Ship Identification???

[Patrick Chadwick]

OK, it's an "Iron Duke" after all!

I was mistaken with Canada - the derrick in the photo is in front of the rear funnel, whereas on Canada it was behind the front funnel.

It's an "Iron Duke" with an later rear mast (searchlights?) installed- see this clip

Information

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[Aragorn243]

I ruled out the Canada pretty early. The Canada did not have a rear casement gun.

[Flying10uk]

If the photo wasn't taken in the Suez Canal or on the route back to London docks in 1914, from Australia, then the photo was likely taken from somewhere around the UK. As far as I am aware my Grandfather didn't leave the UK again until after WW2.

The photo could have been taken anywhere along the route home. I suggested the Suez Canal because looking at the original image through a magnifying glass the sloping banks look "man-made", like what is seen on canals.

As an aside on the journey out to Australia in 1911 the voyage went round the cape, the long way round, and therefore my Grandfather only made one transit of the Suez Canal on the way back to the UK.

[Aragorn243]

I'm going to throw this out there but it's something that popped into my head almost right away. I'm thinking this photo was probably taken after the war. I'm having trouble with someone getting film developed that had a photo of a battleship during wartime and there not being any consequences, at least confiscation of the photo. Second to that is I find it unlikely that during wartime, not matter where they were they would have the sun shades up cluttering the decks. I have no idea what England's censorship rules were in WWI so I could be off base here but it's worth considering.

[GeeRam]

I'm going to throw this out there but it's something that popped into my head almost right away. I'm thinking this photo was probably taken after the war. I'm having trouble with someone getting film developed that had a photo of a battleship during wartime and there not being any consequences, at least confiscation of the photo. Second to that is I find it unlikely that during wartime, not matter where they were they would have the sun shades up cluttering the decks. I have no idea what England's censorship rules were in WWI so I could be off base here but it's worth considering.

I agree.
Given that all 4 of the Iron Duke Class were not operating in home waters from the end of WW1 until returning to the Home Fleet in 1926, it would date the photo to between 1926 and 1929.

[Patrick Chadwick]

"I'm having trouble with someone getting film developed that had a photo of a battleship during wartime and there not being any consequences, at least confiscation of the photo. Second to that is I find it unlikely that during wartime, not matter where they were they would have the sun shades up cluttering the decks. "

Good arguments!

Plus, as mentioned before, the rear mast with searchlights was a later addition. It is not shown in the 1919 Jane's.

[Flying10uk]

Most of the photos in the album appear to have been taken in the 1920's and one of the places that my Grandmother did like visiting during that timeframe for her holidays, with her family, was Looe in Cornwall. Looe is only about 20 miles west of Plymouth and driving from Essex which they did, rather than take the train, would take them very close to Devonport.

Would the sun shades be up in home waters? One thing that the UK tends not to have a lot of is sun.

[Surpmil]

Most of the photos in the album appear to have been taken in the 1920's and one of the places that my Grandmother did like visiting during that timeframe for her holidays, with her family, was Looe in Cornwall. Looe is only about 20 miles west of Plymouth and driving from Essex which they did, rather than take the train, would take them very close to Devonport.

Would the sun shades be up in home waters? One thing that the UK tends not to have a lot of is sun.

The video referred to flying-off platforms for a/c being added to two (after?) turrets, so presumably that would date the photo as being either before they were fitted, or after they were removed.

The video also mentioned two the Iron Dukes being in the Black Sea in 1919 to evacuate some of the forces aiding the White Russian armies. To get there they went through the Med of course, and now that I think of it, the video asserted at least two of the I.D. class were in the Mediterranean Fleet after WWI. A traveller would be most likely to encounter them at Malta or Alexandria I suppose.

They would have been cleared for action when off the Crimea dropping shells on the Reds.

[CINDERS]

Far out F10 we got plenty of sun here what! As its now summer were already in the low 40'sC with the hottest months to come late Jan early Feb can see temps down here at 42-44C up North places like Marble Bar & Telfer can get to 50C+ with nights in the 40's C

I looked at Janes WWI P#37 cannot say whether its an Iron Duke or the Canada with whats been said the interwar years saw vessels modified as they found what worked and did not work no doubt the books did not change the only way I can see this getting cleared up get onto Lloyds of London to see if they have any pic's or silhouette of those ships at that time worth a shot much easier for those in the Old country that an antipodian like me trying.

[Aragorn243]

It is NOT, I repeat, NOT the Canada.