HMS Colossus (1910)

Colossus at anchor, shortly after completion, 1911
History
United Kingdom
NameColossus
NamesakeColossus of Rhodes
Ordered1 June 1909
BuilderScotts, Greenock
Laid down8 July 1909
Launched9 April 1910
CompletedJuly 1911
Commissioned8 August 1911
ReclassifiedAs a training ship, 1921
Stricken1923
FateSold for scrap, July 1928
General characteristics
Class and typeColossus-class dreadnought battleship
Displacement20,030 long tons (20,350 t) (normal)
Length545 ft 9 in (166.3 m) (o/a)
Beam86 ft 8 in (26.4 m)
Draught27 ft (8.2 m)
Installed power
Propulsion4 × shafts; 2 × steam turbine sets
Speed21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)
Range6,680 nmi (12,370 km; 7,690 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement751
Armament
Armour

HMS Colossus was the lead ship of her class of two dreadnought battleships built for the Royal Navy at the end of the first decade of the 20th century. She spent her whole career assigned to the Home and Grand Fleets, often serving as a flagship. Aside from participating in the Battle of Jutland in May 1916 and the inconclusive action of 19 August, her service during World War I generally consisted of routine patrols and training in the North Sea. Colossus was the only dreadnought from the main body of the Grand Fleet to be hit during the Battle of Jutland, although she suffered only minor damage.[1] The ship was deemed obsolete after the war and was reduced to reserve and then became a training ship. Colossus was hulked in 1923 and sold for scrap in 1928.

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