Ship Identification???

[Flying10uk]

I came across this image in the photo album from one of my late grandparents and wondered if anyone can identify the warship, please? It sort of looks like it could possibly be an early aircraft carrier conversion? I would put the timeframe as 1920's. Many thanks.

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[Aragorn243]

Horrid photo. Might be able to do more with it if you can clean it up. From what I'm seeing, it's a battleship, two stacks, two forward turrets, one rear turret, should be more but can't see them, probably one under the sun shade and one in the middle. Suspect what you think is a flight deck is simply sun shades on the rear deck. It is not a US ship.

At this time I'm going to speculate it is a King George V class which includes Ajax, Audacious, Centruion

Profile could also be Iron Duke class which includes Marlborough, Benbow, Emperor of India.

[USGI]

It is not a US ship.

I suspected it would be British. - Bob

[Aragorn243]

I suspected it would be British. - Bob

Most likely but it never hurts to rule out what it can't be. US used massive cage masts in this time period. Given time, I can ID probably any ship from WWI or WWII. My library is quite extensive on ships. This photo is just awful. Doesn't help that it is turned away also.

[Aragorn243]

For what it's worth, the HMS Marlborough is the Only one that seems to be photographed consistently with it's sun shades in place. More photos with than without.

[browningautorifle]

I can't make it out...

[Flying10uk]

Thanks for the replies. It is in an album of family photographs dating to the 1920's, mainly, I believe. Most of them are not captioned and there isn't anyone left in the family who is old enough to tell me any more about them than what I already know. The image of the warship was most likely taken in the 1920's, as already stated but it is also possible that it was taken earlier.

I think the best bet is to try retaking the photo again and see if I can get a clearer copy image.

[GeeRam]

The 4 Iron Duke Class were pretty much all in the Med Fleet from end of WW1 up until returning to the Atlantic Fleet in 1926, and 3 of the 4 were stricken from service in 1929.

If it is one of the Iron Duke Class, it likely dates the photo between 1926-1929...assuming photo was taken in the UK.

[Flying10uk]

I have managed to get a better copy. I think that there is another ship going in the opposite direction and behind. One can also see the bank of a river or a canal in the background.

Yes it does appear to be fitted with a sun shade over the deck.

I now suspect that my Grandfather took this photo during his transit of the Suez Canal in 1914, see below.

My Grandfather did transit the Suez Canal in 1914 en-route back to the UK and just after WW1 was declared. His ship did stop briefly in Port Said and the captain allowed anyone who wished to get off. With a full head of steam his ship made a "run for it" across the Mediterranean, at night, with no lights and managed to pass the danger area safely. This was because 2 German warships were operating in the area, stopping British ships, looting the stores and then sinking the ship.

[Aragorn243]

Much better photo. I'm sticking with my original assessment, King George V or Iron Duke class. Five turrets, two are covered by sun shades. The spotlights on the rear stack lean toward the Iron Dukes.