HMS Natal (1905)

HMS Natal
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Natal
Namesake:	Colony of Natal
Builder:	Vickers, Sons & Maxim, Barrow-in-Furness
Laid down:	January 1904
Launched:	30 September 1905
Christened:	by Louisa Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire
Completed:	5 March 1907
Nickname(s):	Sea Hearse
Fate:	Blew up at Cromarty Firth, 30 December 1915
General characteristics
Class and type:	Warrior-class armoured cruiser
Displacement:	13,550 long tons (13,770 t) (normal) 14,500 long tons (14,700 t) (deep load)
Length:	505 ft 4 in (154.0 m)
Beam:	73 ft 6 in (22.4 m)
Draught:	27 ft 6 in (8.4 m) (maximum)
Installed power:	23,650 ihp (17,640 kW) 19 Yarrow water-tube boilers and 6 cylindrical boilers
Propulsion:	2 shafts, 4-cylinder triple-expansion steam engines
Speed:	23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph)
Range:	7,960 nmi (14,740 km; 9,160 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement:	712
Armament:	6 × 1 - BL 9.2-inch (234 mm) Mk X guns 4 × 1 - BL 7.5-inch (191 mm) Mk II or Mk V guns 26 × 1 - Vickers QF 3-pounder (47 mm) guns 3 × 1 - submerged 18-inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes
Armour:	Belt: 3–6 in (76–152 mm) Decks: 0.75–1.5 in (19–38 mm) Barbettes: 3–6 in (76–152 mm) Turrets: 4.5–7.5 in (110–190 mm) Conning tower: 10 in (250 mm) Bulkheads: 2–6 in (51–152 mm)

HMS Natal was a Warrior-class armoured cruiser built for the Royal Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. She escorted the royal yacht in 1911–1912 for the newly crowned King George V's trip to India to attend the Delhi Durbar. During World War I the ship was assigned to the 2nd Cruiser Squadron of the Grand Fleet, but did not participate in any battles. Natal was sunk by an internal explosion near Cromarty on 30 December 1915 with the loss of at least 390 crewmen and civilians. Most of her wreck was slowly salvaged over the decades until the remnants were demolished in the 1970s so they were no longer a hazard to navigation. The remains of her wreck are designated as a protected place under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 as a war grave.

Natal displaced 13,550 long tons (13,770 t) as built and 14,500 long tons (14,700 t) fully loaded. The ship had an overall length of 505 feet 4 inches (154.0 m), a beam of 73 feet 6 inches (22.4 m) and a draught of 27 feet 6 inches (8.4 m). She was powered by four-cylinder triple-expansion steam engines, driving two shafts, which developed a total of 23,650 indicated horsepower (17,640 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 23.3 knots (43.2 km/h; 26.8 mph). The engines were powered by 19 Yarrow water-tube boilers and six cylindrical boilers. The ship carried a maximum of 2,050 long tons (2,080 t) of coal and an additional 600 long tons (610 t) of fuel oil that was sprayed on the coal to increase its burn rate. At full capacity, she could steam for 7,960 nautical miles (14,740 km; 9,160 mi) at a speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).

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