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HMS Nelson

HMS Nelson was the of the two-ship Nelson class of battleships built for the Royal Navy during the to comply with the tonnage and armament restrictions of the . Laid down on 28 December 1922 at Armstrong Whitworth's shipyard in , she was launched on 3 September 1925 and commissioned on 15 August 1927 after costing approximately £7.5 million. With a standard of 33,950 long tons (rising to 38,000 long tons at full load) and dimensions of 710 feet in length and 106 feet in beam, Nelson was powered by two sets of Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines fed by eight Admiralty three-drum boilers, achieving a top speed of 23 knots and a range of 7,000 nautical miles at 16 knots. Her most distinctive feature was the unconventional "all-or-nothing" armor scheme and the forward placement of her main armament—three triple 16-inch (406 mm) BL Mk I gun turrets mounted ahead of the bridge superstructure, supplemented by twelve 6-inch secondary guns, anti-aircraft batteries, and two triple torpedo tubes—allowing for heavy firepower while maximizing protection for vital areas with up to 14-inch and 6.25-inch decks. During the interwar period, Nelson served primarily with the Atlantic Fleet and , undergoing refits that enhanced her anti-aircraft defenses and systems, including the installation of Type 284 gunnery by 1940. At the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, she became flagship of the based at , conducting patrols and convoy escorts in the and Atlantic. Early in the conflict, on 4 December 1939, Nelson struck a magnetic mine off , injuring 73 crew members and requiring repairs at until August 1940, after which she rejoined operations including the pursuit of the in May 1941. In the Mediterranean theater from 1941 onward, Nelson played a pivotal role in out of , escorting critical supply convoys to such as Operations Substance, , and ; during on 27 September 1941, she was struck by an Italian torpedo from an aircraft, causing significant flooding but no fatalities, and underwent repairs in the before returning in 1942. She supported Allied invasions in (, 1942), (, July 1943, where her guns bombarded ), and (, September 1943), earning battle honors for these campaigns and the formal Italian armistice was signed aboard her on 29 September 1943. Later, Nelson contributed to the in June 1944 by bombarding German positions at and participated in operations against German surface units in the . Postwar, in 1945, after refit, Nelson joined the Fleet as flagship, attended the Japanese surrender of aboard her off George Town on 2 September, and served briefly as a before being placed in reserve in 1947. Decommissioned on 15 August 1948—marking the 21st anniversary of her commissioning—she was sold for scrap in November 1948 and broken up at , , by the end of , ending her 22-year career without a single crew member lost in action despite multiple survivals of mines, torpedoes, and bombs.

Design and Specifications

Design Origins and Treaty Limitations

The of 1922 imposed strict limitations on construction among the major naval powers, capping individual standard displacement at 35,000 long tons and main gun caliber at no more than 16 inches (406 mm). These provisions aimed to prevent an escalatory following , allowing the Royal Navy to proceed with only two new s to replace older vessels, while halting further construction on ambitious post-war designs like the G3 class. The treaty's constraints forced naval architects to prioritize protection and firepower within the limit, leading to innovative compromises that defined the Nelson-class profile. In response, the Royal Navy concentrated all nine 16-inch guns in three triple turrets positioned forward of the —A, B, and X turrets in a —to minimize the length of the and allocate saved weight to enhanced deck and side armor. This all-forward layout drew from experiences at , where battleships often approached bow-on rather than engaging broadside, and addressed treaty-induced vulnerabilities to by shortening the area requiring thick horizontal armor, thus improving overall defensive resilience without exceeding limits. The design achieved a standard of 33,300 long tons (33,800 t), with a of 106 feet (32.3 m) and a draft of 30 feet 4 inches (9.2 m) mean, balancing stability and under the imposed restrictions. Compared to the preceding Revenge-class battleships, which carried eight 15-inch guns in twin turrets and attained a top speed of 21 knots with lighter armor to conserve weight, the Nelson-class represented a shift to a true all-big-gun configuration with larger-caliber weaponry and a modest speed increase to 23 knots. This evolution sacrificed some agility for superior gun power and protection, reflecting the treaty's emphasis on qualitative rather than quantitative naval strength, though it resulted in a slower vessel than contemporary concepts.

Armament and Fire Control Systems

HMS Nelson's primary offensive capability resided in its of nine 16-inch (406 mm) Mark I s, arranged in three triple turrets designated 'A', 'B', and 'X', all positioned forward of the to maximize the forward arc of fire. This configuration allowed the ship to bring its full broadside to bear on targets ahead while limiting astern fire, a design choice reflecting interwar emphasizing fleet actions. Each had a barrel of 45 calibres, with a of 2,615 feet per second (797 m/s) using Mark II , enabling a maximum range of approximately 35,000 yards (32,000 m) at 40 degrees with armor-piercing shells weighing 2,048 pounds (929 kg). The was nominally 1.5 rounds per minute per , though practical rates were lower due to the complexity of triple-turret loading mechanisms. The secondary armament consisted of twelve 6-inch (152 mm) BL Mark XXII guns mounted in six twin turrets, positioned along the sides amidships to provide anti-destroyer and shore . These guns had a maximum range of 25,800 yards (23,590 m) at 45 degrees and a design of five rounds per minute. Initially, the ship carried six single 4.7-inch (120 mm) QF Mark VIII/IX anti-aircraft guns, which were later expanded during wartime refits to bolster air defense. Additionally, two quadruple 24.5-inch (622 mm) submerged tubes were fitted at launch, using the experimental with a range of 15,000 yards at 35 knots and a 743-pound (337 kg) ; these tubes were removed during repairs in 1941 rather than the 1930s as initially planned. Fire control for the main battery was managed through two Director Control Towers, each equipped with a 15-foot (4.6 m) for optical ranging, integrated with the Admiralty Fire Control Table for analog computation of firing solutions. Gyroscopic stabilization was incorporated to maintain accuracy during rough seas, while turret roofs housed 41-foot (12.5 m) for independent spotting. For anti-aircraft purposes, the High Angle Control System () was fitted from commissioning, featuring a 12-foot high-angle and gyro-stabilized directors to track low-flying threats. By 1940, these analog systems evolved with the addition of early integration, including Type 284 for main armament ranging (up to 20 miles) and Type 285 for secondary guns, enhancing precision in low-visibility conditions during operations. Ammunition storage for the totaled approximately 100 rounds per gun, comprising 95 armor-piercing capped () shells and practice rounds, stowed in magazines below the armored deck. Shells were hoisted via hydraulic rams through barbettes to the handling rooms, where they were transferred to cages for loading; this process took about 35 seconds per gun but was prone to mechanical issues in the triple , such as roller-bearing wear, which were addressed in pre-war overhauls. Powder charges, limited to 100 per gun, were stored in flash-proof cases to mitigate risks, with interlocks preventing premature loading during traversal.

Armour, Protection, and Propulsion

HMS Nelson's armor scheme was designed to provide comprehensive protection against shellfire, emphasizing an "all-or-nothing" philosophy that prioritized vital areas amidships while leaving the ends less armored to save weight under Washington Treaty constraints. The main belt armor consisted of a 14-inch (356 mm) thick inclined plate over the magazines and control positions, tapering to 13 inches (330 mm) over the machinery spaces and 6 inches (152 mm) below the waterline, backed by 13-inch (330 mm) transverse bulkheads to seal off protected zones. Deck armor varied by area, with a 6.25-inch (159 mm) main armored deck over the magazines, 3.75 inches (95 mm) over the machinery spaces, and thinner 1.5-inch (38 mm) plating in some lower sections, supplemented by a 0.5-inch (13 mm) weather deck. Turret armor on the triple 16-inch main guns featured 16-inch (406 mm) faces, 11-inch (279 mm) sides, 9-inch (229 mm) roofs, and 15-inch (381 mm) barbettes, while the conning tower had 12- to 16-inch (305-406 mm) plating for command protection. Underwater protection incorporated a triple-bottom structure with a 5-foot (1.5 m) deep double bottom, including an empty outer compartment and inner liquid-filled voids, culminating in a 1.5-inch (38 mm) backed by additional bulkheads to absorb and distribute blast energy. This system, featuring 12-foot (3.7 m) deep internal bulges filled with water or air, was engineered to withstand warheads up to 750 pounds (340 kg) of or equivalent damage, with the inboard placement of the allowing blasts to vent upward along the hull exterior. The effectiveness of this design was demonstrated in practice following a incident on 18 off , where Nelson struck a magnetic but sustained only localized flooding and remained operational after repairs, validating the compartmentalization against threats. Propulsion was provided by two Parsons geared steam turbines delivering 45,000 shaft horsepower (34,000 kW), powered by eight Admiralty three-drum oil-fired boilers operating at 250 psi (1,724 kPa) with superheaters for efficiency. This arrangement enabled a designed top speed of 23 knots (43 km/h), which trials confirmed at 23.3 to 23.8 knots (43.2 to 44.1 km/h) under full power, while the ship's range reached 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km) at an economical 16 knots (30 km/h) with 3,800 long tons of . During a 1938 refit, received enhancements including an additional 3-inch (76 mm) deck armor plating forward on the lower deck, extended 4 inches (102 mm) to the double bottom for improved splinter protection.

Construction and Early Service

Building, Launch, and Commissioning

HMS Nelson was ordered as part of the Royal Navy's 1922 construction programme and her keel was laid down on 28 December 1922 at the shipyard in , . The battleship's design incorporated treaty-compliant features, such as a standard displacement limited to 35,000 long tons, which influenced the build process by prioritizing efficient use of space for armament and protection. Construction proceeded steadily through 1923 and 1924, with the hull taking shape on the amid the yard's industrial bustle. She was launched on 3 September 1925 by Dame Caroline Bridgeman, wife of William Bridgeman, the , marking the first major launch since the end of the First World War. At launch, the incomplete vessel weighed approximately 29,000 tons and measured 710 feet in length, sliding into the River Tyne amid celebrations that highlighted Britain's naval resurgence. followed at the yard and later at , but progress was slowed by ongoing design modifications to integrate advanced fire control systems and by the disruptive effects of the 1926 general strike, which halted much of the UK's industrial output for nine days in May and impacted supply chains for over six months. The total construction cost reached about £7.5 million, involving thousands of workers at peak, though exact workforce figures are not precisely documented. Sea trials commenced in May 1927 in the waters off , where Nelson achieved a maximum speed of 23.6 knots using 46,031 shaft horsepower from her geared steam , slightly exceeding her designed performance of 23 knots. Early runs revealed minor issues with turbine synchronization, which were promptly rectified by engineers before full acceptance. The ship was formally commissioned into the Royal Navy on 15 August 1927 under the command of Captain Sidney Julius Meyrick, with 28 assigned; she immediately took up her role as of the Fleet.

Interwar Operations and Flagship Role

Upon commissioning on 15 August 1927, HMS Nelson relieved HMS Revenge as of the Fleet in October 1927, serving in this role until 1930 under Vice-Admiral Hubert Brand and subsequent commanders. She remained when the Fleet was redesignated as the in 1932, serving in that role until the outbreak of war in 1939, hosting the flags of eight admirals during this period and participating in routine peacetime operations to maintain naval readiness. In September 1931, Nelson's crew took part in the , protesting proposed pay reductions, an event that contributed to the redesignation of the Atlantic Fleet as the the following year. Nelson's interwar duties included annual spring cruises to and multiple visits to , as well as two cruises to the —one via the —conducted in the late and early to demonstrate British naval presence in distant waters. In 1929, she undertook a diplomatic cruise to , fostering relations in the region as part of broader fleet activities. The ship also engaged in regular joint exercises with the , including maneuvers off that emphasized coordinated fleet tactics and interoperability. Between 1931 and 1932, Nelson underwent a minor modernization refit at Dockyard, which included the installation of catapults for launching and enhancements to her anti-aircraft armament with the addition of two Mk V mountings to address evolving aerial threats. Further upgrades in 1937–1938 added extra horizontal armor plating, improved high-angle fire control systems, and a crane on the ship's side to operations, reflecting incremental adaptations to treaty-era limitations. Notable events during this period included her participation in the 1937 Coronation Fleet Review at , where she anchored prominently among the assembled battleships as King George VI inspected the Royal Navy on 20 May. From 1936 to 1938, Nelson contributed to British non-intervention patrols in the Mediterranean during the , monitoring compliance with the international agreement to prevent arms shipments to either side while based in the region. The ship's typical complement during flagship duties was 1,361 officers and ratings, manned primarily from , with command passing through several captains, including S. J. Meyrick at commissioning. Annual fleet maneuvers formed a core of her routine, with emphasis on gunnery practice using her nine 16-inch guns to hone accuracy and firepower coordination in simulated battle scenarios.

World War II Service

Initial Operations and Atlantic Duties

At the outbreak of in , HMS Nelson served as the flagship of the under Admiral Sir Charles Forbes, based at in the Islands. On 31 , she departed with elements of the fleet for patrols in the northern and Atlantic approaches between , , and , aimed at intercepting potential surface raiders threatening Allied routes; she returned on 6 September without contact. These early operations transitioned the ship's interwar routines of fleet exercises into active wartime vigilance, with Nelson coordinating with cruisers and destroyers under Command for broader Atlantic coverage. On 30 October 1939, Nelson was attacked by the submarine U-56 west of the Islands and struck by three torpedoes that failed to detonate due to technical faults. Throughout late 1939 and into 1940, Nelson conducted multiple searches for German raiders, including patrols in Icelandic waters from 1 to 3 September 1939 and a pursuit of the battlecruiser Gneisenau and cruiser Köln northeast of the Faroe Islands from 8 to 11 October 1939, during which the fleet reversed course to avoid U-boat and Luftwaffe threats. A significant incident occurred on 23 November 1939, when Nelson sortied from the Clyde to hunt Scharnhorst and Gneisenau following the sinking of HMS Rawalpindi, patrolling the Iceland-Faroes gap until 28 November without engagement. In convoy escort duties, under operational control of Western Approaches Command, she provided distant cover for transatlantic shipments, such as HX 103 south of Iceland from 28 to 30 January 1941, deterring surface attacks amid U-boat threats; fuel constraints often limited these sorties, with destroyers frequently detached for refueling, as seen on 3 December 1939 when low stocks forced an early return to Loch Ewe. Nelsons' strategic role emphasized deterrence against Bismarck-class battleships and pocket battleships preying on convoys, exemplified by her searches for Scharnhorst and Gneisenau earlier in the war. A key setback came on 4 December 1939, when Nelson struck a magnetic laid by U-31 off , causing extensive flooding and damage that required repairs at until May 1940, highlighting vulnerabilities in northern routes. Under Forbes's command, which emphasized coordinated screens, Nelson balanced offensive s with defensive tasks, though fuel shortages—such as those delaying a November 1940 against Admiral Scheer—restricted the fleet's endurance in the vast Atlantic theater.

Mediterranean Campaign and Convoys

HMS Nelson transferred to the Mediterranean theater in July 1941, arriving at to serve as flagship of under Vice Admiral , tasked with supporting Allied operations against forces in the region. This assignment marked a shift from her earlier Atlantic duties, positioning her to counter Italian naval threats and protect vital supply lines to amid intensifying air and submarine activity. In her initial Mediterranean operations, Nelson participated in Operation Substance from 22 to 27 July 1941, escorting Convoy GM 1—comprising six and one oiler—from to . As part of , she provided heavy cover alongside the HMS Renown and several and , fending off air attacks that sank one destroyer and damaged a cruiser but allowed all vessels to reach successfully. Later that year, during in September 1941, Nelson escorted a larger convoy of nine to reinforce 's defenses, but on 27 September, she was struck by an from an SM.79 Sparviero bomber off the coast of . The torpedo exploded against her port bow, flooding forward compartments and reducing her speed to 15 knots; despite the damage, she continued supporting the convoy until it reached its destination, though only five merchants arrived intact. The injury necessitated extensive repairs in the United States, where Nelson underwent modernization at the from October 1941 until June 1942, including enhancements to her anti-aircraft defenses. Upon returning to active duty in July 1942, Nelson rejoined and played a pivotal role in , the critical August 1942 effort to relieve the besieged island of . Commanded by Syfret with Nelson as his flagship, the operation involved escorting a of 14 fast merchant ships from , supported by the battleship HMS Rodney, three aircraft carriers, and multiple cruisers and destroyers. The force faced relentless and Italian air assaults, as well as and surface attacks, resulting in the loss of nine merchants, one carrier (), and significant damage to other escorts; however, five tankers and merchants, including the vital SS Ohio, reached , delivering over 32,000 tons of supplies that sustained the island's garrison through the siege. Nelson's 16-inch guns provided deterrent fire during the intense air raids south of , contributing to the 's partial success despite the heavy toll.

Later Campaigns and Home Waters

In late 1942, HMS Nelson formed part of , the primary covering force for , the Allied invasion of Vichy French North Africa. Operating from , she provided distant protection for the amphibious landings at on 8 , deterring potential interference from Vichy French or Axis naval forces while the assault convoys advanced. Her presence helped secure the initial success of the operation, which opened a crucial second front in the Mediterranean theater. By mid-1943, Nelson shifted focus to the invasion of Sicily under Operation Husky. Departing Scapa Flow in June, she joined the Central Task Force in the Ionian Sea, where her role emphasized fleet cover to neutralize the threat from the Italian battle fleet based at La Spezia and Taranto, while providing naval gunfire support. This deterrence allowed the amphibious forces to land unopposed on 10 July, marking the first major Allied assault on Axis-held European soil. In September, Nelson supported Operation Avalanche, the landings at Salerno on Italy's mainland. Positioned off the Gulf of Salerno, she delivered heavy naval gunfire against German coastal defenses and counterattacking forces, including the 16th Panzer Division, firing over 700 16-inch shells across both invasions to suppress fortifications and aid the establishment of the beachhead. These bombardments were instrumental in repelling intense German resistance during the early, precarious days of the operation. Returning to British waters in early 1944, Nelson prepared for the campaign. She arrived off the beaches on 11 June to provide gunfire support for British Second Army operations, using her nine 16-inch guns in 20 separate bombardments against German batteries, troop concentrations, and defenses between 11 and 18 June. Her fire helped protect the expanding lodgment and contributed to the construction of the Mulberry artificial harbors essential for sustaining the invasion. On 18 June, while maneuvering near the Mulberry site off , Nelson struck an acoustic mine, which damaged her hull and cracked armor plates on the starboard side. Temporary repairs were effected at , allowing her to proceed under her own , but the incident necessitated a major refit; she sailed for on 22 June, where extensive modernization and repairs kept her out of action for the remainder of 1944. Emerging from refit in in March 1945, Nelson briefly rejoined the in time for the final stages of the European war, serving as a symbol of naval power amid the German surrender in May. Assigned to the Eastern Fleet later that year, she deployed to the , arriving at in July to support operations against remaining forces in . Her presence bolstered the fleet's capability for potential amphibious assaults, though the atomic bombings and Japanese capitulation in September obviated further .

Post-War Career and Legacy

Training and Reserve Duties

Following the Japanese surrender in August 1945, HMS Nelson accepted the local Japanese surrender at on 2 September 1945 before being assigned to the in October 1945 and subsequently utilized for gunnery training exercises off the Scottish coast. From 1946 to 1947, the functioned as a ship for midshipmen, conducting instructional voyages. In 1947, Nelson underwent a survey for potential modernization to extend her service life, but the effort was abandoned as uneconomical, primarily owing to the obsolescence of her 16-inch main armament in the face of emerging post-war naval technologies and threats. Wartime stresses had left the ship with persistent problems that hampered reliability and speed, restricting her to limited operations; her final period at sea occurred during maneuvers in 1948 before full reserve status.

Decommissioning, Scrapping, and Modern Assessments

Following the end of her training duties, HMS Nelson was decommissioned and placed in reserve on 20 October 1947 at . She remained in this status until 19 March 1948, when her final log entry was recorded as she was sold to the shipbreaking firm W. Ward. Prior to disposal, the served briefly as a target for aerial bombing in the , sustaining additional damage that was not repaired. Nelson was towed under the Forth Bridge to the Ward yard at Inverkeithing, Scotland, arriving on 15 March 1949 for breaking up. The scrapping process, which dismantled the vessel piece by piece, was completed by 1949. The massive 16-inch gun turrets were among the first major components removed, with their high-quality steel recycled for use, including materials. This efficient disposal reflected the Royal Navy's broader policy of phasing out capital ships in favor of aircraft carriers and smaller vessels. Throughout her career, HMS Nelson earned 11 official battle honours from the Royal Navy, recognizing her contributions across multiple theaters. These included Atlantic 1939–45 for her convoy escort duties; for operations supporting the besieged island in 1941–42; 1943 for gunfire support during the Allied invasion; and 1944 for her role in the D-Day landings. Other honours encompassed 1940, Mediterranean 1940–43, Matapan 1941, Sfax 1943, Salerno 1943, Aegean 1943, and South of France 1944, underscoring her versatility despite design limitations. Modern historical assessments since 2000 have critiqued Nelson's unconventional , particularly the forward clustering of all three main turrets, which increased vulnerability to and blast damage between mounts during full salvos. This layout, intended to maximize treaty-compliant while minimizing , proved problematic in practice, as evidenced by deck fittings damaged during gunnery trials and restricted firing arcs for the turret. Archival reviews of her 1941 torpedo damage off —sustained from an Italian SM.79 bomber—have highlighted how the strike forward of the tore a 30-foot by 15-foot hole in the , compromising but not penetrating vital areas due to compartmentalization. Recent analyses, including those in the , emphasize the effectiveness of temporary repairs at , which allowed her to continue service, though they underscore broader vulnerabilities in older treaty battleships. In comparisons to later designs like the U.S. Iowa-class battleships, historians assess Nelson as potent in raw firepower—her nine 16-inch guns delivering one of the heaviest broadsides of —but less effective overall due to her 23-knot top speed versus the Iowas' 33 knots, and inferior radar-directed fire control systems. The Iowa class's all-or-nothing armor scheme and greater displacement (58,000 tons versus Nelson's 38,000 tons) provided superior protection and endurance, making them more adaptable for fast task forces, while Nelson excelled in deliberate shore roles. Nelson's cultural legacy is modest, with few relics preserved owing to her swift scrapping shortly after the war. The , inscribed with details of her dismantling at in 1949, survives at HMCS Star, a Royal Canadian Naval Reserve division in . No major preservation efforts were undertaken, as the Royal Navy prioritized decommissioning aging battleships amid budget constraints and the shift to jet-age , leaving Nelson's story primarily in historical texts and naval archives rather than physical monuments.

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