- published: 28 Apr 2016
- views: 420
The dreadnought was the predominant type of battleship in the early 20th-century. The first of the kind, the Royal Navy's Dreadnought, had such an impact when launched in 1906 that similar battleships built after her were referred to as "dreadnoughts", and earlier battleships became known as pre-dreadnoughts. Her design had two revolutionary features: an "all-big-gun" armament scheme and steam turbine propulsion. The arrival of the dreadnoughts renewed the naval arms race, principally between the United Kingdom and Germany but reflected worldwide, as the new class of warships became a crucial symbol of national power.
The concept of an all-big-gun ship had been in development for several years before Dreadnought's construction. The Imperial Japanese Navy had begun work on an all-big-gun battleship in 1904, but finished the ship as a pre-dreadnought; the United States Navy was also building all-big-gun battleships. Technical development continued rapidly through the dreadnought era. Successive designs increased rapidly in size and made use of improvements in armament, armor, and propulsion. Within ten years, new battleships outclassed Dreadnought herself. These more powerful vessels were known as "super-dreadnoughts". Most of the dreadnoughts were scrapped after the end of World War I under the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty, but many of the newer super-dreadnoughts continued serving throughout World War II.
Plowing through the oceans water at night
Spreading fear me the king of the sea
Turning my turrets searching for prey
Unleashing firestorms turning night to day
I dread no one only my kind
Searching the oceans for victims to find
A floating fortress no one equals me
The Dreadnought king of the sea
Forged by man constructed to kill and to rule the sea
Warbeast armed to kill and no one can kill me
Enemy spotted aimed and tracked
The captain commands and I react
Turning turrets now they are facing death
The worst day they ever had
Firing spitting my deadly load
See them burn see them explode
You are trying to answer my fire but you can't hurt me
I am the god I am the king of the sea
I am the Dreadnought proud for everyone to see
A piece of shallow prey that is what you are for me
The king of the sea...
I left em all drowned in the sea
Not even a challenge to me
Floating away my head held high