HMS Bulwark (1899) - Definition

HMS Bulwark was a Formidable-class battleship launched in 1899. She had an armament of 4 x 12-inch guns in pairs, sixteen x 12 pounder guns and four torpedo tubes. Her length was approximately 400 feet. She had a displacement of 15,000 tonnes and a crew of 750. In 1908 she was commanded by the youngest junior battleship Captain at that time, none other than the legendary Captain Robert F Scott of Antarctic fame. The same year she was allocated to the Channel Fleet, before being transferred to the Home Fleet and then consigned to the Reserve in 1910. In 1912, she was recommissioned to the 5th Battle Squadron and from the outbreak of war in 1914 carried out numerous patrols in the English Channel. Sadly on 26 November 1914, while loading ammunition at Sheerness she was ripped apart by an incredibly violent and powerful internal explosion. Out of her complement of 750, just 12 sailors survived.

See HMS Bulwark for other ships of this name.