tampion

all about the 14 inch guns: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14%22/45_caliber_gun

the reason the Washington is crossed out is this ship was originally the Washington. On 9 November 1916, Washington was renamed Seattle (retaining her classification as Armored Cruiser No. 11). She was simultaneously taken out of reserve and recommissioned for duty as flagship of the Destroyer Force. She was probably renamed as the was a Battleship planned named Washington which was later scrapped under the 1922 Naval treaty. her long story is here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Washington_(ACR-11)

What are the things attached to the gun barrels with leather straps? Would they stay in place when the gun was fired?

I don't think those are leather, I think they are metal claps, they seem to be holding a mirror for the gun layers or sight setters. the rear "rings" are part of the barrel. Here is a very detailed description of how the guns are manufactured www.bobhenneman.info/HeavyGun.htm

The super hi-res version of this image and the others in the Seattle series show stitching on the straps. Metal clamps probably would have damaged the surface of the guns (and they loved these things too much to damage them). I thought the barrels were built up with telescoped sections at first, too, but the other images show they're one piece from end to end. The shadows of the straps play tricks on us. This image shows the shadows being cast on the opposite side of the straps. Every strap can also be followed to a fitting somewhere on the barrel.

Very interesting picture and the commentaries do let us know what exactly is going on, thank you all.

There is no Rastafarian Navy - there's a zero after Dread in the original caption so it should read Dreadnought Cruiser. Indomitable was a Dreadnought-class Cruiser

Alan Denney Mmm well caught, that naught!

the term Dread(naught) Cruiser is also an obsolete description. HMS Dreadnought revolutionized warships in 1906. The first "all big gun" ship, she was the first modern battleship. Jackie Fisher who designed her, also designed the battlecruisers, of which INDOMITABLE was the second ship. They were originally known as armoured cruisers until they were redesignated as battlecruisers by an Admiralty order of 24 November 1911. The confusion seems quite common as they were also known as cruiser-battleship, dreadnought cruiser and battle-cruiser before the admiralty decree. The date may be 8/10/1915. It appears she may be coaling and/or taking on supplies.

This is great.

This is great, awesome !