HMS Glatton (1914)

Glatton during World War I
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Glatton
BuilderArmstrong Whitworth
Laid down26 May 1913
Launched8 August 1914
Commissioned31 August 1918
FateWrecked by explosion, 16 September 1918
General characteristics
Class and typeGorgon-class monitor
Displacement5,746 long tons (5,838.2 t) at deep load
Length310 ft (94.5 m)
Beam
  • 73 ft 7 in (22.4 m) at bulge
  • 55 ft (16.8 m) at main hull
Draught16 ft 4 in (5.0 m)
Installed power4,000 ihp (3,000 kW)
Propulsion
Speed12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Range2,700 nmi (5,000 km; 3,100 mi) at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)
Complement305
Armament
Armour

HMS Glatton and her sister ship Gorgon were originally built as coastal defence ships for the Royal Norwegian Navy, as Bjørgvin and Nidaros respectively. She was requisitioned from Norway at the beginning of World War I, but was not completed until 1918 although she had been launched over three years earlier. On 16 September 1918, before she had even gone into action, she suffered a large fire in one of her 6-inch magazines, and had to be scuttled to prevent an explosion of her main magazines that would have devastated Dover. Her wreck was partially salvaged in 1926, and moved into a position in the northeastern end of the harbour where it would not obstruct traffic. It was subsequently buried by landfill underneath the current car ferry terminal.