&sq=&lang=&file=File:H.M.S._Formidable_Named_and_Launched_at_Portsmouth_17th_Novr_1898_by_Lady_Lucy_Hicks_Beach._Rear_Admiral_Ernest_Rice,_Admiral_Superintendent._J_A_Yates_Esq,_Chief_Constructor_RMG_PU6310.jpg) Painting of HMS Formidable, Sept. 1898
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Formidable |
| Ordered | 1897 Programme |
| Builder | Portsmouth Dockyard |
| Laid down | 21 March 1898 |
| Launched | 17 November 1898 |
| Completed | September 1901 |
| Commissioned | 10 October 1901 |
| Fate | Sunk, 1 January 1915 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Formidable-class battleship |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 431 ft 9 in (131.6 m) o/a |
| Beam | 75 ft (22.9 m) |
| Draught | 25 ft 11 in (7.90 m) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed | 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) |
| Range | 5,500 nmi (10,190 km; 6,330 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Complement | 780 |
| Armament | |
| Armour | |
HMS Formidable, the third of four ships of that name to serve in the Royal Navy, was the lead ship of her class of pre-dreadnought battleships. The ship was laid down in March 1898, was launched in November that year, and was completed in September 1901. Formidable served initially with the Mediterranean Fleet, transferring to the Channel Fleet in 1908. In 1912, she was assigned to the 5th Battle Squadron, which was stationed at Nore.
Following the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, the squadron conducted operations in the English Channel, and was based at Sheerness to guard against a possible German invasion. In the first days of the war, the 5th Battle Squadron covered the crossing of the British Expeditionary Force to France. On 31 December, the squadron was conducting training exercises in the English Channel, and despite the risk of German submarines, was without anti-submarine protection; the German U-24 stalked the ships during the day and in the early hours of 1 January 1915, torpedoed Formidable twice, sinking her with heavy loss of life.