Forged in Steel: HMS Dreadnought (1906)

Welcome back to the History Nook.

Today we’re exploring a piece of Sheffield’s military history, as I gush about my favourite battleship of all time: HMS Dreadnought.

So grab your favourite mug, find a soft space to curl up, and let’s wander a little deeper into the past.

Construction began on Dreadnought in October 1905, and she was completed on the 10th of February 1906. She was the sixth Royal Navy vessel to bear the name—but this time, the name would redefine naval power. Entire classes of ships are now remembered as pre-Dreadnought battleships, divided by the line she drew.

I could sit here and list her armaments, but that’s not really what we do at the History Nook. Suffice it to say: she had a lot of big guns—with the emphasis firmly on the words a lot and big. Dreadnought was built to fight other battleships, but her only notable victory was ramming and sinking a German U-boat.

She didn’t see much direct action. Her true legacy lies in her very existence: her design was so ground-breaking it sparked a worldwide naval arms race, reshaping military strategy for decades to come.

Some of you may know I’ll be spending a few days in my home city of Sheffield soon—but what does Sheffield have to do with Dreadnought? Let me tell you.

When you think of Sheffield, you probably think of one of three things: football, snooker, or steel. Sheffield’s steel industry was the beating heart of Britain’s industry—and it also placed the city at the centre of British military history.

Take the River Don Engine, which you can still see in action at Kelham Island Museum today. It was built specifically for the production of Dreadnought’s armour plates. This massive steam engine powered the rolling mills that produced the 8-inch mild steel plates used in her armour. Originally housed at Charles Cammell’s Grimesthorpe Works, it remains a roaring reminder of Sheffield’s industrial might.

It’s highly likely other parts of Dreadnought’s steel were also forged in Sheffield. Vickers, Sons & Maxim—Sheffield’s great industrial firm—produced much of her machinery, though they lacked the expertise to manufacture the turbines themselves. Dreadnought was the first battleship to use turbines: she carried two pairs, each driving two 8-foot-10-inch, three-bladed propellers.

The Steel City’s furnaces and forges gave her the strength to rewrite naval warfare. In a very real way, Sheffield’s thunder lived in her hull.

Dreadnought was decommissioned in 1919 and sold for scrap in 1921. Sadly, we can’t see her today—but her legacy lives on. If you ever find yourself in Sheffield with an hour to spare, I highly recommend a visit to Kelham Island to see the River Don Engine. I will forever be proud of the role my city played in her creation.

Bonus Signa fact: If you’re in the History Nook Discord server, you may have noticed my username includes “Dreadnaught.” Yes, it’s in honour of Dreadnought herself—and yes, in the great tradition of embarrassing military callsigns, I spelt it wrong because I’m dyslexic.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed your time in The History Nook today.

Until next time, stay curious, and keep warm.

(All images used are in the public domain.)

🐾 A Footnote from Index: 🐾

Big noisy ship, no windowsills, and the sea is all wet. I’ll stay on land, thank you very much.