There's a good book 'HMS Rodney slayer of Bismarck and D-Day saviour' by Iain Ballantyne that tells the full story of HMS Rodney.

Rodney and her sister ship Nelson were the most powerful ships in the Royal Navy although a little slow and outdated by WW2. Their design had to be modified following the Washington Naval Treaty of 1921 which limited their size. Hence they were jokingly known as the Cherry Tree Class (cut down by Washington). Because all the main armament was forward and the superstructure and funnel further aft her service nickname was Rodnol (RN oilers - tankers carrying oil fuel for steamships - had names ending in -ol).