H.M.S. Ajax (1912)
| H.M.S. Ajax (1912) | |
|---|---|
| Pendant Number: | 40 (1914) 05 (Jan 1918) 46 (Apr 1918)[1] |
| Builder: | Scott, Greenock[2] |
| Ordered: | 1910 Programme[3] |
| Laid down: | 27 Feb, 1911[4] |
| Launched: | 21 Mar, 1912[5] |
| Commissioned: | 31 Oct, 1913 |
| Sold: | 9 Nov, 1926[6] |
| Fate: | Scrapped |
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.[7] Her director was certainly fitted after King George V received hers, and to much the same design.[8]
In October 1914, the ship was to be given 7 Pattern 1582 Electric Radiators to warm cabins whose stoves could not be used for heating them.[9]
By the end of 1915, and probably during 1915, she received one of the first three sets of Walker's Instruments, presumably for trial.[10]
In 1916 or soon thereafter, she would have received Evershed Bearing Indicators for her main battery, as approved in 1916.[11]
Between late 1915 and mid 1917, she was fitted with a Torpedo Control Plotting Instrument Mark II in the T.C.T..[12][13]
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.[14]
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.[15]
Captains
Dates of appointment are provided when known.
- Captain Sir Arthur J. Henniker-Hughan, 3 April, 1913[16]
- Captain George H. Baird, 1 February, 1916[17] (in command at the Battle of Jutland)
- Captain David M. Anderson, 21 March, 1918[18]
- Captain Vernon H. S. Haggard, 5 December, 1919[19]
- Captain George Trewby, March, 1922[20]
- Captain Charles T. Hardy, August, 1923[21]
- Captain Lawrence W. Braithwaite, April, 1925[22]
- Captain Henry R. Crooke,
- Captain William M. Kerr,
Radio
By the end of 1913, she and the rest of the Second Battle Squadron were all equipped with Battleship Auxiliary W/T sets.[23]
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.[24]
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,[25] being the second ship in the battle line after deployment.
Post-War
In February 1919, she was sent to Portsmouth.[26] In March 1919, she found herself in Devonport with Centurion.[27] In May, she was on "miscellaneous service", remaining so until July at least.[28]
See Also
Footnotes
- ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 33.
- ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 30.
- ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 30.
- ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 30.
- ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 33.
- ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 33.
- ↑ The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 23. pp. 9-10.
- ↑ Letter in D'Eyncourt Papers at the National Maritime Museum's Caird Library, DEY/27
- ↑ Admiralty Weekly Order No. 512 of 16 Oct, 1914.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1915. p. 60.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1916. p. 145.
- ↑ Handbook of Torpedo Control, 1916. p. 38.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1915. p. 60.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1918. p. 177.
- ↑ Admiralty Weekly Order No. 408 of 25 Sep, 1914.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 391d.
- ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 391e.
- ↑ The Navy List. (September, 1919). p. 725.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1920). p. 724.
- ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
- ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
- ↑ Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1913. W/T Appendix, p. 13.
- ↑ "Grand Fleet Operations - Narrative of Events." Jellicoe Papers. British Library. Add MS. 48995. f. 57.
- ↑ Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. p. 43.
- ↑ See Second Battle Squadron for citations.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (March, 1919). p. 19.
- ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1919). p. 19 and Supplements through July.
Bibliography
- Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. London: Ian Allan.
- Corbett, Sir Julian S. (1920). Naval Operations. Volume I. London: Longmans, Green and Co..
- Admiralty, Technical History Section (1919). The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in H.M. Ships. Vol. 3, Part 23. C.B. 1515 (23) now O.U. 6171/14. At The National Archives. ADM 275/19.
- Parkes, O.B.E., Ass.I.N.A., Dr. Oscar (1990). British Battleships 1860–1950. London: Pen & Sword Ltd. ISBN 0850526043. (on Bookfinder.com).
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