The Lion Class battlecruisers were designed to carry
the new 13.5" gun, introduced on the
Orion Class battleships. The tonnage limit imposed
on preceding classes was lifted, and the
speed requirement was raised to 27 knots.
The result was a design nearly 30% larger
in displacement and over 100 feet longer
than the Indefatigable Class ships, and displacing 4000 tons more
than the Orion Class battleships. These were the first
battlecruisers to be officially called "capital
ships", and they made quite an impression
on everyone who saw them. Armor accounted
for only 23% of their displacement, with
protection inferior to contemporary German
designs, but the 9" belt was far more
resistant to heavy shells than the 6"
belt of preceding classes.
However, there were some serious flaws in
the basic design of the ships. The inclusion
of a "Q" turret amidships instead
of an "X" turret aft resulted in
an arch of fire of 120-degrees on each beam..
The tripod foremast was placed directly over
a raised funnel, so the control positions
were unusable because of heat and smoke.
And lastly, the bridge was placed on top
of the conning tower, a practice formerly
abandoned by the Royal Navy.
The new First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston
Churchill, appropriated funds to modify the
masts and funnels, but nothing could be done
about the other flaws.
The third ship, Queen Mary, differed visually from the first two, having
round funnels instead of oval, and lacking
the two-story four-inch battery forward.
A fourth ship, identical to Queen Mary, was
ordered but cancelled. This vessel was redesigned
and became the HMS Tiger.
Queen Mary was lost at Jutland, after a hit to number
three turret which probably caused cordite
to flash off. The other two ships were modified
in1917 with searchlight platforms, and again
in 1918 with aircraft platforms. Both served
after the war, when they were discarded in
1922 and 1924. Lion received heavy damage at Jutland, and only
the quick actions of the crew prevented a
catastrophic explosion of the number 3 main
magazine.
After the end of WWI, Great Britain attempted
to sell these vessels. The Commonwealth Nations,
the Netherlands, Chili, Brazil, and other
nations were offered the ships, but the only
nation expressing interest was Thailand.
Financial reality cause this nation to purchase
only one destroyer, and the battlecruisers
were discarded.
| Laid down Lion: 29 Nov 1909 Princess Royal: 2 May 1910 Queen Mary: 6 Mar 1911 |
Launched Lion: 6 Aug 1910 Princess Royal: 20 Apr 1911 Queen Mary: 20 Mar 1912 |
Completed Lion: May 1912 Princess Royal: Nov 1912 Queen Mary: Sep 1915 |
Commissioned Lion: May 1912P Princess Royal: Nov 1912 Queen Mary: Sep 1012 |
| Fate Lion: Sold 1924 Princess Royal: Sold 1924 Queen Mary: Sunk Battle of Jutland |
Builders Lion: Devonport DY/ Vickers Barrow Princess Royal: Vickers Barrow Queen Mary: Palmer/John Brown |
Complement 997 |
|
| Displacement 26,270 tons standard, 29,680 full load |
Dimensions 660' x 88' |
Draught 28' 10" full load |
|
| Main guns 8 x 13.5" L42 (4 x 2) |
Secondary guns 16 x 4" (16 x 1) |
Light guns 1 x 4" AA (1 x 1) 4 x 3 -lbs (4 x 1) |
Torpedo tubes 2 x 21" submerged |
| Armour Belt: 9" sloped Turrets: 9" Deck: 2.5" C.T.: 10" |
|||
| Machinery 42 Yarrow boilers |
Turbines Parsons geared |
Power output 70,000 shp |
Shafts 4 |
| Speed 27 kts design |
Range 5610 @ 10 kts |
Fuel 1000 tons coal normal 3500 tons coal max |
|
HMS Lion:
1913 refit, mast and funnels modified
24 Jan 1915 Battle of Dogger Bank, received
18 hits had to be towed home by HMS Indomitable
31 May 1916 Battle of Jutland, received 12
hits, 99 killed Number three turret burned
out
Turret removed, ship returned to service,
turret replaced in July 1916.
1917 Refit, flying off platform added to
number 3 and 4 turrets
1918 Refit, mainmast shifted to top of derrick-stump
1 Jan 1924 Sold and broken up at Blyth
HMS Princess Royal:
1913 Refit, mainmast removed and funnels
modified
28 Aug 1914 Battle of Heligoland Blight
24 Jan 1915 Battle of Dogger Bank
31 May 1916 Battle of Jutland, extensively
damaged, 9 hits to main fire control, aft
engine room, number 4 turret, 4" battery
possition, 22 killed
29 Dec 1922 Sold and broken up at Rosyth
HMS Queen Mary:
28 Aug 1914 Battle of Heligoland Blight
31 May 1916 Battle of Jutland, hit to number
3 turret by German Derfflinger, magazine exploded 1,266 killed
