HMS Prince George (1895)

HMS Prince George was a Majestic-class pre-Dreadnought battleship launched in 1895. She was named after the future George V of the United Kingdom and was the fourth and final ship to bear that name.

Service

She served with the Channel Squadron until 1906, when she was transferred to the Home Fleet (acting as its flagship until 1909). After a collision with HMS Shannon in December 1909, she was refitted and in June 1912 became part of the 7th Battle Squadron. On the outbreak of World War I, this squadron was stationed in the English Channel and she became its flagship.

She later served and was damaged at the Dardanelles, though had a lucky escape when a torpedo struck her but failed to explode off Cape Helles. She was briefly renamed HMS Victorious II from 1918 until February 1919, and on 28th December 1921 ran aground on Camperdown, Holland, during a storm, on her way to be broken up in Germany. She was stripped of anything worthwhile and left as a breakwater, remaining to this day.

Specifications

Armament: four 12 inch guns, twelve 6 inch guns, sixteen 12 pdr guns, twelve 3 pdr guns, 2 maxims, two 2pdr boat guns and five torpedo tubes. Displacement: 14,900 tons. Speed: 16.5 knots. Complement: 757.

External links

• http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/hms_prince_george.htm