HMS Nelson (28)
| Company type | Battleship |
|---|---|
| Industry | Naval warfare |
| Founded | 1927 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Naval warship |
Overview
HMS Nelson (pennant number 28) was the lead vessel of the two-ship Nelson-class battleship series constructed for the Royal Navy during the 1920s. These battleships represented the first designed to comply with the restrictions imposed by the 1922 Washington Naval Treaty. Commissioned in 1927, Nelson primarily served within the Atlantic Fleet and Home Fleet, frequently acting as the flagship during peacetime operations. At the outset of World War II, she undertook missions searching for German commerce raiders, suffered significant damage from a naval mine in late 1939 which prevented her involvement in the Norwegian Campaign, and subsequently escorted convoys across the Atlantic.
By mid-1941, Nelson was tasked with escorting multiple convoys to Malta but was torpedoed in September of that year. Following repairs, she resumed convoy duties before providing support for the Allied landings in French Algeria during Operation Torch in late 1942. In 1943, she played a key role in covering the invasions of Sicily (Operation Husky) and mainland Italy (Operation Avalanche), including delivering bombardments against coastal defenses during Operation Baytown. During the Normandy landings in June 1944, Nelson offered naval gunfire support but struck a mine shortly thereafter, leading to an extended period of repairs for the remainder of that year. In mid-1945, she was assigned to the Eastern Fleet, returning to Britain several months after Japan’s surrender to serve once again as flagship of the Home Fleet. Early in 1946, Nelson was converted into a training vessel before being placed into reserve status by late 1947. Ultimately, she was dismantled for scrap two years later after serving as a target for bombing trials.
Background and description
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The Nelson-class battleship was essentially a compact, 23-knot (43 km/h; 26 mph) battleship variant derived from the cancelled G3 battlecruiser design, which was abandoned due to exceeding the limits set by the 1922 Washington Naval Treaty. Approved six months following the treaty's enactment, the design featured a main battery of 16-inch (406 mm) guns, intended to rival the firepower of the American Colorado and Japanese Nagato class battleships within a displacement ceiling of 35,000 long tons (36,000 t).[1]
Nelson measured a length between perpendiculars of 660 feet (201.2 m), with an overall length of 709 feet 10 inches (216.4 m), a beam spanning 106 feet (32.3 m), and a draught of 30 feet 4 inches (9.2 m) at mean standard load. The vessel's displacement was 33,300 long tons (33,800 t) under standard conditions and increased to 37,780 long tons (38,390 t) at deep load. The complement consisted of 1,361 officers and ratings when operating as a flagship, reducing slightly to 1,314 when functioning as a private ship.[2] Propulsion was provided by two sets of Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines, each powering a single shaft, energized by steam from eight Admiralty 3-drum boilers. These turbines were rated at 45,000 shaft horsepower (34,000 kW), designed to propel the ship at a maximum speed of 23 knots. During sea trials conducted on 26 May 1927, Nelson achieved a peak velocity of 23.6 knots (43.7 km/h; 27.2 mph) powered by 46,031 shp (34,325 kW). Fuel capacity allowed for an operational range of approximately 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) at an economical speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph).[3]
Armament and fire control
The primary armament on the Nelson-class comprised nine breech-loading (BL) 16-inch guns arranged in three turrets positioned forward of the superstructure. These turrets were labeled 'A', 'B', and 'C' from front to rear, with 'B' turret superfiring above the other two. The secondary battery consisted of twelve BL 6-inch (152 mm) Mk XXII guns mounted in six twin turrets located aft of the superstructure—three turrets on each side. For anti-aircraft defense, the ship was equipped with six unshielded single mounts housing quick-firing (QF) 4.7 inches (120 mm) Mk VIII guns along with eight single-mounted QF 2-pounder (40 millimetres (1.6 in)) guns. Additionally, two submerged torpedo tubes measuring 24.5 inches (622 mm) were installed—one per broadside—angled outward by 10° from the centreline.[4]
The Nelson-class vessels were outfitted with two director-control towers, each equipped with 15 feet (4.6 m) rangefinders dedicated to directing the main battery fire. One director was positioned atop the bridge, while the other sat at the aft extremity of the superstructure. Every turret also featured an individual 41 -ft[convert: unknown unit] rangefinder. A backup main armament director was housed within an armored hood located on the roof of the conning tower. Control over the secondary battery was managed by four directors fitted with 12 -ft[convert: unknown unit] rangefinders; two were placed beside the principal director on the bridge roof and two more flanked the aft main director. The anti-aircraft fire directors were installed on a tower behind the main armament director, incorporating a 12-foot high-angle rangefinder centrally within this structure. Furthermore, two torpedo-control directors equipped with 15-foot rangefinders were situated adjacent to the funnel.[5]
Protection
The waterline belt armor on these vessels was composed of Krupp cemented armour (KC), measuring 14 inches (356 mm) in thickness between the main gun barbettes, tapering to 13 inches (330 mm) over the engine and boiler rooms as well as the six-inch magazines. However, this armor did not extend to either the bow or stern sections. To enhance its effectiveness against plunging fire, the upper edge of the belt was angled outward by 18°. The armored citadel was sealed at both ends by transverse bulkheads made of non-cemented armor, with thicknesses ranging from 8 to 12 inches (203 to 305 mm) forward and 4 to 10 inches (102 to 254 mm) aft. The main-gun turrets featured 16-inch KC armor on their faces, turret sides between 9 and 11 inches (229 and 279 mm), and roofs armored with plates 7.25 inches (184 mm) thick. Barbettes were protected with KC armor varying from 12 to 15 inches (305 to 381 mm) in thickness.
The armored deck atop the Nelson-class ships’ citadel rested directly on the upper edge of the belt armor. This deck utilized non-cemented armor plates, with thicknesses ranging from 6.25 inches (159 mm) over the main-gun magazines to 3.75 inches (95 mm) above the propulsion machinery spaces and secondary magazines. Behind the citadel, an armored deck measuring 4.25 inches (108 mm) thick was situated at the lower edge level of the belt armor and extended nearly to the stern, providing protection for the steering gear. The conning tower was shielded by KC armor between 12 and 14 inches (305 and 356 mm) thick, topped with a roof plate of 6.5-inch (170 mm). Secondary-gun turrets were outfitted with non-cemented armor ranging from 1–1.5 inches (25–38 mm) in thickness.
The underwater defense system included a double bottom approximately 5 feet (1.5 m) deep combined with a torpedo belt protection scheme. This arrangement featured an empty outer watertight compartment followed by an inner compartment filled with water, together providing a total depth of about 12 feet (3.7 m). A 1.5-inch thick torpedo bulkhead formed a final protective barrier behind these layers.
Modifications
In May–June 1930, the original high-angle directors and rangefinder along with their platform were replaced by a new circular platform designed for the High Angle Control System (HACS) Mk I director. By March 1934, removal of single two-pounder guns and the starboard torpedo director made way for a single octuple two-pounder "pom-pom" mount installed on the funnel’s starboard side, accompanied by a Mk I director positioned on the bridge roof. Between 1934 and 1935, Nelson received two quadruple mounts for Vickers 0.5 in (13 mm) anti-aircraft machine guns located on her forward superstructure. Additionally, a crane was installed to handle a Supermarine Seagull biplane amphibian carried for experimental purposes; this crane remained after testing concluded. Around 1936–1937, her portside "pom-pom" mount and accompanying director were added. Gun shields were fitted to her 4.7-inch guns but were removed by March 1938. During a refit from June 1937 to January 1938, reinforcement and enlargement of the high-angle director tower allowed accommodation of two HACS Mk III directors, and new non-cemented deck armor was installed. This deck armor extended forward from just ahead of the citadel nearly to the bow, varying in thickness from approximately 4 inches (100 mm) near the citadel to about 2.5 inches (64 mm) closer to the bow.
Following extensive repairs from January to August 1940 after damage caused by a mine in December 1939, Nelson had her aft 6-inch directors replaced with two octuple 2-pounder "pom-pom" mounts, plus an additional mount installed on the quarterdeck. She was also equipped with a Type 279 radar early-warning system. Gun shields were reinstalled on her 4.7-inch guns, and two sets of four 20-tube 7 inches (180 mm) Unrotated projectile (UP) rocket launchers were mounted atop 'B' and 'C' turret roofs respectively. These upgrades increased her crew complement to 1,452 personnel.
During repairs after being torpedoed in October 1941, Nelson saw removal of torpedo tubes and UP rocket launchers; an octuple 2-pounder "pom-pom" mount was fitted on 'B' turret’s roof while two single-mounted Oerlikon 20 mm cannon were added atop 'C' turret along with eleven more distributed across various superstructure locations. Existing "pom-pom" directors were upgraded to Mk III versions and supplemented by three additional directors equipped with Type 282 radar fire-control systems. The HACS directors received Type 285 radar, while the forward main-armament director was fitted with a Type 284 radar. Surface-search capability was enhanced through installation of a Type 273 radar, complemented by four Type 283 radar units used for coordinating barrage fire involving both 16- and 6-inch guns. An additional Oerlikon gun was mounted on 'C' turret’s roof during a refit between September and October 1942. The earlier Vickers .50 machine guns were removed in May–June 1943 when twenty-six single Oerlikon mounts were added—five positioned on 'C' turret’s roof and others distributed throughout decks and superstructure.
In late 1944, during refitting in the United States to ready her for Pacific deployment, Nelson’s anti-aircraft battery expanded by adding twenty-one more Oerlikon guns for a total of sixty-one weapons onboard. The backup director and its armored hood were replaced by a new platform supporting two quadruple mounts for Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60 AA guns; another similar pair was installed abaft the funnel. Most "pom-pom" directors were substituted with four Mk 51 directors dedicated to Bofors control systems. These enhancements increased her deep displacement to approximately 44,054 long tons (44,761 t), while crew size rose to between 1,631 and 1,650 personnel.
Construction and career
The battleship Nelson, bearing the name of Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, was the third vessel to carry this name within the Royal Navy. Construction began on 28 December 1922 under the 1922 Naval Programme at Armstrong Whitworth’s Low Walker shipyard located in North Tyneside, Newcastle upon Tyne. She was launched on 3 September 1925 and, following initial sea trials, was officially commissioned on 15 August 1927, with a construction cost totaling £7,504,055. The Nelson-class battleships earned several nicknames such as Nelsol and Rodnol, inspired by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary oil tankers known for their prominent midship superstructures and names ending with "ol". Other informal monikers included The Queen's Mansions, due to the superstructure’s resemblance to the Queen Anne's Mansions flats, as well as the pair of boots, ugly sisters, and Cherry Tree class, referencing their truncated design imposed by the Washington Naval Treaty. After commissioning, Nelson resumed her trials through October and officially entered active duty on 21 October as flagship of the Atlantic Fleet (renamed Home Fleet in March 1932), a role she maintained—except during periods of refit or repair—until 1 April 1941. Notably, Prince George, Duke of Kent, King George V and Queen Mary’s fourth son, served aboard as a lieutenant on the Admiral’s staff before transferring to the light cruiser HMS Durban in 1928. In April 1928, during exercises near Portland, she hosted King Amanullah of Afghanistan.
On 29 March 1931, in foggy weather off Cape Gilano, Spain, Nelson collided with the Cardiff-based steamship SS West Wales; neither ship sustained severe damage. Repairs to Nelson were completed by July. Later that year, in mid-September, her crew participated in the Invergordon Mutiny, initially refusing orders to sail for an exercise but ultimately complying after the Admiralty mitigated the proposed pay reductions that had sparked the unrest. On 12 January 1934, while preparing to depart with the Home Fleet for a spring cruise to the West Indies, she ran aground on Hamilton's Shoal near Southsea. After offloading some supplies and equipment, she refloated on the next high tide without damage. An inquiry found no fault with any officers and attributed the incident to difficulties handling the ship at low speeds. The battleship took part in King George V's Silver Jubilee Fleet Review at Spithead on 16 July 1935 and later participated in King George VI's Coronation Fleet Review on 20 May 1937. Following an extensive refit that year, she visited Lisbon alongside her sister ship Rodney in February 1938.
Second World War
Following Britain's declaration of war on Germany on 3 September 1939, Nelson alongside the majority of the Home Fleet conducted patrols in the waters between Iceland, Norway, and Scotland in an unsuccessful attempt to intercept German blockade runners. Similar patrols were carried out off the Norwegian coast between 6 and 10 September. On 25–26 September, she provided support for the rescue and salvage efforts involving the damaged submarine HMS Spearfish. Approximately a month later, Nelson escorted an iron ore convoy departing from Narvik, Norway. On 30 October, near the Orkney Islands, she was targeted by the German submarine U-56 submarine, which launched three torpedoes from about 870 yards (800 m); two struck the vessel but failed to detonate. Following the sinking of the armed merchant cruiser Rawalpindi off Iceland on 23 November by the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, Nelson and her sister ship took part in a fruitless chase after the attackers. On 4 December 1939, she triggered a magnetic mine placed by U-31 at the entrance to Loch Ewe along Scotland’s coast, resulting in repairs being conducted at HM Dockyard, Portsmouth until August 1940. The explosion created a 10-by-6-foot (3.0 by 1.8 m) breach forward of 'A' turret, flooding the torpedo compartment and nearby areas. This caused a slight list and a bowward trim. Although no fatalities occurred, 74 crew members sustained injuries.
Upon returning to active duty in August, Nelson, together with Rodney and the battlecruiser Hood, relocated from Scapa Flow to Rosyth, Scotland, as a precaution against invasion. When on 5 November the Admiralty received a distress signal from the armed merchant cruiser Jervis Bay reporting an attack by the German heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer, Nelson and Rodney were dispatched to block the passage between Iceland and the Faroe Islands. However, Admiral Scheer subsequently moved towards the South Atlantic. Upon intelligence that Gneisenau and Scharnhorst were attempting to break into the North Atlantic for commerce raiding, on 25 January 1941, Nelson, Rodney, and battlecruiser Renown were ordered to position themselves south of Iceland to intercept these vessels. After sighting two British cruisers on 28 January, the German ships altered course away and no pursuit followed.
On 1 April, Nelson was designated as a private ship and detached to escort Convoy WS.7 from Britain to South Africa, making a stop at Freetown, Sierra Leone, on the 4th. During her return trip with aircraft carrier Eagle, they passed within approximately 7,000 metres (7,700 yd) of the German auxiliary cruiser German auxiliary cruiser Atlantis on the night of 18 May in the South Atlantic, without detecting it. Following the Battle of the Denmark Strait on 24 May, when German battleship Bismarck was spotted heading towards France two days later, both Nelson and Eagle were ordered to join in its pursuit from their position north of Freetown; however, Bismarck was sunk before their arrival. On 1 June, Nelson assumed escort duties for Convoy SL.75 bound for Britain. After the German supply ship Gonzenheim evaded capture by armed merchant cruiser Esperance Bay on 4 June, Nelson was sent to intercept it; upon detecting her approach later that day, its crew scuttled the vessel. Following this mission, she rejoined the Home Fleet in British waters.
Mediterranean service
On 11 July,[6] the vessel was tasked with escorting Convoy WS.9C,[7] a group of merchant ships destined for the Mediterranean to deliver troops and supplies to Malta. After passing through Gibraltar, the escort group was designated Force X and was set to be reinforced by Force H while operating in the Western Mediterranean. The fleet entered the Mediterranean during the night of 20/21 July and came under attack from Italian aircraft starting on the morning of the 23rd. Nelson did not engage in combat at this time and joined Force H later that day, while the merchant convoy and their escorts proceeded toward Malta. The cruisers attached to Force X reunited with them two days later, and the combined fleet returned to Gibraltar on 27 July.[8] Between 31 July and 4 August, Force H provided distant cover for another Malta-bound convoy during Operation Style.[9] On 8 August, Vice-Admiral James Somerville, commander of Force H, transferred his flag to Nelson.[6] Several weeks afterward, the ship took part in Operation Mincemeat, during which Force H escorted a minelayer to Livorno for mine-laying operations while aircraft from Ark Royal conducted diversionary strikes against Northern Sardinia. On 13 September, Force H escorted both Ark Royal and Furious into the Western Mediterranean as they delivered 45 Hawker Hurricane fighters to Malta.[10]
During a deception maneuver coinciding with Operation Halberd, another mission aimed at delivering troops and supplies to Malta commencing on 24 September, Somerville shifted his flag to Rodney. Concurrently, Nelson along with several escorting destroyers departed Gibraltar heading westward in a feint suggesting that Rodney had relieved her. Meanwhile, Rodney and the remainder of Force H advanced eastward; Nelson and her escorts rejoined the main force during the night. The following morning, Axis reconnaissance spotted them and on the next day they came under attack by Regia Aeronautica (Royal Italian Air Force) aircraft. A Savoia-Marchetti SM.84 torpedo bomber breached the defensive screen and launched a torpedo from approximately 450 yards (410 m) which struck the bow, creating a 30-by-15-foot (9.1 by 4.6 m) breach that destroyed the torpedo compartment and caused significant flooding. No crew members were injured in this incident. Although the bow settled by about eight feet (2.4 m) and her maximum speed was restricted to 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) to minimize stress on bulkheads, Nelson remained with the fleet to conceal her damage from Italian forces. Following emergency repairs at Gibraltar, she sailed to Rosyth for extensive repairs lasting until May 1942.[11]
After completing her work-up period, Nelson was assigned to the Eastern Fleet and departed on 31 May,[6] escorting Convoy WS.19P from the Clyde to Freetown,[12] continuing with Convoy WS.19PF toward Durban, Union of South Africa. She was recalled on 26 June[13] to take part in Operation Pedestal, a significant operation aimed at resupplying Malta. Exactly one month later, she arrived at Scapa Flow where she became Vice-Admiral Edward Syfret’s flagship for the operation on the following day. The convoy left Clyde on 3 August and underwent training exercises before passing through the Strait of Gibraltar during the night of 9/10 August. Axis forces spotted them later that morning; attacks began on 11 August with the German submarine sinking Eagle. Despite multiple air and submarine assaults by Axis forces, Nelson sustained no damage and did not claim any aerial kills before capital ships in the convoy turned back prior to reaching the Skerki Banks between Sicily and Tunisia late on the 12th. Subsequently, she returned to Scapa Flow.[14]
In October, she rejoined Force H to support Operation Torch; departing on the 30th and arriving at Gibraltar on 6 November. Two days later, Force H provided protective cover against possible intervention by the Regia Marina as Allied forces initiated landings in the Mediterranean theatre. On 15 November, Syfret—now commanding Force H—raised his flag aboard Nelson. In January 1943, Force H escorted a troop convoy from Gibraltar to Algiers, French Algeria. During May, Syfret temporarily transferred his flag to King George V while Nelson returned to Scapa Flow for training preparations for Operation Husky—the invasion of Sicily—and departed Scapa on 17 June before arriving at Gibraltar on the 23rd.[15]
1943–1949
On 9 July, Force H, consisting of Nelson, Rodney, and the aircraft carrier Indomitable, met in the Gulf of Sirte with battleships Warspite, Valiant, and the carrier Formidable arriving from Alexandria, Egypt. Together, they formed the protective fleet for the upcoming invasion. The next day, these vessels began patrolling the Ionian Sea to prevent any interference by the Regia Marina during the Sicilian landings. On 31 August, Nelson and Rodney conducted bombardments against coastal artillery installations located between Reggio Calabria and Pessaro in preparation for Operation Baytown, the amphibious assault on Calabria, Italy. The two battleships provided cover for the landings at Salerno (Operation Avalanche) on 9 September, with Nelson employing her main guns in a "barrage" role to repel German torpedo bomber attacks. The formal surrender of Italy was signed aboard the ship on 29 September between General Dwight Eisenhower and Marshal Pietro Badoglio.
Departing Gibraltar on 31 October, Nelson returned to England to rejoin the Home Fleet. During the Normandy invasion in June 1944, she offered naval gunfire support but sustained significant damage after striking two mines on the 18th. After temporary repairs at Portsmouth, she was dispatched to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in the United States on 22 June for extensive repairs. Returning to Britain in January 1945, Nelson was assigned to the Eastern Fleet and arrived at Colombo, Ceylon, on 9 July, becoming fleet flagship three days later. For three months, she operated along the western coast of the Malayan Peninsula, participating in Operation Livery. The official Japanese surrender in that region took place aboard her at George Town, Penang on 2 September 1945. Ten days afterward, she was present during the surrender of Japanese forces throughout South-east Asia in Singapore.
On 20 September, Nelson was relieved as flagship and set sail for home on 13 October, arriving at Portsmouth on 17 November where she resumed flagship duties for the Home Fleet a week later. On 9 April 1946, King George V succeeded her as flagship; subsequently, in July, Nelson was converted into a training vessel. With the establishment of the Training Squadron on 14 August, she became flagship for the commanding Rear-Admiral overseeing training battleships. In October, she was relieved by Anson as flagship and reclassified as a private ship. On 15 April 1947, a minor collision with submarine Sceptre occurred at Portland causing slight damage. Placed into reserve status at Rosyth on 20 October 1947, she was marked for disposal on 19 May 1948. Between 4 June and 23 September, Nelson served as a target ship for testing 2,000-pound (910 kg) armour-piercing aerial bombs to assess their effectiveness against her armoured deck. Finally, she was handed over to the British Iron & Steel Corporation on 5 January 1949 and assigned to Thos. W. Ward for dismantling. The ship reached Inverkeithing on 15 March where scrapping commenced.
Notes
- ↑ Raven & Roberts, p. 109
- ↑ Burt, p. 348
- ↑ Raven & Roberts, pp. 114, 125
- ↑ Burt, pp. 345, 348
- ↑ Raven & Roberts, p. 122
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- ↑ Admiralty Historical Section, pp. 15–21; Rohwer, p. 88
- ↑ Rohwer, p. 89
- ↑ Rohwer, pp. 94, 98
- ↑ Admiralty Historical Section, pp. 23–32; Brown & Brown, p. 26; Burt, pp. 374–376, 381
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- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ↑ Admiralty Historical Section, pp. 83–90; Burt, p. 381
- ↑ Burt, p. 381; Rohwer, pp. 209, 223
References
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