HMS Orion (1910) - Design and Appearance

Design and Appearance

Orion was the first British dreadnought, and with the exceptions of the American South Carolina and Michigan, the first anywhere to mount all of her main armament on the centre-line; the decision on disposition of the turrets preceded the decision on the calibre to be employed. It was known that Germany was producing large numbers of naval gun barrels of eleven and twelve inches in calibre; as the British 12-inch 50-calibre gun had reached the end of its development life it was felt necessary to increase the size of the guns of the main armament to 13.5 inches. This in turn led to a significant increase in the size of the ship, as compared to previous dreadnoughts, and an increase in displacement of some 2,500 tons.

The foremast was positioned immediately aft of the fore-funnel, as had been the case in Dreadnought but which had not been the case in the Bellerophon class or the St. Vincent class, although it had been aft of the fore-funnel in the Colossus class. This led, as in earlier ships with the same disposition, to the control top being rendered virtually uninhabitable by smoke and hot funnel exhaust when steaming into wind. The only reason that can be found for this arrangement is to provide a convenient place to affix the booms to handle the ship's boats.

The height of the topmast was reduced and torpedo nets removed in 1915; the fire control platforms on the foremast were extended after Jutland, and an aeroplane platform was added to the roof of "B" turret.