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HMS Repulse (1892)
Encyclopedia
HMS Repulse was a Royal Sovereign-class
predreadnought battleship
of the Royal Navy
. She was the tenth ship to bear the name HMS Repulse.
on 1 January 1890 and launched on 27 February 1892, she was completed in April 1894.
Repulse was 410 feet long and had a maximum cruising speed of 17 knots. Her armament included four 67-ton 13.5-inch (343-mm) guns and several smaller-calibre guns.
The Royal Sovereign-class battleships were designed by Sir William White and were the most potent battleships in the world when they were commissioned, and they were front-line ships until HMS Dreadnought
rendered them obsolete overnight in 1906. In their day the Royal Sovereigns embodied revolutionary improvements in firepower, armour, and speed. The main armament of four 13.5-inch (343-mm) guns was housed in two barbette
s, rather than turrets
, at either end of the ship which allowed a high freeboard, greatly increasing their capacity for fighting in rough weather; however, they tended to roll heavily in certain conditions, and after Resolution rolled badly in heavy seas in 1893, the Royal Sovereign class was nicknamed the "Rolling Ressies." While fitting out, Repulse was fitted experimentally with bilge keels, which solved the rolling problem; bilge keels were installed on the other ships of the class, but the nickname stuck. The secondary armament was designed to provide potent, quick-firing support for the main battery. Despite their greatly increased weight, thanks to a main armour belt which ran for two thirds of their length, they were the fastest capital ships in the world in their time.
In 1906, the Royal Sovereigns, like every other battleship in the world, were made obsolete with the launch of the revolutionary HMS Dreadnought, the first all-big-gun battleship.
in the Channel Squadron, and was attached to Chatham Dockyard
. She participated in annual maneuvers in the Irish Sea
and Atlantic Ocean in August 1894 as a unit of the "Blue Fleet." From 19 June 1895 to 24 June 1895, she was part of the Royal Navy squadron that visited Germany for the opening of the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal. In July and August 1895, she again took part in the annual maneuvers, as she did yet again in July 1896, when they were held in the Southwest Approaches
and she was a unit of "Fleet A."
On 26 June 1897, Repulse was present at the Fleet Review at Spithead
for the Diamond Jubilee
of Queen Victoria.
In July 1897, Repulse took part in annual maneuvers, this time held off the coast of Ireland
. In July and August 1899, when the annual maneuvers were held in the Atlantic, she participated as a unit of "Fleet A".
Repulse suffered a mishap on 4 February 1900 when a strong tide forced her to collide with an anchored barge
as she departed Sheerness
. In August 1900, she again was involved in annual maneuvers in the Atlantic, this time as a unit of "Fleet A1." On 27 October 1901, she grounded in mud while under tow to her moorings, but was refloated undamaged two hours later.
Repulse departed England on 5 April 1902 for service with the Mediterranean Fleet
. In the Mediterranean
, she took part in combined exercises of the Mediterranean Fleet, Channel Fleet
, and Cruiser Squadron off Cephalonia and Morea
between 29 September 1902 and 6 October 1902. Completing her Mediterranean service, she departed Malta
on 29 November 1903, arriving at Plymouth on 10 December 1903. She then paid off at Chatham Dockyard
on 5 February 1904 for an extensive refit.
The refit complete, Repulse recommissioned at Chatham on 3 January 1905 for service in reserve with a nucleus crew. She recommissioned there with a fresh nucleus crew for continued reserve service on 6 June 1905. In July 1905 she took part in Reserve Fleet maneuvers.
On 24 March 1906, Repulse recommissioned at Chatham with a new nucleus crew for further reserve service. She transferred that crew to battleship HMS Irresistible
on 27 November 1906 and recommissioned to continue reserve service at Chatham with yet another new nucleus crew.
On 25 February 1907, Repulse departed Chatham for Devonport
, to serve there as a special service vessel. Battleship HMS Majestic
relieved Repulse of this duty on 2 August 1910. In December 1910, Repulse moved to Portsmouth, where she paid off in February 1911. She was sold for scrapping on 11 July 1911, and arrived at Morecambe
for scrapping on 27 July 1911.
Royal Sovereign class battleship
The Royal Sovereign class was a class of pre-dreadnought battleships of the British Royal Navy. The class comprised seven ships built to the same design: HMS Royal Sovereign, , HMS Ramilles, HMS Repulse, HMS Resolution, HMS Revenge, and HMS Royal Oak, and a half-sister built to a modified design: ....
predreadnought 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...
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...
. She was the tenth ship to bear the name HMS Repulse.
Technical Characteristics
HMS Repulse was ordered under the Naval Defence Act Program of 1889. Laid down at PembrokePembroke Dock
Pembroke Dock is a town in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales, lying north of Pembroke on the River Cleddau. Originally a small fishing village known as Paterchurch, the town was greatly expanded from 1814 onwards following the construction of a Royal Naval Dockyard...
on 1 January 1890 and launched on 27 February 1892, she was completed in April 1894.
Repulse was 410 feet long and had a maximum cruising speed of 17 knots. Her armament included four 67-ton 13.5-inch (343-mm) guns and several smaller-calibre guns.
The Royal Sovereign-class battleships were designed by Sir William White and were the most potent battleships in the world when they were commissioned, and they were front-line ships until HMS Dreadnought
HMS Dreadnought (1906)
HMS Dreadnought was a battleship of the British Royal Navy that revolutionised naval power. Her entry into service in 1906 represented such a marked advance in naval technology that her name came to be associated with an entire generation of battleships, the "dreadnoughts", as well as the class of...
rendered them obsolete overnight in 1906. In their day the Royal Sovereigns embodied revolutionary improvements in firepower, armour, and speed. The main armament of four 13.5-inch (343-mm) guns was housed in two barbette
Barbette
A barbette is a protective circular armour feature around a cannon or heavy artillery gun. The name comes from the French phrase en barbette referring to the practice of firing a field gun over a parapet rather than through an opening . The former gives better angles of fire but less protection...
s, rather than turrets
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...
, at either end of the ship which allowed a high freeboard, greatly increasing their capacity for fighting in rough weather; however, they tended to roll heavily in certain conditions, and after Resolution rolled badly in heavy seas in 1893, the Royal Sovereign class was nicknamed the "Rolling Ressies." While fitting out, Repulse was fitted experimentally with bilge keels, which solved the rolling problem; bilge keels were installed on the other ships of the class, but the nickname stuck. The secondary armament was designed to provide potent, quick-firing support for the main battery. Despite their greatly increased weight, thanks to a main armour belt which ran for two thirds of their length, they were the fastest capital ships in the world in their time.
In 1906, the Royal Sovereigns, like every other battleship in the world, were made obsolete with the launch of the revolutionary HMS Dreadnought, the first all-big-gun battleship.
Operational history
HMS Repulse commissioned at Portsmouth on 25 April 1894 to relieve battleship HMS RodneyHMS Rodney (1884)
HMS Rodney was a battleship of the Victorian Royal Navy, a member of the Admiral class of warships designed by Nathaniel Barnaby.She was a development of the design of Collingwood, but carried 13.5 inch calibre main armament as against 12 inch in the earlier ship...
in the Channel Squadron, and was attached to Chatham Dockyard
Chatham Dockyard
Chatham Dockyard, located on the River Medway and of which two-thirds is in Gillingham and one third in Chatham, Kent, England, came into existence at the time when, following the Reformation, relations with the Catholic countries of Europe had worsened, leading to a requirement for additional...
. She participated in annual maneuvers in the Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
and Atlantic Ocean in August 1894 as a unit of the "Blue Fleet." From 19 June 1895 to 24 June 1895, she was part of the Royal Navy squadron that visited Germany for the opening of the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal. In July and August 1895, she again took part in the annual maneuvers, as she did yet again in July 1896, when they were held in the Southwest Approaches
Southwest Approaches
The Southwest Approaches is the name given to the offshore waters to the southwest of Great Britain. The area includes the Celtic Sea, the Bristol Channel and sea areas off southwest Ireland...
and she was a unit of "Fleet A."
On 26 June 1897, Repulse was present 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.
In July 1897, Repulse took part in annual maneuvers, this time held off the 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...
. In July and August 1899, when the annual maneuvers were held in the Atlantic, she participated as a unit of "Fleet A".
Repulse suffered a mishap on 4 February 1900 when a strong tide forced her to collide with an anchored barge
Barge
A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. Some barges are not self-propelled and need to be towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats...
as she departed Sheerness
Sheerness
Sheerness is a town located beside the mouth of the River Medway on the northwest corner of the Isle of Sheppey in north Kent, England. With a population of 12,000 it is the largest town on the island....
. In August 1900, she again was involved in annual maneuvers in the Atlantic, this time as a unit of "Fleet A1." On 27 October 1901, she grounded in mud while under tow to her moorings, but was refloated undamaged two hours later.
Repulse departed England on 5 April 1902 for service with 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...
. In the 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...
, she took part in combined exercises 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 1902. Completing her Mediterranean service, she departed 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...
on 29 November 1903, arriving at Plymouth on 10 December 1903. She then paid off at Chatham Dockyard
Chatham Dockyard
Chatham Dockyard, located on the River Medway and of which two-thirds is in Gillingham and one third in Chatham, Kent, England, came into existence at the time when, following the Reformation, relations with the Catholic countries of Europe had worsened, leading to a requirement for additional...
on 5 February 1904 for an extensive refit.
The refit complete, Repulse recommissioned at Chatham on 3 January 1905 for service in reserve with a nucleus crew. She recommissioned there with a fresh nucleus crew for continued reserve service on 6 June 1905. In July 1905 she took part in Reserve Fleet maneuvers.
On 24 March 1906, Repulse recommissioned at Chatham with a new nucleus crew for further reserve service. She transferred that crew to battleship HMS Irresistible
HMS Irresistible (1898)
HMS Irresistible—the fourth British Royal Navy ship of the name—was a pre-dreadnought battleship.-Technical characteristics:HMS Irresistible was laid down at Chatham Dockyard on 11 April 1898 and launched on 15 December 1898 in a very incomplete state to clear the building ways for the...
on 27 November 1906 and recommissioned to continue reserve service at Chatham with yet another new nucleus crew.
On 25 February 1907, Repulse departed Chatham for Devonport
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...
, to serve there as a special service vessel. Battleship HMS Majestic
HMS Majestic (1895)
HMS Majestic was a Majestic-class predreadnought battleship of the Royal Navy.-Technical characteristics:HMS Majestic was laid down at Portsmouth Dockyard on 5 February 1894 and launched on 31 January 1895...
relieved Repulse of this duty on 2 August 1910. In December 1910, Repulse moved to Portsmouth, where she paid off in February 1911. She was sold for scrapping on 11 July 1911, and arrived at Morecambe
Morecambe
Morecambe is a resort town and civil parish within the City of Lancaster in Lancashire, England. As of 2001 it has a resident population of 38,917. It faces into Morecambe Bay...
for scrapping on 27 July 1911.