British Battleships 1914 18 (1)

The launch of HMS Dreadnought in 1906 changed the face of naval warfare.The first half-dozen dreadnoughts were all improvements of the basic Dreadnought design, all carrying ten 12-inch guns. It was only in 1911, with the launch of HMS Neptune that the layout of this powerful armament was altered as a result of practical experience. Two more versions of the Neptune entered service later that same year. These nine improved dreadnoughts formed the core of the British High Seas Fleet.This book, the first of two volumes covering these famous warships, uncovers the full story of the British battleships of World War I. It examines their revolutionary design, the 12-inch guns that provided them with their firepower, and the way these guns were fired in anger.