Design HMS Majestic (1895)

right elevation, deck plan, , hull section depicted in brassey s naval annual 1902

majestic laid down @ portsmouth dockyard in february 1894. launched on 31 january 1895, after fitting-out work commenced. commissioned royal navy less year later, in december 1895. ship 421 feet (128 m) long overall , had beam of 75 ft (23 m) , draft of 27 ft (8.2 m). displaced 16,060 t (15,810 long tons; 17,700 short tons) @ full combat load. propulsion system consisted of 2 3-cylinder triple expansion engines powered 8 coal-fired cylindrical boilers. 1907–1908, re-boilered oil-fired models. engines provided top speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) @ 10,000 indicated horsepower (7,500 kw). majestics considered seaboats easy roll , steamers, although suffered high fuel consumption. had crew of 672 officers , enlisted men.

the ship armed 4 bl 12-inch mk viii guns in twin turrets, 1 forward , 1 aft. turrets placed on pear-shaped barbettes; 6 of sisters had same arrangement, sisters caesar , illustrious , future british battleship classes had circular barbettes. majestic carried twelve qf 6-inch /40 guns. mounted in casemates in 2 gun decks amidships. carried sixteen qf 12-pounder guns , twelve qf 2-pounder guns. equipped 5 18 in (460 mm) torpedo tubes, 4 of submerged in ship s hull, last in deck-mounted launcher. majestic , other ships of class had 9 inches (229 mm) of harvey armour, allowed equal protection less cost in weight compared previous types of armour. allowed majestic , sisters have deeper , lighter belt previous battleships without loss in protection. barbettes main battery protected 14 in (360 mm) of armour, , conning tower had same thickness of steel on sides. ship s armoured deck 2.5 4.5 in (64 114 mm) thick.