The Grand Fleet in Scapa Flow

A panoramic view of ships of the Grand Fleet at anchor in Scapa Flow, taken from the starboard after end of the upper deck of the battleship HMS Queen Elizabeth (1913). The sealed-up after 6-inch casemates are just visible at the bottom left of the picture. The nearest battleship is Queen Elizabeth's sister and squadron mate HMS Barham (1914). The four ships ahead of Barham are those of the 1st Division, 2nd Battle Squadron Comprising from left to right HMS Erin (1913), HMS King George V (1911), HMS Ajax (1912) and HMS Centurion (1911).

Visible in the distance between Ajax and Centurion is a battleship of the Colossus class. Her sister ship can be seen on the extreme right of the photograph (fore part only) with a four-funneled armoured cruiser beyond. In the centre of the picture just beyond Barham's bow is a battleship of the Bellerophon or St Vincent class. The presence of these ships indicates the presence of both Divisions of the 1st Battle Squadron.

Object details

ID: N16819
Type: Sheet film negative
Materials: Silver halide: nitrate
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Curzon, Francis Richard Henry Penn
Vessels: Ajax (1912); Barham (1914) Centurion (1911) Erin (1913) King George V (1911)
Date made: April 1915
People: John Brown & Company Ltd; Vickers Ltd HM Dockyard, Portsmouth Scott's Shipbuilding and Engineering Company Ltd Her Majesty's Naval Base, Devonport
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: 110 mm x 165 mm