Armoured Cruiser H.M.S. Terrible (1898)
In the mid-1890s intelligence spoke of 2 deadly cruisers being constructed in Russia, faster and more heavily armed than anything the Royal Navy could field against them. In the reactive mode typical of the time, the British built two enormous cruisers to "answer" the Russian threat (Rossia and Rurik), which proved to have been greatly exaggerated. HMS Terrible and her sister HMS Powerful were laid down in 1894 and completed in 1897 and 1898, respectively. At 14,200 tons and 500 feet they proved too long and too fuel-hungry for economical operation, even after much "tweaking." They were initially sent to the China Station, where they helped to crush the Boxer Rebellion in 1900-01. Soon after, both ships served with distinction in the Boer War, landing their guns and volunteer crews with carriages designed by the captain of the Powerful, to assist in the relief of Ladysmith, a mining town beseiged by the Boers.
After 1904 both vessels spent most of their time laid up: they were simply too expensive to operate when smaller ships would do, and the Royal Navy was building more advanced models in quantity. After experimenting with the Diadem design (which replaced the 9.2" singles with two 6" guns mounted side-by-side bow and stern), the four-funnel look and original armament layout of the Terribles were adapted into more seaworthy and ergonomic vessels beginning with the 12,000-ton, 21-knot Cressy class of 6 ships built between 1896 and 1902. The Drakes built on the success of this prototype, restoring nearly the full 14,000-ton size and 22-knot speed of the Terribles in a better-balanced package. The Powerful and Terrible became troop transports and accommodation ships, their armamant removed, during WWI and later. Powerful survived as an accommodation ship until scrapping in 1929; her sister Terrible was not broken up until 1932.
After 1904 both vessels spent most of their time laid up: they were simply too expensive to operate when smaller ships would do, and the Royal Navy was building more advanced models in quantity. After experimenting with the Diadem design (which replaced the 9.2" singles with two 6" guns mounted side-by-side bow and stern), the four-funnel look and original armament layout of the Terribles were adapted into more seaworthy and ergonomic vessels beginning with the 12,000-ton, 21-knot Cressy class of 6 ships built between 1896 and 1902. The Drakes built on the success of this prototype, restoring nearly the full 14,000-ton size and 22-knot speed of the Terribles in a better-balanced package. The Powerful and Terrible became troop transports and accommodation ships, their armamant removed, during WWI and later. Powerful survived as an accommodation ship until scrapping in 1929; her sister Terrible was not broken up until 1932.
Statistics for the Terrible: Length: 500' (152.4 m) Beam: 71' (21.6 m) Draft: 27' (8.2 m) Displacement: 14,200 tons deep laden. Armament: (2) 9.2", (12) 6" QF, (16) 12-pdr, (12) 3-pdr guns; (4) 18" torpedo tubes. Armor: 4" belt, 6" gun shields and barbettes, 2-6" deck. Steam plant: 3,000 tons coal; 48 Belleville water-tube boilers. Propulsion: 25,000-HP vertical 4-cyl triple expansion engines shafted to twin screw. Maximum speed: 22 kts. Endurance: 7,000 nm (13,000 km) @ 14 kts. Crew: 894.
A Powerful Class Picture Gallery
This colourised postcard of the great ship emphasizes the size and high freeboard of the class.
This colourised postcard of the great ship emphasizes the size and high freeboard of the class.
The Terrible at the victualing docks at Portsmouth.
HMS Terrible in profile, showing the general armament layout adopted by British armored cruisers for the next decade. The armament of two 9.2" and (12) 6" QF guns was to be quite standard until the Minotaur class of 1907. They had a designed speed of 23 kts, but completing somewhat overweight, could achieve this only with unconscionable expenditure of coal. Unique among British ships was the peculiar stern, with its half-diamond shape: half cruiser, half counter. This "bustle" effect was not repeated; less ostentatious cruiser sterns became the norm, though on these large ships a miniature captain's walk was invariably supplied, just as on the larger battleships.
HMS Terrible in profile, showing the general armament layout adopted by British armored cruisers for the next decade. The armament of two 9.2" and (12) 6" QF guns was to be quite standard until the Minotaur class of 1907. They had a designed speed of 23 kts, but completing somewhat overweight, could achieve this only with unconscionable expenditure of coal. Unique among British ships was the peculiar stern, with its half-diamond shape: half cruiser, half counter. This "bustle" effect was not repeated; less ostentatious cruiser sterns became the norm, though on these large ships a miniature captain's walk was invariably supplied, just as on the larger battleships.
A closeup showing the unusual stern of HMS Terrible, taken early in her career when she had her original short funnels. These were soon lengthened to improve draft to the boilers; subsequent classes of British armored cruiser came with tall stovepipes installed as original equipment.
A closeup showing the unusual stern of HMS Terrible, taken early in her career when she had her original short funnels. These were soon lengthened to improve draft to the boilers; subsequent classes of British armored cruiser came with tall stovepipes installed as original equipment.
Terrible in her original guise, with short funnels, imaginatively pictured by moonlight, using her for'ard searchlight to detect trouble ahead.
Terrible in her original guise, with short funnels, imaginatively pictured by moonlight, using her for'ard searchlight to detect trouble ahead.