Editing St Vincent-class battleship

{{Short description|Warship class of the British Royal Navy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}
{{featured article}}

{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=British Battleships of the First World War Q21794.jpg
|Ship caption={{HMS|St Vincent|1908|2}} at anchor, 1909
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
|Name=''St Vincent'' class
|Builders=
*[[HMNB Devonport|Devonport Dockyard]]
*[[Portsmouth Dockyard]]
*[[Vickers Armstrongs]]
|Operators={{navy|United Kingdom}}
|Class before={{sclass|Bellerophon|battleship|4}}
|Class after={{HMS|Neptune|1909|6}}
|Built range=1907–1910
|In service range=1910–1922
|In commission range=1910–1922
|Total ships completed=3
|Total ships lost=1
|Total ships scrapped=2
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=(as built)
|Ship type=[[Dreadnought battleship]]
|Ship displacement= {{convert|19700|LT|t|lk=on}} (normal)
|Ship length={{convert|536|ft|m|abbr=on|1}} ([[Length overall|o/a]])
|Ship beam={{convert|84|ft|2|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
|Ship draught={{convert|28|ft|m|abbr=on|1}}
|Ship power=*{{convert|24500|shp|lk=on|abbr=on}}
* 18 × [[water-tube boiler]]s
|Ship propulsion=4 × shafts; 2 × [[steam turbine]] sets
|Ship speed={{convert|21|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range={{convert|6900|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|10|kn}}
|Ship complement=755–835
|Ship armament=* 5 × twin [[BL 12 inch Mk XI - XII naval gun|12 in (305&nbsp;mm) guns]]
* 20 × single [[BL 4 inch naval gun Mk VII|4 in (102&nbsp;mm) guns]]
* 3 × [[British 18 inch torpedo|18 in (450&nbsp;mm)]] [[torpedo tube]]s
|Ship armour=* [[Belt armor|Belt]]: {{convert|8|–|10|in|mm|0}}
* [[Bulkhead (partition)|Bulkheads]]: {{convert|5|and|8|in|mm|0}}
* [[Deck (ship)|Deck]]: {{convert|.75|–|3|in|mm|0}}
* [[Gun turret|Turrets]]: {{convert|11|in|mm|0}}
* [[Barbette]]s: {{convert|5|–|10|in|mm|0}}
* [[Conning tower]]s: {{convert|8|and|11|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

The '''''St Vincent''-class battleships''' were a group of three [[dreadnought battleship]]s built for the [[Royal Navy]] in the first decade of the 20th century. The [[sister ship]]s spent their entire careers assigned to the [[Home Fleet|Home]] and [[Grand Fleet]]s. Aside from participating in the [[Battle of Jutland]] in May 1916 and the inconclusive [[Action of 19 August 1916|action of 19 August]] several months later, their service during the [[First World War]] generally consisted of routine patrols and training in the [[North Sea]]. {{HMS|Vanguard|1909|2}} was destroyed in 1917 by a [[Magazine (artillery)|magazine]] explosion with the near total loss of her crew. The remaining pair were obsolete by the end of the war in 1918, and spent their remaining time either in [[Reserve fleet|reserve]] or as [[training ship]]s before being sold for [[ship breaking|scrap]] in the early 1920s.

''Vanguard''{{'}}s wreck was extensively [[Marine salvage|salvaged]] before it was declared a [[war grave]]. Since 2002, it has been designated as a controlled site under the [[Protection of Military Remains Act 1986]] and diving on the wreck is generally forbidden.

==Background and description==
The [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]]'s 1905 draft building plan called for four [[capital ship]]s in the 1907–1908 Naval Programme, but the new [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] government cut one of these ships in mid-1906 and postponed another to the 1908–1909 Naval Programme, pending the conclusion of the ongoing [[Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907#Hague Convention of 1907|Hague Peace Convention]]. The failure of the Germans to agree to any sort of naval arms control caused the government to reinstate the third ship. The Admiralty took until 12 June 1907 to decide not to build one of them as a [[battlecruiser]], in favour of a [[squadron (naval)|squadron]] of four homogeneous battleships. Three of these would be part of the ''St Vincent'' class, while the single battleship planned for the 1908–1909 Naval Programme was later authorised as {{HMS|Neptune|1909|6}}.<ref>[[#Friedman 15|Friedman (2015)]], pp. 97–102.</ref>

[[File:1stGenBritishBBs.tiff|thumb|left|Right elevation and plan of the first generation of British dreadnoughts from the 1912 edition of ''[[Brassey's Naval Annual]]'']]
The design of the ''St Vincent'' class was derived from the preceding {{sclass|Bellerophon|battleship|4}}, with more powerful guns and a slight increase in size and armour. The ships had an [[length overall|overall length]] of {{convert|536|ft|m|1}}, a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|84|ft|2|in|m|1}},<ref>[[#Burt|Burt (1986)]], pp. 75–76.</ref> and a normal [[Draft (hull)|draught]] of {{convert|28|ft|m|1}}.<ref name=p5>[[#Preston|Preston (1972)]], p. 125.</ref> They [[Displacement (ship)|displaced]] {{convert|19700|LT|t|lk=on}} at normal load and {{convert|22800|LT|t}} at [[deep load]]. In comparison to the ''Bellerophon'' class, the displacement of the ''St Vincent''s was increased by {{convert|650|LT|t}}, the length by {{convert|10|ft|m|0}} and the beam by {{convert|18|in|cm|0}}; their crews numbered about 755 officers and [[naval rating|ratings]] upon completion and 835 during the war.<ref name="B_76">[[#Burt|Burt (1986)]], p. 76.</ref>

The ''St Vincent''-class ships were powered by two sets of [[Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company|Parsons]] [[direct-drive]] [[steam turbine]]s, each of which was housed in a separate [[engine room]]. The outer [[propeller shaft]]s were coupled to the high-pressure turbines and these exhausted into low-pressure turbines which drove the inner shafts. Separate cruising turbines were provided for each shaft. The turbines used steam from eighteen [[water-tube boiler]]s at a working pressure of {{convert|235|psi|kPa kg/cm2|0|abbr=on|lk=on}}. They were rated at {{convert|24500|shp|lk=on}} and were intended to give the ships a maximum speed of {{convert|21|kn|lk=in}}. During their [[sea trial]]s, the ''St Vincent''s handily exceeded their designed speed and horsepower, reaching {{convert|21.7|kn}} from {{convert|28,128|shp|abbr=on}}. They carried {{convert|2700|LT|t|0}} of coal and an additional {{convert|850|LT|t|0}} of [[fuel oil]] that was sprayed on the coal to increase its burn rate. This gave them a range of {{convert|6900|nmi|lk=in}} at a cruising speed of {{convert|10|kn}}.<ref>[[#Burt|Burt (1986)]], pp. 31, 64, 76, 80.</ref>

===Armament===
[[File:HMS Vanguard aft guns USNHC NH 52619.jpg|thumb|''Vanguard''{{'}}s starboard aft side, showing her rear 12-inch gun turret and anti-[[torpedo net]] booms, around 1914]]
These ships were the first to carry the new 50-[[caliber (artillery)|calibre]] [[List of British ordnance terms#BL|breech-loading (BL)]] [[BL 12 inch Mk XI - XII naval gun|{{convert|12|in|mm|adj=on|sigfig=3}} Mark XI gun]], which was 5 calibres longer and had a [[muzzle velocity]] about {{convert|75|ft/s|m/s}} higher than the 45-calibre [[BL 12 inch Mk X naval gun|Mark X gun]] used in the earlier dreadnoughts.<ref>[[#Friedman 11|Friedman (2011)]], pp. 59, 62.</ref> They had a reputation for drooping at the [[muzzle (firearms)|muzzle]], which was believed to have an adverse effect at long range, but testing at sea showed the muzzle droop to be within normal tolerances and the accuracy at long range to be satisfactory.<ref>[[#Parkes|Parkes (1990)]], pp. 504–05.</ref> The increased muzzle velocity of the Mark XI gun gave it a longer range over the Mark X gun as well as increasing the distance at which it could penetrate 12 inches of armour from {{convert|7600|to|9300|yd|m|0}} using the same shell. The higher velocity reduced its service life by increasing the wear in the barrel.<ref>[[#Friedman 11|Friedman (2011)]], pp. 59–60, 62–63.</ref>

The ''St Vincent'' class were equipped with ten Mark XI guns in five hydraulically powered twin-[[gun turret]]s, three along the centreline and the remaining two as [[wing turret]]s. The centreline turrets were named 'A', 'X' and 'Y' from front to rear, and the [[port and starboard]] wing turrets were 'P' and 'Q' respectively.<ref name="B_76"/> The guns had a maximum [[elevation (ballistics)|elevation]] of +20° which gave them a range of {{convert|21200|yd|m|0}}. They fired {{convert|850|lb|kg|adj=on|0}} projectiles at a muzzle velocity of {{convert|2825|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on}} at a rate of two [[Cartridge (firearms)|rounds]] per minute.<ref>[[#Friedman 11|Friedman (2011)]], pp. 62–63.</ref> The ships carried between 80 and 100 shells per gun.<ref name="B_76"/>

The [[secondary armament]] of the ''St Vincent''s consisted of twenty 50-calibre [[BL 4 inch naval gun Mk VII|BL four-inch (102&nbsp;mm) Mark VII]] guns. Pairs of these guns were installed in unshielded mounts on the roofs of 'A', 'P', 'Q' and 'Y' turrets and the other dozen were positioned in single mounts at [[forecastle]]-deck level in the [[superstructure]].<ref name=p3>[[#Parkes|Parkes (1990)]], p. 503.</ref>{{refn|Sources disagree on the number, type and composition of the secondary armament. Burt gives only eighteen 4-inch guns and claims that they were the older [[List of British ordnance terms#QF|quick-firing]] QF Mark III guns; he also lists a 12-pounder (three-inch (76&nbsp;mm)) gun.<ref name="B_76"/> Preston concurs on the number of 4 inchers, but does not list the 12 pounder.<ref name=p5/> Parkes says twenty 4-inch guns; while not identifying the type, he does say that they were 50-calibre guns<ref name=p3/> and Preston agrees.<ref>[[#Preston 1985|Preston (1985)]], p. 23.</ref> Friedman shows the QF Mark III as a 40-calibre gun and states that the 50-calibre BL Mark VII gun armed all of the early dreadnoughts.<ref name=f1/>|group=Note}} The guns had a maximum elevation of +15° which gave them a range of {{convert|11400|yd|m|abbr=on|0}} firing {{convert|31|lb|kg|adj=on|1}} projectiles at a muzzle velocity of {{convert|2821|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on}}.<ref name=f1>[[#Friedman 11|Friedman (2011)]], pp. 97–98.</ref> They were provided with 150 rounds per gun; the wartime allowance for each gun was 200 rounds. Four 3-pounder {{convert|47|mm|in|abbr=on|1|order=flip}} [[saluting gun]]s were also carried. The ships were equipped with three [[British 18 inch torpedo|18-inch (450&nbsp;mm)]] submerged [[torpedo tube]]s, one on each [[Broadside (naval)|broadside]] and another in the [[stern]], for which nine [[torpedo]]es were provided.<ref name="B_76"/>

===Fire control===
[[File:St Vincent - NH 54835.jpg|thumb|''St Vincent'' at anchor, before 1912]]
The control positions for the main armament were located in the [[Top (sailing ship)|spotting tops]] at the head of the fore and [[mainmast]]s. Data from a {{convert|9|ft|m|adj=on|1}} [[Barr and Stroud]] [[coincidence rangefinder]] located at each control position, together with the target's speed and course information, was input into a [[Dumaresq]] mechanical computer and electrically transmitted to [[Vickers range clock]]s located in the transmitting station located beneath each position on the main deck. Wind speed and direction was called down to the transmitting station by either [[voicepipe]] or [[sound-powered telephone]]. The range clock integrated all the data and converted it into elevation and [[Deflection (ballistics)|deflection]] data for use by the guns. The target's data was also graphically recorded on a plotting table to assist the gunnery officer in predicting the movement of the target. The turrets, transmitting stations and control positions could be connected in almost any combination.<ref>[[#Brooks 95|Brooks (1995)]], pp. 40–41.</ref> As a backup, two turrets in each ship ('A' and 'Y' in ''St Vincent'') could take over if necessary.<ref>[[#Brooks 05|Brooks (2005)]], p. 61.</ref>

In 1910–1911, the four-inch guns on the roof of the forward turret of ''Vanguard'' were replaced by a {{convert|9|or|12|ft|m|adj=on|1}} rangefinder. This was removed about a year later, roughly at the same time when the rooftop guns were removed from the forward turrets of the other two ships.<ref name=b81>[[#Burt|Burt (1986)]], pp. 80–81.</ref> In late 1914, the remaining rooftop guns were replaced on the three [[sister ship]]s by 9-foot rangefinders protected by armoured hoods.<ref name="dread">Admiralty Weekly Order No. 455 of 6 October 1914, referenced in footnotes 16 and 17, {{cite web |title=St. Vincent Class Battleship (1908) |url=http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/St._Vincent_Class_Battleship_(1908) |publisher=The Dreadnought Project|access-date=4 February 2017 |language=en}}</ref>

[[Fire-control system|Fire-control technology]] advanced quickly during the years between the ''St Vincent''s' commissioning and the start of World War I and the most important development was the [[Director (military)|director]] firing system. Mounted high in the ship, a fire-control director electrically provided data to the turrets via a pointer on a [[dial (measurement)|dial]], which the turret crewmen only had to follow. The director layer fired the guns simultaneously, which aided in spotting the shell splashes and minimised the effects of the [[ship motions|roll]] on the dispersion of the shells.<ref>[[#Brooks 05|Brooks (2005)]], p. 48.</ref> While the exact dates of installation are unknown, ''St Vincent'' was equipped with a director by December 1915 and the others by May 1916.<ref>[[#Brooks 96|Brooks (1996)]], p. 168.</ref> The ships were fitted with Mark I [[Frederic Charles Dreyer#Dreyer Fire Control Table|Dreyer Fire-control Tables]] in the transmission stations by early 1916, which combined the functions of the Dumaresq and the range clock.<ref>[[#Brooks 05|Brooks (2005)]], pp. 157–158, 175.</ref>

===Armour===
The ''St Vincent''-class ships had a [[waterline]] [[Belt armor|belt]] of [[Krupp cemented armour]] that was {{convert|10|in|0}} thick between the fore and aftmost [[barbette]]s that reduced to {{convert|2|in|0}} before it reached the ships' ends. It covered the side of the [[hull (watercraft)|hull]] from the middle [[deck (ship)|deck]] down to {{convert|4|ft|11|in|m|1}} below the waterline where it thinned to {{convert|8|in|0|}} [[amidships]]. Above this was a [[strake]] of 8-inch armour. Transverse [[bulkhead (partition)|bulkheads]] {{convert|5|to|8|in|0}} thick terminated the thickest parts of the waterline and upper armour belts once they reached the outer portions of the endmost barbettes. The three centreline barbettes were protected by armour {{convert|9|in|0}} thick above the main deck and thinned to {{convert|5|in|0}} below it. The wing barbettes were similar except that they had 10 inches of armour on their outer faces. The gun turrets had {{convert|11|in|0|adj=on}} faces and sides with 3-inch roofs.<ref>[[#Burt|Burt (1986)]], pp. 76, 78.</ref>

The three armoured decks ranged in thickness from {{convert|0.75|to|3|in}} with the greatest thickness outside the central [[armoured citadel]]. The front and sides of the forward [[conning tower]] were protected by 11-inch plates, although the rear and roof were 8 inches and 3 inches thick respectively. The aft conning tower had 8-inch sides and a 3-inch roof. The ''St Vincent''s had two longitudinal anti-[[torpedo bulkhead]]s {{convert|1|–|3|in}} thick that extended from the forward end of 'A' barbette to the end of 'Y' [[magazine (artillery)|magazine]]. In the vicinity of the [[boiler room (ship)|boiler rooms]], the compartments between them were used as [[coal bunker]]s.<ref>[[#Burt|Burt (1986)]], pp. 78, 80.</ref>

===Modifications===
[[File:British Battleships of the First World War Q40389.jpg|thumb|''Vanguard'' at anchor, 1910]]
The guns on the forward turret roof were replaced in 1910–1911 by a rangefinder on ''Vanguard'', and on her sisters in 1911–1912. About two years later, [[gun shield]]s were fitted to most of the guns in the superstructure and the [[bridge (nautical)|bridge]] structure was enlarged around the base of the forward tripod mast. During the first year of the war, the base of the forward superstructure was rebuilt to house eight 4-inch guns and the turret-top guns were removed, which reduced their secondary armament to a total of fourteen guns; a pair of 3-inch (76&nbsp;mm) [[anti-aircraft gun|anti-aircraft (AA) guns]] were added. Approximately {{convert|50|LT|t}} of additional deck armour were added after the Battle of Jutland in May 1916. By April 1917, the sisters mounted thirteen 4-inch anti-torpedo boat guns as well as single 4-inch and 3-inch AA guns. The stern torpedo tube was removed in 1917–1918 and ''St Vincent'' was equipped to operate [[kite balloon]]s. In 1918, a high-angle [[Rangefinding telemeter|rangefinder]] was fitted on the forward spotting top of the surviving ships and [[Flight deck#Early|flying-off platforms]] were installed on the roofs of the fore and aft turrets of ''Collingwood''.<ref name=b81/>

==Ships==
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Construction data
! scope="col" align = center|Ship
! scope="col" align = center|Builder<ref name=p3/>
! scope="col" align = center|Price (including armament)
! scope="col" align = center|[[Laid down]]<ref name=p3/>
! scope="col" align = center|[[Ceremonial ship launching|Launched]]<ref name=p3/>
! scope="col" align = center|[[Ship commissioning|Commissioned]]<ref name=b86>[[#Burt|Burt (1986)]], p. 86.</ref>
|-
|scope="row"|{{HMS|St Vincent|1908|2}}
|[[HMNB Portsmouth|HM Dockyard, Portsmouth]]
|£1,721,970<ref name="B_76"/> or £1,754,615<ref name=p3/>
|30 December 1907
|10 September 1908
|3 May 1910
|-
|scope="row"|{{HMS|Collingwood|1908|2}}
|[[HMNB Devonport|HM Dockyard, Devonport]]
|£1,680,888<ref name="B_76"/> or £1,731,640<ref name=p3/>
|3 February 1908
|7 November 1908
|19 April 1910
|-
|scope="row"|{{HMS|Vanguard|1909|2}}
|[[Vickers-Armstrongs|Vickers Armstrong]], [[Barrow-in-Furness]]
|£1,464,030<ref name="B_76"/> or £1,607,780<ref name=p3/>
|2 April 1908
|22 February 1909
|1 March 1910
|}

==Careers==
Upon commissioning, all three ships were assigned to the 1st [[Division (naval)|Division]] of the Home Fleet and ''St Vincent'' became the flagship of the division's [[second-in-command]]. In July, they were present when [[King George V]] visited the fleet in [[Torbay]] and participated in his [[Fleet Review, Royal Navy#George V|Coronation Fleet Review]] at [[Spithead]] on 24 June 1911. Less than a year later, the 1st Division was renamed the [[1st Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)|1st Battle Squadron]] (BS) on 1 May 1912. ''Collingwood'' became the squadron flagship on 22 June and reverted to a [[private ship]] again two years later. Each of the sisters underwent a lengthy refit before the First World War began in mid-1914.<ref name=b87>[[#Burt|Burt (1986)]], pp. 86, 88.</ref>

[[File:First battle squadron in the North Sea (April 1915).jpg|thumb|upright=2|The 1st Battle Squadron at sea, April 1915]]
Between 17 and 20 July 1914, the sisters took part in a test [[mobilisation]] and fleet review. Arriving in [[Isle of Portland|Portland]] afterwards, they were ordered to proceed with the rest of the Home Fleet to [[Scapa Flow]] two days later<ref name=b87/> to safeguard the fleet from a possible surprise attack by the [[Imperial German Navy]]. After the British declaration of war on Germany on 4 August, the Home Fleet was reorganised as the [[Grand Fleet]] and placed under the command of Admiral [[John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe|John Jellicoe]].<ref>[[#Massie|Massie]] (2003), pp. 19, 69.</ref> According to pre-war doctrine, the role of the Grand Fleet was to fight a decisive battle against the German High Seas Fleet, but German reluctance to commit their battleships against the superior British force led to indecisive operations. The Grand Fleet spent its time training in the North Sea, punctuated by the occasional mission to intercept a German raid or major fleet [[sortie]].<ref>[[#Halpern|Halpern]] (1995), p. 27.</ref> In April 1916, ''Vanguard'' was transferred to the [[4th Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)|4th Battle Squadron]] while her sisters remained in the 1st Battle Squadron.<ref name=b86/>

===Battle of Jutland===
[[File:Map of the Battle of Jutland, 1916.svg|thumb|upright=1.7|Maps showing the manoeuvres of the British (blue) and German (red) fleets on 31 May&nbsp;– 1 June 1916|alt=The British fleet sailed from northern Britain to the east while the Germans sailed from Germany in the south; the opposing fleets met off the Danish coast]]
In an attempt to lure out and destroy a portion of the Grand Fleet, the German [[High Seas Fleet]] departed the [[Jade Bight]] early on the morning of 31 May 1916 in support of [[Rear Admiral]] [[Franz von Hipper]]'s battlecruisers, which were to act as bait. The British code breakers of [[Room 40]] at the Admiralty had [[Signals intelligence|decoded]] German radio traffic containing plans of the operation and the Admiralty ordered the Grand Fleet to sortie the night before the Germans, to cut off and destroy the High Seas Fleet.<ref>[[#Tarr|Tarrant]] (1999), pp. 54–55, 57–58.</ref>

The Grand Fleet rendezvoused with the [[2nd Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)|2nd Battle Squadron]], coming from [[Cromarty]], [[Scotland]], on the morning of 31 May and Jellicoe organised the main body of the Grand Fleet in parallel columns of four-ship divisions. The two divisions of the 2nd BS were on his left (east), the 4th BS was in the centre and the 1st BS on the right. ''Vanguard'' and ''St Vincent'' were the rear ships of their divisions while ''Collingwood'' was the second ship in its division. When Jellicoe ordered the Grand Fleet to deploy to the left and form [[line astern]] in anticipation of encountering the High Seas Fleet, this naturally placed the 4th and 1st Battle Squadrons in the centre and rear of the line of battle, respectively, which meant that the sisters were in the rear of the Grand Fleet once it was deployed.<ref>[[#Corbett|Corbett]], p. 431 and frontispiece map.</ref> This limited their ability to engage the German ships in the poor visibility. All three ships fired at the crippled [[light cruiser]] {{SMS|Wiesbaden}}, possibly scoring some hits, but only ''St Vincent'' and ''Collingwood'' were able to engage any of the German capital ships. The former hit the battlecruiser {{SMS|Moltke}} twice, inflicting only minor damage, while ''Collingwood'' hit the battlecruiser {{SMS|Derfflinger}} once, also with little effect. ''Vanguard'' and ''Collingwood'' also fired at German [[destroyer]]s, but failed to achieve any hits. None of the sisters fired more than 98 rounds from their main guns during the battle.<ref>[[#Campbell|Campbell]], pp. 157, 205, 208, 212, 214, 229–230, 232–234, 349.</ref>

===Subsequent activity===
After the battle, ''St Vincent'' and ''Collingwood'' joined ''Vanguard'' in the 4th BS.<ref name=b87/> The Grand Fleet sortied on 18 August to ambush the High Seas Fleet while it advanced into the southern North Sea, but a series of communication failures and mistakes prevented Jellicoe from intercepting the German fleet before it returned to port. Two light cruisers were sunk by German [[U-boat]]s during the operation, prompting Jellicoe to decide not to risk the major units of the fleet to German submarines and [[naval mine|mines]] south of 55° 30' North. The Admiralty concurred and stipulated that the Grand Fleet would not sortie unless the German fleet was attempting an invasion of Britain or there was a strong possibility it could be forced into an engagement under suitable conditions.<ref>[[#Halpern|Halpern]] (1995), pp. 330–332.</ref> The Admiralty order meant that the Grand Fleet spent far less time at sea. In late February 1917, the 4th BS conducted tactical exercises for a few days.<ref name=b20>[[#Brady|Brady]] (2014), p. 20.</ref> In January 1918, ''Collingwood'' and some of the older dreadnoughts cruised off the coast of Norway for several days, possibly to provide distant cover for a convoy to Norway.<ref>[[#Brady|Brady]] (2014), pp. 21–22.</ref> Along with the rest of the Grand Fleet, she sortied on the afternoon of 23 April when radio transmissions revealed that the High Seas Fleet was at sea, after a failed attempt to intercept the regular British convoy to Norway. The Germans were too far ahead of the British to be caught and no shots were fired.<ref>[[#Massie|Massie]] (2003), p. 748.</ref> ''St Vincent'' was under repair at [[Invergordon]], Scotland, and could not sortie, but was present at [[Rosyth]] when the German fleet surrendered on 21 November; ''Collingwood'' was refitting in Invergordon.<ref name=b86/><ref>[[#Brady|Brady]] (2014), p. 23.</ref>

====''Vanguard'' explosion====
[[File:Collingwood at Rosyth, 1917.jpg|thumb|''Collingwood'' entering Rosyth, 25 August 1917]]
In the evening of 9 July 1917, ''Vanguard''{{'}}s magazines exploded while she was anchored in the northern part of Scapa Flow; she sank almost instantly, with only three survivors, one of whom died soon afterwards; 842 men aboard were lost.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Saunders |first1=Jonathan |title=Vanguard's Casualties + Survivors |url=http://www.gwpda.org/naval/vancaslt.htm|publisher=The World War I Document Archive |access-date=29 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.scapaflowwrecks.com/wrecks/vanguard/people.php |title=HMS Vanguard People: Scapa Flow Wrecks |publisher=Scapa Flow Historic Wreck Site|access-date=23 December 2016}}</ref> ''Collingwood''{{'}}s crew recovered the bodies of three men killed in the explosion.<ref name=b20/> The [[Board of Inquiry]] concluded that a fire of unknown origin began in a 4-inch magazine and spread to one or both of the nearby 12-inch magazines, which detonated and sank the ship.<ref>[[#Burt|Burt]] (1986), pp. 84, 86.</ref>

===Postwar years===
In March 1919, ''St Vincent'' was reduced to reserve and became a gunnery training ship at [[HMNB Portsmouth|Portsmouth]]. She then became flagship of the [[Reserve Fleet (United Kingdom)|Reserve Fleet]] in June and was relieved as gunnery training ship in December, when she was transferred to Rosyth. There she remained until listed for disposal in March 1921; she was sold for scrap on 1 December 1921 and demolished.<ref name=b86/>

In January 1919, ''Collingwood'' was transferred to Devonport and assigned to the Reserve Fleet. Upon the dissolution of the Grand Fleet on 18 March, the Reserve Fleet was renamed the Third Fleet and ''Collingwood'' became its flagship. She became a [[Ship's tender|tender]] to [[HMS Vivid (shore establishment 1890)|HMS ''Vivid'']] on 1 October and served as a gunnery and [[wireless telegraphy]] training ship until early August 1920, when the ship returned to the reserve. ''Collingwood'' served as a [[Boy seaman|boys']] training ship on 22 September 1921 until she was [[Ship decommissioning|paid off]] on 31 March 1922. ''Collingwood'' was sold for scrap on 12 December and was broken up.<ref>[[#Brady|Brady]] (2014), p. 24.</ref>

Much of ''Vanguard''{{'}}s wreck was salvaged before it was declared a war grave in 1984. The amidships portion of the ship is almost completely gone and 'P' and 'Q' turrets are some {{convert|40|m}} away, presumably blown there by the magazine explosions. The bow and stern areas are almost intact as has been revealed by a survey authorised by the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] in 2016 in preparation for the centenary commemoration planned for 2017.<ref name="RNex">{{cite web |title=New Light is Shed on Disastrous Royal Navy Explosion in Scapa Flow |date=20 January 2017 |url=http://navaltoday.com/2017/01/20/new-light-is-shed-on-disastrous-royal-navy-explosion-in-scapa-flow/ |publisher=Naval Today |access-date=29 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Scapa Flow Divers Reveal New Images of HMS Vanguard Wreck |url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/756218/hms-vanguard-warship-scapa-flow-ministry-of-defence |access-date=29 January 2017 |publisher=Express Newspapers |date=19 January 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Canmore |desc=HMS Vanguard: Scapa Flow, Orkney |num=103004 |access-date=29 January 2017 }}</ref> The wreck was named a controlled site in 2002 and cannot be dived upon, except with permission from the Ministry.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order 2002 |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/1761/article/3/made |publisher=The National Archives|access-date=29 January 2017|language=en}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=Note}}

==Citations==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite journal|last=Brady|first=Mark|date=September 2014|title=HMS ''Collingwood'' War Record |others=Part Two|journal=Warship|issue=177|pages=19–24|issn=0966-6958|ref=Brady}}
* {{cite book|last1=Brooks|first1=John|title=Dreadnought Gunnery and the Battle of Jutland: The Question of Fire Control |date=2005|publisher=Routledge |location=London |isbn=0-415-40788-5|ref=Brooks 05}}
* {{cite book|title=Warship 1995|editor1-last=Roberts|editor1-first= John|publisher=Conway Maritime Press |location=London |year=1995|isbn=0-85177-654-X|last1=Brooks|first1=John|chapter=The Mast and Funnel Question: Fire-control Positions in British Dreadnoughts|pages=40–60|ref=Brooks 95}}
* {{cite book|title=Warship 1996|editor1=McLean, David|editor2=Preston, Antony|publisher=Conway Maritime Press |location=London|year=1996|isbn=0-85177-685-X |last1=Brooks|first1=John |chapter=Percy Scott and the Director |pages=150–70|ref=Brooks 96}}
* {{cite book|last=Burt|first=R. A.|title=British Battleships of World War One|publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1986|isbn=978-0-87021-863-7|ref=Burt}}
* {{Cite book|last=Campbell|first=N. J. M.|title=Jutland: An Analysis of the Fighting|publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1986|isbn=0-87021-324-5|ref=Campbell}}
*{{cite book|last=Corbett|first=Julian|author-link=Julian Corbett|title=Naval Operations |edition=Second|series=History of the Great War: Based on Official Documents|volume=III |year=1997 |publisher=Imperial War Museum in association with the Battery Press|location=London and Nashville, Tennessee|isbn=1-870423-50-X|orig-year=1940|ref=Corbett}}
* {{cite book|last1=Friedman|first1=Norman|title=The British Battleship 1906–1946|date=2015|publisher=Seaforth Publishing |location=Barnsley, UK|isbn=978-1-84832-225-7 |author-link=Norman Friedman|ref=Friedman 15}}
* {{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|title=Naval Weapons of World War One: Guns, Torpedoes, Mines and ASW Weapons of All Nations; An Illustrated Directory|publisher= Seaforth Publishing |location=Barnsley, UK |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-84832-100-7|ref=Friedman 11}}
* {{Cite book |last=Halpern|first=Paul G.|title=A Naval History of World War I|year=1995|author-link=Paul G. Halpern |location=Annapolis, Maryland|publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=1-55750-352-4|ref=Halpern}}
* {{cite book|title=Castles of Steel: Britain, Germany, and the Winning of the Great War at Sea |last=Massie |first=Robert K. |author-link=Robert K. Massie|publisher=Random House|year=2003|location= New York |isbn=0-679-45671-6|ref=Massie|title-link=Castles of Steel: Britain, Germany, and the Winning of the Great War at Sea}}
*{{cite book |last1=Parkes |first1=Oscar |title=British Battleships, ''Warrior'' 1860 to ''Vanguard'' 1950: A History of Design, Construction, and Armament |date=1990 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=1-55750-075-4 |edition=New & rev.|orig-year=1966|author-link=Oscar Parkes|ref=Parkes}}
* {{cite book|last=Preston|first=Antony|title=Battleships of World War I: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Battleships of All Nations 1914–1918|publisher=Galahad Books|location=New York|year=1972|isbn=0-88365-300-1 |ref=Preston|author-link=Antony Preston}}
*{{cite book|editor1-last=Gray|editor1-first=Randal|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921 |year=1985 |location=Annapolis, Maryland|publisher=Naval Institute Press |isbn=0-85177-245-5 |chapter=Great Britain and Empire Forces|first1=Antony|last1=Preston|pages=1–104|ref=Preston 1985}}
* {{cite book |last=Tarrant |first=V. E. |title=Jutland: The German Perspective: A New View of the Great Battle, 31 May 1916 |publisher=Brockhampton Press |location=London |year=1999 |orig-year=1995 |isbn=1-86019-917-8|ref=Tarr}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|St. Vincent class battleship}}
* [http://dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/St._Vincent_Class_Battleship_(1908) Dreadnought Project]&nbsp;– Technical material on the weaponry and fire control for the ships
* [http://www.worldwar1.co.uk/battleship/hms-st-vincent.html World War 1 Naval Combat]

{{St Vincent class battleship}}
{{WWI British ships}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:St. Vincent Class Battleship}}
[[Category:Battleship classes]]
[[Category:Ship classes of the Royal Navy]]
[[Category:St. Vincent-class battleships| ]]