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HMS QUEEN
ELIZABETH
HMS Queen Elizabeth was
built at Portsmouth and Re -Engined at Fairfield and
launched on the 16th October 1913. She was the sister ship
to HMS Warspite, Valiant, Barham, and Malaya. HMS Queen
Elizabeth was the only ship of the class to have a full
compliment of sixteen 6-inch guns, She was the only ship of
the class not be be involved during the Battle of Jutland.
But her first world war service included being part of the
Dardanelle's campaign. She bombarded the forts on the
Narrows in the support of the Gallipoli landings between
February 25th and May 14th 1915. She fired a total of 86
15-inch shells and 71 6-inch shells. The short supply of
15-inch shells and a direct order from the Admiralty not to
ware out her guns. After the battle of Jutland (she was in
refit at the time,). She became the flagship of the Home
Fleet in February 1917.HMS Queen Elizabeth had to major
refits between the Wars. At the start of World War two she
was in the middle of her second refit, being reconstructed
at Portsmouth, due to the chance of enemy bombing she was
moved to Rosyth. Being completed and ready for service in
May 1941. HMS Queen Elizabeth was transferred to The
Mediterranean fleet. It was at Alexandria, along with her
sister ship HMS Valiant that both ships were mined by
Italian Frogmen. HMS Queen Elizabeth sank in shallow water,
Raised and Temporarily repaired. But due to the serious
damage she had sustained she was transferred to the US Navy
Yard in Norfolk. being repaired there between September 1942
till 1st June 1943.
She joined the Eastern fleet
and In January 1944 onwards was joined by HMS valiant and
took part in the carrier raids in Indonesia against Japanese
bases. returning to Britain in July 1945. and finally
scrapped at Dalmuir on the Clyde 7th July 1948. and at Troon
(Hull only) |