The HMS King George V was a British battleship that played a significant role in World War II. As the lead ship of her class, she was named after King George V, who had been instrumental in the development of the British Navy during his reign. The King George V class was designed to comply with the Washington Naval Treaty, which imposed restrictions on the size and armament of battleships. Despite these limitations, the HMS King George V was an impressive vessel, measuring 745 feet 1 inch in length and displacing over 40,000 tons of water.
Design and Construction
The HMS King George V was designed by the British Admiralty, with the primary goal of creating a battleship that could counter the German Kriegsmarine’s pocket battleships. Her construction began in 1937 at the Vickers-Armstrongs shipyard in Newcastle upon Tyne, and she was launched on February 21, 1939. The ship’s design was influenced by the Treaty of London, which limited the main armament of battleships to 14 inches. As a result, the HMS King George V was equipped with ten 14-inch guns, mounted in two quadruple turrets and one twin turret.
Main Armament and Fire Control
The main armament of the HMS King George V consisted of ten 14-inch (356mm) guns, which were mounted in two quadruple turrets and one twin turret. The guns were capable of firing a 1,590-pound (720kg) shell to a range of over 33,000 yards (30,200 meters). The fire control system was highly advanced for its time, featuring a complex system of directors, rangefinders, and calculators. The ship’s secondary armament consisted of sixteen 5.25-inch (133mm) guns, which were mounted in eight twin turrets.
| Ship Specifications | Value |
|---|---|
| Length | 745 feet 1 inch (227.1 meters) |
| Beam | 103 feet 2.5 inches (31.5 meters) |
| Draft | 29 feet 6 inches (9 meters) |
| Displacement | 40,450 tons |
| Speed | 28 knots (52 km/h) |
| Range | 5,400 nautical miles (10,000 km) |
Key Points
- The HMS King George V was the lead ship of her class, designed to comply with the Washington Naval Treaty.
- The ship was equipped with ten 14-inch guns, mounted in two quadruple turrets and one twin turret.
- The fire control system was highly advanced for its time, featuring a complex system of directors, rangefinders, and calculators.
- The ship's secondary armament consisted of sixteen 5.25-inch guns, mounted in eight twin turrets.
- The HMS King George V played a significant role in World War II, participating in several key battles and campaigns.
Service History
The HMS King George V was commissioned into the Royal Navy on October 11, 1940. She quickly became an important part of the British fleet, participating in several key battles and campaigns. One of her most notable actions was the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck in May 1941. The HMS King George V was part of the British task force that hunted down and sank the Bismarck, which was one of the most powerful warships in the world at the time.
Battle of the North Cape
In December 1943, the HMS King George V participated in the Battle of the North Cape, where she played a key role in the sinking of the German battleship Scharnhorst. The battle took place in the Arctic Circle, and the HMS King George V was part of a British task force that was sent to intercept a German convoy. The Scharnhorst was escorting the convoy, and the HMS King George V engaged her in a fierce battle. The Scharnhorst was eventually sunk, and the HMS King George V emerged victorious.
What was the main armament of the HMS King George V?
+The main armament of the HMS King George V consisted of ten 14-inch (356mm) guns, mounted in two quadruple turrets and one twin turret.
What was the significance of the HMS King George V's sinking of the Bismarck?
+The sinking of the Bismarck was a significant blow to the German Kriegsmarine, as the Bismarck was one of the most powerful warships in the world at the time. The HMS King George V's role in the sinking of the Bismarck demonstrated her capabilities as a battleship and cemented her place in history as one of the most important warships of World War II.
What was the HMS King George V's role in the Battle of the North Cape?
+The HMS King George V played a key role in the Battle of the North Cape, where she engaged the German battleship Scharnhorst in a fierce battle. The Scharnhorst was eventually sunk, and the HMS King George V emerged victorious.
In conclusion, the HMS King George V was an important battleship that played a significant role in World War II. Her design and construction reflect the complexities of naval warfare during the interwar period, and her service history demonstrates her capabilities as a warship. The HMS King George V’s sinking of the Bismarck and her role in the Battle of the North Cape are just two examples of her importance in the history of World War II.
