Redoubtable's short 13.5-inch guns were relined to 12 inches and could reach about 16,000 yards. Deliberately heeling the ship gained more elevation and range, but exposed hull below the normal waterline on the firing side. Her 29-foot draft was also hazardous among Belgian shoals and minefields. Admiral Bacon nevertheless valued the trials and experiments that underpinned later long-range firing methods. He also had to protect her because German claims of sinking a battleship would have carried propaganda value out of proportion to her practical usefulness.
Notable Point · 19:48-22:40
Redoubtable proves useful in trials but awkward off the Belgian coast
The old battleship HMS Revenge, renamed Redoubtable, supports the Dover Patrol's gunnery experiments even though her deep draft and symbolic value make her a poor fit for coastal operations.