HMS Venerable ( 1899 ) HMS Venerable was a Formidable -class battleship of the Royal Navy . Laid down on 2 January 1899 at Chatham Dockyard . Launched on 2 November 1899 . Completed on 12 December 1902 , initial service as second Flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet . October 1909 service with Atlantic Fleet after refit . May 1912 , paid off into reserve until the start of WWI when she was transferred to Dover . May 1915 to Dardanelles , but only spent a short time there before being attached to the Italian fleet at Taranto as a depot ship . 1918 - returned to United Kingdom and spent more time as a depot ship . June 1920 - sold for breaking up . See HMS Venerable for other ships of this name . External link Maritimequest HMS Venerable Photo Gallery Formidable -class battleship Formidable | Irresistible | Implacable | London | Bulwark | Venerable | Queen | Prince of Wales List of battleships of the Royal Navy Categories : Formidable class battleships | Battleships of the United Kingdom | World War I battleships of the United Kingdom 