Editing HMS Repulse (1916) (section)

==Design and description==
[[File:Repulse-1.jpg|thumb|left|''Repulse'', circa 1916–1917, after post-trials alterations]]
Admiral Lord Fisher first presented his requirements for the new ships to the [[Director of Naval Construction]] (DNC) on 18 December 1914, before the ships had even been approved. He wanted a long, flared bow, like that on the [[pre-dreadnought]] {{HMS|Renown|1895|2}} but higher, four 15-inch guns in two twin-[[gun turret]]s, an anti-[[torpedo boat]] armament of twenty {{convert|4|in|adj=on|0}} guns mounted high up and protected by [[gun shield]]s only, a speed of 32 knots using oil fuel and armour on the scale of the battlecruiser {{HMS|Indefatigable|1909|2}}. Within a few days Fisher increased the number of guns to six and added two torpedo tubes. Minor revisions in the initial estimate were made until 26 December and a preliminary design was completed on 30 December.<ref>Roberts, pp. 47–48</ref>

During the following week the DNC's department examined the material delivered for the two battleships and decided what could be used in the new design. The usable material was transferred to the builders who had received enough information from the DNC's department to lay the [[keel]]s of both ships on 25 January 1915, well before the altered contracts were completed on 10 March.<ref>Roberts, pp. 45, 47</ref>

''Repulse'' had an [[length overall|overall length]] of {{convert|794|ft|2.5|in|m|1}}, a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|89|ft|11.5|in|m|1}} and a maximum [[draft (hull)|draught]] of {{convert|29|ft|9|in|m|1}}. She displaced {{convert|26854|LT|t}} at normal load and {{convert|31592|LT|t}} at [[deep load]].<ref name=b97/> The Brown-Curtis direct-drive [[steam turbine]]s were designed to produce {{convert|112000|shp|lk=in}}, which would propel the ship at {{convert|32|kn|lk=on}}. During trials in 1916, ''Repulse''{{'}}s turbines provided {{convert|118913|shp|abbr=on}}, allowing her to reach a speed of {{convert|31.73|kn}}.<ref>Roberts, p. 81</ref> The ship normally carried {{convert|1000|LT|t|0}} of [[fuel oil]] but had a maximum capacity of {{convert|4289|LT|t}}. At full capacity, she could steam at a speed of {{convert|18|kn}} for {{convert|4000|nmi|0}}.<ref name=b97>Burt 1986, p. 297</ref>

The ship mounted six 42-[[caliber (artillery)|calibre]] [[BL 15 inch Mk I naval gun|BL 15-inch Mk I guns]] in three twin hydraulically powered gun turrets, 'A', 'B' and 'Y' from front to rear.<ref name=b97/> Her secondary armament consisted of 17 [[BL 4 inch Mk IX naval gun|BL 4-inch Mark IX guns]], fitted in five triple and two single mounts. ''Repulse'' mounted a pair of [[QF 3-inch 20 cwt]]<ref group=Note>"cwt" is the abbreviation for [[hundredweight]], 30 cwt referring to the weight of the gun.</ref> [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft]] guns mounted on the shelter deck abreast the rear funnel.<ref name=rr48>Raven and Roberts, p. 48</ref> She mounted two submerged [[torpedo tube|tube]]s for [[British 21 inch torpedo|{{convert|21|in|adj=on|0}}]] torpedoes, one on each side forward of 'A' barbette.<ref>Roberts, p. 83</ref>

''Repulse''{{'}}s [[waterline]] [[Belt armor|belt]] of [[Krupp armour|Krupp cemented armour]] measured {{convert|6|in|mm|0}} thick amidships. Her gun turrets were {{convert|7|–|9|in|mm|0}} thick with roofs {{convert|4.25|in|mm|0}} thick. As designed the high-tensile-steel [[deck (ship)|deck]]s ranged from {{convert|0.75|to|1.5|in|0}} in thickness. After the [[Battle of Jutland]] in 1916, while the ship was still completing, an extra inch of high-tensile steel was added on the main deck over the [[magazine (artillery)|magazine]]s.<ref name=b94>Burt 1986, p. 294</ref> ''Repulse'' was fitted with a shallow [[anti-torpedo bulge]] integral to the hull which was intended to explode the torpedo before it hit the hull proper and vent the underwater explosion to the surface rather than into the ship.<ref>Roberts, p. 111</ref>

Despite these additions, the ship was still felt to be too vulnerable to plunging fire and ''Repulse'' was refitted in Rosyth between 10 November 1916 and 29 January 1917 with additional horizontal armour, weighing approximately {{convert|504|LT|t}}, added to the decks over the magazines and over the steering gear.<ref name=b94/> ''Repulse'' was the first capital ship fitted with a [[Flight deck#Early|flying-off platform]] when an experimental one was fitted on 'B' turret in the autumn of 1917. [[Squadron Leader]] [[Frederick Rutland]] took off in a [[Sopwith Pup]] on 1 October. Another platform was built on 'Y' turret and Rutland took off from it on 8 October. One [[fighter aircraft|fighter]] and a reconnaissance aircraft were normally carried.<ref>Raven and Roberts, p. 51</ref>