QUEEN ELIZABETH CLASS BATTLESHIP

These five super-dreadnoughts set the standard for early 20th century warship design in speed, firepower and protection and were the first fast battleships of the age

- WORDS MARK WOOD

HMS Warspite was the second ship of the Queen Elizabeth Class, launched in November 1913 and commissioned in March 1915. Its motto “Belli dura despicio” (“I despise the hardships of war") was particularly fitting for a ship that still holds the record for the most battle honours of any Royal Navy vessel. Designed with more firepower, heavier armour and larger dimensions than preceding dreadnoughts, this class of ships were considered super-dreadnoughts.

After commissioning, Warspite was incorporated into Admiral David Beatty's Battlecruiser force, taking part in the Battle of Jutland (1916) and scoring hits on the German battlecruiser Von der Tann while sustaining 15 hits during the fighting. Warspite suffered several collisions and a boiler room fire before the end of hostilities, which kept it alongside for repairs for long periods of time. In the interwar years the ship underwent modernisation and served as flagship of the Mediterranean fleet before returning to Atlantic service.

From 1934 to 1937 Warspite underwent a comprehensive refit which changed its profile significantly and completely modernised it internally, while restructuring made space for an aircraft hangar. During the Second World War Warspite served in the Atlantic and fought at Narvik, its Fairey Swordfish plane sinking the German U-boat U-64.

Deployed to the Mediterranean in 1940, the ship engaged units of the Italian Regia Marina at the Battle of Calabria and provided support for the air attack on Taranto. In March 1941, along with sister ships Valiant and Barham, Warspite sank a number of Italian naval units including the cruiser Pola and heavy cruisers Fiume and Zara.