Ganymede Class Battleship
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The two Jupiter class battleships were under construction and the Algarvian
Admiralty designers were pondering how to improve them. The design could go to
triple turrets, a mix of triple and twins, keep to twins with an extra turret.
The problem going to triples would have been the extra beam required to mount
the triple and also the time required to design/build a new turret. Keeping with
the twin turret allowed a faster building time.
The Ganymede was laid down in 1913, the second ship Callisto was laid down in
1914 but with the outbreak of war its construction was slowed considerably and
eventually postponed in 1915, the hull eventually completed post war as an
aircraft carrier. The first eighteen months of construction went at a furious
pace, but by the start of 1915 other priorities slowed construction. Originally
due to be completed in the summer of 1917 (dont forget that Algarve is Southern
hemisphere) it was eventually completed in August of 1918. Fitting the extra
turret and extra propulsion power to keep the five ships at a constant speed of
28 knots, required an extra 70 odd feet of length and 4 foot of breadth compared
to the Jupiters. While the Jupiters had flag facilities, the Ganymedes Flag
accommodation was made for the Fleet Flagship. Virtually the first time the
Ganymede fired its guns was for the Armistice Day celebrations.
During the inter-war period the Ganymede was fleet flagship through to 1936 when
the ship was taken in hand for a rebuild to upgrade the AA and deck armour
protection. The deck armour was doubled while the mixed, 6, 4, and 3 AA guns
were removed and replaced with the twin 4.5 turrets and twin 40mm fitted to the
Mars class battleships being built at the same time this ship was under refit.
Bulges were added during the same rebuilding and were required to keep the
stability positive.
As built 1918.
Displacement: 36,000 tons standard, 40,750 tons full load.
Dimensions: 786 x 98 x 30 feet
Machinery: 4 shaft, geared turbines, 115,000shp
Speed: 28 knots
Endurance: 8,000 miles at 12 knots.
Armour: 12 belt, 3 deck 13/9/6 turrets
Armament:
10 x 15 (5x2)
14 x 6 (14x1)
12 x 4 (12x1)
8 x 3 AA (8x1)
Crew: 1550
As rebuilt 1936-38
Displacement: 38,250 tons standard, 44,500 tons full load.
Dimensions: 786 x 106 x 30 feet
Machinery: 4 shaft, geared turbines, 130,000shp
Speed: 28 knots
Endurance: 10,000 miles at 15 knots.
Armour: 12 belt, 6 deck, 13/9/6 turrets
Armament:
10 x 15 (5x2)
20 x 4.5 (10x2)
56 x 40mm (28x2)
Aircraft: 2
Crew: 1945
Ganymede at speed, with turrets out to both port and starboard.