break up 13 July 1909

Victoria class

HMS Sans Pareil

Main article: Victoria-class battleship

Ship	Main guns	Displacement	Propulsion	Service
				Laid down	Commissioned	Fate
HMS Victoria	2 x 16.25 in (41.3 cm) 1 x 10 in (25.4 cm)	11,020 long tons (11,200 t)	2 × shafts 2 × triple expansion engines	13 June 1885	March 1890	Accidentally rammed and sunk, 22 June 1893
HMS Sans Pareil	2 x 16.25 in (41.3 cm) 1 x 10 in (25.4 cm)	10,470 long tons (10,640 t)	2 × shafts 2 × triple expansion engines	21 April 1885	8 July 1891	Sold for break up 9 April 1907

Trafalgar class

HMS Trafalgar

Main article: Trafalgar-class battleship

Ship	Main guns	Displacement	Propulsion	Service
				Laid down	Commissioned	Fate
HMS Trafalgar	4 x 13.5 in (34.3 cm)	12,590 long tons (12,790 t)	2 × shafts 6 cylindrical boilers	18 January 1886	2 April 1890	Sold for break up 9 March 1911
HMS Nile	4 x 13.5 in (34.3 cm)	12,590 long tons (12,790 t)	2 × shafts 6 cylindrical boilers	8 April 1886	30 June 1891	Sold for break up 9 July 1912

Royal Sovereign class

HMS Hood

Main article: Royal Sovereign-class battleship

Ship	Main guns	Displacement	Propulsion	Service
				Laid down	Commissioned	Fate
HMS Royal Sovereign	4 x 13.5 in (34.3 cm)	14,150 long tons (14,380 t)	2 × shafts 2 × coal-fired steam engines 8 × fire-tube boilers	30 September 1889	31 May 1892	Sold for break up 7 October 1913
HMS Empress of India	4 x 13.5 in (34.3 cm)	14,150 long tons (14,380 t)	2 × shafts 2 × coal-fired steam engines 8 × fire-tube boilers	9 July 1889	11 September 1893	Sunk as target 4 November 1913
HMS Repulse	4 x 13.5 in (34.3 cm)	14,150 long tons (14,380 t)	2 × shafts 2 × coal-fired steam engines 8 × fire-tube boilers	1 January 1890	25 April 1894	Sold for break up 27 July 1911
HMS Ramillies	4 x 13.5 in (34.3 cm)	14,150 long tons (14,380 t)	2 × shafts 2 × coal-fired steam engines 8 × fire-tube boilers	11 August 1890	17 October 1893	Sold for break up 7 October 1913
HMS Resolution	4 x 13.5 in (34.3 cm)	14,150 long tons (14,380 t)	2 × shafts 2 × coal-fired steam engines 8 × fire-tube boilers	14 June 1890	5 December 1893	Sold for break up 2 April 1914
HMS Revenge renamed HMS Redoubtable in 1913	4 x 13.5 in (34.3 cm)	14,150 long tons (14,380 t)	2 × shafts 2 × coal-fired steam engines 8 × fire-tube boilers	12 February 1891	March 1894	Sold for break up 16 November 1919
HMS Royal Oak	4 x 13.5 in (34.3 cm)	14,150 long tons (14,380 t)	2 × shafts 2 × coal-fired steam engines 8 × fire-tube boilers	29 May 1890	14 January 1896	Sold for break up 14 January 1914
HMS Hood	4 x 13.5 in (34.3 cm)	14,780 long tons (15,020 t)	2 × shafts 2 × coal-fired steam engines 8 × fire-tube boilers	17 August 1889	1 June 1893	Sunk as a blockship 4 November 1914

Centurion class

HMS Centurion

Main article: Centurion-class battleship

Ship	Main guns	Displacement	Propulsion	Service
				Laid down	Commissioned	Fate
HMS  Centurion	4 x 10 in (25.4 cm)	10,500 long tons (10,670 t)	2 x shafts triple expansion steam engines 8 x boilers	30 March 1890	14 February 1894	Sold for scrap 12 July 1910
HMS Barfleur	4 x 10 in (25.4 cm)	10,500 long tons (10,670 t)	2 x shafts triple expansion steam engines 8 x boilers	12 October 1890	22 June 1894	Sold for scrap 12 July 1910
HMS Renown	4 x 10 in (25.4 cm)	12,390 long tons (12,590 t)	2 x shafts triple expansion steam engines 8 x boilers	1 February 1893	January 1897	Sold for scrap 2 April 1914

Majestic class

HMS Illustrious firing guns.

Main article: Majestic-class battleship

Ship	Main guns	Displacement	Propulsion	Service
				Laid down	Commissioned	Fate
HMS Magnificent	4 x 12 in (30.5 cm)	14,820 long tons (15,060 t)	2 x shafts 2 x oil and coal, triple expansion steam engines 8 x fire-tube boilers	18 December 1893	12 December 1895	Sold for scrap 9 May 1921
HMS Majestic	4 x 12 in (30.5 cm)	14,820 long tons (15,060 t)	2 x shafts 2 x oil and coal, triple expansion steam engines 8 x fire-tube boilers	5 February 1894	12 December 1895	Torpedoed and sunk 27 May 1915
HMS Prince George	4 x 12 in (30.5 cm)	14,820 long tons (15,060 t)	2 x shafts 2 x oil and coal, triple expansion steam engines 8 x fire-tube boilers	10 September 1894	26 November 1896	Sold for scrap 21 September 1921
HMS Victorious	4 x 12 in (30.5 cm)	14,820 long tons (15,060 t)	2 x shafts oil and coal, triple expansion steam engines 8 x fire-tube boilers	28 May 1894	4 November 1896	Sold for scrap 9 April 1923
HMS Jupiter	4 x 12 in (30.5 cm)	14,820 long tons (15,060 t)	2 x shafts oil and coal, triple expansion steam engines 8 x fire-tube boilers	26 April 1894	8 June 1897	Sold for scrap 15 January 1920
HMS Mars	4 x 12 in (30.5 cm)	14,820 long tons (15,060 t)	2 x shafts oil and coal, triple expansion steam engines 8 x fire-tube boilers	2 June 1894	8 June 1897	Sold for scrap 9 May 1921
HMS Hannibal	4 x 12 in (30.5 cm)	14,820 long tons (15,060 t)	2 x shafts oil and coal, triple expansion steam engines 8 x fire-tube boilers	1 May 1895	April 1898	Sold for scrap 28 January 1920
HMS Caesar	4 x 12 in (30.5 cm)	14,820 long tons (15,060 t)	2 x shafts oil and coal, triple expansion steam engines 8 x fire-tube boilers	25 March 1895	13 January 1898	Sold for scrap 8 November 1921
HMS Illustrious	4 x 12 in (30.5 cm)	14,820 long tons (15,060 t)	2 x shafts oil and coal, triple expansion steam engines 8 x fire-tube boilers	11 March 1895	15 April 1898	Sold for scrap 18 June 1920

Canopus class

HMS Goliath

Main article: Canopus-class battleship

Ship	Main guns	Displacement	Propulsion	Service
				Laid down	Commissioned	Fate
HMS Canopus	4 x 12 in (30 cm)	13,150 long tons (13,360 t)	2 x shafts 1 x vertical triple expansion steam engines, water-tube boilers	4 January 1897	5 December 1899	Sold for scrap 18 February 1920
HMS Goliath	4 x 12 in (30 cm)	13,150 long tons (13,360 t)	2 x shafts 1 x vertical triple expansion steam engines, water-tube boilers	4 January 1897	27 March 1900	Torpedoed and sunk, 13 May 1915
HMS Albion	4 x 12 in (30 cm)	13,150 long tons (13,360 t)	2 x shafts 1 x vertical triple expansion steam engines, water-tube boilers	3 December 1896	25 June 1901	Sold for scrap 11 December 1919
HMS Ocean	4 x 12 in (30 cm)	13,150 long tons (13,360 t)	2 x shafts 1 x vertical triple expansion steam engines, water-tube boilers	15 February 1897	20 February 1900	Sunk by mine, 18 March 1915
HMS Glory	4 x 12 in (30 cm)	13,150 long tons (13,360 t)	2 x shafts 1 x vertical triple expansion steam engines, water-tube boilers	1 December 1896	1 November 1900	Sold for scrap 19 December 1922
HMS Vengeance	4 x 12 in (30 cm)	13,150 long tons (13,360 t)	2 x shafts 1 x vertical triple expansion steam engines, water-tube boilers	23 August 1898	8 April 1902	Sold for scrap 1 December 1921

Formidable class

HMS London

Main article: Formidable-class battleship

Ship	Main guns	Displacement	Propulsion	Service
				Laid down	Commissioned	Fate
HMS Formidable	4 x 12 in (30 cm)	14,500 long tons (14,700 t)	2 × shafts 2 × steam engines, water-tube boilers	21 March 1898	10 October 1904	Torpedoed and sunk, 1 January 1915
HMS Irresistible	4 x 12 in (30 cm)	14,500 long tons (14,700 t)	2 × shafts 2 × steam engines, water-tube boilers	11 April 1898	4 February 1902	Sunk by mine, 18 March 1915
HMS Implacable	4 x 12 in (30 cm)	14,500 long tons (14,700 t)	2 × shafts 2 × steam engines, water-tube boilers	13 July 1898	10 September 1901	Sold for scrap 8 November 1921
HMS London	4 x 12 in (30 cm)	14,500 long tons (14,700 t)	2 × shafts 2 × steam engines, water-tube boilers	8 December 1898	7 June 1902	Sold for scrap 4 June 1920
HMS Bulwark	4 x 12 in (30 cm)	14,500 long tons (14,700 t)	2 × shafts 2 × steam engines, water-tube boilers	20 March 1899	11 March 1902	Blown up 26 November 1914
HMS Venerable	4 x 12 in (30 cm)	14,500 long tons (14,700 t)	2 × shafts 2 × steam engines, water-tube boilers	2 January 1899	12 November 1902	Sold for scrap 4 June 1920
HMS Queen	4 x 12 in (30 cm)	14,500 long tons (14,700 t)	2 × shafts 2 × steam engines, water-tube boilers	12 March 1901	7 April 1904	Sold for scrap 4 September 1920
HMS Prince of Wales	4 x 12 in (30 cm)	14,500 long tons (14,700 t)	2 × shafts 2 × steam engines, water-tube boilers	20 March 1901	18 May 1904	Sold for scrap 12 April 1920

Duncan class

HMS Exmouth

Main article: Duncan-class battleship

Ship	Main guns	Displacement	Propulsion	Service
				Laid down	Commissioned	Fate
HMS Russell	4 x 12 in (30.5 cm)	13,270 long tons (13,480 t)	2 × shafts 24 × boilers	11 March 1899	19 February 1903	Sunk by mine 27 March 1916
HMS Albemarle	4 x 12 in (30.5 cm)	13,440 long tons (13,660 t)	2 × shafts 24 × boilers	8 January 1900	12 November 1903	Sold for scrap 19 November 1919
HMS Montagu	4 x 12 in (30.5 cm)	13,420 long tons (13,640 t)	2 × shafts 24 × boilers	23 November 1899	28 July 1903	Wrecked on 30 May 1906
HMS Duncan	4 x 12 in (30.5 cm)	13,640 long tons (13,860 t)	2 × shafts 24 × boilers	10 July 1899	8 October 1903	Sold for scrap up 18 February 1920
HMS Cornwallis	4 x 12 in (30.5 cm)	13,745 long tons (13,966 t)	2 × shafts 24 × boilers	19 July 1899	9 February 1904	Torpedoed and sunk 9 January 1917
HMS Exmouth	4 x 12 in (30.5 cm)	13,500 long tons (13,700 t)	2 × shafts 24 × boilers	10 August 1899	2 June 1903	Sold for scrap 15 February 1920

King Edward VII class

HMS HMS King Edward VII

Main article: King Edward VII-class battleship

Ship	Main guns	Displacement	Propulsion	Service
				Laid down	Commissioned	Fate
HMS King Edward VII	4 x 12 in (30.5 cm) 4 x 9.2 in (23.4 cm)	15,630 long tons (15,880 t)	2 × shafts 2 × steam engines 10 × boilers	8 March 1902	7 February 1905	Sunk by mine 6 January 1916
HMS Commonwealth	4 x 12 in (30.5 cm) 4 x 9.2 in (23.4 cm)	15,610 long tons (15,860 t)	2 × shafts 2 × steam engines 16 × boilers	17 June 1902	9 May 1905	Sold for scrap 18 November 1921
HMS Dominion	4 x 12 in (30.5 cm) 4 x 9.2 in (23.4 cm)	16,350 long tons (16,610 t)	2 × shafts 2 × steam engines 16 × boiler	23 May 1902	15 August 1905	Sold for break up 9 May 1921
HMS Hindustan	4 x 12 in (30.5 cm) 4 x 9.2 in (23.4 cm)	15,645 long tons (15,896 t)	2 × shafts 2 × steam engines 16 × boilers	25 October 1902	22 August 1905	Sold for scrap 9 May 1921
HMS New Zealand renamed HMS Zealandia 1911	4 x 12 in (30.5 cm) 4 x 9.2 in (23.4 cm)	15,585 long tons (15,835 t)	2 × shafts 2 × steam engines 16 × boilers	9 February 1903	11 July 1905	Sold for scrap 8 November 1921
HMS Britannia	4 x 12 in (30.5 cm) 4 x 9.2 in (23.4 cm)	15,810 long tons (16,060 t)	2 × shafts 2 × steam engines 18 × boilers	4 February 1902	8 September 1906	Torpedoed and sunk 9 November 1918
HMS Africa	4 x 12 in (30.5 cm) 4 x 9.2 in (23.4 cm)	15,740 long tons (15,990 t)	2 × shafts 2 × steam engines 15 x boilers	27 January 1904	6 November 1906	Sold for scrap 30 June 1920
HMS Hibernia	4 x 12 in (30.5 cm) 4 x 9.2 in (23.4 cm)	15,745 long tons (15,998 t)	2 × shafts 2 × steam engines 16 × boiler	6 January 1904	2 January 1907	Sold for scrap 8 November 1921

Swiftsure class

HMS Swiftsure

Main article: Swiftsure-class battleship

Ship	Main guns	Displacement	Propulsion	Service
				Laid down	Commissioned	Fate
HMS Swiftsure	4 x 10 in (25.4 cm)	11,800 long tons (11,990 t)	2 × shafts 3 × steam engines 12 × boilers	26 February 1902	21 June 1904	Sold for scrap 18 June 1920
HMS Triumph	4 x 10 in (25.4 cm)	11,985 long tons (12,177 t)	2 × shafts 3 × steam engines 12 × boilers	26 February 1902	21 June 1904	Torpedoed and sunk 25 May 1915

Lord Nelson class

HMS Lord Nelson

Main article: Lord Nelson-class battleship

Ship	Main guns	Displacement	Propulsion	Service
				Laid down	Commissioned	Fate
HMS Lord Nelson	4 x 12 in (30.5 cm) 10 x 9.2 in (23.4 cm)	16,090 long tons (16,350 t)	2 × shafts 2 × steam engines 15 × boilers	18 May 1905	1 December 1908	Sold for scrap 4 June 1920
HMS Agamemnon	4 x 12 in (30.5 cm) 10 x 9.2 in (23.4 cm)	15,925 long tons (16,181 t)	2 × shafts 2 × steam engines 15 × boilers	15 May 1905	25 June 1908	Sold for scrap 24 January 1927

See also

• List of ship names of the Royal Navy
• List of early warships of the English navy
• List of battlecruisers of the Royal Navy
• List of dreadnought battleships of the Royal Navy
• Bibliography of 18th-19th century Royal Naval history

References

• Addington, Larry H. (1994). The Patterns of War Since the Eighteenth Century. Indiana: Indiana University Press. ISBN 0-253-20860-2. 
• Archibald, E.H.H (1971). The Metal Fighting Ship in the Royal Navy 1860–1970. London: Blandford Press. ISBN 0-7137-0551-5. 
• Brown, David (1972). Carrier Air Groups: HMS Eagle:Volume 1. Windsor, UK: Hylton Lacy. ISBN 0850641039. 
• Burt, R. A. (1988). British Battleships 1889–1904. Annapolis, Maryland:: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-061-0. 
• Friedman, Norman (1985). U.S. Battleships. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-715-1. 
• Gardiner, Robert; Randal, Gray; Przemyslaw, Budzbon. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1906–1921, Conway's Naval History after 1850 Series. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5. 
• Gardiner, Robert (1979). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1860–1905. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-912-X. 
• Gardiner, Robert; Lambert, Andrew (2001). Steam, Steel and Shellfire: The Steam Warship 1815–1905-Conway's History of the Ship. Edison, New Jersey: Book Sales. ISBN 978-0-7858-1413-9. 
• Ireland, Bernard (1997). Jane's War at Sea, 1897–1997. London: Harper Collins. ISBN 0-00-472065-2. 
• Keegan, John (1999). The First World War. London: Pimlico. ISBN 0-7126-6645-1. 
• Kennedy, Paul M. (1983). The Rise and Fall of British Naval Mastery. London: Penguin. ISBN 0-333-35094-4. 
• Maiolo, Joseph A (1998). The Royal Navy and Nazi Germany, 1933–39: a Study in Appeasement and the Origins of the Second World War. Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 0-312-21456-1. 
• Parkinson, Roger (2008). The late Victorian Navy: the Pre-Dreadnought Era and the Origins of the First World War. Woodbridge, Suffolk: Boydell Press. ISBN 1-84383-372-7. 
• Purnell's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Modern Weapons and Warfare (Part work 1978–1979). London: Phoebus. 
• Roberts, John (1989). Warship, Volume 3. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85177-204-8. 
• Sandler, Stanley (2004). Battleships: an Illustrated History of their Impact. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 1-85109-410-5. 
• Sondhaus, Lawrence (2001). Naval warfare, 1815–1914, Volume 2000, Warfare and History. New York: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-21478-5. 
• Sumrall, Robert (1973). The Battleship and Battlecruiser. London: Conway Maritime. ISBN 0-85177-607-8. 
• Konstam, Angus; Wright, Paul (2009). British Battleships 1939–45 1: Queen Elizabeth and Royal Sovereign Classes, Volume 154 of New Vanguard. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84603-388-8.