HMS Warspite Battleship 1913-1946 [Archive]

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Chezcola

24-07-2007, 15:51

I am looking for any family members of the HMS Warspite the might have know Harold William Wright of Great Yarmouth. He is my grandfather and am trying to find out about his service. He passed away when I was very young.

He served on the HMS Warspite on D-Day.

Thank you for your time.
Chezcola

Terribletwins

13-08-2007, 20:45

My great-uncle was a crew member on HMS Warspite during WW1, I have a photo of him in uniform.
Looking for info on his ship.

TT

John Brown

20-08-2007, 16:02

Twins...

What info are you looking for? I presume you have typed 'HMS Warspite' into a search engine?

Regards..

Melv.

20-08-2007, 18:16

Info. can be found on many websites re- HMS Warspite but try this one... it is fairly comprehensive for what you are looking for:

www.seayourhistory.org.uk

Type in the search box at the top of the page...... HMS Warspite.

allaninny

04-02-2008, 19:49

Looking for navy plans for the HMS Warspite around the time of her
refit 1935-37. appreciate any help and or direction. :)

herakles

04-02-2008, 20:11

Welcome to the site allaninny! I hope you find plenty of things to interest you here.

Stan.J

04-02-2008, 20:25

Looking for navy plans for the HMS Warspite around the time of her
refit 1935-37. appreciate any help and or direction. :)

Not sure about the plans but some details were givenin the book "Battleships at War" by Cdr.B.R.Howard.:- the general appearance, superstructure and armament had been modified and added to; the four 15" turrets remained, The 6" gun batteries had been removed from the waists and the area was free for stowage an sleeping purposes. Twin sets of Bofors had been fitted on the superstructure adjacent to the funnel on each side, and 4.7" AA guns had been mounted in the same area.
Two hangers had been erected in the area immediately astern of the funnel where the walrus amphibious aircraft were housed.(Launching was done by catapult and recovery by jib crane.
Other alterations in the interior of the ship also took place.

Batstiger

05-02-2008, 12:55

I have the three stages of modernisation as regards to the Queen Elizabeth battleships if they are of any use to you.

Bob.

astraltrader

05-02-2008, 15:36

As well as Bob`s excellent 3 stages of modernisation that underwent the QE class I also include this 1943 version for the Warspite

Batstiger

05-02-2008, 16:31

Five pictures of the old girl, one of them being rather sad as she is on her way to meet her fate.
She got her own back in the end having broken the tow and gone aground. She was finally salved on the rocks.

allaninny

05-02-2008, 23:26

HI
Thanks, I have all of these pictures, What I looking for
was the plans so I build a working model of this great Ship.

herakles

06-02-2008, 00:11

There's a large number of links about her in Google. Though I guess you've checked them out already.

tim lewin

06-02-2008, 04:56

Have you tried the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich? they have a vast collection of Naval plans.
You might also try the RN Museum at portsmouth or the IWM.
tim

Harley

06-02-2008, 12:14

I wholeheartedly recommend "Anatomy of the Ship:HMS Warspite" published by Conway Maritime Press. Excellent detailed drawings galore, from detailed studies of fittings, guns to deck plans.

Harley

allaninny

08-02-2008, 04:13

Have you tried the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich? they have a vast collection of Naval plans.
You might also try the RN Museum at portsmouth or the IWM.
tim

Thank you very much for this info. will have to check it out.
tks Allan in NY

allaninny

08-02-2008, 04:15

I wholeheartedly recommend "Anatomy of the Ship:HMS Warspite" published by Conway Maritime Press. Excellent detailed drawings galore, from detailed studies of fittings, guns to deck plans.

Harley

Hi Chief:
Thanks for your info. I have 2 books on the Warspite, not sure of the names
right now but will have to look into this. appreciate your help.
Allan in NY

tim lewin

08-02-2008, 05:07

If you need contacts at any of the museums I mentioned and cannot find them on the web let me know and I'll pass you names and numbers, emails etc.
good luck
tim

The Sailor

08-02-2008, 05:42

Looks like Harley got right to it for you Allan with that book recommendation.
This NY you talk about. Is New York, New York where you live?
Graeme

08-02-2008, 15:29

Here is a link to that book if you need it.

http://www.directart.co.uk/mall/more.php?ProdID=13705

and the blurb:

The Anatomy of the Ship series provides documentation of individual ships and ship types. The books are illustrated with line drawings, both the conventional type of plan as well as explanatory views, with fully descriptive keys. These are supported by technical details and a record of the ships service history. HMS Warspite was arguably one of the finest capital ship designs of all time. Warspite and her four sister ships of the Queen Elizabeth class were the prototypes of the modern fast battleship, the ultimate development of the Dreadnought type. Warspite had one of the most active and successful fighting careers. Her service spanned two generations from Jutland in 1916, the last great surface engagement between battle fleets, where she received many hits, to the dawn of the missile age (she was badly damaged by a guided bomb in 1943) with battle honours that also included Narvik, Matapan and the D-Day landings. The Old Lady, as she was affectionately known during World War II, was finally approved for breaking up in 1946.

and a photo of the cover, which also says 'Complete with (something - can't make it out) scale fold out plan'.
http://www.directart.co.uk/mall/images/bk9212.jpg

allaninny

11-02-2008, 21:21

If you need contacts at any of the museums I mentioned and cannot find them on the web let me know and I'll pass you names and numbers, emails etc.
good luck
tim

OK thank you very much Tim

allaninny

11-02-2008, 21:28

Looks like Harley got right to it for you Allan with that book recommendation.
This NY you talk about. Is New York, New York where you live?
Graeme

HI Graeme:
Yes NY New York USA ??? I purchased the Hull of the Warspite many many years ago and also the plans. The plans I got were for the 1913 version.
after many years and looking at many versions< I decided that the early 1940's
was the version of the Warspite I wanted to build. I've purchased some ready made parts from Model-dockyard years ago and noticed that they have some additional parts for the Warspite. Now they would only sell me the parts in a total pack, 90 pct of which I have. Still looking for the deck plans for the Warspite in the early 1940's after she underwent a refit around 1937.
Hope to start with or without the plans this summer. without the plans I will just have to fudge it the best I can form many pictures. tks for asking about NY. Allan in NY

allaninny

11-02-2008, 21:29

If you need contacts at any of the museums I mentioned and cannot find them on the web let me know and I'll pass you names and numbers, emails etc.
good luck
tim

Thanks Tim

allaninny

11-02-2008, 21:31

There's a large number of links about her in Google. Though I guess you've checked them out already.

Thanks Yes their are a lot of avenues to search on

allaninny

11-02-2008, 21:36

I wholeheartedly recommend "Anatomy of the Ship:HMS Warspite" published by Conway Maritime Press. Excellent detailed drawings galore, from detailed studies of fittings, guns to deck plans.

Harley

HI Harley:
Thanks I like the drawings in this book especially because the have he scale
of the pictures listed.If all else fails I will have to copy the pictures in the book and have the enlarged to the scale I'm looking for. thanks again.
AllaninNY

allaninny

11-02-2008, 21:41

Harley

11-02-2008, 21:58

Hmm, should have come with one, I presume in the back. I was lucky with my copy of "Battlecruisers" by John Roberts - still had the fold out plan of "Queen Mary" in the back.

Incidentally how much did you pay for your copy of the Warspite book? I'm thinking of investing in one (being a serial browser is never a good thing).

Harley

allaninny

12-02-2008, 18:15

12-02-2008, 18:27

allaninny

12-02-2008, 18:44

Hi Allan,

I didn't notice the revised edition on the cover, sorry about that.

I don't have a copy here (of my own), I mentioned the one on that site as it is another part of our business. I may be able to look for you, but I expect you would be best to send an email to orders@directart.co.uk explaining what you need. That should get you an answer more quickly.

Regards,
kc

Thanks KC, I just did. dont remember how much I paid for my copy about
10 years ago. This revised edition just might be the one I need for my project.
Thanks ever so much. Allan in NY

allaninny

12-02-2008, 18:53

I wholeheartedly recommend "Anatomy of the Ship:HMS Warspite" published by Conway Maritime Press. Excellent detailed drawings galore, from detailed studies of fittings, guns to deck plans.

Harley

HI Harley:
I have a copy of this book but mine is not the REVISED edition.
someone else suggested the same revised edition and then it
came to me that my edition is the older one. Might have to get this edition
if their plans are of the early 1940. Thanks again for the update. Can't wait
to get started on building this great ship in 1/128 scale.
Allan in NY

snowdrop76

16-04-2008, 21:19

Just a side issue here, my Father in Law has a teak bookcase with glass front made from some of the timbers from Warspite. They live in Penzance, wreckers to the last ....

Batstiger

17-04-2008, 10:34

Further to your side issue Snowdrop the big question is, Which Warspite as there were nine of them?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Warspite

Bob.

bob shayler

18-04-2008, 14:20

Can't help on Warspite but I have HMS Campletown and Dreadnought and it took me ages to find the 1/256 scale fold out plans. They were on the back of the dust jacket,
regards,
Bob

Morgo

24-04-2008, 14:00

Hi Allan - I found these links the other day. They're in Russian but the plans look ok to me. The downside is that the scales not given so will need some head-scratching first.

http://www.wunderwaffe.narod.ru/Magazine/BKM/
http://www.wunderwaffe.narod.ru/Magazine/BKM/QE/Draw/index.htm

sierra hotel

18-12-2008, 05:18

Hey everyone, I cant find any great pics from your stashes of WARSPITE photos, pre war and WWII....can someone please start scanning some nice pics of the bridges, decks, and armaments please???
THE GREATEST HMS ship and no oneposted pics?? And while I am up here on the soap box, how about some closeups of HOODS bridge and boat decks?? Ray in Canada

Batstiger

18-12-2008, 11:05

Hi Ray, if you use the search system it's amazing what you will come across if you try hard enough.
Here's one for starters!!

http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=895&highlight=warspite

Cheers, Bob.

rumrat

18-12-2008, 11:41

Hi Ray,
Here's a couple of early pix of WARSPITE taken in Rosyth Dockyard July 1916 whilst under going repairs to battle damage sustained at Jutland.
Hope they are of some use to you.
Regards
Dave

astraltrader

18-12-2008, 14:49

Great pictures Dave - much appreciated.:)

jbryce1437

18-12-2008, 19:45

Great set of pix Dave

martin ware

20-04-2009, 21:53

can anyone tell me where i can get crew list of warspite 37-45

doreen

10-10-2009, 09:08

Hi,i'm new to the forum and writing messages as you can see! my father James Valentine Clark said that he served on board the ship Warspite in WW11.can anyone give me info on how to verify this.I have a picture of him which i believe to have been taken when he joined up.thanks doreen

tomsam

10-10-2009, 11:27

Hello Doreen. Firstly let me apologise on behalf of fellow members and let me welcome you to the forum. Sometimes members read the post but because they cannot answer what is requested they don't bother to take in the letter context. I do not know how far your research has progressed but we have a sister site for which I have included a link. .It may be of interest to you
Regards Les
http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/warspite.htm:)

doreen

10-10-2009, 12:50

hi tomsam,thanks for your info on the Warspite,i have seen articles&thats what has intrigued me.my father only ever mentioned the ship but never gave out info of his life during the war,what he did, seemed to be very painful.Sadly dad died,but i would love to know if he was on this illustrious ship

CYLLA

10-10-2009, 13:00

Doreen,

After reading your post , all i can contribute is this web site , i.e it has a message board too.

http://tinyurl.com/yjzjgzl

My wife has been doing our family tree for over 6 years now , and is still finding new information. best of luck..

cylla

tomsam

10-10-2009, 13:13

Doreen, thanks for your reply. It may help us to help you if we knew snippets of info such as to the dates he served,the branch of the navy ie stoker,seaman,also rank etc etc.
You may be able to get his service records from the Navy/MOD. I have included another link.
Regards Les
http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/contact/obtaining-royal-navy-service-records-and/

BCRenown

10-10-2009, 16:19

Sadly dad died,but i would love to know if he was on this illustrious ship

Hi Doreen,

It will please you to know that your father's ship, the battleship HMS Warspite, is generally considered to be the most illustrious warship to have served in the Royal Navy during WWII. She won more battle honours than any other British warship.

Monty

doreen

10-10-2009, 21:11

thanks again for info,i am currently trying to get dads records,he only mentioned a couple things,warspite being one&port arthur the other,i am not sure if he trained there,i think he was in the boiler room,i dont know if thats right

BCRenown

10-10-2009, 22:57

Doreen,

The only W.W.II warship I know of named Port Arthur is a 'Flower' class corvette of the Royal Canadian Navy. Is/was your father a Canadian per chance?

Monty

Vegaskip

11-10-2009, 08:44

Maybe it was HMS ROYAL ARTHUR, it was a training base at Skegness, I think for engine room ratings.

regards

doreen

11-10-2009, 18:39

tomsam

11-10-2009, 20:04

Hi Doreen. Very good indeed,well done. Unfortunately it only tells me one thing. He is in what is called " Fore and Aft" rig ,or in other words a uniform with a conventional jacket , shirt and tie and a peaked cap. This is opposed to the "Square Rig" that the lower deck junior sailors wore. ie with round cap and bell bottoms. The uniform he is wearing is similar and I say only similar to one that a "Petty Officer" would wear BUT If as you say it was taken when he joined and you think he was somewhere in the engine or boiler rooms then it is quite probable that he is in the uniform of an "Artificer" apprentice.
These "Tiffies" were engineering apprentices trained in classrooms of Naval Dockyards and on graduating from the apprenticship were promoted to "Petty Officers", for want of a better explanation this was roughly halfway up the promotion ladder for lower deck sailors.
I cannot see his left or right sleeve but that is where naval badges are worn. His rate on his left and specialist badges on his right. These would not appear if he was in basic training,they tended to use thier own peculiar badges.
This Doreen is my own interpretation, other members may correct me or add something but things are moving forward for you, Regards.Les would not a

doreen

12-10-2009, 09:10

A big thankyou Tomsam,i appreciate your help.another piece of the jigsaw turned up,i dont know if this is correct,the story goes that dad may at some time have served prince phillip when he was a steward,also he was on board a ship when the singer Anne Shelton sang for the men,sorry that i dont know what ship he was on at the time.

nogrub

12-10-2009, 10:28

Doreen.
I have rewritten this reply, because of your reference to Prince Phillip, I first thought that your fathers uniform was that of a 4th class artificer which would indicate that he had completed his apprenticeship, (5th class artificers had a single breasted jacket).
I now think he may have been an officers steward, is it possible for you to identify the colour of his cap badge.
Regards
Harry

doreen

12-10-2009, 15:25

hi harry,thanks for your input,do you know if its possible that he could have worked before or after in the engine room.regards doreen

nogrub

12-10-2009, 18:20

Doreen.
Nothing is impossible, but I would say he would not work in the Engineering branch, prior to becoming an officers steward.
If he was in the engineering branch as an apprentice, the apprenticeship would be for 5 years, at least.
The cap badge and uniform for an apprentice, was the same one as an SA (stores accounting) OS (officers steward) SA(V) (stores accounting victualling) and an SBA (sick berth attendant) not forgetting cooks and officers cooks and was predominently RED on a black background.
I hope this helps with your search.
Regards
Harry

jonti

13-10-2009, 06:55

Hello Doreen and Harry. I have studied the photo of Doreen's father and am puzzled by the shape of his shirt collar (stiff collar) with rounded points and the shape of his cap. I am an ex-artificer apprentice of the 1940s and we never wore that shape of collar. Our caps were illegally distorted by a secret method known only to ex-tiffs so that the back sloped down and looking at it sideways, the cap had a streamlined shape. Your father's cap is untouched and along with the unusual shape of the collar, I think he was a wardroom steward. Regarding Port Arthur or Royal Arthur, there is a thread on this forum: HMS Royal Arthur Class Pictures and one post is a photo of stores assistants, stewards in 1949. Rob T
To access it, put "Royal Arthur" in the 'Search' column. Rob T

nogrub

13-10-2009, 09:12

Rob.
Thank you for your input, I agree with what you have said.
I was not happy with the cap,cap badge, and there was a lack of detail to confirm if there were any badges on his arm.
Harry

doreen

13-10-2009, 14:40

oh dear,i am totally confused now,thankyou all for trying to help,i dont think we can go any further until i receive his documents,will keep in touch

jonti

13-10-2009, 20:41

Hi Doreen. Post any papers you get here as our interest is roused and they will tell the whole story. As Confucious said " Confusion reigned and we all got wet!" Rob T

doreen

24-11-2009, 13:22

hi everyone,finally dad's papers have arrived.As promised i am placing them here so that someone can explain them to me.I hope Tomsam gets to see them.Doreen

doreen

25-11-2009, 09:56

Hi,I am interested to know if Jonti or tomsam are still on the site,they helped me when i 1st posted this thread.I put my fathers papers on yesterday hoping they would see them,as yet no reply,Are you still out there?

Bee

25-11-2009, 15:53

Hi Doreen,

Jonti and Tomsam are still on the forum. To check if people are active here...just click on their name on their post (which is in blue) and then click on "View public profile". That will let you see when they last posted something and, (if they're on line in the forum), whereabouts they are. Also, if you wish to draw someone's attention to a post that you think they may have missed (for it is a BIG forum, with lots of threads) you can also send them a P.M. (private message) from their Public Profile section.

You know they're on line in forum when the circle next to their name is green rather than grey.

I guess you probably know about the above...but just in case you didn't....I thought I'd mention it....might be of use to another new forum user anyway, as it takes a while to get the hang of it here. :)

Cheers,
Bee

doreen

25-11-2009, 16:20

Thanks Bee,if you have read my thread you will see that i was trying to find out about my dad's time in the navy.After waiting several months i finally got his papers.I have been looking up the names on the pay and victual record and have not got anywhere with it as some say they are land based others say not.The one thing that i have learnt is that it takes courage and bravery to do what the armed forces do.I wish that my dad had spoken to me about his time in the navy,i feel that i missed an integral part of his life!

25-11-2009, 17:16

Hi Doreen,

just going to give a quick run-down of the ships / shore bases mentioned in your attachment.

Royal Arthur was a shore base at Skegness.

Pembroke is an accounting base - a place where the men are listed while they usually are occupied on smaller vessels - hence the 'loaned to Dauntless' probably.

Dauntless was an old cruiser which was scrapped soon after the war.

Again, Pembroke was as mentioned above.

Chattenden was an armament store carrier, taken over by the Navy on 14th October 1943 and sold in 1966. It was 1,192 tons and was 230ft x 25ft

1791 Squadron is presumably a Fleet Air Arm squadron, perhaps someone can else can tell you more about this later. Nightjar was a Royal Naval Air Station, which would tie in with the Fleet Air Arm. It was at Inskip, Lancashire.

Ringtail was another Royal Naval Air Station in Lancashire, and operated under Nightjar for a spell. It was near Ormskirk.

Pembroke was as above. I'm not aware of what Hoo Camp is I'm afraid.

Looks like the guys were right about being an Assistant Steward / Steward too.

Hope that helps!

Scurs

25-11-2009, 19:35

Hi Doreen.................just a few penneth..............HMS PEMBROKE was a bit more than "Accounting Base", it was one of the 3 main Royal Navy Barracks (DRAKE, Plymouth, VICTORY, Portsmouth and PEMBROKE, Chatham).
I am not sure if this was applicable to your father's time, but when I was there in 1960, it was the Main "Supply & Secretarial Branch" training depot (Stewards being part and parcel of this Branch).

HMS RINGTAIL was RNAS (Royal Naval Air Station), Burscough, Lancs.
HMS RINGTAIL II, was a satelite station of the above, at what is now RAF WOOD VALE, near Southport, Lancs.
HMS NIGHTJAR was RNAS Inskip, near Preston, Lancs.

doreen

26-11-2009, 09:58

Hi everyone,thankyou again for your help.I dont know if anyone out there is interested of an account that apparently took place in Le Havre harbour.Apparently HMS Warspite had damage and went into Le Havre for repair.Whilst in dock she was fired upon and could not get away.As the story goes,Warspite got stuck and sustained further damage and many lives were lost on that day.My father was among one of the lucky ones,but his memories of that day would come occasionally back to haunt him.Although i have not been in the forces I salute everyone who has and still are! Thanks again for your help.

Ian Horrobin

30-11-2009, 16:38

My Uncle was on Warspite.
Does anyone remember Raymond Brown...

jbryce1437

01-12-2009, 17:50

Welcome to the Forum Ian. Any idea when your uncle served aboard Warspite and what branch was he (ie Stoker, Seaman, etc)?

Jim

alffox

25-12-2009, 21:13

My Uncle Joseph Fox joined the WARSPITE on the 23rd May 1941 following the sinking of the YORK at Suda Bay - sailed with the WARSPITE to Seattle for repairs and no further information available on his service until he was released on 27th September 1945 - so like our previous correspondent I would like to find out if Uncle Joe stayed with the WARSPITE for the rest of the war or did he leave the ship and serve elsewhere. He was Master At Arms from 11th May 1939.

Any news would be well received.

alffox

jbryce1437

26-12-2009, 10:07

Hello Alf
Probably the only way to find out if he stayed with Warspite is to obtain a copy of his service record, which will list all of the ships, including shore bases, that he served on. Have a look at this thread for details on how to get it:

http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1340

alffox

29-12-2009, 14:04

Hello Jbryce,
I have received, some years ago the service record of Joseph Fox - which stops on the day he joined the WARSPITE following the sinking of the YORK and then gives his date of leaving the Navy - with no information in between. The MOD message states that due to the war effort all writers were posted to active service and records were not fully maintained. So I have to assume that he sailed with the WARSPITE to Seattle via the Pacific and therefore Ceylon - and yet I have the complete service record of another uncle from joining to leaving - will carry on searching but things do not look too positive. And I only have part service record from the MOD for another uncle - is there any hope???

alffox

jbryce1437

31-12-2009, 21:19

It would appear not, unless you can find someone who served with him and can vouch for all of his movements, which is very unlikely - but not impossible so don't give up yet.

Jim

dianne cutler

06-01-2010, 09:53

My granddad William Henry Coulton was a gunner on the warspite during WW1. but what would his exact role have been? He was at the battle of Jutland and I have read with interest your forums concerning the battle. What were the duties of a gunner?:o:):confused:

steve roberts

06-01-2010, 10:15

Hi Dianne. It depends on what Branch of Gunnery he was in as to exactly what his duties would have been,ie Turret,Magazine,or control and spotting! Regards Steve.:)

Batstiger

06-01-2010, 13:09

Hi Dianne welcome to the forum. If you could let us have a little more information maybe we can help you.
Do you have any photographs of him or his service certificate?
Usually on a uniformed photograph he would be displaying a badge on his right arm which could be of use to us.

Regards, Bob.

Ednamay

07-01-2010, 10:53

Bob - I have just picked up on the badge on the right sleeve; in my father's photograph I noticed something that isn't very clear. The photograph was during his time on Canada, but he said that he was on Warspite at Jutland, so we are talking about the same period. Could you help, please?
Edna

Batstiger

08-01-2010, 21:03

Dianne has sent me a PM and a pdf of her grandfathers service certificate with the following message. I thought I would put it with her original thread for all to see and comment as they may wish. All contributions will be welcome.

Hello, You were kind enough to say you may be able to help in trying to find out a little about my granddad. I have now obtained his navy records from national archives and have a superb document of all the ships he served on since a small boy of 12 until after WW1 when he was discharged due to colour blindness. However, a lot of the information I do not understand and I wondered if with your navy experience you could look at the document and give an insight into what his navy life would have been like. The document could be emailed to you as a pdf document, but how can I do this on a forum ? This is the link but I do not know if you will be able to access it. Many thanks for your help

Cheers, Bob.

qprdave

08-01-2010, 22:48

It seems that you have read his Docs a bit wrong

He joined the Navy on the 13th Feb 1912 on a 12 yr engagement. As it shows that he was born in 1894, it would make him 18 when he joined

Like a lot of us (the gifted ones) he went to Ganges for his basic training

HMS Irresistible, fourth British Royal Navy ship of the name, was a Formidable-class pre-dreadnought battleship.
She was laid down at Chatham Dockyard on 11 April 1898 and launched on 15 December 1898 in a very incomplete state to clear the building ways for the construction of battleship HMS Venerable. Irresistible was completed in October 1901
She was sunk by mine during the Dardanelles Campaign on 18 March 1915

HMS King Edward VII, named after King Edward VII, was the lead ship of the King Edward VII class of British Royal Navy pre-dreadnought battleships.
HMS King Edward VII was laid down at Devonport Dockyard on 8 March 1902. She was launched by King Edward VII on 23 July 1903, and completed in February 1905.
She was Sunk by mine off Cape Wrath on 6 January 1916

HMS Caesar was a Majestic-class pre-dreadnought battleship of the Royal Navy
Laid down at Portsmouth Dockyard on 25 March 1895 and launched on 2 September 1896. She was completed in January 1898
she was Sold for scrapping, 8 November 1921

HMS Hibernia was a King Edward VII-class pre-dreadnought battleship of Britain's Royal Navy
Laid down at Devonport Dockyard on 6 January 1904, launched on 17 June 1905, and completed in December 1906. She was the last of the eight King Edward VII-class battleships to be completed
Sold for scrapping 8 November 1921

HMS Sapphire was a Topaze class third-class protected cruiser launched in 1904 and sold for scrap in 1921

HMS Irresistible (as above)

Vivid was the name of the Barracks in Plymouth (rennamed HMS Drake). So he was a Plymouth Rating.

HMS Defence was a Minotaur-class armoured cruiser of the Royal Navy, launched in 1907. She was the last armoured cruiser built for the Royal Navy. She was sunk at the Battle of Jutland in 1916

Vivid (as above)

HMS Warspite (pennant number 03) was a Queen Elizabeth-class battleship of the British Royal Navy. She was launched on 26 November 1913 at Devonport Royal Dockyard. She was, and is, one of the most famous and glamorous of names in the Royal Navy. Warspite would, during World War II, gain the nickname "The Grand Old Lady", after a comment made by Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham in 1943.
She was scrapped in 1950

Vivid (as above) for release

He was invalided out in 1921 due to colour blindness

His Conduct was pretty good given VG Sat (Satisfactory) and VG Sup (Superior) throughout so there wasn't anything seriously wrong that he did (or didn't get caught!!!!)
Everyone who kept his nose pretty clean got VG Sat. If he did anything over and above he would be awarded VG Sup

So he did 8yrs before release.

If I have missed any important details, I apologise. Somebody will surely add to this if I have

qprdave

09-01-2010, 14:04

Further to my last.

Re your PM. There is no evidence, that I can see in his Docs, that indicates that he joined the Submarine Service. None of the ships that he served on had anything to do with Submarines. Normally he would be posted to a Depot ship, which would be indicated in the ships list. Then in brackets, the submarine that he actually served on.
This doesn't mean that he didn't try for submarines. He might have tried while he was, for instance, at HMS Vivid. It might have been just a walk into the dockyard which was adjacent. He might even have been lucky enough to have gone out in a submarine for the day. This wouldn't necessary have him transferred to another ship, He may not have liked it or they found him unsuitable in some way. So it wouldn't have shown up in his Docs. We will probably never know.

The Rate "Boy" was given to a new entrant. who was untrained He would have started off as 2nd Class and then onto 1st Class. His next step was Ordinary Seaman then onto Able Seaman which means that he was trained.

It look as if he joined Ganges as a Seaman Gunner and if I am reading it right, in 1917, he was transferred to RT(Tel). Which means that he went from Gunner to Radio Telegraphy. I am not sure if there was an actual communications branch at that time or if they trained seaman to do signalling work.

He was awarded 2 Good conduct Badges/Stripes, the first on the 2nd Jan 1917 and the second on the 18th Feb 1920, which would have been worn on his left arm

On the same line as "Defence" there is a mention of Cells (Looks like 7 days).This punishment was given when the "crime" was more serious that Stoppage of leave or extra work was awarded, but not serious enough that warranted prison time. Normally the withdrawal of Good Conduct Badges was equal to a certain amount of cells time. I can't see that he lost his G.C. Badges. So that is a bit of a puzzle that someone else might explain

qprdave

09-01-2010, 17:45

I found this piece. Published in The Times after Germany claimed that they had sunk the Warspite during the Battle of Jutland

qprdave

10-01-2010, 20:28

This is the Amended Post

It seems that you have read his Docs a bit wrong

He joined the Navy in Dec 1910 at the age of 15 on a 12yr engagement As the official time starts from the age of 18yrs he started his time on the 13th Feb 1912 on a 12 yr engagement

Like a lot of us (the gifted ones) he went to Ganges for his basic training

Brief description of the Ships that he served on and a few things about the ships whilst he was them

HMS Irresistible, fourth British Royal Navy ship of the name, was a Formidable-class pre-dreadnought battleship.
She was laid down at Chatham Dockyard on 11 April 1898 and launched on 15 December 1898 in a very incomplete state to clear the building ways for the construction of battleship HMS Venerable. Irresistible was completed in October 1901
She was sunk by mine during the Dardanelles Campaign on 18 March 1915

28th Feb 1911 Commissioned at Chatham on 28 February 1911 to serve in the 3rd Division, Home Fleet at the Nore
23rd June 1911 At the Fleet Review at Spithead (Portsmouth)
1912 Assigned to the 5th Battle Squadron

HMS King Edward VII, named after King Edward VII, was the lead ship of the King Edward VII class of British Royal Navy pre-dreadnought battleships.
HMS King Edward VII was laid down at Devonport Dockyard on 8 March 1902. She was launched by King Edward VII on 23 July 1903, and completed in February 1905.
She was Sunk by mine off Cape Wrath on 6 January 1916

HMS Caesar was a Majestic-class pre-dreadnought battleship of the Royal Navy
Laid down at Portsmouth Dockyard on 25 March 1895 and launched on 2 September 1896. She was completed in January 1898
she was Sold for scrapping, 8 November 1921

HMS Hibernia was a King Edward VII-class pre-dreadnought battleship of Britain's Royal Navy
Laid down at Devonport Dockyard on 6 January 1904, launched on 17 June 1905, and completed in December 1906. She was the last of the eight King Edward VII-class battleships to be completed
Sold for scrapping 8 November 1921

HMS Sapphire was a Topaze class third-class protected cruiser launched in 1904 and sold for scrap in 1921

HMS Irresistible (as above)

Vivid was the name of the Barracks in Plymouth (re-named HMS Drake). So he was a Plymouth Rating.

HMS Defence was a Minotaur-class Armoured Cruiser of the Royal Navy, launched in 1907. She was the last Armoured Cruiser built for the Royal Navy. She was sunk at the Battle of Jutland in 1916

1913 1st Sep Paid off at Plymouth
1913 2nd Sep Re-commissioned at Plymouth for further service as Flagship of the 1st Cruiser Squadron of the Mediterranean Fleet
1913 6th Sep Sailed Plymouth for the Mediterranean
1913 10th Sep Arrived Gibraltar
1913 30th Sep Sailed Palma for Gibraltar
1913 18th Oct Sailed Gibraltar for Palmas Bay, Sardinia then to Cagliari
1913 28th Nov Arrived Salamis Bay
1913 5th Dec Sailed Piraeus for Corfu
1913 8th Dec Arrived Malta
1914 9th Jan Sailed Malta
1914 14th Apr Arrived Malta
1914 14th Apr Capt. F. Wray in Command
1914 14th Apr Flagship of Rear-Admiral Ernest C.T. Troubridge

Vivid (as above)

HMS Warspite (pennant number 03) was a Queen Elizabeth-class battleship of the British Royal Navy. She was launched on 26 November 1913 at Devonport Royal Dockyard. She was, and is, one of the most famous and glamorous of names in the Royal Navy. Warspite would, during World War II, gain the nickname "The Grand Old Lady", after a comment made by Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham in 1943.
She was scrapped in 1950

Vivid (as above) for release

He was invalided out in 1921 due to colour blindness

On a couple of ships, he seems to have been on it for a very short time. In the days of the Empire Ships sailed to the far reaches of the Empire (i.e. China Station) and stayed there for, perhaps 10 years of longer. The Crew Obviously didn’t. T solve this the Navy used another ship, perhaps a cruiser, to take the relief crews out and bring the old crews back. I believe that the crews were placed on the books of the transporting ship for the duration of the voyage. Another reason why they may be on another ship for a short time is if they were given cell time. A small ship wouldn’t have cells so they would be transferred to a large ship that does. Promotion Boards may be another reason why the individual might be loan drafted to a bigger ship.

His Conduct was pretty good given VG Sat (Satisfactory) and VG Sup (Superior) throughout so there wasn't anything seriously wrong that he did (or didn't get caught!!!!)
Everyone who kept his nose pretty clean got VG Sat. If he did anything over and above he would be awarded VG Sup

So he did 8yrs before release.

If I have missed any important details, I apologise. Somebody will surely add to this if I have

There is no evidence, that I can see in his Docs, that indicates that he joined the Submarine Service. None of the ships that he served on had anything to do with Submarines. Normally he would be posted to a Depot ship, which would be indicated in the ships list. Then, in brackets, the submarine that he actually served on.
This doesn't mean that he didn't try for submarines. He might have tried while he was, for instance, at HMS Vivid. It might have been just a walk into the dockyard which was adjacent. He might even have been lucky enough to have gone out in a submarine for the day. This wouldn't necessary have him transferred to another ship, He may not have liked it or they found him unsuitable in some way. So it wouldn't have shown up in his Docs. We will probably never know.

The Rate "Boy" (Later to be changed to Junior) was given to a new entrants under 18 He would have started off as 2nd Class and then to 1st Class. His next step was Ordinary Seaman then Able Seaman which means that he was trained. The promotion to Ordinary seaman was age driven. To be promoted to Able Seaman a test of all the seaman’s work had to be taken (i.e. Anchor work, knots and splices, Ships husbandry (painting, rust removal etc)

It looks as if he joined Ganges as a Seaman Gunner and if I am reading it right, in 1917, he was transferred to RT(Tel). Which means that he went from Gunner to Radio Telegraphy. I am not sure if there was an actual communications branch at that time or if they trained seaman to do signalling work.

He was awarded 2 Good conduct Badges/Stripes, the first on the 2nd Jan 1917 and the second on the 18th Feb 1920, which would have been worn on his left arm

On the same line as "Defence" there is a mention of Cells (Looks like 7 days).This punishment was given when the "crime" was more serious that Stoppage of leave or extra work was awarded, but not serious enough that warranted prison time. Normally the withdrawal of Good Conduct Badges was equal to a certain amount of cells time. I can't see that he lost his G.C. Badges. So that is a bit of a puzzle that someone else might explain

dianne cutler

11-01-2010, 17:46

I have read the book The Battle at Jutland, the personal account of 45 men involved in the battle. The final page detailing the Warspite part in the battle says
"We were drawing 35 and a half feet aft when we docked"

I am sorry to query something that would be so simple to an experienced seamen. Does this mean that she was carrying 35 feet of water after her 13 hits?. Does "drawing 35 feet" mean something else? If this is true, how tall was the Warspite, and just how close to sinking was she with all this flooding.:confused::confused:

emason

11-01-2010, 18:06

According to S.W. Roskill (the naval historian), the Warspite normally drew 31 feet of water. That is 31ft of the hull was below the waterline and thus was the minimum depth she could sail in. If she was drawing 35.5 feet after Jutland she must have taken in enough sea water to settle down by another 4 feet 6 inches. I don't know how many tons that represents.

Dannemois

06-04-2010, 11:19

My father served with the Royal Marines on HMS Warspite during 11 March 1938 and 7 Oct 1940. Can someone please help with any details of ship movements during this period?
Regards, Roy

Dreadnought

06-04-2010, 11:29

NINE threads relating to HMS Warspite merged together and placed here.

Please remember to search for existing threads before starting a new one folks please.

MikeW

08-04-2010, 15:13

Hi, My dad, Robert Jack Worth, recently passed away aged 92, he was on the 'Spite from16/05/40 to 25/08/42, after which he had a short spell of the Griffin and then spent the rest of WW2 on the Phoebe.

He was an Able Seaman/torpedoman and Sir Charles Madden's writer while on Warspite.

The attached pic will be the new front cover of Iain Ballantine's book on the ship, Dad is the man at the top of the pic doing his "day job" as anti aircraft crew member.

Regards,

Mike.

http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=75149&stc=1&d=1270739249

qprdave

07-05-2010, 19:20

Launching of HMS Warspite

Published in The Times on 26th November 1913

emason

01-08-2010, 20:30

This is probably as she looked then, before the 1926 refit.

83345

GaryH

01-08-2010, 22:29

I think she looked better in her WW1 guise than she did later on in life after being rebuilt
Anyone else agree?

emason

05-11-2010, 17:20

HMS Warspite - The 1934-37 Refit

By 1934, the Queen Elizabeth class battleships were nearly twenty years old and were becoming obsolete compared with the newer battleships of other countries, so the Admiralty took the decision to modernise them. The modifications involved amounted to an almost complete reconstruction. Warspite was the first, followed by the Renown, the Valiant and the Queen Elizabeth. The two latter ships were not completed until after war had broken out, and the Barham and Malaya were never refitted.

The programme started in 1934 was never finished, but the reconstruction of the four ships completed was an outstanding success, and they all proved invaluable in the Second World War. The Warspite cost £2,362,000 - less than a third of the cost of the Nelson, and far less than the later-built King George V class; and it gave the Royal Navy what was virtually a new ship.

General
To carry out this huge programme, Portsmouth dockyard first of all stripped the ship down to her bare hull, and then opened up a huge cavity amidships to remove the main machinery. When she was no more than an empty hulk the inner bottom was entirely rebuilt, the engine rooms were subdivided into eight compartments, and the boiler rooms divided longitudinally. These measures strengthened the hull and greatly improved the watertight integrity of the ship. The opportunity was also taken to make permanent repairs to the hull damaged at Jutland. The bridge structure was entirely re-designed, to accommodate the needs of a modern fleet flagship, and to carry the new control positions for all the many new armaments. To protect the ship better against air attack the deck armour was increased to 5.5 inches over the machinery spaces and magazines. She could now carry 1,394 tons of ammunition, of which about 1,000 tons was for her main armament.

The Propulsion Machinery
The main propulsion machinery was entirely renewed. The twenty four Yarrow boilers were replaced by six Admiralty type boilers of modern design. The two original funnels were removed, and the boiler uptakes were led into one large funnel. Completely new geared turbines were built for her by the Parsons Marine Engineering Company.

Main Armament
The turret roofs were removed, and the 15 inch guns lifted out. The turrets were then modified to increase the maximum elevation of the guns from 20 to 30 degrees. This, combined with the design of a new projectile, increased the range of the big guns from about 23,500 yards to 31,000 yards. The turret machinery was left practically unaltered, and worked well in the new conditions.

Secondary and AA Armament
The original eight 6 inch guns on each side were reduced to four on each side. Two 4 inch twin anti-aircraft mountings were fitted above each 6 inch battery. Above the 4 inch guns, two 8 barrelled multiple 2 pounder pom-poms were fitted on each side. On the superimposed turrets were placed two, 4 barrelled, 0.5 inch machine guns to increase her anti-aircraft defence. The upper works, cleared by having only the one funnel, gave these AA weapons good arcs of fire.

Fire control
To control the fire of the armaments, entirely new equipment was fitted, utilising the experiences of WW1 and of the intervening years. The "Admiralty Fire Control Tables" for the 15 inch and 6 inch guns were made by Elliotts at Lewisham, while the anti aircraft fire control equipment came from the Crayford and Barrow works of Vickers-Armstrong. All this equipment was installed by Portsmouth dockyard in co-operation with the firms concerned. An immense amount of electrical machinery had to be added in connection with it, and the whole ship was entirely re-wired.

Aircraft
On the upper deck, abaft the funnel, a hangar was built to accommodate two Swordfish aircraft, and a catapult was fitted for launching them. Two electric cranes were added to hoist the aircraft inboard on recovery from the sea. The main functions of these aircraft were to carry out reconnaissance for the fleet, and to spot for their own ship’s gunfire. Pilots, observers and maintenance crews from the Fleet Air Arm were added to the ship’s complement when she re-commissioned.

The Sea Trials
On 8th March, 1937, the reconstructed Warspite left the dockyard to start her programme of trials. Four days later, when steaming at full power, the helm jammed at "hard a starboard". Although a new steering engine had been fitted, this old problem still remained; but there was nothing that could be done about it at the time, and she went on to Plymouth for the rest of the programme. On 15th March she steamed eight hours at full power, with her engines developing over 80,000 horsepower, and made a speed of 23.84 knots.

On the 18th March, she returned to Portsmouth for her gunnery and aircraft catapult trials. These included firing each weapon at maximum elevation and depression, to test the mountings and the ship’s structure. Once, when Warspite was firing her 15 inch guns at their maximum range of some 16 miles, a Royal Mail liner, unseen in the light mist, passed across her line of fire at the critical moment, and two 15 inch shells fell close to her. This, as the liner’s master reported, caused some understandable alarm among her 800 passengers. Luckily no damage was done.

On 29th June she commissioned for service as Mediterranean Fleet Flagship under Captain V.A.C. Crutchley VC. Her complement of officers and men, which had originally been 993, but had been steadily increasing during the last twenty years, was now 1,183 in peace and 1,218 in war.

On 5th July Warspite sailed for her acceptance trials, and was to have her final inspections a week later and then sail for Malta. Captain F.H.W. Goolden, who had been in command during the trials, told his successor, Captain Crutchley, that he was not happy about the ship’s steering gear. As the Admiralty’s orders permit a captain to carry out what movements he likes during the final acceptance trials, Captain Crutchley decided to take her into "action" at high speed, acting as though the ship were under attack. This involved the use of full rudder at high speed, and while turning the helm jammed again. Grinding noises were then heard from one set of turbine gearing, the shaft in question was stopped and she returned to harbour on only three propellers.

Inspection revealed serious damage to the coupling between the turbines and the gearing, and expert opinion held that it must have been caused by some movement either of the hull or of the engines. To repair the damaged couplings was fairly simple, but to find the cause of the trouble, and prevent it recurring, was much more difficult. In August another series of trials was started, and it was discovered that the trouble could be prevented by slowing down the outer shafts. But it took from August, 1937, to January, 1938, many trips to sea, two dockings and the turning of innumerable circles to discover this.

The reconstruction entirely altered the appearance of the ship and gave her a modern and streamlined appearance. But her maximum speed still could not match the 28 knot plus of a truly modern battleship.

spruso

05-11-2010, 18:37

Very interesting read Bill. Thanks for posting.
Cheers
Bruce

GaryH

06-11-2010, 10:38

Warspite's "Rudder gremlin" was a constant source of worry for her Captains :D

Fleegle

19-11-2010, 06:05

Dear All,

I am planning a visit to Kew, in order to consult the log of HMS Warspite. Unfortunately, I will not be able to do so for a few months yet, so in the meantime, I wonder if anyone is able to kindly provide info as to the whereabouts/duties of the Grand Old Lady between September 1920 and August 1921?

I know that immediately prior to this, in May of 1920, she was engaged along the south and west coasts of Ireland, in support of army landings, but would like to know where she was and what she was doing throughout the above-mentioned dates.

If anyone can help, I would be extremely grateful.

With thanks,

F.

seaJane

19-11-2010, 11:23

I've had a look at the 1920-1921 Navy Lists and those years do not list stations of ships - only the home port which in Warspite's case was Devonport.

The only clue I can offer from the Navy List is that in the June 1920 issue her Surgeon Lt Cdr was noted (And for ophthalmic duties in Atlantic Fleet).

Her Wikipedia entry notes: In 1919, Warspite joined the 2nd Battle Squadron, part of the newly-formed Atlantic Fleet. She served in the Mediterranean for the majority of her assignment to the fleet.

Fleegle

19-11-2010, 11:53

SJ,

Many thanks for you help.

'Atlantic Fleet' is more or less what I had expected, so your post nicely confirms this part of my query; thank you.

Like your avatar, by the way - who is she?

With thanks,

F

seaJane

19-11-2010, 13:00

Glad I could help, F.

Avatar: haven't the foggiest, I'm afraid. A book in the collection I curate was co-authored by, and formerly in the ownership of, Surgeon Rear Admiral Sir Cecil P.G. Wakeley (1892-1979) and she is on his bookplate.

Fleegle

19-11-2010, 13:10

Very apt, if I may say so, and thanks for the explanation.

Kind regards,

Fleegle.

seaJane

19-11-2010, 14:27

No trouble :) attached is a full-size version (click to enlarge)

Fleegle

19-11-2010, 14:49

That is very nice of you; thanks very much. She looks even better than I thought.

Many thanks.

Fleegs.

GilligansIsland

20-11-2010, 21:19

This isn't much help but just thought I would mention this, it would seem Warspite was still operating in the area of the Irish coast in 1923, I have the log book for HMS Racer in 1923 & it mentions Warspite a few times from what I recall, a sick Diver was transferred to Warspite & I think gold bullion retrieved from the wreck Laurentic also, Racer was a salvage navy ship

James

( I'll read it again to refresh my memory )

Fleegle

20-11-2010, 21:22

Thank you, James - every little helps, as they say.

Kind regards,

F.

Fleegle

20-11-2010, 21:44

Found this website, for anyone who is interested:

http://www.warspite.dk/ship.html

...it also says that she was part of the Atlantic Fleet - shame it is not a little more specific though.

Cheers,

F.

GilligansIsland

21-11-2010, 01:27

no worries Fleegle, I'd think Warspite was still on patrol on the Irish coast in the time period you're asking about, salvage of the gold bullion from Laurentic went on for many years after the war, HMS Racer was involved with this ( my grand father was a Diver on this ship ), as bullion was raised it was passed onto a warship, the 1923 Log mentions Warspite several times as already said, so I'm assuming earlier activity between the two ships before 1923 off the Irish coast

there are several incidents reported in the Log while being anchored at some Irish ports, I'll need to read this again, from what I recall one night they were anchored close to shore in an Irish port & heard gun fire & loud yelling close by, it was decided to pull up anchor & move further out for fear of being boarded by Irish rebels, much of the crew were armed & on watch all night in case of trouble, fairly sure Warspite was there also

I'm not very familiar with Irish history in this time period but get the impression troubles were brewing & the British military was watching the situation closely, so wouldn't be surprised with Warspites presence in the area at that time

James

patroclus

21-11-2010, 03:03

In addition to service off the coast of Ireland in 1920, WARSPITE took part in the 1921 spring cruise to the Mediterranean for combined exercises with the Mediterranean Fleet and when the long coal and railway strikes broke out she was sent to Clydeside (where, according to Roskill, the ship's company spent most of their time playing football with the strikers).

Fleegle

21-11-2010, 08:04

GI & P,

Absolutely fascinating stuff - thank you both very much.

I too have consulted Roskill (and what a great read). Trouble is, the references for the exact time period I am researching are only vaguely touched upon - tantalisingly close, but not particularly detailed.

From this (and I know Roskill is not the world's only source of info on the Grand Old Lady) I am presuming that between Sept 1920 and Aug 1921, she wasn't engaged in anything too exciting, as Roskill would surely have brought it to our attention in Chapter Six (Between the Wars 1919-1939), though I could be very wrong, of course.

As I say, I am planning a trip to Kew for another butcher's at the logs, but this will not be for some time.

The information members have kindly provided so far is very much appreciated. I am very grateful.:)

Fleegs.

Fleegle

15-01-2011, 16:32

Dear All,

Many thanks to everyone who kindly assisited with my query. Having consulted Warspite's logs for this period, I am now able to confirm her whereabouts from 10th September 1920 to 31st August 1921:

1920

September
10th (and for remainder of month): Portland

October
Portland and Weymouth Bay - this included sea excercises with HMS Valiant and HMS Barham

November
Portland - engaged in general ship cleaning duties and various exercises

December
Devonport - this included the disembarking of ammunition and the entertaining of a children's party on the 28th.

1921

January
Devonport for entire month - general duties; cleaning and painting ship, fire stations etc.

February
Devonport - until 19th duties included scraping funnels, exercising fire stations and various ratings joining ship
19th: Sailed for Arosa Bay (Spain)
28th: From Arosa Bay to Vigo Bay (Spain)

March
Vigo Bay - with a Coxswains sailing regatta on the 10th
18th to 21st: Warspite is engaged in various exercises sailing back and forth between Vigo and (what appears to say 'Tor Bay' but this is difficult to read). This includes range finder exercises, a full power trials, and long distance signalling by searchlight, exercises.
22nd: Tor Bay to Plymouth
23rd: At No.2 Buoy, Plymouth Sound
28th: Devonport until end of month

April
At Devonport
7th: Sailed for Greenock
8th: At Greenock for remainder of month, cleaning and painting ship, provisioning, hands making and mending clothes

May
At Greenock, general duties, ratings joining ship, physical drill, etc.
25th: Log entry sadly records the accidental drowning of Ordinary Seaman J89843 Charles Adolphus Nash, by drowning while swimming in canal at Hungryside.
At Greenock for remainder of month

June
At Greenock and preparing for sea on 11th
12th: Sailed to Devonport
13th: Entered Plymouth Sound and made fast to No.8 Wharf
30th: Sailed to Weymouth

July
At Weymouth
7th: Sailed to Swanage
8th: Swanage to Portland
9th to 27th: Engaged in sea exercises out of Portland and Weymouth Bay
28th: Cawsand Bay to Devonport - at Devonport for remainder of month

August
At Devonport for entire month.

With thanks,

Fleegle

allaninny

20-06-2011, 18:18

HI Sorry for my long lost and late reply, Yes NY is New York where I live
tks Allan in NY

astraltrader

20-06-2011, 22:07

The above member Allan sent me a PM today asking for assistance.

As I dont know the answer to his question I am posting his PM here in the hope that someone else in the forum might know! :cool:

[I]...cannot find anything about Warspites international call sign/letters. Usually a 4 letter code that represents the ship and matches with the flags.
I would like to show these flags on my finished model.
and as before I do appreciate your assistance.

thanks Allan in NY....

If anybody can help could they please post the answer here. :)

Don Boyer

21-06-2011, 06:03

Terry: I got curious and started poking about looking for the answer to the call letter/sign question (call letters = flags, usually 4 of them) call signs = radio call signs, and from what I've read on the ham radio sites, not necessarily the same.

According to "Signal Letters for British Ships For the Use of Ships at Sea and for Signal Stations," 1941 edition, Warspite's call letters were GXPP.

astraltrader

21-06-2011, 10:01

Many thanks Don - I think you might have found exactly what Allan is looking for! Well done that man. :)

tonclass

09-09-2011, 16:52

'THE EAGLE' comic, back in the 1950's, did a series of cutaways of RN warships. Here's the one they did of WARSPITE.

rspratt

12-03-2012, 15:51

Hi all,

My name is Ryan and my great uncle Thomas William Fishlock served on Warspite during WW2 and was killed during the Battle of Crete, when the ship was hit by 250 kg bombs dropped by Me 109 fighter planes. Does anyone know where I can find a detailed account of what happened that day (22nd May 1941)? and possibly where I could find information regarding my relatives whereabouts (action station) during the attack? The only information I have is his name, service number and rank (ordinary seaman) and a brief description of the action from the following link http:/www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-01BB-Warspite.htm
Any assistance in my quest would be appreciated.

Best regards,

Ryan Spratt

oldsalt

12-03-2012, 16:55

Ryan, there is a book entitled, "Warspite, from Jutland hero to cold war warrior" author is Iain Ballantyne. This book gives an account of the ships history, there is a chapter , headed "Catastrophe off Crete" which gives an account of the action there. Try Amazon they may have a copy. Good luck in your search.

hood51

12-03-2012, 18:00

Ryan,

You could also try "HMS Warspite" by S.W.Roskill and "Battleship Warspite" by V.E.Tarrant.

Both have chapters on the Crete actions.

Steve

rspratt

14-03-2012, 21:43

Thank you for your assistance I will try and get hold of some copies.

Thanks,

Ryan

Werlin

26-03-2012, 22:47

I agree with hood51 and oldsalt, both recommend excellent books, and as far as I can remember they detail the bomb damage she received off Crete, so you should find what you are seeking there.
I've bought my copies from amazon.co.uk in the last year, so you should have no problem getting a copy there.

I would like to add a question of my own if I may.
I've noticed Warspite always had a Admirals Sternwalk (if that is the correct name for it). Ive seen a few other ships with it as well. Does anyone know how prone they where to damage from waves or the ships own wake in hard manoeuvres?

ap1

18-04-2012, 16:33

Warspite's big problem. A lesson for the whole fleet!

Axial Vibration of Propeller Shafting

When war broke out in 1939 we were attempting to deal with a problem
for which we knew a cure, but didn't know what the disease was, namely,
axial vibration.
When the battleship H.M.S. Warspite was carrying out full
power turning trials after completely re-engining in 1938 severe vibration
developed in the vicinity of the flexible couplings between the turbine and the
gearboxes. When opened up, the teeth of the male and female parts of the
coupling were found to be welded together.
A number of abortive trials were
carried out before it was established that this vibration and welding together of
couplings was occurring in a shaft set, the propeller of which was running in
the slip stream of another (FIG 6.), and that if the slip stream could be reduced
in intensity, the trouble did not occur. It was apparently a trouble that any of
our battleships or aircraft carriers with three or four shafts might suffer from,
and the fact that only Warspite had been observed to have this trouble was
due to her having done these full power-turning trials, other ships being careful
to use very little helm during their six-monthly full power trials in order to
prevent spoiling the performance figures.

A set of instructions had to be produced for the reductions in power required
on the outboard engines on the outside of a turn for all our three or four-shafted
ships together with warning systems from the bridge when high speed
turns had to be made. Some measure of the serious view taken by the Admiralty
of the danger to the engines in the Fleet will be realized from the fact that, in
the week before war was declared, the personal signatures for the instructions
were obtained from the Director of Naval Construction, the Engineer-in-Chief
of the Fleet and the Director of Navigation in a single morning. This should
be placed on record because of the stories that used to go around during the
war, such as: the man who asks the policeman in Whitehall 'Is the Admiralty
on this side?' and gets the reply 'That's what we'd all like to know'.

By a coincidence, the problem of axial vibration was again looming large
when I rejoined the Admiralty in 1949. By then Mr. Rigby, of the R.N.S.S.,
had diagnosed the problem as one of axial resonance in the propeller shaft
system that caused high speed relative axial movement in the flexible coupling,
hence heating up and eventually fusion.
I had the satisfaction of developing for H.M.S. Eagle and subsequent
ships a resonance changer fitted to the thrust block which damped down
the vibration and made it unnecessary to have any restrictions on turning
at high speed.

Some readers may from time to time have come across instances of flexible
couplings welding up their teeth. This is not usually an axial vibration problem
but merely one of alignment, and measurements in one case showed that a
mal-alignment as small as 0.050in., which represented an angular mal-alignment
of 9 minutes of arc, may cause this welding to occur.
Such a malalignment entails a sinusoidal relative velocity at the teeth with
a maximum value of 0-7 ft/sec. at full speed.
To obtain the same relative velocity in Warspite at the axial resonant
frequency would need an amplitude of relative movement
of 0.1 inches. In all probability the amplitude in Warspite, particularly when
thrust reversal was taking place was well in excess of this figure, as in fact was
the damage to the flexible coupling teeth in excess of that in the ship referred to.