HMS Magnificent (1894)

HMS Magnificent was a Majestic-class battleship of the Royal Navy launched in 1894 and commissioned in 1895. She was one of nine ships of her class, which were designed by Sir William White, the Director of Naval Construction, and were considered to be the most effective battleships in the world at the time of their construction.

Magnificent served in the Channel Fleet upon commissioning, later transferring to the Mediterranean Fleet in 1904. In 1908, she returned to the Home Fleet. Throughout her active career, she participated in numerous fleet exercises and maneuvers.

With the outbreak of World War I in 1914, Magnificent was initially assigned to the 7th Battle Squadron, a unit composed of older battleships. She served in coastal defense roles, including bombardment operations along the Belgian coast. In 1915, she was converted into a troopship and used to transport soldiers to the Gallipoli campaign.

Following her service as a troopship, Magnificent was again used for coastal defense duties and served as an accommodation ship. She was decommissioned after the war and sold for scrap in 1921. As a Majestic-class battleship, Magnificent represented a significant technological advancement in naval warfare, possessing powerful guns, heavy armor, and relatively high speed for her time.