HMS Ocean (1898)

HMS Ocean
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Ocean
Ordered:	1896/97 Estimates
Builder:	Devonport Dockyard
Laid down:	15 February 1897
Launched:	5 July 1898
Christened:	Princess Louise, Marchioness of Lorne
Commissioned:	20 February 1900
Fate:	Sunk by Seyit Ali Cabuk, 18 March 1915
General characteristics
Class and type:	Canopus-class battleship
Displacement:	12,950 long tons (13,160 t)
Length:	431 ft (131 m)
Beam:	74 ft (23 m)
Draught:	26 ft (7.9 m)
Installed power:	15,400 ihp (11,500 kW)
Propulsion:	2 × vertical triple expansion steam engines water-tube boilers 2 × shafts
Speed:	18 kn (21 mph; 33 km/h)
Complement:	750
Armament:	2 × 2 BL 12-inch (305 mm) Mk VIII guns 12 × QF 6-inch (152 mm) guns 10 × QF 12 pounder (76 mm) guns 6 × QF 3 pounder (47 mm) guns 4 × 18-inch (450 mm) submerged torpedo tubes
Armour:	Belt: 6 in (15 cm) Bulkheads: 6–10 in (15–25 cm) Barbettes: 12 in (30 cm) Turrets: 8 in (20 cm) Casemates: 6 in (15 cm) Deck: 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) Conning tower: 12 in (30 cm)

The fourth HMS Ocean was a Canopus-class battleship of the British Royal Navy. Commissioned in 1900, she entered service with the Mediterranean Fleet until January 1901, when she was transferred to the China Station. She was recalled from China in 1905 for service with the Channel Fleet after a period spent in reserve. From 1908 to early 1910, she was again assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet. By now outclassed by the emergence of the dreadnoughts, she was assigned to the Home Fleet.

Assigned to the 8th Battle Squadron following the outbreak of World War I, Ocean was involved in operations around Ireland. She also escorted troop convoys from India and assisted in the defence of the Suez Canal. In 1915, she was involved in the Dardanelles Campaign. On 18 March, she attempted to retrieve HMS Irresistible, which had been badly damaged by a mine in Erenkui Bay, but had to abandon her salvage efforts due to heavy Turkish gunfire. She instead evacuated the surviving crew of Irresistible but struck a mine while making for the open sea. Badly damaged, her crew and the survivors of Irresistible were taken off by destroyers and Ocean left to sink in Morto Bay.

HMS Ocean was laid down at Devonport Dockyard on 15 December 1897, and launched on 5 July 1898, when she was christened by Princess Louise, Marchioness of Lorne in the presence of the Lords of the Admiralty. She was completed in early 1900, and was the first large armoured ship built at Devonport.

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