Difference between revisions of "H.M.S. Ajax (1912)"

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<div name=fredbot:career>{{ShipCareer|fullname=H.M.S. ''Ajax'' (1912)|fate2=Scrapped
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{{ShipCareer|fullname=H.M.S. ''Ajax'' (1912)|fate2=Scrapped
 
 
|comm=31 Oct, 1913
 
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|fatedate=9 Nov, 1926{{DittColl|p. 33}}
 
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|name=Ajax
 
|name=Ajax
 
|launch=21 Mar, 1912{{DittColl|p. 33}}
 
|launch=21 Mar, 1912{{DittColl|p. 33}}
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|builder=[[Scott]], Greenock{{Conways1906|p. 30}}
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|comp=10 Oct, 1913<ref>''Navy (Dockyard Expense Accounts). 1913&ndash;1914''. p. 37.</ref>
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|builder=[[Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company]], Greenock{{Conways1906|p. 30}}
 
|laid=27 Feb, 1911{{Conways1906|p. 30}}
 
|laid=27 Feb, 1911{{Conways1906|p. 30}}
 
|fate=Sold
 
|fate=Sold
 
|pend=40 (1914)<br>05 (Jan 1918)<br>46 (Apr 1918){{DittColl|p. 33}}
 
|pend=40 (1914)<br>05 (Jan 1918)<br>46 (Apr 1918){{DittColl|p. 33}}
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|fg=white|bg=crimson}}</div name=fredbot:career>
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|cost=£1,796,945{{UKDockyardExpenseAccounts1913|p. 137}}
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|fg=white|bg=crimson}}</div name=fredbot:career>'''H.M.S. ''Ajax''''' was one of four [[King George V Class Battleship (1911)|''King George V'' class battleships]] completed in 1912-13.
  
 +
There was [[H.M.S. Ajax (1934)|a light cruiser named ''Ajax'']] launched in 1934 which saw action against the pocket battleship ''Graf Spee'' in the [[Battle of the River Plate]], as well as [[H.M.S. Ajax (1880)|an ironclad battleship launched in 1880]].
  
 
==Alterations==
 
==Alterations==
−
''Ajax'' was one of the first ships fitted with a director, receiving hers in 1913 after she was listed in that year's [[British Adoption of the Director#Early Orders|twelve ship order]].<ref>''The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in HM Ships'', pp. 9-10.</ref> Her director was certainly fitted after ''King George V'' received hers, and to much the same design.<ref>Letter in D'Eyncourt Papers at the National Maritime Museum's Caird Library, DEY/27</ref>
+
''Ajax'' was one of the first ships fitted with a director, receiving hers in 1913 after she was listed in that year's [[British Adoption of the Director#Early Orders|twelve ship order]].{{FCHMShips|pp. 9-10}} Her director was certainly fitted after ''King George V'' received hers, and to much the same design.<ref>Letter in D'Eyncourt Papers at the National Maritime Museum's Caird Library, DEY/27</ref>
  
−
By the end of 1915, and probably during 1915, she received one of the first three sets of [[Walker's Instruments]], presumably for trial.<ref>''Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1915'', p. 60.</ref>
+
In October 1914, the ship was to be given seven Pattern 1582 Electric Radiators to warm cabins whose stoves could not be used for heating them.{{AWO1914|512 of 16 Oct, 1914}}
  
−
In 1916 or soon thereafter, she would have received [[Evershed Bearing Indicator]]s for her main battery, as approved in 1916.<ref>''Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1916'', p. 145.</ref>
+
By the end of 1915, and probably during 1915, she received one of the first three sets of [[Walker's Instruments]], presumably for trial.{{ARTS1915|p. 60}}
  
−
Between late 1915 and mid 1917, she was fitted with a [[Torpedo Control Plotting Instrument Mark II]] in the TCT.<ref>''Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916'', p. 38.</ref><ref>''Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1915'', p. 60.</ref>
+
In 1916 or soon thereafter, she would have received [[Evershed Bearing Indicator]]s for her main battery, as approved in 1916.{{ARTS1916|p. 145}}
 +
 
 +
Between late 1915 and mid 1917, she was fitted with a [[Torpedo Control Plotting Instrument Mark II]] in the {{TCT}}.{{HTC1916|p. 38}}{{ARTS1915|p. 60}}
  
 
===Rangefinders===
 
===Rangefinders===
−
When in 1918 it was desired to give each capital ship possible an additional effective 9-foot rangefinder to support torpedo control, ''Ajax'' proposed one centrally on the fore bridge.<ref>''Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1918'', p. 177.</ref>
+
When in 1918 it was desired to give each capital ship possible an additional effective 9-foot rangefinder to support torpedo control, ''Ajax'' proposed one centrally on the fore bridge.{{ARTS1918|p. 177}}
 +
 
 +
===Telescopes===
 +
In September 1914, the ship was to be sent eight 3/9 power telescopes and to return the same number of 2.5 power scopes, Pattern G. 329 upon receipt.  These were likely to serve as trainer telescopes.  Constrained supplies meant that 26% of the scopes actually supplied her may have wound up being 5/12 or 5/21 scopes.{{AWO1914|408 of 25 Sep, 1914}}
 +
 
 +
==Radio==
 +
By the end of 1913, she and the rest of the {{UK-BS|2}} were all equipped with [[British_Wireless_Systems#Short_Distance_Set|Battleship Auxiliary W/T sets]].{{ARTS1913|W/T Appendix, p. 13}}
 +
 
 +
==Construction==
 +
Machinery was provided by Scott's.<ref>''Navy (Dockyard Expense Accounts). 1913&ndash;1914''. p. 37.</ref>
 +
==Service==
 +
''Ajax'' served in the {{UK-BS|2}} from at least December 1913.
 +
 
 +
===Great War===
 +
On 23 August, 1914, ''Ajax'' reported having burned out a boiler.  The Admiralty was asked to instruct Scotts of Greenock to send spares and 20 boilermakers to take the repairs in hand.<ref>"Grand Fleet Operations - Narrative of Events."  Jellicoe Papers.  British Library.  Add MS. 48995.  f. 57.</ref>
 +
 
 +
===Jutland===
 +
:{{Main|H.M.S. Ajax at the Battle of Jutland}}
 +
''Ajax'' operated in the {{UK-BS|2}} under the command of [[George Henry Baird|George H. Baird]],{{UKJutlandOD|p. 43}} being the second ship in the battle line after deployment.  She fired just a single salvo, as her attempts to engage the enemy were almost entirely frustrated by smoke, distance, and interposition of the {{UK-LCS|4}}.
 +
 
 +
===Post-War===
 +
In February 1919, she was sent to Portsmouth.<ref>See {{UK-BS|2}} for citations.</ref> In March 1919, she found herself in Devonport with {{UK-Centurion}}.{{SMNLMar19|p. 19}}  In May, she was on "miscellaneous service", remaining so until July at least.{{SMNLMay19|p. 19 and Supplements through July}}
 +
 
 +
''Ajax'' was re-commissioned at Chatham on 14 May, 1924.{{NLFeb26|p. 215}}
  
 
==Captains==
 
==Captains==
 
Dates of appointment are provided when known.
 
Dates of appointment are provided when known.
−
*{{CaptRN}} [[Arthur John Henniker-Hughan, Sixth Baronet|Sir Arthur J. Henniker-Hughan]], 3 April, 1913,<ref>''The Navy List'' (December, 1914).  p. 270.</ref> in command at start of war.<ref>Corbett.  ''Naval Operations, Volume I'', p. 438.</ref>
+
<div name=fredbot:officeCapt otitle="Captain of H.M.S. ''Ajax''">
−
*Captain [[George Henry Baird|George H. Baird]], 1 February, 1916.<ref>''The Navy List'' (December, 1916).  p. 391''e''.</ref>
+
{{Tenure|rank={{CaptRN}}|name=Arthur John Henniker-Hughan, Sixth Baronet|nick=Sir Arthur J. Henniker-Hughan|appt=3 April, 1913{{NLOct15|p. 391''d''}}<ref>Henniker-Hughan Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 383.</ref>|end=4 February, 1916<ref>Henniker-Hughan Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 383. This misstates the year as 1915.</ref>{{NLOct15|p. 391''d''}}|precBy=New Command}}
−
*Captain [[David Murray Anderson|David M. Anderson]], 21 March, 1918.<ref>''The Navy List'' (December, 1918).  p. 726.</ref>
+
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=George Henry Baird|nick=George H. Baird|appt=1 February, 1916{{NLNov17|p. 391''e''}}|ass=4 February, 1916<ref>His predecessor superseded that day.</ref>|note=in command at the [[Battle of Jutland]]|end=21 March, 1918<ref>Baird Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43}}.  f. 249.</ref>}}
−
*Captain [[Henry Ralph Crooke]], .
+
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=David Murray Anderson|nick=David M. Anderson|appt=21 March, 1918{{NLSep19|p. 725}}|end=29 May, 1919<ref>Anderson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43.}}  f. 415.</ref>}}
−
*Captain [[William Munro Kerr]], .
+
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=Vernon Harry Stuart Haggard|nick=Vernon H. S. Haggard|appt=5 December, 1919{{NLDec20|p. 724}}|end=September, 1921<ref>Haggard Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44.|D7576583}} f. 238.</ref>}}
−
*Captain [[Vernon Harry Stuart Haggard]], 1902.{{FC}}{{CN}}
+
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=Henry Ralph Crooke|nick=Henry R. Crooke|appt=September, 1921<ref>Crooke Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/89/136.|D8115661}}</ref>|end=1 March, 1922<ref>Crooke Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44.|}} f. 36.</ref>}}
−
 
+
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=George Trewby|nick=George Trewby|appt=6 February, 1922<ref>Trewby Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43/452.}} f. 503.</ref>|end=1 March, 1922<ref>Trewby Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/43/452.}} f. 503.</ref>}}
−
==Jutland==
+
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=George Trewby|nick=George Trewby|appt=5 March, 1922{{NLJan23|p. 722}}|end=after 18 December, 1922{{NLJan23|p. 722}}}}
−
:[[H.M.S. Ajax at the Battle of Jutland|<small>Main article</small>]]
+
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=Charles Talbot Hardy|nick=Charles T. Hardy|appt=September, 1923<ref>Hardy Service Record {{TNA|ADM 196/44/316.|D7603100}} f. 355.</ref>|end=24 April, 1924<ref>Hardy Service Record {{TNA|ADM 196/44/316.|D7603100}} f. 355.</ref>}}
 +
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=William Munro Kerr|nick=William M. Kerr|appt=26 June, 1924<ref>Kerr Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/225.}}  f. 225.</ref>|end=24 April, 1925<ref>Kerr Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/225.}}  f. 225.</ref>|note=and as Senior Officer, Reserve Fleet, The Nore}}
 +
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=Lawrence Walter Braithwaite|nick=Lawrence W. Braithwaite|appt=24 April, 1925<ref> Braithwaite Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/44/504.|D7576642}} f. 507.</ref>|end=17 August, 1926<ref> Braithwaite Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/504.|D7576642}} f. 507.</ref>|note=and as Senior Officer, Reserve Fleet, The Nore}}
 +
{{Tenure|rank=Captain|name=Arthur Lionel Snagge|nick=Arthur L. Snagge|appt=17 August, 1926|end=c. September, 1926|note=and as Senior Officer, Reserve Fleet, The Nore}}
 +
{{Tenure|rank={{CommRN}}|name=Alexander Sholto Douglas|nick=Alexander S. Douglas|appt=30 May, 1926<ref>Douglas Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49/173.|D7604271}} f. 93.  The month may be read wrong here.</ref>{{FC}}|end=16 November, 1926<ref>Douglas Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/49/173.|D7604271}} f. 93.</ref>}}
 +
</div name=fredbot:officeCapt>
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
−
{{WP|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ajax_(1912)}}
+
{{refbegin}}
 +
{{WP|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ajax_(1912)}}
 +
{{refend}}
  
 
==Footnotes==
 
==Footnotes==
Line 45: Line 79:
 
==Bibliography==
 
==Bibliography==
 
{{refbegin}}
 
{{refbegin}}
 +
*{{UKDockyardExpenseAccounts1913}}
 +
*{{FCHMShips}}
 
*{{DittColl}}
 
*{{DittColl}}
 
*{{UKNavalOpsI}}
 
*{{UKNavalOpsI}}
−
*{{FCHMShips}}
 
 
*{{ParkesBritishBattleships}}
 
*{{ParkesBritishBattleships}}
 
{{refend}}
 
{{refend}}
−
 
  
 
{{Footer King George V Class Battleship (1911)}}
 
{{Footer King George V Class Battleship (1911)}}

Latest revision as of 12:05, 9 June 2022

H.M.S. Ajax (1912)
Pendant Number: 40 (1914)
05 (Jan 1918)
46 (Apr 1918)[1]
Builder: Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Greenock[2]
Ordered: 1910 Programme[3]
Laid down: 27 Feb, 1911[4]
Launched: 21 Mar, 1912[5]
Completed: 10 Oct, 1913[6]
Commissioned: 31 Oct, 1913
Sold: 9 Nov, 1926[7]
Fate: Scrapped
First cost: £1,796,945[8]

H.M.S. Ajax was one of four King George V class battleships completed in 1912-13.

There was a light cruiser named Ajax launched in 1934 which saw action against the pocket battleship Graf Spee in the Battle of the River Plate, as well as an ironclad battleship launched in 1880.

Alterations

Ajax was one of the first ships fitted with a director, receiving hers in 1913 after she was listed in that year's twelve ship order.[9] Her director was certainly fitted after King George V received hers, and to much the same design.[10]

In October 1914, the ship was to be given seven Pattern 1582 Electric Radiators to warm cabins whose stoves could not be used for heating them.[11]

By the end of 1915, and probably during 1915, she received one of the first three sets of Walker's Instruments, presumably for trial.[12]

In 1916 or soon thereafter, she would have received Evershed Bearing Indicators for her main battery, as approved in 1916.[13]

Between late 1915 and mid 1917, she was fitted with a Torpedo Control Plotting Instrument Mark II in the T.C.T..[14][15]

Rangefinders

When in 1918 it was desired to give each capital ship possible an additional effective 9-foot rangefinder to support torpedo control, Ajax proposed one centrally on the fore bridge.[16]

Telescopes

In September 1914, the ship was to be sent eight 3/9 power telescopes and to return the same number of 2.5 power scopes, Pattern G. 329 upon receipt. These were likely to serve as trainer telescopes. Constrained supplies meant that 26% of the scopes actually supplied her may have wound up being 5/12 or 5/21 scopes.[17]

Radio

By the end of 1913, she and the rest of the Second Battle Squadron were all equipped with Battleship Auxiliary W/T sets.[18]

Construction

Machinery was provided by Scott's.[19]

Service

Ajax served in the Second Battle Squadron from at least December 1913.

Great War

On 23 August, 1914, Ajax reported having burned out a boiler. The Admiralty was asked to instruct Scotts of Greenock to send spares and 20 boilermakers to take the repairs in hand.[20]

Jutland

Main article: H.M.S. Ajax at the Battle of Jutland

Ajax operated in the Second Battle Squadron under the command of George H. Baird,[21] being the second ship in the battle line after deployment. She fired just a single salvo, as her attempts to engage the enemy were almost entirely frustrated by smoke, distance, and interposition of the Fourth Light Cruiser Squadron.

Post-War

In February 1919, she was sent to Portsmouth.[22] In March 1919, she found herself in Devonport with Centurion.[23] In May, she was on "miscellaneous service", remaining so until July at least.[24]

Ajax was re-commissioned at Chatham on 14 May, 1924.[25]

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

See Also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 33.
  2. ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 30.
  3. ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 30.
  4. ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 30.
  5. ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 33.
  6. ↑ Navy (Dockyard Expense Accounts). 1913–1914. p. 37.
  7. ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 33.
  8. ↑ Navy (Dockyard Expense Accounts). 1913–1914. p. 137.
  9. ↑ The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 23. pp. 9-10.
  10. ↑ Letter in D'Eyncourt Papers at the National Maritime Museum's Caird Library, DEY/27
  11. ↑ Admiralty Weekly Order No. 512 of 16 Oct, 1914.
  12. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1915. p. 60.
  13. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1916. p. 145.
  14. ↑ Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916. p. 38.
  15. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1915. p. 60.
  16. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1918. p. 177.
  17. ↑ Admiralty Weekly Order No. 408 of 25 Sep, 1914.
  18. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1913. W/T Appendix, p. 13.
  19. ↑ Navy (Dockyard Expense Accounts). 1913–1914. p. 37.
  20. ↑ "Grand Fleet Operations - Narrative of Events." Jellicoe Papers. British Library. Add MS. 48995. f. 57.
  21. ↑ Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. p. 43.
  22. ↑ See Second Battle Squadron for citations.
  23. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1919). p. 19.
  24. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1919). p. 19 and Supplements through July.
  25. ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1926). p. 215.
  26. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 391d.
  27. ↑ Henniker-Hughan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 383.
  28. ↑ Henniker-Hughan Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 383. This misstates the year as 1915.
  29. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 391d.
  30. ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 391e.
  31. ↑ Baird Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 249.
  32. ↑ The Navy List. (September, 1919). p. 725.
  33. ↑ Anderson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 415.
  34. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1920). p. 724.
  35. ↑ Haggard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 238.
  36. ↑ Crooke Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/89/136.
  37. ↑ Crooke Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 36.
  38. ↑ Trewby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/452. f. 503.
  39. ↑ Trewby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/452. f. 503.
  40. ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1923). p. 722.
  41. ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1923). p. 722.
  42. ↑ Hardy Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/44/316. f. 355.
  43. ↑ Hardy Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/44/316. f. 355.
  44. ↑ Kerr Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/225. f. 225.
  45. ↑ Kerr Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/225. f. 225.
  46. ↑ Braithwaite Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/504. f. 507.
  47. ↑ Braithwaite Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/504. f. 507.
  48. ↑ Douglas Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/173. f. 93. The month may be read wrong here.
  49. ↑ Douglas Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/173. f. 93.

Bibliography


King George V Class Dreadnought
  Ajax Audacious Centurion King George V  
<– Orion Class Battleships (UK) Iron Duke Class –>


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