Various types of camouflage used throughout this period: in the Dardanelles Inflexible had irregular white patches on hull sides with dark patches on funnels except for the second which was painted a very light colour. All three ships sported a dark rectangular panel along the hull while serving in North Sea during 1915, as did all the battlecruisers patrolling those waters. Panel was painted out during the early months of 1916.
1916–17 3in AA gun fitted abeam third funnel on small platform was removed and a 4in AA was substituted in its place, although not on old platform, a new platform being erected abeam the fore funnel on the centreline. After Jutland extra armour plating was worked into the surviving pair in the areas of the magazines and turret roofs, ammunition hoists also received some sort of addition, although not to a very grand scale and it is doubtful whether more than 100 tons were added.
Inflexible at Weymouth, c. 1911. The fore funnel has been heightened to clear the bridge in an endeavour to alleviate smoke and fumes.
INDOMITABLE: SPEED TRIALS, 1908
Polperro and Skelmorlie courses
26 April, th-power
Draught: 25ft forward, 26ft 10in aft
Displacement: 17,620 tons
Port outer: 260rpm; 7,035shp; inner: 229rpm; 5,427shp
Starboard outer: 271 rpm; 8,501shp; inner: 232rpm; 5,771shp
Speed: 22.488 knots (mean figures of six runs).
27 April, 30-hour th-power
Draught: 25ft 1in forward, 26ft 3in aft
Displacement: 17,120 tons
Port outer: 185rpm; 3,323shp; inner: 173rpm; 2,339shp
Starboard outer: 187rpm; 2,734shp; inner: 167rpm; 1,908shp
Speed: 16.05 knots (mean figures of four runs).
28 April, th-power
Draught: 25ft 1in forward, 26ft 3in aft
Displacement: 17,120 tons
Port outer: 272rpm; 7,954shp; inner: 243rpm; 6,791shp
Starboard outer: 277rpm; 8,680shp; inner: 250rpm; 7,553shp
Speed: 23.665 knots (mean figures of six runs).
29 April, full power
Draught: 25ft forward, 27ft aft
Displacement: 17,435 tons
Port outer: 316rpm; 12,967shp; inner: 285rpm; 11,705shp
Starboard outer: 307rpm; 12,429shp; inner: 277rpm; 10,681shp
Speed: 26,106 knots (mean figures of four runs).
INVINCIBLE: SPEED TRIALS, 1908
Invincible began her preliminary sea trials off Chesil Beach on Thursday, 22 October
Type of trial: 30-hour,
Sea condition: smooth
Draught (before leaving the Tyne): 26ft 11in forward, 27ft 2in aft
Revolutions: 174.3rpm
SHP: 9,695
Speed: 16.24 knots (mean figures of six runs)
Polperro course, 3 November
Type of trial: 13-hour
Revolutions: 269.5rpm
SHP: 34,124
Speed: 24.26 knots (mean figures of six runs)
Polperro course, 7 November
Type of trial: full power
Sea condition: rough; wind ESE, Force 9
Revolutions: 295.2rpm
SHP: 46,500
Speed: 26.64 knots (mean figures of six runs)
Type of trial: cruising
Low power: 122.45rpm; 3,854shp; 11.55 knots
Intermediate power: 196.25rpm; 13,291shp; 18.2 knots
High power: 225.62rpm; 21,266shp; 20.812 knots (mean figures of six runs).
1917–18 Fore control top enlarged. Range clock fitted to face of control top and at extremity of after superstructure. Deflection scales painted on ‘A’ and ‘Y’ turrets. Stern torpedo tube removed after April 1917. Six searchlights were removed from abeam fore funnel and from main tripod legs. Two were remounted on lower bridge and the other four were placed in new ‘coffee-box’ control towers abeam third funnel. An extra 36in lamp was fitted on platform low down at extremity of after superstructure. Two 24in signalling lamps added, one on each corner of fore funnel platform.
1917–18 Flying-off platforms for aircraft fitted over ‘P’ and ‘Q’ turrets. Splinter shields fitted to remaining 4in guns in both groups. Large platform added low on fore tripod legs, close above bridge in Inflexible. Topping davits removed. Fore topmast removed. Signal struts fitted to starfish below fore control top in Indomitable, and earlier struts fitted to Inflexible were considerably lengthened.
Invincible moves through the long line of warships assembled for the Fleet Review at Spithead July 1909.
1918 High-angle rangefinder added to fore control top.
History: Invincible
Built under 1905–06 Estimates. Left builder’s yard for finishing touches at Pelaw prior to trials in September 1908. Completion of trials in March 1909. Placed in Nore Reserve during trials at end of 1908, and commissioned at Portsmouth 20 March 1909 for service with 1st CS in 1st Division Home Fleet. Present for delegates of the Imperial Press Conference Review at Spithead in June 1909. Took part in the annual manoeuvres in June and July of that year.
1909 17–24 July Present at visit to Southend by Home and Atlantic Fleets.
31 July Present at Royal Review of Home and Atlantic Fleets at Spithead.
Invincible arrived in Gibraltar on 15 January 1915 and stayed for about five weeks, receiving a minor refit and the addition of her fore funnel extension (shown here being lifted into place).