HMS Hercules (1910)

Hercules at anchor in Scapa Flow, circa 1916–1917
History
United Kingdom
Name	Hercules
Namesake	Mythic demigod Hercules
Ordered	1 June 1909
Builder	Palmers, Jarrow
Laid down	30 July 1909
Launched	10 May 1910
Commissioned	31 July 1911
Out of service	October 1921
Fate	Sold for scrap, 8 November 1921
General characteristics
Class and type	Colossus-class dreadnought battleship
Displacement	20,030 long tons (20,350 t) (normal)
Length	545 ft 9 in (166.3 m) (o/a)
Beam	85 ft 2 in (26.0 m)
Draught	27 ft (8.2 m)
Installed power	25,000 shp (19,000 kW) 18 × Yarrow boilers
Propulsion	4 × shafts; 2 × steam turbine sets
Speed	21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)
Range	6,680 nmi (12,370 km; 7,690 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement	778–791 (1916)
Armament	5 × twin 12-inch (305 mm) guns 16 × single 4-inch (102 mm) guns 3 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes
Armour	Belt: 8–11 in (203–279 mm) Deck: 1.5–4 inches (38–102 mm) Turrets: 11 in (280 mm) Barbettes: 4–11 inches (102–279 mm) Bulkheads: 4 and 8 in (102 and 203 mm) Conning tower: 11 in (280 mm)

HMS Hercules was the second and last of the two Colossus-class 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. The ship was deemed obsolete after the war and was reduced to reserve. Hercules was sold for scrap in 1921 and broken up the following year.