HMS King George V was lead ship of her class of four dreadnoughts built for the Royal Navy.. She was launched in 1911 and commissioned the following year. Carrying 10 x 13.5 inch guns in 5 hydraulically powered turrets she was to spend the bulk of her career assigned to the Home and then the Grandfleet often serving as a flagship and leader of her squadron. She participated in the failed attempt to intercept the German ships that had bombarded Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby in late 1914, the Battle of Jutland in May 1916 and the inconclusive Action of 19th August. Other service during WW1 generally consisted of routine patrols and training in home waters.
