H.M.S. Ramillies (1916)

H.M.S. Ramillies (1916)
Pendant Number:	74 (Aug 1914) 98 (Jan 1918) 21 (Apr 1918)
Builder:	William Beardmore & Company
Ordered:	1913 Programme
Laid down:	12 Nov, 1913
Launched:	12 Sep, 1916
Commissioned:	Sep, 1917
Sold:	20 Feb, 1948
Fate:	Scrapped

H.M.S. Ramillies was the last of five Revenge class battleships completed for the Royal Navy.

Boats

In July 1914, the ship was appropriated 42-foot motor launch No. 255, though the boat was not yet delivered from the contractor.

Dreyer Table

Ramillies may have been allocated a Mark V table at some point before being given a Mark IV* like her sisters.

Her table was the first to boast the Deflection Corrector Gear later made standard on Mark III* and V tables, probably around 1917 or 1918. This allowed her dumaresq's deflection to be carried automatically over to the Deflection Totaliser or similar place for use as a true gun deflection component at the current gun range.

Alterations

In December, 1914, Open Director Sights were ordered for all^[Inference] her turrets. They were likely in place by her completion.

She may have received a Dreyer Torpedo Control Table around 1916, whereas her sisters all received Torpedo Control Plotting Instrument Mark IIs.

Her secondary battery directors were installed in June, 1918.

Service

Ramillies commissioned for service on 5 May, 1917.

She joined her sisters in the First Battle Squadron in November 1917 and remained in that formation through the end of the war and until at at least July 1919.

Re-commissioned on 16 September, 1924 for service with the Second Battle Squadron in the Atlantic Fleet.

Completed to full complement on 1 March, 1927 for service with the First Battle Squadron on the Mediterranean Station.

Paid off into Dockyard Control on 10 February, 1933.

In June of 1933, her bell was one of about 100 surplus bells announced as being for sale at prices ranging from £1 to £10. Preference would be given to those offers from men with a special consideration in the bell in question.

Ramillies completed to full complement at Sheerness on 11 September, 1934 for service with the Second Battle Squadron of the Home Fleet.

Ramillies and Valiant exchanged crews and captains on 26 July 1935. "There was a great deal of activity going on in Sheerness harbour yesterday. Dockyard tugs, pinnaces and other boats were hard at work going to and fro among the battleships moored there. The reason for the activity was the exchange of crews between the battleships Ramillies and Valiant, which has been effected consequent on the re-organisation of the ships in the Home and Mediterranean Fleets."

In 1935, her bell was one of several ships' bells the Royal Navy offered for sale to officers and others interested. It attracted a price of £1-£5, and men were to apply to win one at the fixed price, stating any special attachment or claim they had to the item(s) applied for.

The ship was completed to special complement at Sheerness on 30 April, 1936. By mid-1937 she was part of the Second Battle Squadron of the Home Fleet.

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

• Captain Henry M. Doughty, 11 April, 1917 – July, 1917
• Rear-Admiral Edmund P. F. G. Grant, July, 1917 – 1 February, 1919
• Captain John Luce, 1 February, 1919 – April, 1920
• Captain Oliver Backhouse, 6 April, 1919 – May, 1919  (temporary, John Luce being sick)
• Captain Aubrey C. H. Smith, 9 April, 1920 – 20 January, 1921
• Captain Cecil D. S. Raikes, 20 January, 1921 – 19 August, 1922
• Captain Francis H. Mitchell, 19 August, 1922 – April, 1924
• Captain Wilfrid Nunn, 30 April, 1924 – 8 September, 1925
• Captain Ernest Wigram, 8 September, 1925 – 10 August, 1926
• Captain George R. B. Blount, 10 August, 1926 – 1928
• Captain Hubert S. Monroe, 3 February, 1928 – May, 1929
• Captain Bernard W. M. Fairbairn, c. late April, 1929 – 1 December, 1930
• Captain Henry D. Bridges, 1 December, 1930 – after August, 1932
• Captain Ralph Leatham, 1 May, 1934 – 1935  (for trials and service, transferred to Valiant, undated)
• Captain Alfred H. Taylor, 26 July, 1935 – 21 February, 1936
• Commander Quintin D. Graham, 6 March, 1936 – 17 April, 1936
• Captain Ronald W. Oldham, 17 April, 1936 – 10 January, 1938
• Captain Edward N. Syfret, 10 January, 1938 – 15 August, 1938
• Captain Harold T. Baillie-Grohman, 28 September, 1938 – 27 October, 1940
• Captain Arthur D. Read, 27 October, 1940 – 23 September, 1941
• Captain Desmond N. C. Tufnell, 23 September, 1941 – 4 August, 1942  (and as Flag Captain and C.S.O. to R.A.C., Third Battle Squadron)
• Commander Leslie N. Brownfield, 4 August, 1942 – 17 March, 1943
• Captain Geoffrey M. K. Keble-White, 17 March, 1943 – 29 July, 1943
• Commander George V. M. Dolphin, 29 July, 1943 – 23 August, 1943
• Captain Gervase B. Middleton, 23 August, 1943 – 25 January, 1945
• Commander (retired) The Hon. Robert A. W. J. Southwell, 25 January, 1945 – 20 February, 1945
• Acting Commander (retired) Jack M. D. Hunter, 20 February, 1945 – April, 1945
• Acting Commander (retired) Jack M. D. Hunter, 15 May, 1945 – mid 1945

See Also

• Wikipedia

Bibliography

• Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1917). The Director Firing Handbook. O.U. 6125 (late C.B. 1259). Copy No. 322 at The National Archives. ADM 186/227.
• Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1918). Handbook of Captain F. C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables, 1918. C.B. 1456. Copy No. 10 at Admiralty Library, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
• Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. London: Ian Allan.
• Admiralty, Technical History Section (1919). The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in H.M. Ships. Vol. 3, Part 23. C.B. 1515 (23) now O.U. 6171/14. At The National Archives. ADM 275/19.
• Parkes, O.B.E., Ass.I.N.A., Dr. Oscar (1990). British Battleships 1860–1950. London: Pen & Sword Ltd. ISBN 0850526043. (on Bookfinder.com).