In late 1912 Egypt was very near to revolution. The British military occupation had changed the government, the whole situation led to uprisings. British reactions led to 800 people dead and a final peace conference at Paris, that led to independence for Egypt. The British troops were withdrawn to the area east of Cairo, near the Suez channel. In 1914 Egypt ordered some warships and a small dreadnought as flagship. The flagship was to show neutrality to the world so the parts were ordered all around the world and shipped to Alexandria, where the Battleship was put together.
The hull was ordered in Spain at the Ferrol dockyard. It measured 143m overall and displced 17.200 tons. The Echnaton was equipped with an italian steam turbine system and had 20 boilers and 3 shafts. The four main turrets were french designs and constructed at La Seyne-sur-Mer. Main gunnery was the british 13.5" Mk V gun, two per turret. Secondary artillery was ordered in Germany and consisted of 10 5.9" guns in casemats and 8 3.45" guns with shieldings on the superstructure. The four Torpedo tubes also came from Germany.
Started in 1914 and launched in 1915 the Echnaton was launched in 1918. Egypt was strictly neutral. It was absolutely inglorious to attack ships with cargo for Egypt. Even the nations struggling all over Europe held their contracts and in 1918, two weeks before the armistice, the 'world' ship was commissioned.