HMS Erin (1913) - Armament

Armament

The primary armament was ten 13.5 inch (343mm) 45-calibre Mark VI guns, arranged in five double turrets all on the centre-line of the ship. "A" turret was positioned on the forecastle, with an unobstructed arc of fire over the bow of some 300 degrees. "B" turret was situated one deck higher, superfiring over "A" and with a similar arc of fire. "Q" turret was positioned between the after funnel and the after superstructure; it was situated at forecastle deck level, which was one deck level higher than the equivalent turret in the King George V or the Iron Duke class ships. The arc of fire of this turret was 300 degrees over the stern at full elevation; at lower elevations the after superstructure restricted fire to 120 degrees on either beam. "Y" turret was placed on the quarterdeck, one deck level below forecastle deck level. The arc of fire over the stern was an unobstructed 300 degrees. "X" turret was immediately forward of "Y", and superfired over it with a similar arc of fire. The ammunition carried was 80 rounds per gun.

The secondary battery was more powerful than that carried by earlier or contemporary British battleships, being sixteen 6 inch (152 mm) 50-calibre Mark XVI guns disposed eight on either side in a maindeck battery extending from "B" to "X" turrets. All were twenty feet above water at normal draught. The forward three had arcs of fire from directly ahead to 40 degrees aft of the beam; the two amidships guns bore from 65 degrees ahead to 65 degrees abaft the beam; the after three bore from 40 degrees before the beam to dead astern. The forward three tended to be wet in a heavy sea. Ammunition carried was 150 rounds per gun.

Ten 3 inch (12-pounder) guns were carried high in the superstructure.

Four 21 inch (533 mm)) torpedo tubes were installed, two on either beam. Ten torpedoes were carried.

In 1917 two 3 inch anti-aircraft guns were added on the after superstructure. In 1918 runways for launching aircraft were added on the crowns of "B" and "Q" turrets.