HMS Malaya was one of five Queen Elizabeth-class battleships built for the Royal Navy during the 1910s. Shortly after commissioning in early 1916, she participated in the Battle of Jutland of the First World War as part of the Grand Fleet. In the Second World War, Malaya served mostly in escort duties in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. She was withdrawn from service at the end of 1944, and sold for scrap in 1948.
Malaya about 1919–1921
15-inch guns of 'A' and 'B' turrets trained to starboard, 6-inch guns in casemates below, c. 1920
Malaya departing New York after repairs, 9 July 1941
Armour-piercing shell – with cap (left) fired on 9 February 1941 into the nave of Genoa Cathedral
Queen Elizabeth-class battleship
The Queen Elizabeth-class battleships were a group of five super-dreadnoughts built for the Royal Navy during the 1910s. These battleships were superior in firepower, protection and speed to their Royal Navy predecessors of the Iron Duke class as well as preceding German classes such as the König class. The corresponding Bayern-class ships were generally considered competitive, although the Queen Elizabeth class were 2 knots (3.7 km/h) faster and outnumbered the German class 5:2. The Queen Elizabeths are generally considered the first fast battleships of their day.
Queen Elizabeth in her original configuration at Lemnos, 24 April 1915
Right plan and elevation drawing from Brassey's Naval Annual 1923; the shaded areas represent the ships' armour plating
Queen Elizabeth c. 1918 showing the two aft port secondary casemates plated over
Forecastle deck gun as added to all ships in 1915–1916, here seen on Warspite after Jutland
