The Centurions had always been criticised for their weak secondary armament and a report by Captain John Jellicoe (captain of Centurion) in June 1901 advocated replacing the 4.7-inch guns with 6-inch guns and the removal of all of their above-water torpedo tubes.
The Admiralty agreed with his proposal and plans were quickly drawn up.
The BL 6-inch Mk VII gun replaced the smaller guns on a one-for-one basis.
They were mounted in four double and two single casemates, six guns on the main deck and four on the upper deck.
They were protected by 5-inch casemates of Krupp cemented armour that required the middle section of the superstructure to be rebuilt to accommodate them.
To compensate for the additional weight, the aft bridge and the above-water torpedo tubes were removed and the foremast was replaced by a smaller signal mast.
In addition a radiotelegraph was fitted.
The net increase was only 78 long tons (79 t), although this was enough to slightly reduce their speed to about 16.8 knots (31.1 km/h; 19.3 mph).
The reconstruction cost approximately £125,000.
The Centurions had always been criticised for their weak secondary armament and a report by Captain John Jellicoe (captain of Centurion) in June 1901 advocated replacing the 4.7-inch guns with 6-inch guns and the removal of all of their above-water torpedo tubes. The Admiralty agreed with his proposal and plans were quickly drawn up. The BL 6-inch Mk VII gun replaced the smaller guns on a one-for-one basis. They were mounted in four double and two single casemates, six guns on the main deck and four on the upper deck. They were protected by 5-inch casemates of Krupp cemented armour that required the middle section of the superstructure to be rebuilt to accommodate them. To compensate for the additional weight, the aft bridge and the above-water torpedo tubes were removed and the foremast was replaced by a smaller signal mast. In addition a radiotelegraph was fitted. The net increase was only 78 long tons (79 t), although this was enough to slightly reduce their speed to about 16.8 knots (31.1 km/h; 19.3 mph). The reconstruction cost approximately £125,000.
Centurion-class battleship