Themes

Conflict and Change

• Introduction

  • Timeline

  • Timeline: World Wars

  • HMS Warspite

  • HMS Premier

  • HMS Sovereign

  • HMS Fearless

• In Focus: 1900

• In Focus: World War One

• In Focus: Interwar

• In Focus: World War Two

• In Focus: Post War Conflict

• In Focus: Cold War Climate

• In Focus: Falklands and Beyond

• Special Exhibition: Falklands 25

Learning

• How To: Understand Propaganda

• Propaganda Image Galleries

• Education Project: Sea With Your Own Eyes

HMS Warspite

Article highlights

• HMS Warspite at the Battle of Jutland

• The 'super dreadnought'

• Position in the Grand Fleet

• Scheer's scheme

• Memories from the Battle

• Signal failure

• Fatal blows

• The Fifth Battle Squadron enter the action

• The Grand Fleet come to the rescue

• HMS Warspite's withdrawal and battle damage

The 'super dreadnought'

HMS Warspite was the second ship of the Queen Elizabeth class of five fast ‘super dreadnought’ battleships. They were the result of the huge leaps in the technology of warfare and deterrence sparked by Anglo-German rivalry for supremacy of the seas.

The Queen Elizabeths could reach a top speed of 24 knots, meaning that they could keep up a pretty good pace with most Beatty’s fast battlecruisers.

Circular shaped, 15-inch gun tompion from HMS Warspite. (RNM)

Their 15-inch guns and centre line turret positioning meant that the ships packed a greater broadside with greater armour penetration than previous battleships.

These were the first battleships to be oil fired and not only did this enable them to reach these higher speeds, but it also meant that they produced less smoke and were easier to refuel, which enabled better acceleration.