HMS Hercules (1910)

Hercules at anchor in Scapa Flow, circa 1916–1917
History
Name:	Hercules
Namesake:	Mythic demigod Hercules
Ordered:	1 June 1909
Builder:	Palmers, Jarrow
Laid down:	30 July 1909
Launched:	10 May 1910
Commissioned:	31 July 1911
Out of service:	October 1921
Fate:	Sold for scrap, 8 November 1921
General characteristics
Class and type:	Colossus-class dreadnought battleship
Displacement:	20,030 long tons (20,350 t) (normal)
Length:	545 ft 9 in (166.3 m) (o/a)
Beam:	85 ft 2 in (26.0 m)
Draught:	27 ft (8.2 m)
Installed power:	25,000 shp (19,000 kW) 18 × Yarrow boilers
Propulsion:	4 × shafts; 2 × steam turbine sets
Speed:	21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)
Range:	6,680 nmi (12,370 km; 7,690 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement:	778–791 (1916)
Armament:	5 × twin 12-inch (305 mm) guns 16 × single 4-inch (102 mm) guns 3 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes
Armour:	Belt: 8–11 in (203–279 mm) Deck: 1.5–4 inches (38–102 mm) Turrets: 11 in (280 mm) Barbettes: 4–11 inches (102–279 mm) Bulkheads: 4 and 8 in (102 and 203 mm) Conning tower: 11 in (280 mm)

HMS Hercules was the second and last of the two Colossus-class dreadnought battleships built for the Royal Navy at the end of the first decade of the 20th century. She spent her whole career assigned to the Home and Grand Fleets, often serving as a flagship. Aside from participating in the Battle of Jutland in May 1916 and the inconclusive Action of 19 August, her service during World War I generally consisted of routine patrols and training in the North Sea. The ship was deemed obsolete after the war and was reduced to reserve. Hercules was sold for scrap in 1921 and broken up the following year.

The design of the Colossus class was derived from that of the earlier HMS Neptune with redistributed armour and more powerful torpedoes. Hercules had an overall length of 545 feet 9 inches (166.3 m), a beam of 85 feet 2 inches (26.0 m), and a normal draught of 27 feet (8.2 m). She displaced 20,030 long tons (20,350 t) at normal load and 23,266 long tons (23,639 t) at deep load. In 1911 her crew numbered 778 officers and ratings and 791 in July 1916.

Hercules was powered by two sets of Parsons direct-drive steam turbines, each driving two shafts, using steam from eighteen Yarrow boilers. The turbines were rated at 25,000 shp (19,000 kW) and were intended to give the ship a maximum speed of 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph). During her full-power, eight-hour sea trials on 2–3 March 1911, she reached a top speed of 21.6 knots (40.0 km/h; 24.9 mph) from 28,922 shp (21,567 kW) in a moderate storm. The Colossus-class ships had a range of 6,680 nautical miles (12,370 km; 7,690 mi) at a cruising speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).