HMS ''King George V"

By Crusader1307

The famed HMS "King George V", was the first and namesake of it's Class of Battleship, with construction beginning in 1937 and ending in 1939. She displaced 42,000-tons and was 745-feet long. Standing over 103-foot, "George V" crewed 1,600 men. Capable of a speed of 30-mph, this was achieved by (8) super heated boilers and (4) high speed Turbines. Armed with (10) 14-inch Main Guns, (16) 133mm Guns and (64) 40mm Auto-Guns. Her armor plating ranged from 5 to 14-inches from her hull to upper super structures. "George V" also carried (4) Supermarine Walrus Class Reconnaissance Planes that were catapult launched. Assigned to The Scapa Flow Fleet in The North Atlantic in 1941, she also served to transport Britain's Ambassador to America. She served as Convoy Escort and later was part of The Battle Group which took on Germany's famed "Bismarck" and "Prinz Eugen". During the engagement, and baby damaged from repeated hits, she was responsible for the destruction of "Bismarck's" steerage, thus enabling the rest of the Group to finish their objective. Later repaired and reassigned to The Mediterranean Theater, "George V" was instrumental in providing Artillery support during several Allied Landings in Italy. In 1944, she was sent to The Pacific Theater and participated in The Battle of Guadalcanal, by helping to provide landing support. "George V" was also one of the first British Ships to enter Tokyo Bay when Japan surrendered. From 1945 to 1949, HMS "George V" was placed on reserve status, although she did serve as transport vessel for several Royal visits in The Empire. She was eventually decommissioned in 1950 and scrapped.