HMS Powerful (1895): Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=FebruaryAugust 20112020}}

|Ship caption= Sailors line the deck of ''Powerful'' in [[Sydney Harbour]], [[Australia]] (1905–1912)

|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|UKUnited Kingdom|naval}}

|Ship class={{sclass-|Powerful|cruiser|0}} [[protected cruiser]]

|Ship length={{convert|538|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} ([[Length overall|o/a]])

|Ship beam={{convert|71|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}

|Ship armour=*[[Deck (ship)|Deck]]: {{convert|2.5|-|4|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

*[[TurretGun turret|Turrets]]s: {{convert|6|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

*[[Casemate]]s: {{convert|2|-|6|in|mm|abbr=on|0}}

The ''Powerful''-class cruiser was designed to counter the Russian [[armoured cruiser]] {{ship|Russian cruiser|Rurik|1892|2}} which had been designed as a long-range [[commerce raider]]. This required long range and high speed to catch the Russian ship. The ships [[Displacement (ship)|displaced]] {{convert|14200|LT|t}} at normal load. They had an [[length overall|overall length]] of {{convert|538|ft|m|1}}, a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|71|ft|m|1}} and a [[draft (ship)|draught]] of {{convert|27|ft|m|1}}. The ships were powered by a pair of four-cylinder [[triple-expansion steam engine]]s, each driving one [[propeller shaft]], using steam provided by 48 [[Belleville boiler]]s.<ref name=ck8>Chesneau & KolesnikRoberts, p. 67</ref> The engines were designed to produce a total of {{convert|25000|ihp|lk=in}} at [[Draft (boiler)|forced draught]]<ref name=f6>Friedman, p. 335</ref> and gave a maximum speed of {{convert|22|kn|lk=in}}. ''Powerful'' reached a maximum speed of {{convert|21.8|kn}} from {{cvt|25886|ihp}} during her [[sea trial]]s. She carried enough coal to give her a range of {{convert|7000|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|14|kn}} and her complement consisted of 894 officers and [[naval rating|ratings]].<ref name=ck8/>

The main armament of the ''Powerful''-class cruisers consisted of two [[BL 9.2-inch Mk VIII naval gun|{{convert|9.2|in|mm|adj=on|sigfig=3}} Mk VIII guns]] in single [[gun turret]]s, one each fore and aft of the [[superstructure]].<ref name=ck8/> Her secondary armament of a dozen [[QF 6 inch /40 naval gun|{{convert|6|in|0|adj=on}} Mk I or II guns]] was arranged in [[casemate]]s [[amidships]]. The end casemates were the first two-storey (guns on the main and upper decks) casemates in the RN. For defence against [[torpedo boat]]s, sixteen [[QF 12 pounder 12 cwt naval gun|12-pounder {{convert|3|in|0|adj=on}} 12-cwt]]<ref group=Note>"Cwt" is the abbreviation for [[hundredweight]], 12 cwt referring to the weight of the gun.</ref> guns and a dozen [[QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss|3-pounder ({{cvt|47|mm|1}})]] [[Hotchkiss gun]]s were fitted. Two additional [[QF 12-pounder 8-cwt Mk I naval gun|12-pounder 8-cwt guns]] could be dismounted for service ashore. The ships also mounted four submerged [[British 18 inch torpedo|18-inch (450&nbsp;mm)]] [[torpedo tube]]s, a pair on each [[Broadside (naval)|broadside]].<ref name=b3>Burt, pp. 8, 13</ref>

''Powerful'' was [[laid down]] by [[Vickers Limited]] in their [[Barrow-in-Furness]] [[shipyard]] on 10 March 1894<ref>Friedman, p. 343</ref> and [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 24 July 1895 by the [[Louisa Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire]].<ref>Bronze medallion showing on the obverse a ship and the words 'H.M.S. "POWERFUL"'. The reverse bears the words 'H.M.S. POWERFUL LENGTH 500 FEET 2500 HORSE POWER LAUNCHED BY HER GRACE THE DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE AT BARROW IN FURNESS 24TH JULY 1895 THIS MEDAL IS MADE OF BRONZE FROM H.M.S. POWERFUL'. Medallion held by the Australian War Memorial - image reference ID Number: REL/09940</ref> The ship was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 8 June 1897 with [[Captain (Royal Navy)|Captain]] the Hon. [[Hedworth Meux|Hedworth Lambton]] in command, for service on the China Station. Her departure was delayed so that she could participate in the [[Fleet review (Commonwealth realms)#Queen Victoria|fleet review]] commemorating [[Queen Victoria#Diamond Jubilee|Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee]] on 26 June and the annual fleet manoeuvres in July. During a full-power run between [[Weihaiwei under British rule|Wei Hai Wai]], [[China]], and [[Yokohama]], [[Japan]], in late July 1898, her [[Stoker (occupation)|stokers]] [[mutiny|mutinied]], but she then visited [[Lüshunkou District|Port Arthur]] without incident.<ref>Burt, p. 12</ref>

Ordered home in 1899, ''Powerful'' was diverted from the shorter route through the [[Suez Canal]] to round the southern tip of Africa in light of rising tensions between the British and the [[Boers]] in [[South Africa]]. The ship departed [[Hong Kong]], China, on 17 September and arrived at [[Naval Base Simon's Town|Simonstown]] on 13 October, two days after the [[Second Boer War]] began; Lambton having picked up a half-[[battalion]] of the [[King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry]] from the island of [[Mauritius]] on his own initiative. Her [[sister ship]], {{HMS|Terrible|1895|2}}, commanded by Captain [[Percy Scott]], arrived the following day and Scott improvised [[Gun carriage|field carriages]] for a pair of 4.7-inch (120&nbsp;mm) and a pair of ''Terrible''{{'}}s 12-pounder guns. After a request from [[Lieutenant General]] [[George White (British Army officer)|George White]], commander of the [[Siege of Ladysmith|besieged forces at Ladysmith]] for more long-range artillery, ''Powerful'' ferried all four guns to [[Durban]], reaching it on 29 November. Lambton acquired another pair of 12-pounders and led a [[naval brigade]] that reached Ladysmith on the last two trains to make it through. After the [[Relief of Ladysmith]] at the end of February, the brigade departed the town on 7 March and arrived at Simontown on the 12th. ''Powerful'' left Simonstown three days later and arrived at [[Portsmouth]] on 11 April.<ref>Burt, pp. 12–13</ref>

The enthusiastic response in Britain to the "heroes of Ladysmith"<ref>[http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/ILN_1899-1900/Powerful.html ''Illustrated London News''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013120007/http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/ILN_1899-1900/Powerful.html |date=13 October 2008 }} and elsewhere</ref> was enormous and made Lambton a well-known public figure. [[Queen Victoria]] sent a telegram saying, "Pray express to the Naval Brigade my deep appreciation of the valuable services they have rendered with their guns."<ref>[http://www.rncom.mod.uk/organisations/MWS/mws_comp_history.cfm Navy website]</ref> while a reception and celebratory march through London were among the first events ever recorded on film.<ref>[http://www.bfi.org.uk/nftva/catalogues/film/2/14/385 The Heroes of Ladysmith Marching Through London] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926231004/http://www.bfi.org.uk/nftva/catalogues/film/2/14/385 |date=26 September 2007 }} and [https://www.imdb.com/company/co0103009/ The Queen's Reception to the Heroes of Ladysmith]</ref>

The naval brigade paraded for Queen Victoria at [[Windsor Castle]] on 2 May. The RN [[field gun competition]] commemorates the participation of ''Terrible'' and ''Powerful'' in the relief of Ladysmith.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.royalnavalmuseum.org/info_sheets_gun_run.htm | title = The Field Gun Run | work = Naval Traditions | publisher = Royal Naval Museum Library | year = 2000 | accessdateaccess-date = 16 August 2018 | archive-date = 25 March 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080325215521/http://www.royalnavalmuseum.org/info_sheets_gun_run.htm | url-status = dead }}</ref> In 1921 a new Primary School in Ladysmith was named after [[Lieutenant]] Frederick Greville Egerton, a gunnery officer from ''Powerful'' who was killed at Ladysmith.<ref>{{cite web|last=McKenzie|first=R|title=History of School|url=http://pages.egerton.co.za/home/history-of-school|publisher=Egerton Primary School|accessdateaccess-date=4 February 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823235524/http://pages.egerton.co.za/home/history-of-school|archivedatearchive-date=23 August 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Crowe|first=George|title=The commission of H.M.S. "Terrible," 1898-19021898–1902|year=1903|publisher=G Newnes|location=London|pages=199|url=https://archive.org/stream/commissionhmste00crowgoog#page/n272/mode/2up|accessdateaccess-date=16 August 2018}}</ref>

''Powerful'' [[paid off]] on 8 June 1900 at [[Portsmouth Dockyard]] and later began a long refit in 1902–1903<ref name=b13>Burt, p. 13</ref> During this refit, the RN added four six-inch guns in casemates amidships, although no additional ammunition could be accommodated in the ship.<ref>Friedman, p. 234</ref> The ship was briefly commissioned in August 1903 to participate in the annual fleet manoeuvres and was assigned to the reserve on 1 March 1905. In August Captain [[Lionel Halsey]] took command of ''Powerful'',<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27922|page=4157|date=15 June 1906|}} ''Information, dated 12 April 1906, has been received from Captain L. Halsey, His Majesty's ship Powerful, that ... ''</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27950|page=6326|date=18 September 1906}} ''Information, dated 26 July 1906, has been received from Captain L. Halsey, His Majesty's ship Powerful, that ... ''</ref>

as [[flag captain]] to [[Wilmot Fawkes|Sir Wilmot Fawkes]] as [[Commander-in-Chief]] [[Australia Station]]. At the time ''Powerful'' was commissioning as flagship on the Australia Station.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.navyhistory.org.au/admiral-sir-lionel-halsey-gcmg-gcvo-kcie-cb-dljp-1872-1949/|title = Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey, GCMG, GCVO, KCIE, CB, DLJP 1872-1949 1872–1949 | last = Grazebrook |first = Lieutenant Commander A. W. |date = 30 September 1975 | publisher = Naval Historical Society of Australia | accessdateaccess-date = 19 March 2008}}</ref> Halsey remained in that post until 1908.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/locreg/HALSEY.shtml |title = HALSEY, Sir Lionel (1872-19491872–1949), Admiral |publisher = Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives |accessdateaccess-date = 19 March 2008}}</ref>

At the beginning of December 1905, ''Powerful'' was at [[Fremantle, Western Australia|Fremantle]] in [[Western Australia]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://innopac.slwa.wa.gov.au/record=b1770389 | title = HMS Powerful at Fremantle, 1&nbsp;December 1905 [picture] | publisher = State Library of Western Australia | accessdateaccess-date = 19 March 2008}}</ref> On 10 October 1907 the ship took aboard a new crew in [[Colombo]], [[Ceylon]].<ref name=b13/> On 3 February 1908 the first [[trans-Tasman]] [[radio transmission]] was made via ''Powerful'' which was in the [[Tasman Sea]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.caslon.com.au/austelecomsprofile1.htm | title = Australasian telecommunications: beginnings | publisher = Caslon Analytics | year = 2005 | accessdateaccess-date = 18 March 2008 | url-status = dead | archiveurlarchive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080327003112/http://www.caslon.com.au/austelecomsprofile1.htm | archivedatearchive-date = 27 March 2008 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> A ''[[Sydney Morning Herald]]'' journalist, [[Charles Bean]], joined the ship in August 1908 as a special correspondent to report the visit of sixteen American warships —– the [[Great White Fleet]]. Bean wrote a book, ''With the Flagship in the South'' (London, 1909), based on his reports and had it published at his own expense.<ref>{{Australian Dictionary of Biography |last= Inglis |first= K.S. |authorlink= Ken Inglis |year= 1979 |id= A070225b |title= Bean, Charles Edwin Woodrow (1879 - 19681879–1968) |accessdateaccess-date= 19 March 2008}}</ref> ''Powerful'' took aboard a new crew in Colombo on 12 January 1910. In 1911 ''Powerful'' visited [[Auckland]], [[New Zealand]] to inspect the facilities and Captain [[Edward Francis Bruen|Edward Bruen]] recommended the setting up of a naval stores facility.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rnzncomms.net.nz/navy/documents/history/navalrepairfacilities.html | title = DEVELOPMENT OF NAVAL REPAIR FACILITIES AT AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND 1841-19621841–1962 From a Lecture by J.A. Bell, AMRINA Deputy Constructive Manager HMNZ Dockyard Devonport | last = Bell | first = J. A. | year = 1962 | accessdateaccess-date = 19 March 2008 | publisher = RNZN Communicators' Association | url-status = dead | archiveurlarchive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927201129/http://www.rnzncomms.net.nz/navy/documents/history/navalrepairfacilities.html | archivedatearchive-date = 27 September 2007 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

The ship was ordered home in January 1912 and loaded the body of [[Alexander Duff, 1st Duke of Fife]] at [[Port Said]], [[Egypt]], on 9 March en route.<ref name=b13/> On April 10th, the ship was photographed in [[Southampton]] along with the battleship {{HMS|Revenge|1892}} and the [[ocean liner]] [[Titanic]]. After arriving, she was briefly assigned to the [[7th Cruiser Squadron (United Kingdom)|7th Cruiser Squadron]] of the [[Third Fleet (United Kingdom)|Third (Reserve) Fleet]]<ref>Friedman, p. 231</ref> before she was reclassified as a Boysboys Trainingtraining Shipship at [[HMNB Devonport|Devonport]] in August 1912. ''Powerful'' was assigned as a [[ship's tender|tender]] to [[HMS Impregnable (training establishment 1862)|HMS ''Impregnable'']] in 1913. She was reassigned to a training role on 23 September and was renamed ''Impregnable I'' in November 1919. The ship was paid off on 27 March 1929 and was sold in August 1929 for breaking up.<ref name=b13/>

{{reflist|group=Note}}

* {{cite journal book|last1last=BurtFriedman|first1first=RayNorman|title=The Powerful ClassBritish Cruisers of the RoyalVictorian Navy, Part IEra|journalyear=Warship 2012|issuepublisher=October |date=1988|volume=48Seaforth|location=London|publisher=ConwayBarnsley, MaritimeSouth PressYorkshire, UK|pagesisbn=5–15 |issn=0142978-1-59114-068-62229}}

* {{cite book|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–19051860-1905|editor1-last=Chesneau|editor1-first=Roger|editor2-last=Kolesnik|editor2-first=Eugene M.|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|chapter=Great Britain and Empire Forces|author-last=Roberts|author-first=John|location=Greenwich, UK|yeardate=1979|isbn=0-8317-0302-4|lastauthorampname-list-style=yamp|url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/conwaysallworlds0000unse_l2e2}}