Armoured Cruiser Thursday

here are four pictures of HMS Invincible classed as an armoured cruiser until 1911 when she was reclassified as a battlecruiser. the Invincible class was the first of the battlecruisers which were basically intended to be greatly improved armoured cruisers. she had turbines instead of triple expansion reciprocating engines for more power and speed, 12" guns and a heavier armour belt. much larger,faster and more powerful than the preceding class of armoured cruisers the Invincible had a busy career. she and her sister won the Battle of the Falklands in 1914. by sinking most of German Admiral von Spee's fleet of armoured and light cruisers. later Invincible was lost at the Battle of Jutland with the loss of 1020 men out of a crew of 1026. she blew up after being hit by 12" shells from German ships SMS Lutzow and Derfflinger. even though armed with 12" guns and faster than a battleship Invincible had no business being in the battle line fighting against German battlecruisers and battleships which were much more heavily armored. the German gunsights and shells were also better than the British. the British Grand Fleet was much larger than the German High Seas Fleet which eventually won the day for the Royal Navy as the Germans were forced to retire. nevertheless the British lost more ships and men than the Germans so the battle was basically a tactical victory for the High Seas Fleet. first picture shows HMS Invincible at anchor. next at speed emitting a huge cloud of coal smoke this was often an impediment in battle as the gunners could not see through the smoke to shoot accurately. next picture is Invincible blowing up after being hit. finally the Invincible having broken in half is now sinking. i would not like to have been serving in Invincible on May 31, 1916.