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HMS Iron Duke (1912)
Encyclopedia
HMS Iron Duke was a battleship
of the Royal Navy
, the lead ship
of her class
, named in honour of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
. She served as the flagship
of the Grand Fleet during the First World War
, including at the Battle of Jutland
. For the majority of the Great War, she was based with the rest of the Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow
in Scotland.
Iron Duke was launched on 12 October 1912 at Portsmouth
, England, the first of her class
. After commissioning
, she joined the Home Fleet
as the flagship of Admiral Sir George Callaghan
. Shortly before the beginning of hostilities, Callaghan was relieved by Admiral Sir John Jellicoe
, who made Iron Duke the flagship of the newly organized Grand Fleet.
Her only major combat service during the First World War came in the Battle of Jutland
on 31 May 1916, where she served in the Fourth Battle Squadron
. She delivered a number of significant shell hits on the German battleship SMS König
, at the point when the two main fleets collided.
She later became the flagship for a short time of Admiral Sir David Beatty
when he assumed command of the Grand Fleet in late 1916, although he soon moved his flag to .
After the war, she was transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet, where she again served as flagship, this time for Admiral Sir John de Robeck
. She served with the Mediterranean and Atlantic Fleets until she was paid off in 1929.
In 1931, after the London Naval Treaty
, Iron Duke was disarmed and she served as a gunnery training vessel. "B" and "Y" turret
s and the torpedo tube
s were removed, two 4 in (101.6 mm) AA
guns were mounted and another AA gun was mounted in place of the "B" turret. In 1939, another twin 4.5 in (114.3 mm) turret was mounted at the "X" turret.
During the Second World War
, she was used as a base ship at Scapa Flow
, where she became a target for three German bombers and was forced to beach following an air attack in 1939; despite severe damage the ship was patched sufficiently enough to enable her to avoid sinking. She was refloated and saw continued service until the conclusion of hostilities. She was sold in 1946 as scrap, and broken up in Glasgow
in 1948. Iron Dukes bell is on display at Winchester Cathedral
. A wide variety of domestic nick-nacks made of teak from Iron Duke are sold to the public.
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, the lead ship
Lead ship
The lead ship or class leader is the first of a series or class of ships all constructed according to the same general design. The term is applicable military ships and larger civilian craft.-Overview:...
of her class
Iron Duke class battleship
The Iron Duke-class was a group of four dreadnought battleships built for the British Royal Navy before the First World War. The class comprised four ships: , , , and...
, named in honour of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
. She served as the flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
of the Grand Fleet during the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, including at the Battle of Jutland
Battle of Jutland
The Battle of Jutland was a naval battle between the British Royal Navy's Grand Fleet and the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet during the First World War. The battle was fought on 31 May and 1 June 1916 in the North Sea near Jutland, Denmark. It was the largest naval battle and the only...
. For the majority of the Great War, she was based with the rest of the Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow
Scapa Flow
right|thumb|Scapa Flow viewed from its eastern endScapa Flow is a body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, sheltered by the islands of Mainland, Graemsay, Burray, South Ronaldsay and Hoy. It is about...
in Scotland.
Iron Duke was launched on 12 October 1912 at Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, England, the first of her class
Iron Duke class battleship
The Iron Duke-class was a group of four dreadnought battleships built for the British Royal Navy before the First World War. The class comprised four ships: , , , and...
. After commissioning
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
, she joined the Home Fleet
British Home Fleet
The Home Fleet was a fleet of the Royal Navy which operated in the United Kingdom's territorial waters from 1902 with intervals until 1967.-Pre–First World War:...
as the flagship of Admiral Sir George Callaghan
George Callaghan
Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Astley Callaghan GCB GCVO was a senior officer in the Royal Navy.-Naval career:...
. Shortly before the beginning of hostilities, Callaghan was relieved by Admiral Sir John Jellicoe
John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe
Admiral of the Fleet John Rushworth Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe, GCB, OM, GCVO was a British Royal Navy admiral who commanded the Grand Fleet at the Battle of Jutland in World War I...
, who made Iron Duke the flagship of the newly organized Grand Fleet.
Her only major combat service during the First World War came in the Battle of Jutland
Battle of Jutland
The Battle of Jutland was a naval battle between the British Royal Navy's Grand Fleet and the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet during the First World War. The battle was fought on 31 May and 1 June 1916 in the North Sea near Jutland, Denmark. It was the largest naval battle and the only...
on 31 May 1916, where she served in the Fourth Battle Squadron
4th Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)
The British Royal Navy 4th Battle Squadron was a squadron consisting of battleships. The 4th Battle Squadron was initially part of the Royal Navy's Home Fleet. During World War I the Home Fleet was renamed the Grand Fleet...
. She delivered a number of significant shell hits on the German battleship SMS König
SMS König
SMS König"SMS" stands for "Seiner Majestät Schiff" was the first of four König class dreadnought battleships of the German Imperial Navy during World War I. König was named in honor of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, who was the king of Prussia as well as the German Emperor...
, at the point when the two main fleets collided.
She later became the flagship for a short time of Admiral Sir David Beatty
David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty
Admiral of the Fleet David Richard Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty, GCB, OM, GCVO, DSO was an admiral in the Royal Navy...
when he assumed command of the Grand Fleet in late 1916, although he soon moved his flag to .
After the war, she was transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet, where she again served as flagship, this time for Admiral Sir John de Robeck
John de Robeck
Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Michael de Robeck, 1st Baronet GCB, GCMG, GCVO was an admiral in the British Royal Navy who commanded the Allied naval force in the Dardanelles during World War I....
. She served with the Mediterranean and Atlantic Fleets until she was paid off in 1929.
In 1931, after the London Naval Treaty
London Naval Treaty
The London Naval Treaty was an agreement between the United Kingdom, the Empire of Japan, France, Italy and the United States, signed on April 22, 1930, which regulated submarine warfare and limited naval shipbuilding. Ratifications were exchanged in London on October 27, 1930, and the treaty went...
, Iron Duke was disarmed and she served as a gunnery training vessel. "B" and "Y" turret
Gun turret
A gun turret is a weapon mount that protects the crew or mechanism of a projectile-firing weapon and at the same time lets the weapon be aimed and fired in many directions.The turret is also a rotating weapon platform...
s and the torpedo tube
Torpedo tube
A torpedo tube is a device for launching torpedoes. There are two main types of torpedo tube: underwater tubes fitted to submarines and some surface ships, and deck-mounted units installed aboard surface vessels...
s were removed, two 4 in (101.6 mm) AA
Anti-aircraft warfare
NATO defines air defence as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action." They include ground and air based weapon systems, associated sensor systems, command and control arrangements and passive measures. It may be to protect naval, ground and air forces...
guns were mounted and another AA gun was mounted in place of the "B" turret. In 1939, another twin 4.5 in (114.3 mm) turret was mounted at the "X" turret.
During the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, she was used as a base ship at Scapa Flow
Scapa Flow
right|thumb|Scapa Flow viewed from its eastern endScapa Flow is a body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, sheltered by the islands of Mainland, Graemsay, Burray, South Ronaldsay and Hoy. It is about...
, where she became a target for three German bombers and was forced to beach following an air attack in 1939; despite severe damage the ship was patched sufficiently enough to enable her to avoid sinking. She was refloated and saw continued service until the conclusion of hostilities. She was sold in 1946 as scrap, and broken up in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
in 1948. Iron Dukes bell is on display at Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral at Winchester in Hampshire is one of the largest cathedrals in England, with the longest nave and overall length of any Gothic cathedral in Europe...
. A wide variety of domestic nick-nacks made of teak from Iron Duke are sold to the public.