HMS 'New Zealand', 'Africa' , 'Colossus' and 'Warrior' RMG PW0873, William Lionel Wyllie, circa December 1911

Hms 'new zealand', 'africa' , 'colossus' and 'warrior' signed by artist, lower left, this finished watercolour is a composite of four ships said to be the 'africa', 'new zealand', 'colossus' and 'warrior'. The battleship 'africa' has to be the vessel in the left distance and she was completed in november 1906. The battlecruiser 'new zealand' is head-on and she began trials in october 1912 and was completed on 23 november 1912. From 6 february to 8 december 1913 she was on a world cruise. The battleship 'colossus' (in broadside view at centre) began her trials in february 1911 and was completed on 31 july 1911. In 1912, she gained red funnel bands and her fore-funnel was raised by about ten feet, neither being shown here. The armoured cruiser 'warrior' is the vessel on the right, with another distant ship beyond, and she completed 12 december 1906. This has to be a composite drawing because the four named ships could not have been at sea together before the end of 1912, when the 'colossus' had her fore-funnel raised. Date: circa December 1911. Dimensions: Sheet: 272 x 458 mm. Collection: Fine art.