HMS Britannia

Type:
Battleship
Class:
Builder:
Portsmouth Dockyard
Portsmouth, England
Pennant Number:
N/A
Ordered:
N/A
Launched:
December 10, 1904
Keel Laid:
February 4, 1904
Commissioned:
September 1906
Fate:
Sunk Nov. 9, 1918 by UB-50 (torpedo).

Location: North Atlantic west of Cape Trafalgar, Spain.

At least 50 crewmen killed.


Dimensions, machinery and performance (General for class)

Length:
453' 9"
Engines:
2 four cylinder triple expansion
Beam:
78'
Boilers:
varied between ships from 16 to 21 (coal fired)
Draft:
26' 9"
Shafts:
2
Displacement:
16,350 std. / 17,500 full
SHP:
18,000 (design)
Speed:
18.9 knots (design)
Crew:
777
Range:
5,200 NM @ 10 knots


Armament As Built
Number Carried
Type
Arrangement
Maximum Range / Ceiling
4
12'/40 (305mm)
Mk IX

2 twin turrets
26,500 yards @ 30° (15 miles)
with a 850 lb. armor piercing shell
4
9.2"/47 (234mm)
BL

single mounts
25,700 yards @ 30° (14.6 miles)
with a 380 lb. HE shell
10
6"/45 (152mm)
BL

single mounts
17,800 yards @ 20°
(last three in class fitted with 6"/50 QF)
12
3"/50 (76mm)
12 pounder QF 18cwt

single mounts
9,300 yards @ 20°
14
1.85"/40 (47mm)
3 pounder QF DP
single mounts
7,900 yards @ 45°
AA ceiling 3,600' (effective range)

5
18" (450mm)
torpedo tubes
all submerged
4 broadside / 1 aft
*aft tube not fitted
to all ships
800 yards @ 26.5 knots
118 lb. wet gun-cotton warhead


Builder's Data
Page published Feb. 23, 20007