Lion 1912
Lion 1918
| Name | No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Lion | Devonport DYd | 29/9/1909 | 6/8/1910 | 5/1912 | sold for BU 31/1/1924 | |
| Princess Royal | Vickers, Barrow | 2/5/1910 | 24/4/1911 | 11/1912 | sold for BU 12/1922 |
|
Displacement normal, t |
26270 |
|
Displacement full, t |
30945 |
|
Length, m |
213.4 |
|
Breadth, m |
27.0 |
|
Draught, m |
8.40 |
|
No of shafts |
4 |
|
Machinery |
Parsons steam turbines, 42 Yarrow boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
70000 |
|
Max speed, kn |
27 |
|
Fuel, t |
coal 3500 + oil 1135 |
|
Armour, mm |
belt: 229 - 102, bulkheads: 102, turrets: 229, barbettes: 229 - 76, deck: 64 - 25, CT: 254 belt: 229 - 102, bulkheads: 102, turrets: 229 (face and sides) - 203 (rear) - 82 - 64 (roof), barbettes: 229 (over main deck) - 76 (under main deck), deck: 64 - 25, over magazines: 89, CT: 254 (face and sides) - 178 (rear) - 76 (roof) |
|
Armament |
4 x 2 - 343/45 Mk V, 16 x 1 - 102/50 BL Mk VII, 4 x 1 - 47/40 Hotchkiss , 2 - 533 TT (beam) |
|
Complement |
997 |
Ship project history: First battlecruisers with 13.5`` artillery. Distinctive line of the design is out-of-balance between offensive power of the ship and its weak protection.
Protection: 229-mm main belt (between main and lower decks) with 3.5 m height extended from CT to the after end of machinery spaces. Belt between CT and inner end of barbette "A" was 152mm, 127mm abreast barbette "A" and 102mm fwd from barbette "A", ending in 15m to stem. Aft part of main belt was 127mm abreast barbette "Y" and 102mm aft from barbette, ending in 20m to stern. Ends of main belt closed by 102mm bulkheads. Full length of main belt was 176m (83% of length by wl). Thickness of upper belt (between main and upper decks) was 152mm between CT and aft end of machinery spaces, 127mm abreast barbette "B" and 102mm at other parts, it closed by 102mm bulkheads and has some length than main belt. Upper deck was taken to the upper edge of upper belt and has thickness 25 - 19mm. 38-31mm forecastle deck covered middle part of hull. Main deck over citadel was 25mm with 25mm slopes, 31mm with 31mm slopes abreast barbette "Y" and 64mm with 64mm slopes over other parts. Another part of lower deck was 51mm. Funnel uptakes had 44 - 13mm splinter protection.
Modernizations: 1912, Lion: fore funnel was moved aft, fore mast and superstructure were reconstructed.
1914, Lion: - 1 x 1 - 47/40
10/1914, both: + 1 x 1 - 57/40 Hotchkiss AA
1/1915, both: + 1 x 1 - 76/45 QF Mk I
4/1915, both: - 2 x 1 - 47/40
7/1915, Lion: - 1 x 1 - 57/40; + 1 x 1 - 76/45 QF Mk I
8/1915, Lion: - 1 x 1 - 47/40
late 1915, Princess Royal: - 1 x 1 - 57/40, 2 x 1 - 47/40; + 1 x 1 - 76/45 QF Mk I
1916, both: adding of 25-mm plates to upper deck near all barbettes, to lower deck near barbettes "B" and "Y" and to turrets` roofs.
4/1917, Lion: - 1 x 1 - 102/50; + 1 x 1 - 76/45 QF Mk I
4/1917, Princess Royal: - 1 x 1 - 102/50, 2 x 1 - 76/45; + 2 x 1 - 102/50 BL Mk VII AA
1918, both: + flying-off platforms on turrets "Q" & "X"
6/1919, Lion: + 4 x 1 - 47/40 Hotchkiss
6/1919, Princess Royal: - 2 x 1 - 102/50; + 2 x 1 - 76/45 QF Mk I, 4 x 1 - 47/40 Hotchkiss, 2 x 1 - 40/39 pompom
3/1922, Princess Royal: - 2 x 1 - 40/39
Naval service: Lion was hit by 16 11`` and 12`` shells from cruisers Blücher, Derfflinger and Seydlitz at the Dogger bank 24/1/1915, suffering serious damage. Port engine room was flooded, eventaually starboard turbines stopped and cruiser was towed home by battlecruiser Indomitable. She suffered much more serious damage being hit by 13 12`` shells from Lützow at Jutland, "Q" turret was demolished completely, it had to be removed for repair and Lion went to sea with three turrets from July till September 1916. Princess Royal was hit by 8 12`` and 1 11`` shells at Jutland (battlecruiser Derfflinger, battleships Markgraf and Posen) but ship remained operational.
Lion 1912
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-09