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HMS Renown (1895)
Encyclopedia
HMS Renown was a predreadnought battleship
of the Royal Navy
. Third and last of the lightly armed, long-range Centurion class
, she had an upgraded design compared to her two sister ships HMS Centurion
and HMS Barfleur
.
and laid down at Pembroke Dockyard on 1 February 1893 and launched on 8 May 1895. She was completed in January 1897 at a cost of £709,000 pounds (£55 million pounds in 2006 value), but then underwent lengthy sea trials that included the changing of her propeller blades and lasted until June 1897.
She was armed with four 10-inch (254-millimeter) guns in two barbettes and had a secondary 6-inch (152-millimeter) battery. She had five torpedo tubes, as opposed to three on the earlier ships. She also carried twelve 12-pounders, eight 3-pounders and two Maxim machine guns
. Her armour was made of superior Harvey, rather than compound steel
, and she carried an 8-inch (203-millimeter) belt with 10-inch (254-millimeter) bulkheads. She was the first British battleship to be built with a French-style inclined armoured deck behind the main belt.
She carried 1,760 tons of coal, an improvement of 500 tons on her classmates, which afforded a range of 8500 nautical miles (15,742 km) at 15 knots (15,700 km at 28 km/h). She proved her worth by maintaining an average speed of 17 knots (33.3 km/h) over four days at sea in 1895, a remarkable achievement in that day.
for the Commander-in-Chief, Vice Admiral John A. "Jackie" Fisher, at the Fleet Review at Spithead
for the Diamond Jubilee
of Queen Victoria, with the Prince of Wales
aboard. Renown was attached to the 1st Division, Channel Fleet
, from 7 July 1897 to 12 July 1897 for maneuvers off the south coast of Ireland
.
On 24 August 1897 she once again became Vice Admiral Fisher's flagship, relieving protected cruiser
HMS Crescent
as flagship of the North America and West Indies Station. She continued in this service until undergoing a refit from May to July 1899.
Upon completion of her refit, she transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet
, once again becoming Vice Admiral Fisher's flagship. A strong proponent of the design of Renown, Fisher also found her highly desirable for the hosting of the social events required of a flagship in peacetime, even going to the length of having the flash plates of her 10-inch (254-mm) guns removed so they would not interfere with women's shoes on dance nights. Renown also underwent a special refit at Malta
from February to May 1900 to meet Fisher's requirements for her.
Renown recommissioned to continue her service as Fisher's Mediterranean
flagship on 19 November 1900, and served as flagship until Fisher ended his tour as Commander-in-Chief on 20 May 1902, after which she continued to serve in the Mediterranean Fleet as a private ship
. During combined manoeuvres of the Mediterranean Fleet, Channel Fleet
, and Cruiser Squadron off Cephalonia and Morea
between 29 September 1902 and 6 October 1892, she served as a unit of "X Fleet."
After the manoeuvres ended, she was detached from the Mediterranean Fleet and returned to the United Kingdom to be specially fitted out at Portsmouth to carry the Duke and Duchess of Connaught on a royal tour of India. After the modifications, she was nicknamed the "Battleship Yacht
." Renown carried the Duke and Duchess on their royal tour of India from November 1902 to March 1903. On her return voyage, she brought home the unusual present of a baby elephant
, presented by an Indian Rajah to the Duke of Connaught.
In April 1903, Renown rejoined the Mediterranean Fleet. In August 1903, she relieved battleship
HMS Venerable
as flagship of the fleet so that Venerable could undergo a refit. From 5 August 1903 to 9 August 1903, Renown served as a unit of "X Fleet" in combined Mediterranean Fleet, Channel Fleet
, and Home Fleet maneuvers off the coast of Portugal
.
Renown left the Mediterranean Fleet without relief and paid off into reserve at Devon
on 15 May 1904, becoming a unit of C Division.
A full account of her 1900-1904 commission is to be found in the Westminster Press's Log Series No 8. Written by Chas. Mitchell R.M.L.I., it also contains "numerous special articles by Tre-Pol-Pen", the pen-name of the ship's then Engineer Sub-Lieutenant, Barry Hocken (who, as a serving officer, was not allowed to write under his own name). A great admirer of Fisher, Hocken was perhaps best known for his book "Break", the first of the Fleet Series from the same publisher, whose subtitle was "How the Navy Prepares for War", which features an introduction by the naval reformer, Lionel Yexley (formerly James Woods).
While in reserve, she participated in manoeuvres in June 1904 and on 21 February 1905 began a special refit at Portsmouth to configure her as a royal yacht
. During the refit, almost all of her secondary armament was removed to allow room for increased accommodation. The modifications were completed early in October 1905.
On 8 October 1905, Renown left Portsmouth bound for Genoa, Italy. At Genoa, the Prince
and Princess of Wales
-- the future King George V
and Queen Mary
-- embarked for a royal tour of India. First-class protected cruiser
HMS Terrible
escorted Renown during the tour. At the conclusion of the tour, Renown departed Karachi
on 23 March 1906, arriving at Portsmouth on 7 May 1906 and commissioning into reserve on 31 May 1906.
In May 1907, Renown was attached to the Home Fleet as a "subsidiary yacht" for special service. Between October and December 1907, Renown carried King Alfonso XIII
and Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain on an official trip to and from the United Kingdom.. At this time her captain was Frederick Hervey, 4th Marquess of Bristol
.
On 1 April 1909 Renown transferred to the 4th Division, Home Fleet, at Portsmouth. She paid off on 25 September 1909 for refit as a stoker's training ship. She served as a tender to HMS Victory
in October 1909. Her refit completed, she commissioned at Portsmouth in November 1909 as a stoker's training ship. She interrupted this duty to serve as an accommodation ship moored at Portsmouth for visitors during the Coronation Review at Spithead
for King George V
on 24 June 1911.
On 26 November 1911, Renown suffered slight damage when water tanker
Aid rammed her at Portsmouth.
Renown was outclassed by the new dreadnought
battleships that began to appear in 1906. She ended her service as a stoker's training ship and was transferred to the sale list on 31 January 1913. She was stripped. In April 1913, Renown was proposed for use as an accommodation ship at the new naval base at Cromarty
, but this plan proved uneconomic. In December 1913, she was moored at the Motherbank
, awaiting disposal, and on 2 April 1914 she was sold for scrapping. She was scrapped at Blyth
.
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...
. Third and last of the lightly armed, long-range Centurion class
Centurion class battleship
The Centurion class battleships were second-class pre-dreadnought battleships of the Royal Navy designed for service on distant stations.-Description:...
, she had an upgraded design compared to her two sister ships HMS Centurion
HMS Centurion (1892)
HMS Centurion was a predreadnought second-class battleship of the Royal Navy. She was part of the three-ship Centurion class, designed for long-range patrolling of the United Kingdom's far-flung empire.-Technical characteristics:...
and HMS Barfleur
HMS Barfleur (1892)
HMS Barfleur was a predreadnought second-class battleship of the Royal Navy. She was part of the three-ship Centurion class, designed for long-range patrolling of the United Kingdom's far-flung empire. She mainly saw service in the Mediterranean and Home Fleet, along with Service at China Station,...
.
Technical Characteristics
HMS Renown was designed by Sir William WhiteWilliam Henry White
Sir William Henry White was a prolific British warship designer and Chief Constructor at the Admiralty....
and laid down at Pembroke Dockyard on 1 February 1893 and launched on 8 May 1895. She was completed in January 1897 at a cost of £709,000 pounds (£55 million pounds in 2006 value), but then underwent lengthy sea trials that included the changing of her propeller blades and lasted until June 1897.
She was armed with four 10-inch (254-millimeter) guns in two barbettes and had a secondary 6-inch (152-millimeter) battery. She had five torpedo tubes, as opposed to three on the earlier ships. She also carried twelve 12-pounders, eight 3-pounders and two Maxim machine guns
Maxim gun
The Maxim gun was the first self-powered machine gun, invented by the American-born British inventor Sir Hiram Maxim in 1884. It has been called "the weapon most associated with [British] imperial conquest".-Functionality:...
. Her armour was made of superior Harvey, rather than compound steel
Compound armour
Compound armour was a type of armour used on warships in the 1880s. By the end of the decade it had been rendered obsolete by nickel-steel armour.-Prior armours:...
, and she carried an 8-inch (203-millimeter) belt with 10-inch (254-millimeter) bulkheads. She was the first British battleship to be built with a French-style inclined armoured deck behind the main belt.
She carried 1,760 tons of coal, an improvement of 500 tons on her classmates, which afforded a range of 8500 nautical miles (15,742 km) at 15 knots (15,700 km at 28 km/h). She proved her worth by maintaining an average speed of 17 knots (33.3 km/h) over four days at sea in 1895, a remarkable achievement in that day.
Operational history
HMS Renown commissioned on 8 June 1897 for unappropriated service, soon making a short cruise. On 26 June 1897, she served as flagshipFlagship
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...
for the Commander-in-Chief, Vice Admiral John A. "Jackie" Fisher, at the Fleet Review at Spithead
Spithead
Spithead is an area of the Solent and a roadstead off Gilkicker Point in Hampshire, England. It is protected from all winds, except those from the southeast...
for the Diamond Jubilee
Diamond Jubilee
A Diamond Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 60th anniversary in the case of a person or a 75th anniversary in the case of an event.- Thailand :...
of Queen Victoria, with the Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
aboard. Renown was attached to the 1st Division, Channel Fleet
Channel Fleet
The Channel Fleet was the Royal Navy formation of warships that defended the waters of the English Channel from 1690 to 1909.-History:The Channel Fleet dates back at least to 1690 when its role was to defend England against the French threat under the leadership of Edward Russell, 1st Earl of...
, from 7 July 1897 to 12 July 1897 for maneuvers off the south coast of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
On 24 August 1897 she once again became Vice Admiral Fisher's flagship, relieving protected cruiser
Protected cruiser
The protected cruiser is a type of naval cruiser of the late 19th century, so known because its armoured deck offered protection for vital machine spaces from shrapnel caused by exploding shells above...
HMS Crescent
HMS Crescent (1892)
HMS Crescent was a first class cruiser of the Edgar class. Crescent, and her sister ship Royal Arthur, were built to a slightly modified design and are sometimes considered a separate class. She was built at Portsmouth and launched on 30 March 1892. As at 11 January 1895 she was leaving Australia...
as flagship of the North America and West Indies Station. She continued in this service until undergoing a refit from May to July 1899.
Upon completion of her refit, she transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet
Mediterranean Fleet
Several countries have or have had a Mediterranean Fleet in their navy. See:* Mediterranean Fleet * French Mediterranean Fleet* Mediterranean Squadron * United States Sixth Fleet...
, once again becoming Vice Admiral Fisher's flagship. A strong proponent of the design of Renown, Fisher also found her highly desirable for the hosting of the social events required of a flagship in peacetime, even going to the length of having the flash plates of her 10-inch (254-mm) guns removed so they would not interfere with women's shoes on dance nights. Renown also underwent a special refit at Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
from February to May 1900 to meet Fisher's requirements for her.
Renown recommissioned to continue her service as Fisher's Mediterranean
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
flagship on 19 November 1900, and served as flagship until Fisher ended his tour as Commander-in-Chief on 20 May 1902, after which she continued to serve in the Mediterranean Fleet as a private ship
Private ship
Private ship is a term used in the British Royal Navy to describe that status of a commissioned warship in active service that is not currently serving as the flagship of a flag officer . The term in no way implies any type of private ownership of the vessel, but is more akin to private...
. During combined manoeuvres of the Mediterranean Fleet, Channel Fleet
Channel Fleet
The Channel Fleet was the Royal Navy formation of warships that defended the waters of the English Channel from 1690 to 1909.-History:The Channel Fleet dates back at least to 1690 when its role was to defend England against the French threat under the leadership of Edward Russell, 1st Earl of...
, and Cruiser Squadron off Cephalonia and Morea
Morea
The Morea was the name of the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. It also referred to a Byzantine province in the region, known as the Despotate of Morea.-Origins of the name:...
between 29 September 1902 and 6 October 1892, she served as a unit of "X Fleet."
After the manoeuvres ended, she was detached from the Mediterranean Fleet and returned to the United Kingdom to be specially fitted out at Portsmouth to carry the Duke and Duchess of Connaught on a royal tour of India. After the modifications, she was nicknamed the "Battleship Yacht
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
." Renown carried the Duke and Duchess on their royal tour of India from November 1902 to March 1903. On her return voyage, she brought home the unusual present of a baby elephant
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
, presented by an Indian Rajah to the Duke of Connaught.
In April 1903, Renown rejoined the Mediterranean Fleet. In August 1903, she relieved battleship
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...
HMS Venerable
HMS Venerable (1899)
HMS Venerable was a London class predreadnought battleship, a sub-class of the Formidable class battleships, and the third ship of the British Royal Navy to bear the name.-Technical Description:...
as flagship of the fleet so that Venerable could undergo a refit. From 5 August 1903 to 9 August 1903, Renown served as a unit of "X Fleet" in combined Mediterranean Fleet, Channel Fleet
Channel Fleet
The Channel Fleet was the Royal Navy formation of warships that defended the waters of the English Channel from 1690 to 1909.-History:The Channel Fleet dates back at least to 1690 when its role was to defend England against the French threat under the leadership of Edward Russell, 1st Earl of...
, and Home Fleet maneuvers off the coast of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
Renown left the Mediterranean Fleet without relief and paid off into reserve at Devon
Devonport, Devon
Devonport, formerly named Plymouth Dock or just Dock, is a district of Plymouth in the English county of Devon, although it was, at one time, the more important settlement. It became a county borough in 1889...
on 15 May 1904, becoming a unit of C Division.
A full account of her 1900-1904 commission is to be found in the Westminster Press's Log Series No 8. Written by Chas. Mitchell R.M.L.I., it also contains "numerous special articles by Tre-Pol-Pen", the pen-name of the ship's then Engineer Sub-Lieutenant, Barry Hocken (who, as a serving officer, was not allowed to write under his own name). A great admirer of Fisher, Hocken was perhaps best known for his book "Break", the first of the Fleet Series from the same publisher, whose subtitle was "How the Navy Prepares for War", which features an introduction by the naval reformer, Lionel Yexley (formerly James Woods).
While in reserve, she participated in manoeuvres in June 1904 and on 21 February 1905 began a special refit at Portsmouth to configure her as a royal yacht
Royal Yacht
A royal yacht is a ship used by a monarch or a royal family. If the monarch is an emperor the proper term is imperial yacht. Most of them are financed by the government of the country of which the monarch is head...
. During the refit, almost all of her secondary armament was removed to allow room for increased accommodation. The modifications were completed early in October 1905.
On 8 October 1905, Renown left Portsmouth bound for Genoa, Italy. At Genoa, the Prince
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
and Princess of Wales
Princess of Wales
Princess of Wales is a British courtesy title held by the wife of The Prince of Wales since the first "English" Prince of Wales in 1283.Although there have been considerably more than ten male heirs to the throne, there have been only ten Princesses of Wales. The majority of Princes of Wales...
-- the future King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
and Queen Mary
Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V....
-- embarked for a royal tour of India. First-class protected cruiser
Protected cruiser
The protected cruiser is a type of naval cruiser of the late 19th century, so known because its armoured deck offered protection for vital machine spaces from shrapnel caused by exploding shells above...
HMS Terrible
HMS Terrible (1895)
HMS Terrible was a ship of the Powerful-class of protected cruiser in the Royal Navy.-Terrible 1898 Trials:* 60 hours at 1/5 power 5084 ihp = * 68 hours at 2/5 power = * 60 hours at 3/5 power = * 60 hours at 3/4 power =...
escorted Renown during the tour. At the conclusion of the tour, Renown departed Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
on 23 March 1906, arriving at Portsmouth on 7 May 1906 and commissioning into reserve on 31 May 1906.
In May 1907, Renown was attached to the Home Fleet as a "subsidiary yacht" for special service. Between October and December 1907, Renown carried King Alfonso XIII
Alfonso XIII of Spain
Alfonso XIII was King of Spain from 1886 until 1931. His mother, Maria Christina of Austria, was appointed regent during his minority...
and Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain on an official trip to and from the United Kingdom.. At this time her captain was Frederick Hervey, 4th Marquess of Bristol
Frederick Hervey, 4th Marquess of Bristol
Frederick William Fane Hervey, 4th Marquess of Bristol was a British nobleman and Conservative Party politician.He succeeded his uncle Frederick William John Hervey, 3rd Marquess of Bristol in 1907...
.
On 1 April 1909 Renown transferred to the 4th Division, Home Fleet, at Portsmouth. She paid off on 25 September 1909 for refit as a stoker's training ship. She served as a tender to HMS Victory
HMS Victory
HMS Victory is a 104-gun first-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, laid down in 1759 and launched in 1765. She is most famous as Lord Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805....
in October 1909. Her refit completed, she commissioned at Portsmouth in November 1909 as a stoker's training ship. She interrupted this duty to serve as an accommodation ship moored at Portsmouth for visitors during the Coronation Review at Spithead
Spithead
Spithead is an area of the Solent and a roadstead off Gilkicker Point in Hampshire, England. It is protected from all winds, except those from the southeast...
for King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
on 24 June 1911.
On 26 November 1911, Renown suffered slight damage when water tanker
Tanker (ship)
A tanker is a ship designed to transport liquids in bulk. Major types of tankship include the oil tanker, the chemical tanker, and the liquefied natural gas carrier.-Background:...
Aid rammed her at Portsmouth.
Renown was outclassed by the new dreadnought
Dreadnought
The dreadnought was the predominant type of 20th-century battleship. The first of the kind, the Royal Navy's had such an impact when launched in 1906 that similar battleships built after her were referred to as "dreadnoughts", and earlier battleships became known as pre-dreadnoughts...
battleships that began to appear in 1906. She ended her service as a stoker's training ship and was transferred to the sale list on 31 January 1913. She was stripped. In April 1913, Renown was proposed for use as an accommodation ship at the new naval base at Cromarty
Cromarty
The Royal Burgh of Cromarty is a burgh in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland.-History:It was previously the county town of the former county of Cromartyshire...
, but this plan proved uneconomic. In December 1913, she was moored at the Motherbank
Motherbank
The Motherbank is a shallow sandbar off the northeast coast of the county Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom. It lies in The Solent between Cowes and Ryde....
, awaiting disposal, and on 2 April 1914 she was sold for scrapping. She was scrapped at Blyth
Blyth, Northumberland
Blyth is a town and civil parish in southeast Northumberland, England. It lies on the coast, to the south of the River Blyth and is approximately 21 kilometres northeast of Newcastle upon Tyne...
.