THE FORMIDABLE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16750, 4 January 1915, Page 7

THE FORMIDABLE.

FOURTEEN YEARS OLD.

Tho Germans have bagged their first battleship, but again the blow has fallen on an old vessel, useful, but not regarded in the calculation of tho fighting weight of tho battle-line. Tho Formidable was of tho same class as the Bulwark, which was blown xip at Shcorness, and was built earlier. She was tho first of a class of battleships following the Magnificent and Canopus types, although her protection was improved slightly at the expense of her coal eapacitv. Her displacement was 15,000 tons,'and this class was the last constructed with a lot of rigging on tho masts, although the Swittsure and Triumph, purchased later from Chill, retained yards. Laid down in 1898 as tho first of the class, the Formidable was commissioned in 1901 and was sent, to tho Mediterranean, where tho Bulwark was also stationed. Under tho rearrangement of the fleets these old battleships wore brought bark to the Homo division, and just before the outbreak of war they were grouped in the Fifth Battle Squadron, with tho Princo of Wales as flagship. Thcv wero included in tho Second Battle 'Fleet, attached to which was tho Good Hoik?, which subsequently was detached and sent to the Pacific. It would seem that tho Formidable was out doing guard duty in the Channel when she was sunk. Her principal details are:—Built, 1901; displacement, 10,000 tons; length, 400 ft; i.h.p.,. 15,000; armour-belt, Din; gun position, 12 to 5 inches; armament, four 12in, twelve 6in guns; speed, 18.13 knots; complement, 781 men; cost, £1,022,7*15.