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The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.

DREADNOUGHT [2 records]

Filter results by subject field Alphabetical list of terms

Filter results by subject field

Alphabetical list of terms

Record 1 2009-06-08

English

Subject field(s)
  • Types of Ships and Boats
  • Naval Forces
CONT

As a former gunnery officer, Fisher revolutionized battleship design with the first all-big-gun ship, the HMS Dreadnought. Fisher was a firm believer in two things, the first being that speed was as good a form of protection as armor. His second belief was in the overwhelming power of large-caliber naval guns, and he firmly held that a single, devastating hit would decide most capital ship engagements. These two premises led to the development of the battlecruiser and to the rapid increase in gun sizes with each generation of ships. Envisioned as a sort of "super armored cruiser, "the type was designed to scout for the battlefleet without fear from enemy cruisers, yet was fast enough to escape an enemy battleship. They were to be capable of running down any existing cruiser and destroying it, thus protecting British supply lines to her overseas empire.

Key term(s)
  • super armoured cruiser
  • super-armored cruiser

French

Domaine(s)
  • Types de bateaux
  • Forces navales
OBS

1900-1910.

Spanish

Save record 1

Record 2 2008-01-29

English

Subject field(s)
  • Types of Ships and Boats
  • Naval Forces
DEF

A 20th century capital ship combining high speed, adequate protection, and a main armament comprising large guns of uniform calibre.

CONT

The dreadnought was the predominant type of battleship of the 20th century. Modelled after the revolutionary HMS Dreadnought of 1906, dreadnoughts were distinguished from previous battleships, known as pre-dreadnoughts, by an "all-big-gun" armament.

OBS

The term "dreadnought" gradually dropped from use after World War I, as the pre-dreadnoughts and the first generations of dreadnoughts were scrapped. However, all battleships built since then shared the characteristics of the dreadnought.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Types de bateaux
  • Forces navales
OBS

Type de cuirassé développé au début du 20ième siècle

Spanish

Save record 2

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