Astern fire: Broadside: Ahead fire: 6 12in. 8 12in. 6 12in. These weapons are mounted in four double turrets on the centre-line, and can thus be fired on either broadside. Sixteen 4-in. quick-firers are carried for repelling torpedo attack. There are also two submerged torpedo tubes. The main armour belt is about 9 in. thick, with 10-in. plating on the turrets. The full fuel capacity is 3,000 tons, and the complement numbers 980 officers and men. These ships averaged £2,085,000 to build and complete. INDEFATIGABLE CLASS. (Completed 1911-13.) INDEFATIGABLE. NEW ZEALAND. AUSTRALIA. These vessels displace about 19,000 tons. They are 555 ft. in length, 80 ft. broad, and are designed for a speed of 25 knots, which was much exceeded during trials. The main armament consists of eight 12-in. guns, mounted in four double turrets, two being placed fore and aft, and two diagonally amidships, thus permitting all eight guns to be discharged on either broadside. In addition there are sixteen 4-in. quick-firers mounted in the superstructure, and two submerged torpedo tubes. A 7-in. armour belt protects the waterline, the same thickness being on the turrets. The fuel capacity is 2,500 tons, including oil. A complement of 790 officers and men is carried. These ships cost about £1,500,000 each to build and complete. INVINCIBLE CLASS. (Completed 1908-09.) INVINCIBLE. INDOMITABLE. INFLEXIBLE. The Invincible class were the first battle-cruisers to be built. The type is a cruiser edition of the Dreadnought, combining great offensive qualities with high speed. The displacement is 17,250 tons, length 530 ft., and the turbines of 41,000 h.p. are designed for a speed of 25 knots. In service, however, these vessels have steamed at more than 28 knots. They are armed with eight 12-in guns, mounted in four double turrets, one turret being placed at each end and the other two en echelon amidships. This system enables all eight weapons to be fired on either broadside through a very limited arc. Sixteen 4-in. guns are mounted for repelling torpedo attack. The waterline and vital parts are protected by 7-in. armour, this being also the thickness of the turret plates. Coal to the amount of 2,500 tons can be carried. The complement is 780 officers and men. These vessels each cost over £1,700,000 to build and equip. PRE-DREADNOUGHTS. KING EDWARD CLASS. (Completed 1904-06.) KING EDWARD VII. ZEALANDIA. BRITANNIA. HIBERNIA. DOMINION. COMMONWEALTH. HINDUSTAN. AFRICA. The King Edward class is considered to be the finest homogeneous group of pre-Dreadnought battleships in the world. The displacement is 16,350 tons, length 425 ft., and engines of 18,000 h.p. give a speed of over 19 knots. The armament consists of four 12-in., four 9·2-in., ten 6-in., twelve 12-pounder, and twelve 3-pounder guns, with four torpedo tubes.