Dreadnoughts

[Tim Birch]

I was watching a video tape last night on the rise and fall of Battlehips. There were several sequences of Dreadnoughts at anchor and I noticed they had huge booms (like low level yard arms) extending out a hundred feet or more each side of them.

What was the purpose of these? My guess would be to hang anti-torpedo nets from them. Can anyone confirm this, or if not, say what they were for?

Tim

[Guest Hussar]

Tim,

Top Marks, that is exactly their purpose!

[Horace Bachelor]

Anti-torpedo nets were effective against early torpedoes but were not fitted on Dreadnoughts after the King George V class. There inability to protect against modern torpedoes was demonstrated in May 1915 when 3 pre-Dreadnoughts, Goliath, Majestic and Triumph were sunk off Gallipoli whilst at anchor, with nets deployed. All nets were removed by the end of 1916.

Cheers, Rich.

[Tim Birch]

Thanks guys

Tim

[Ian Underwood]

There inability to protect against modern torpedoes was demonstrated in May 1915 when 3 pre-Dreadnoughts, Goliath, Majestic and Triumph were sunk off Gallipoli whilst at anchor, with nets deployed.

Deja vu, was reading this just the other day in 'Gallipoli 1915' by Joseph Murray.

The lads of the Hood Btn were swimming out to the Majestic to try and scrounge some food off the sailors.

"I had about a five-yard lead and was swimming strongly when I heard a deep thud and the water seemed to vibrate violently. I got a lovely mouthful and, half choked struck out frantically. I thought I had struck the wash from a trawler. I had lost sight of the Majestic and no wonder, for I had been completely turned around and was swimming away from her. Puzzled for the moment, I suddenly realised that she was heeling over. Her torpedo nets were out and hundreds of men were lining her deck. Many dived, some jumped and others scrambled over the side as she slowly heeled over...."

Cheers, Ian.