Marshal Soult 1915
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Marshal Ney (ex-M14) | M12, M08 | 859 | Palmers, Jarrow | 1.1915 | 17.6.1915 | 8.1915 | ML base ship 2.1919, sold for BU 1957 |
| Marshal Soult (ex-M13) | M13, M09 | 860 | Palmers, Jarrow | 2.1915 | 24.8.1915 | 11.1915 | hulk 12.1940, sold for BU 7.1946 |
|
Displacement normal, t |
6670 |
|
Displacement full, t |
6900 |
|
Length, m |
108.4 |
|
Breadth, m |
27.5 |
|
Draught, m |
3.20 deep |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
Marshal Ney: 2 6-cyl. MAN diesels Marshal Soult: 2 8-cyl. Vickers diesels |
|
Power, h. p. |
1500 |
|
Max speed, kts |
6 |
|
Fuel, t |
diesel oil 235 |
| Endurance, nm(kts) | 1500(4) |
|
Armour, mm |
sloped internal belt: 102, bulkheads: 102, barbette: 203, turret: 330 (face), CT: 152, deck: 102 - 25 |
|
Armament |
1 x 2 - 381/42 BL Mk I, 2 x 1 - 76/50 12pdr 18cwt QF Mk I, 1 x 1 - 47/50 3pdr Vickers Mk I |
|
Complement |
187 |
Project history: In January 1915 the
Admiralty decided to build two 381mm-gunncd monitors,
in addition to the 305mm already authorised. Although
the hull had to be enlarged to accommodate the much heavier
381mm mounting, draught was still to be no more than
3.0m and beam was held at 27.5m to enable them
to be docked easily. The most severe technical problem encountered was the need
to find room in a shallow hull for the ammunition trunk. As a result the
barbette projected 5.2m above the deck, giving the
ships a much more impressive profile than the earlier monitors. Fisher wanted
them to have diesel engines and so the engines of the fleet oilers
Trefoil and Turmoil
were commandeered. Unfortunately the mistakes in the previous classes were
repeated; the installed power was too low for such a full-bodied hull form, and
they were grossly underpowered for the displacement and almost impossible to
steer. It had been hoped to use the turrets building for
Renown and Repulse (the fourth
turret for the original design) but they could not be ready before 1916. In
their place turrets were diverted from Ramillies,
allowing the ships to be completed by November 1915 at the latest. The
provisional numbers M13 and
M14 were allocated but
names of Napoleonic marshals were chosen as a
compliment to France.
The trials of
Marshal Ney were disastrous as her MAN diesels
were very difficult to start. Even when she was persuaded to start her speed was
only 6kts instead of the 9kts expected. The results of machinery trials were so
disheartening that the Admiralty seriously considered stopping work on both
ships and transferring the turrets to other ships, but the trials of
Marshal Soult were better and they were
reprieved. Another scheme to arm them with the turrets from the battleship
Illustrious or her sister
Caesar was rejected. When completed both ships had diminutive
funnels, which coupled with the tall tripod and massive turret gave them a
bizarre look.
Protection: Machinery and magazine were protected by 102mm internal sloped belt, 102mm bulkheads and 102-25mm deck. Turret had 330mm face, 279mm sides and rear and 127mm roof.
Modernizations: 4.1916, Marshal Ney: - 1 x 2 - 381/42; + 1 x 1 - 234/41 BL Mk VIII, 4 x 1 - 152/40 QF Mk II
3/1917, Marshal Ney: - 1 x 1 - 152/40; + 2 x 1 - 152/50 BL Mk XI
1917, Marshal Soult: + 2 x 1 - 152/40 QF Mk II, 1 x 1 - 76/45 20cwt QF Mk I, maximal angle of main guns elevation increased up to 30°.
1918, Marshal Soult: - 2 x 1 - 152/40; + 8 x 1 - 102/44 BL Mk IX, 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk II; funnel upraised
Naval service: Marshal Ney served as submarine depot ship from 8.1919, stocker training establishment Vivid from 7.1922. Renamed Drake 1934, Alaunia II 1947. Marshal Soult lost her 102mm guns in 1937 and 381mm guns in 1940. Served as trawler depot ship from 12.1940.
Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.
Marshal Ney 1916
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-14