View source for HMS Orion (1910)

{{Short description|Royal Navy battleship}}
{{Other ships|HMS Orion}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox ship
|section1={{Infobox ship/image
 |image=Orion NH 57802.jpg
 |image_caption=''Orion'' at anchor, about 1913
 }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career
 |hide_header=(as built)
 |country=United Kingdom
 |flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}}
 |name=''Orion''
 |namesake=[[Classical mythology|Mythological]] hunter [[Orion (mythology)|Orion]]
 |ordered=
 |builder=[[HMNB Portsmouth|HM Dockyard, Portsmouth]]
 |laid_down=29 November 1909
 |launched=20 August 1910
 |commissioned=2 January 1912
 |decommissioned=March 1922
 |in_service=
 |out_of_service=12 April 1922
 |struck=
 |honours=
 |fate=Sold for [[ship breaking|scrap]], 19 December 1922
 |notes=
 }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics
 |hide_header=
 |header_caption=(as built)
 |class={{sclass|Orion|battleship|0}} [[dreadnought battleship]]
 |displacement= {{convert|21922|LT|t|lk=in}} (normal)
 |length={{convert|581|ft|m|abbr=on|1}} ([[Length overall|o/a]])
 |beam={{convert|88|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
 |draught={{convert|31|ft|3|in|m|abbr=on|1}}
 |power=*{{convert|27000|shp|lk=in|abbr=on}}
        *18 × [[Babcock & Wilcox boiler]]s
 |propulsion=4 × shafts; 2 × [[steam turbine]] sets
 |speed={{convert|21|kn|lk=in}}
 |range={{convert|6730|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|10|kn}}
 |complement=738–1,107 (1916)
 |armament=* 5 × twin [[BL 13.5 inch Mk V naval gun|13.5-inch (343&nbsp;mm) guns]]
           * 16 × single [[BL 4 inch naval gun Mk VII|4-inch (102&nbsp;mm) guns]]
           * 3 × [[British 21 inch torpedo|21-inch (533&nbsp;mm)]] [[torpedo tube]]s
 |armour=* [[Belt armor|Belt]]: {{convert|12|in|mm|abbr=on|0}}
         * [[Deck (ship)|Deck]]: {{convert|1|-|4|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
         * [[Gun turret|Turrets]]: {{convert|11|in|mm|abbr=on}}
         * [[Barbette]]s: {{convert|10|in|mm|abbr=on|0}}
 }}
}}

'''HMS ''Orion''''' was the [[lead ship]] of [[Orion-class battleship|her class]] of four [[dreadnought battleship]]s built for the [[Royal Navy]] in the early 1910s. She spent the bulk of her career assigned to the [[Home Fleet|Home]] and [[Grand Fleet]]s, generally serving as a [[flagship]]. Aside from participating in the failed attempt to intercept the German ships that had [[Raid on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby|bombarded Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby]] in late 1914, the [[Battle of Jutland]] in May 1916 and the inconclusive [[Action of 19 August 1916|action of 19 August]], her service during [[World War I]] generally consisted of routine patrols and training in the [[North Sea]].

After the Grand Fleet was dissolved in early 1919, ''Orion'' was transferred to back to the Home Fleet for a few months before she was assigned to the [[Reserve Fleet (United Kingdom)|Reserve Fleet]]. She served as a gunnery [[training ship]] from mid-1921 until she was listed for disposal the following year. The ship was sold for [[ship breaking|scrap]] in late 1922 and subsequently broken up.

==Design and description==
The ''Orion''-class ships were designed in response to the beginnings of the [[Anglo-German naval arms race]] and were much larger than their predecessors of the {{sclass|Colossus|battleship|||1910}} to accommodate larger, more powerful guns and heavier armour. In recognition of these improvements, the class was sometimes called [[Dreadnought#Super-dreadnoughts|"super-dreadnoughts"]]. The ships had an [[length overall|overall length]] of {{convert|581|ft|m|1}}, a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|88|ft|6|in|m|1}} and a deep [[Draft (hull)|draught]] of {{convert|31|ft|3|in|m|1}}. They [[Displacement (ship)|displaced]] {{convert|21922|LT|t|lk=in}} at normal load and {{convert|25596|LT|t}} at [[deep load]] as built; by 1918 ''Orion''{{'}}s deep displacement had increased to {{convert|29108|LT|t}}. Her crew numbered 754 officers and [[naval rating|ratings]] as of 1914.<ref name=b1>Burt, p. 136</ref>

The ''Orion'' class was powered by two sets of [[Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company|Parsons]] [[direct-drive]] [[steam turbine]]s, each driving two shafts, using steam provided by 18 [[Babcock & Wilcox boiler]]s. The turbines were rated at {{convert|27000|shp|lk=in}} and were intended to give the battleships a speed of {{convert|21|kn|lk=on}}.<ref name=p5>Parkes, p. 525</ref> During her [[sea trial]]s in September 1911, ''Orion'' reached a maximum speed of {{convert|21.3|kn}} from {{convert|30552|shp|abbr=on}}. The ships carried enough coal and [[fuel oil]] to give them a range of {{convert|6730|nmi|lk=in}} at a cruising speed of {{convert|10|kn}}.<ref>Burt, pp. 136, 139–40</ref>

===Armament and armour===
[[File:Orion NH 57800.jpg|thumb|Aft main-gun turrets of ''Orion'', about 1911 while [[fitting out]]]]
The ''Orion'' class was equipped with 10 [[List of British ordnance terms#BL|breech-loading (BL)]] [[BL 13.5 inch Mk V naval gun|{{convert|13.5|in|mm|adj=on|sigfig=3}} Mark V guns]] in five hydraulically powered twin-[[gun turret]]s, all on the centreline. The turrets were designated 'A', 'B', 'Q', 'X' and 'Y', from front to rear. Their [[secondary armament]] consisted of 16 [[BL 4 inch naval gun Mk VII|BL {{convert|4|in|mm|adj=on|0}} Mark VII]] guns. These guns were split evenly between the forward and aft [[superstructure]], all in single mounts. Four [[QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss|{{Convert|47|mm|in|abbr=on}}]] [[saluting gun]]s were also carried. The ships were equipped with three [[British 21 inch torpedo|21-inch (533&nbsp;mm)]] submerged [[torpedo tube]]s, one on each [[Broadside (naval)|broadside]] and another in the [[stern]], for which 20 torpedoes were provided.<ref name=b1/>

The ''Orion''s were protected by a [[waterline]] {{convert|12|in|adj=on|0}} [[armoured belt]] that extended between the end [[barbette]]s. Their [[deck (ship)|deck]]s ranged in thickness between {{convert|1|in|0}} and 4 inches with the thickest portions protecting the steering gear in the stern. The [[main battery]] turret faces were {{convert|11|in|0}} thick, and the turrets were supported by {{convert|10|in|0|adj=mid|-thick}} barbettes.<ref>Burt, pp. 134, 136, 139</ref>

===Modifications===
In 1914 the shelter-deck guns were enclosed in [[casemate#Single casemates (1889 onwards)|casemates]]. By October 1914, a pair of {{convert|3|in|0|adj=on}} [[anti-aircraft gun|anti-aircraft (AA) guns]] had been added.<ref>Friedman, pp. 123, 199</ref> A [[fire-control director]] was installed on a platform below the [[Top (sailing ship)|spotting top]] in April–May 1915.<ref name="dread">{{cite web|title=H.M.S. Orion (1910)|url=http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/H.M.S._Orion_(1910)|publisher=The Dreadnought Project|access-date=9 March 2017|language=en}}</ref> Additional deck armour was added after the Battle of Jutland in May 1916. Around the same time, three 4-inch guns were removed from the aft superstructure and the ship was modified to operate [[kite balloon]]s.<ref name=b40>Burt, p. 140</ref> In mid-to-late 1917, ''Orion'' was the only battleship in the Royal Navy to receive a director for her secondary armament.<ref name=dread/> Two [[Flight deck#Early|flying-off platforms]] were fitted aboard the ship during 1917–1918; these were mounted on 'B' and 'Q' turret roofs and extended onto the gun barrels. A high-angle rangefinder was fitted in the forward superstructure by 1921.<ref>Burt, p. 142; Friedman, pp. 123, 198–200, 205</ref>

==Construction and career==
[[File:Revenge Orion Collision Portsmouth 1912 01 12.png|thumb|''Revenge'' stuck on ''Orion''{{'}}s bow, 7 January 1912]]
''Orion'', named after the [[Classical mythology|mythological]] hunter, [[Orion (mythology)|Orion]],<ref>Silverstone, p. 256</ref> was the fourth ship of her name to serve in the Royal Navy (RN).<ref>Colledge, p. 251</ref> The ship was [[laid down]] at [[HM Dockyard, Portsmouth]] on 29 November 1909. She was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 20 August 1910,<ref name=g8>Preston, p. 28</ref> and was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 2 January 1912.<ref name=b6/> Including her armament, her cost is variously quoted at [[pound sterling|£]]1,855,917<ref name=b1/> or £1,918,773.<ref name=p5/> ''Orion'' was assigned to the 2nd [[Division (naval)|division]] of the Home Fleet as the flagship<ref name=b6>Burt, p. 146</ref> of [[Rear-Admiral (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral]] Sir [[Herbert King-Hall]], the division's [[second-in-command]].<ref name="2bs">{{cite web|title=Second Battle Squadron|url=http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Second_Battle_Squadron_(Royal_Navy)|publisher=The Dreadnought Project|access-date=9 March 2017|language=en}}</ref> The ship was slightly damaged on 7 January when the [[pre-dreadnought battleship]] {{HMS|Revenge|1892|2}} broke loose from her [[wikt:mooring|moorings]] and collided with ''Orion''{{'}}s [[bow (watercraft)|bow]]. The division was redesignated as the [[2nd Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)|2nd Battle Squadron]] (BS) on 1 May.<ref name=b6/> The ship,{{refn|Burt gives no account of ''Orion''{{'}}s activities between January 1912 and May 1916. This article assumes that the ship participated in the activities of the 2nd BS as Burt notes for ''Monarch''.<ref name=b60>Burt, pp. 146, 148, 150</ref>|group=Note}} together with her [[sister ship]]s {{HMS|Thunderer|1911|2}} and {{HMS|Monarch|1911|2}}, participated in the [[Fleet Review, Royal Navy|Parliamentary Naval Review]] on 9 July at [[Spithead]]. They then participated in training manoeuvres.<ref name=b60/> King-Hall was relieved by Rear-Admiral [[Rosslyn Wemyss, 1st Baron Wester Wemyss|Rosslyn Wemyss]] on 29 October.<ref name=2bs/> On 13 November, the ship participated in comparative gunnery trials with ''Thunderer'' to evaluate the effectiveness of the latter's gunnery director. ''Thunderer'' decisively outshot ''Orion'', although some of her success was because her director was above the smoke that obscured the target from ''Orion''{{'}}s guns. The test was repeated in better conditions on 4 December and ''Orion'' performed much better, apparently beating ''Thunderer''.<ref>Brooks, pp. 164–65</ref> The three sisters were present with the 2nd BS to receive the [[President of France]], [[Raymond Poincaré]], at Spithead on 24 June 1913 and then participated in the annual fleet manoeuvres in August.<ref name=b60/> Wemyss was relieved in his turn by Rear-Admiral [[Sir Robert Arbuthnot, 4th Baronet]] on 28 October.<ref name=2bs/> [[Captain (Royal Navy)|Captain]] [[Frederic Charles Dreyer|Frederic Dreyer]] assumed command of ''Orion'' that same day.<ref name=dread/> On 4 November, ''Orion'', ''Thunderer'', the dreadnought {{HMS|King George V|1911|2}} and the predreadnought {{HMS|King Edward VII||2}} fired at and sank the [[target ship]] {{HMS|Empress of India||2}} to give their crews experience in firing live ammunition against a real ship.<ref>Brown, p. 29</ref>

===World War I===
[[File:HMS Orion Q 74882.jpg|thumb|''Orion'' at anchor before 1915]]
Between 17 and 20 July 1914, ''Orion'' took part in a test [[mobilisation]] and fleet review as part of the British response to the [[July Crisis]]. Arriving in [[Isle of Portland|Portland]] on 25 July, she was ordered to proceed with the rest of the Home Fleet to [[Scapa Flow]] four days later<ref name=b60/> to safeguard the fleet from a possible surprise attack by the [[Imperial German Navy]].<ref>Massie, p. 19</ref> In August 1914, following the outbreak of World War I, the Home Fleet was reorganised as the [[Grand Fleet]], and placed under the command of [[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] Sir [[John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe|John Jellicoe]].<ref>Preston, p. 32</ref> On 8 August, ''Orion'' was towing a target for the dreadnought {{HMS|Ajax|1912|2}} and ''Monarch'' when the latter reported that she had been unsuccessfully attacked by a torpedo and the gunnery exercise was terminated. Almost two weeks later, the ship began having serious problems with her [[condenser (heat transfer)|condensers]] and Jellicoe ordered that they be retubed while she was detached to the coaling base at [[Loch Ewe]], on the northwest coast of Scotland. ''Orion'' rejoined the Grand Fleet on 9 September. Repeated reports of submarines in Scapa Flow led Jellicoe to conclude that the defences there were inadequate and he ordered that the Grand Fleet be dispersed to other bases until the defences be reinforced. On 16 October the 2nd BS was sent to [[Loch na Keal]] on the western coast of Scotland. The [[squadron (naval)|squadron]] departed for gunnery practice off the northern coast of Ireland on the morning of 27 October and the dreadnought {{HMS|Audacious|1912|2}} struck a [[naval mine|mine]], laid a few days earlier by the German [[armed merchant cruiser]] {{SS|Berlin|1908|6}}. Thinking that the ship had been torpedoed by a submarine, the other dreadnoughts were ordered away from the area, while smaller ships rendered assistance. Shortly afterwards, ''Orion'' had to be sent to [[Greenock]] for repairs to her turbine mounts.<ref>Burt, pp. 146, 150; Goldrick, p. 156; Jellicoe, pp. 93, 103, 105, 121, 143–44, 152</ref>

==== Bombardment of Scarborough, Hartlepool, and Whitby ====
{{main|Raid on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby}}
The Royal Navy's [[Room 40]] had [[Signals intelligence|intercepted and decrypted German radio traffic]] containing plans for a German attack on [[Scarborough, North Yorkshire|Scarborough]], [[Hartlepool]] and [[Whitby]] in mid-December using the four [[battlecruiser]]s of ''[[Konteradmiral]]'' (Rear-Admiral) [[Franz von Hipper]]'s [[I Scouting Group]]. The radio messages did not mention that the [[High Seas Fleet]] with fourteen dreadnoughts and eight predreadnoughts would reinforce Hipper. The ships of both sides departed their bases on 15 December, with the British intending to ambush the German ships on their return voyage. They mustered the six dreadnoughts of [[Vice-Admiral (Royal Navy)|Vice-Admiral]] [[Sir George Warrender, 7th Baronet|Sir George Warrender]]'s 2nd BS, including ''Orion'' and her sisters, ''Monarch'' and {{HMS|Conqueror|1911|2}}, and the four battlecruisers of Vice-Admiral Sir [[David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty|David Beatty]].<ref>Tarrant, pp. 28–30</ref>

The screening forces of each side blundered into each other during the early morning darkness and heavy weather of 16 December. The Germans got the better of the initial exchange of fire, severely damaging several British [[destroyer]]s, but Admiral [[Friedrich von Ingenohl]], commander of the High Seas Fleet, ordered his ships to turn away, concerned about the possibility of a massed attack by British destroyers in the dawn's light. A series of miscommunications and mistakes by the British allowed Hipper's ships to avoid an engagement with Beatty's forces. One of these occurred when ''Orion''{{'}}s lookouts spotted the light cruiser {{SMS|Stralsund}} and failed to engage because Arbuthnot refused to allow the ship to open fire without a command from Warrender.<ref>Goldrick, pp. 200–14</ref>

====1915–1916====
[[File:Orion Q 68564.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of an ''Orion''-class battleship, probably ''Orion'' herself, under way after May 1915 as the gunnery director is visible under her spotting top and her [[torpedo net]] booms have been removed.]]
Jellicoe's ships, including ''Orion'', conducted gunnery drills on 10–13 January 1915 west of [[Orkney]] and the [[Shetland Islands]]. Rear-Admiral [[Arthur Leveson]] relieved Arbuthnot on 15 January. On the evening of 23 January, the bulk of the Grand Fleet sailed in support of Beatty's battlecruisers, but ''Orion'' and the rest of the fleet did not participate in the ensuing [[Battle of Dogger Bank (1915)|Battle of Dogger Bank]] the following day. On 7–10 March, the Grand Fleet conducted a sweep in the northern North Sea, during which it conducted training manoeuvres. Another such cruise took place on 16–19 March. On 11 April, the Grand Fleet conducted a patrol in the central North Sea and returned to port on 14 April; another patrol in the area took place on 17–19 April, followed by gunnery drills off Shetland on 20–21 April.<ref>Jellicoe, pp. 190–91, 194–96, 206, 211–12</ref> ''Orion'' was given a brief refit in late April in [[HMNB Devonport|Devonport]].<ref name=dread/>

The Grand Fleet conducted sweeps into the central North Sea on 17–19 May and 29–31 May without encountering any German vessels. During 11–14 June, the fleet conducted gunnery practice and battle exercises west of Shetland<ref>Jellicoe, pp. 217–19, 221–22</ref> and more training off Shetland beginning on 11 July. The 2nd BS conducted gunnery practice in the [[Moray Firth]] on 2 August and then returned to Scapa Flow. On 2–5 September, the fleet went on another cruise in the northern end of the North Sea and conducted gunnery drills. Throughout the rest of the month, the Grand Fleet conducted numerous training exercises. The ship, together with the majority of the Grand Fleet, conducted another sweep into the North Sea from 13 to 15 October. Almost three weeks later, ''Orion'' participated in another fleet training operation west of Orkney during 2–5 November and repeated the exercise at the beginning of December.<ref>Jellicoe, pp. 228, 234–35, 243, 246, 250, 253, 257–58</ref>

The Grand Fleet sortied in response to an attack by German ships on British light forces near Dogger Bank on 10 February 1916, but it was recalled two days later when it became clear that no German ships larger than a destroyer were involved. The fleet departed for a cruise in the North Sea on 26 February; Jellicoe had intended to use the [[Harwich Force]] to sweep the [[Heligoland Bight]], but bad weather prevented operations in the southern North Sea. As a result, the operation was confined to the northern end of the sea. Another sweep began on 6 March, but had to be abandoned the following day as the weather grew too severe for the escorting destroyers. On the night of 25 March, ''Orion'' and the rest of the fleet sailed from Scapa Flow to support Beatty's battlecruisers and other light forces raiding the German [[Zeppelin]] base at [[Tondern]]. By the time the Grand Fleet approached the area on 26 March, the British and German forces had already disengaged and a strong [[gale]] threatened the light craft, so the fleet was ordered to return to base. On 21 April, the Grand Fleet conducted a demonstration off [[Horns Reef]] to distract the Germans while the [[Imperial Russian Navy]] relaid its defensive [[minefields]] in the [[Baltic Sea]].<ref>Jellicoe, pp. 270–71, 275, 279–80, 284, 286</ref> The fleet returned to Scapa Flow on 24 April and refuelled before proceeding south in response to intelligence reports that the Germans were about to launch a [[Bombardment of Yarmouth and Lowestoft|raid on Lowestoft]], but only arrived in the area after the Germans had withdrawn. On 2–4 May, the fleet conducted another demonstration off Horns Reef to keep German attention focused on the North Sea.<ref>Jellicoe, pp. 286–90</ref>

====Battle of Jutland====
[[File:Map of the Battle of Jutland, 1916.svg|thumb|upright=1.7|Maps showing the manoeuvres of the British (blue) and German (red) fleets on 31 May&nbsp;– 1 June 1916|alt=The British fleet sailed from northern Britain to the east while the Germans sailed from Germany in the south; the opposing fleets met off the Danish coast]]
{{Main|Battle of Jutland}}
In an attempt to lure out and destroy a portion of the Grand Fleet, the High Seas Fleet, composed of sixteen dreadnoughts, six pre-dreadnoughts and supporting ships, departed the [[Jade Bight]] early on the morning of 31 May. The fleet sailed in concert with Hipper's five battlecruisers. Room 40 had intercepted and decrypted German radio traffic containing plans of the operation. In response the Admiralty ordered the Grand Fleet, totalling some 28 dreadnoughts and 9 battlecruisers, to sortie the night before to cut off and destroy the High Seas Fleet.<ref>Tarrant, pp. 54–55, 57–58</ref>

On 31 May, ''Orion'', under the command of Captain [[Oliver Backhouse]], was the lead ship of the 2nd Division of the 2nd BS and was the fifth ship from the head of the [[battle line]] after deployment.<ref>Corbett, frontispiece map and p. 428</ref> During the first stage of the general engagement, the ship fired four [[salvo]]s of [[Armor-piercing shot and shell|armour-piercing, capped (APC)]] shells from her main guns at the battleship {{SMS|Markgraf}} at 18:32, scoring one hit that knocked out a {{convert|15|cm|1|adj=on}} gun and killed or disabled its crew.<ref group=Note>The times used in this section are in [[Universal Time|UT]], which is one hour behind [[Central European Time|CET]], which is often used in German works.</ref> About 19:15, she engaged the battlecruiser {{SMS|Lützow}} at a range of {{convert|18700|-|19800|yd|m}} with six salvos of APC shells and claimed to [[wikt:straddle|straddle]] her with the last two salvos. These last salvos were actually fired at the destroyer {{SMS|G38}} which was screening the battlecruiser and laying a [[smoke screen]]. ''Lützow'' was also fired at by ''Monarch'' during this time and was hit five times between the sisters. They knocked out two of her main guns, temporarily knocked out the power to the sternmost turret as well as causing a fair amount of flooding. This was the last time that ''Orion'' fired her guns during the battle, having expended a total of fifty-one 13.5-inch APC shells.<ref>Campbell, pp. 156, 193–95, 209, 218–20, 346–47</ref>

====Subsequent activity====
[[File:Orion & Musketeer 1918 SP 1758.jpeg|thumb|''Orion'' and the destroyer {{HMS|Musketeer|1915|2}} under way, 1918]]
The Grand Fleet sortied on 18 August to ambush the High Seas Fleet while it advanced into the southern North Sea, but a series of miscommunications and mistakes prevented Jellicoe from intercepting the German fleet before it returned to port. Two light cruisers were sunk by German [[U-boat]]s during the operation, prompting Jellicoe to decide to not risk the major units of the fleet south of 55° 30' North due to the prevalence of German submarines and mines. The [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] concurred and stipulated that the Grand Fleet would not sortie unless the German fleet was attempting an invasion of Britain or there was a strong possibility it could be forced into an engagement under suitable conditions.<ref>Halpern, pp. 330–32</ref> Rear-Admiral [[William Goodenough]] assumed command of the division on 5 December<ref name=2bs/> and Captain [[Eric Fullerton]] relieved Backhouse on the 14th.<ref name=dread/>

In April 1918, the High Seas Fleet again sortied, to attack British convoys to Norway. They enforced strict wireless silence during the operation, which prevented Room 40 cryptanalysts from warning the new commander of the Grand Fleet, Admiral Beatty. The British only learned of the operation after an accident aboard the battlecruiser {{SMS|Moltke}} forced her to break radio silence to inform the German commander of her condition. Beatty then ordered the Grand Fleet to sea to intercept the Germans, but he was not able to reach the High Seas Fleet before it turned back for Germany.<ref>Halpern, pp. 418–20</ref> The ship was present at [[Rosyth]], Scotland, when the High Seas Fleet surrendered there on 21 November<ref>{{cite web|title=Operation ZZ|url=http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Operation_ZZ|publisher=The Dreadnought Project|access-date=10 March 2017|language=en}}</ref> and she remained part of the 2nd BS through 1 March 1919.<ref>{{cite web|title=Supplement to the Monthly Navy List Showing the Organisation of the Fleet, Flag Officer's Commands, &c.|url=https://archive.org/details/navylistmar1919grea|website=National Library of Scotland|publisher=Admiralty|date=1 March 1919|access-date=17 March 2017|page=10}}</ref>

[[File:Orion-class BBs SP 1703.jpeg|thumb|The four ''Orion''-class battleships in [[line ahead]] formation, after 1915]]
By 1 May, ''Orion'' had been assigned to the [[3rd Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)|3rd BS]] of the Home Fleet and was serving as the flagship for Rear-Admiral Sir [[Douglas Nicholson]], second-in-command of the squadron.<ref>{{cite web|title=Supplement to the Monthly Navy List Showing the Organisation of the Fleet, Flag Officer's Commands, &c.|url=https://archive.org/details/navylistmay1919grea|website=National Library of Scotland|publisher=Admiralty|date=1 May 1919|access-date=17 March 2017|page=5}}</ref> On 1 November, the 3rd BS was disbanded and ''Orion'' was transferred to the [[Reserve Fleet]] at Portland, together with her sisters. Nicholson still hoisted his flag aboard her, although he was now commander of the Reserve Fleet there.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Navy List|url=https://archive.org/details/navylistdec1919grea|website=National Library of Scotland|date=18 November 1919|publisher=[[His Majesty's Stationery Office]]|location=London|access-date=17 March 2017|pages=694, 709}}</ref> Nicholson hauled down his flag on 1 April 1920<ref>{{cite web|title=Douglas Romilly Lothian Nicholson|url=http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Douglas_Romilly_Lothian_Nicholson|publisher=The Dreadnought Project|access-date=10 March 2017|language=en}}</ref> and the ship was transferred back to Portsmouth by 14 September. ''Orion'' then became the flagship of the Reserve Fleet, which was commanded by Vice-Admiral [[Richard Phillimore]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Navy List|url=http://deriv.nls.uk/dcn23/9545/95459586.23.pdf|website=National Library of Scotland|date=18 October 1920|publisher=[[His Majesty's Stationery Office]]|location=London|access-date=17 March 2017|pages=695–6, 707a}}</ref> In June 1921 she became a gunnery training ship at Portland. On 12 April 1922, she was [[paid off]] and placed on the disposal list in accordance with the terms of the [[Washington Naval Treaty]]. On 19 December ''Orion'' was sold for scrap to [[Ernest Cox|Cox and Danks]] and she arrived at [[Upnor]] in February 1923 to begin demolition.<ref name=b6/>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=Note}}

==Citations==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
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*{{cite book|last=Brown|first=David K.|title=The Grand Fleet: Warship Design and Development 1906–1922|publisher= Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1999 |isbn=1-55750-315-X|author-link=David K. Brown}}
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* {{Cite Colledge2006}}
*{{cite book|last=Corbett|first=Julian|author-link=Julian Corbett|title=Naval Operations |edition=Second|series=History of the Great War: Based on Official Documents|volume=III |year=1997 |publisher=Imperial War Museum in association with the Battery Press|location=London and Nashville, Tennessee|isbn=1-870423-50-X|orig-year=1940}}
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* {{cite book|last=Goldrick|first=James|title=Before Jutland: The Naval War in Northern European Waters, August 1914–February 1915|year=2015|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|isbn=978-1-59114-349-9}}
* {{Cite book |last=Halpern|first=Paul G.|title=A Naval History of World War I|year=1995|author-link=Paul G. Halpern |location=Annapolis, Maryland|publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=1-55750-352-4}}
* {{cite book |last=Jellicoe|first=John|author-link=John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe|title=The Grand Fleet, 1914–1916: Its Creation, Development, and Work|url=https://archive.org/details/grandfleet19141900jell|year=1919|location=New York|publisher=George H. Doran Company|oclc=13614571}}
* {{cite book|title=Castles of Steel: Britain, Germany, and the Winning of the Great War at Sea |last=Massie |first=Robert K. |author-link=Robert K. Massie|publisher=Random House|year=2003|location= New York |isbn=0-679-45671-6|ref=Massie|title-link=Castles of Steel: Britain, Germany, and the Winning of the Great War at Sea}}
*{{cite book |last1=Parkes |first1=Oscar |title=British Battleships, ''Warrior'' 1860 to ''Vanguard'' 1950: A History of Design, Construction, and Armament |date=1990 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=1-55750-075-4 |edition=New & rev.|orig-year=1966|author-link=Oscar Parkes}}
*{{cite book|editor1-last=Gray|editor1-first=Randal|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921 |year=1985 |location=Annapolis, Maryland|publisher=Naval Institute Press |isbn=0-85177-245-5 |chapter=Great Britain and Empire Forces|first1=Antony|last1=Preston|author-link=Antony Preston|pages=1–104}}
* {{cite book|last=Silverstone|first=Paul H.|title=Directory of the World's Capital Ships|year=1984 |publisher=Hippocrene Books|location=New York|isbn=0-88254-979-0}}
* {{cite book |last=Tarrant |first=V. E. |title=Jutland: The German Perspective: A New View of the Great Battle, 31 May 1916 |publisher=Brockhampton Press |location=London |year=1999 |orig-year=1995|isbn=1-86019-917-8}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book |editor= Arthur Mee|title= Harmsworth Popular Science|year= 1912|publisher= Amalgamated Press|pages= 576 to 597|chapter= Chapter 5}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|HMS Orion (ship, 1910)}}
* [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/great_britain/battleships/orion/hms_orion.htm Maritimequest HMS Orion Photo Gallery]
* [https://www.jutlandcrewlists.org/orion Battle of Jutland Crew Lists Project - HMS ''Orion'' Crew List]

{{Orion class battleship}}
{{1912 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Orion (1910)}}
[[Category:Orion-class battleships]]
[[Category:Ships built in Portsmouth]]
[[Category:1910 ships]]
[[Category:World War I battleships of the United Kingdom]]