HMS London (1899)

HMS London entering Malta Harbour in 1915
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS London
Namesake:	London
Builder:	Portsmouth Dockyard
Laid down:	8 December 1898
Launched:	21 September 1899
Completed:	June 1902
Commissioned:	7 June 1902
Decommissioned:	January 1919
Fate:	Sold for scrapping 4 June 1920
General characteristics
Class and type:	Formidable or London-class pre-dreadnought battleship
Displacement:	15,000 tons (approx)
Length:	431 ft 9 in (131 m)
Beam:	75 ft (23 m)
Draught:	27 ft 5 in
Propulsion:	Water tube boilers, 2 × vertical triple expansion engines, 2 shafts, 15,500 ihp (11.6 MW)
Speed:	18.0 knots (33 km/h)
Range:	5,500 nautical miles (approx) at 10 knots (18 km/h)
Complement:	760
Armament:	2 × 2 BL 12-inch (304.8 mm) 40-caliber Mk IX guns 12 × 6 inch (152 mm) 45-caliber Mk VII guns 16 × 12 pounder quick-firing guns 6 × 3 pounder (1.4 kg) quick-firing guns 2 × machine guns 4 × 18 inch (450 mm) submerged torpedo tubes
Armour:	Belt 9 inches (229 mm) Bulkheads 12 -9 inches (305 -229 mm) Barbettes: 12 inches (305 mm), Gunhouses: 10 -8 inches (254 -203 mm) Casemates: 6 inches (152 mm) Conning tower: 14 inches (356 mm) Deck: 1 to 2.5 (25.4–64 mm)
Notes:	Cost £1,103,453

HMS London was a Formidable-class battleship in the British Royal Navy, often considered to be part of the London class or subclass. Commissioned in June 1902, she served with the Mediterranean Fleet until early 1907. She was assigned to the Nore Division of the Home Fleet for nearly a year before transferring to the Channel Fleet. Rendered obsolete with the emergence of the new dreadnoughts from late 1906 onwards, she underwent an extensive refit in 1909, after which she served with the Atlantic Fleet. She was assigned to the Second Home Fleet in 1912 as part of the 5th Battle Squadron, and was temporarily fitted with a makeshift ramp for experiments with naval aircraft until 1913.

Following the outbreak of World War I, the squadron was attached to the Channel Fleet before London was detached in March 1915 to participate in the Dardanelles Campaign. She remained in the Mediterranean in support of Italian Navy operations in the Adriatic Sea until October 1916. Returning to the United Kingdom, she was inactive until being converted to a minelayer in early 1918, which entailed the removal of her main armament. She served with the Grand Fleet's 1st Minelaying Squadron until the end of the war. Placed in reserve in 1919, she was eventually disposed of in 1920.

HMS London was laid down at Portsmouth Dockyard on 8 December 1898, launched on 21 September 1899, and completed in June 1902.