High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! HMS Empress of India was a pre-dreadnought battleship of the Royal Navy and part of the eight-ship Royal Sovereign class. She was laid down at Pembroke Dockyard on 9 July 1889 and launched by the Duchess of Connaught on 7 May 1891. Initially known as HMS Renown, her name was changed before completion at Chatham on 11 September 1893. She served as the flagship of the second-in-command of the Channel Fleet. She was sunk as a target 4 November 1913 in Lyme Bay.