HMS WARSPITE

Queen Elizabeth-class battleship, 1913–1947

A commemorative gilt proof-strike, in collaboration with Important Naval History.

Launched Devonport, 26 November 1913. Eight 15-inch guns. 33,410 tons.

• Jutland, 1916. Her steering jammed. She circled twice through the German battle line at 20 knots, took fifteen heavy hits, and came home.
• Ofotfjord, 1940. She led nine destroyers up the fjord and destroyed all eight German destroyers present. Her Swordfish sank U-64 at anchor. No battleship's aircraft has ever sunk a submarine before or since.
• Matapan, 1941. Cunningham's flag. Her searchlights opened at 3,500 yards on the Italian heavy cruiser Fiume. Effective range for a 15-inch gun is thirty thousand. Fiume, Zara, and Pola were all sunk. British casualties: none.
• Salerno, 1943. A radio-guided German Fritz-X came through her deck armour and flooded six of her eight boiler rooms. She was back in the line for D-Day.

Her sailors called her the Grand Old Lady. She wore eight battle honours on her mast:

JUTLAND · NARVIK · CALABRIA · MATAPAN · CRETE · SICILY · SALERNO · NORMANDY

Edition of 500. Hand-numbered. Lacquered hardwood case.