HMS Warspite – Queen Elizabeth-class Battleship

The Queen Elizabeth-class battleships were technological behemoths of their day and part of a group of battleships known as “super-dreadnoughts”. “Dreadnoughts” were named after the Royal Navy’s ship of the same name (launched in 1906) – they were such a leap in technology and power, that the term “battleship” wasn’t deemed to be good enough. Subsequent design improvements led to Navies around the world to create super-dreadnoughts, which were even more advanced, but over time these have again become referred to as battleships.

The HMS Warspite was commissioned in March 1915 and participated in several battles during the First World War, although her duties were generally more focused on patrols. By the Second World War, her age (and similar models), were beginning to show and more technologically-superior vessels were being built. But as with other battleships, she lived up to her reputation and endured shellfire, bombing, mines and ramming, surviving the war to be decommissioned a few years later.

This is a great model for naval enthusiasts. We often think of the immense power and capabilities of battleships, and the Queen Elizabeth-class vessels were, for a time, at the pinnacle of naval warfare. This model comes with around 200 pieces, so will take some skill and care to assemble, but when complete you will have built yourself a lovely piece of naval history.

• Length: 49cm
• Ages: 10+
• Pieces: 200