Two WW1 vintage Postcards connected with HMS Neptune

Two postcards in this lot, one sepia photographic portrait of two sailors with HMS Neptune cap tallies, removed from album with remains of backing page stuck to it, but postally unused, and a side on view of the ship herself, postally unused. Both images in good overall condition.

She was the first Royal Navy battleship that differed in her gun turret layout from Dreadnought. She had two wing turrets staggered en echelon so that all five turrets could shoot in broadside, although in practice the blast damage to the superstructure and boats made this impractical except in an emergency. She was one of the first battleships to be built with director gun-control and was used for trials of this then-novel system.

"HMS Neptune" was flagship of the Home Fleet from May 1911 until May 1912 when she was transferred to the 1st Battle Squadron, where she remained until June 1916. She was present at the Battle of Jutland as part of Admiral Jellicoe's Battle Fleet. She fired only 48 12 inch (305 mm) shells but is credited with scoring several hits on the German battlecruiser Lützow.

After the war she was quickly transferred to the reserve fleet and subsequently scrapped in 1922.

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Code: 55840