HMS Captain (1870)

History of Captain HMS (1870)

The HMS Captain was built to the standard of a "turret ship" common in the late 19th century. These ships differed from earlier war models in that they carried the primary weapon (the gun) through the turret, providing the gunner with an extended arc of fire and protection. Warships can now attack from any approach angle, rather than hoping to maneuver into place to launch devastating broadsides.

She was laid by the Laird brothers of Birkenhead on 30 January 1867, launched on 27 March 1869, and officially commissioned in April 1870.

At the time of construction, the HMS Captain carried a crew of approximately 500, consisting of soldiers and officers. Propulsion comes from a horizontally reciprocating 4-cylinder engine producing 5,400 hp, powered by 8 rectangular boiler units, all of which drive 2 axles aft. Top speed (under ideal conditions) reached a useful 15.25 knots.

As a "steam sail" warship, the HMS Captain retained the form and function of the three-masted sailboat and her motor/boiler propulsion scheme. Since the sails are part of her propulsion system, her range is essentially unlimited.

Armament includes 4 x 12" (25 t) muzzle-loading guns with two dual gun positions and 2 x 7" (6.5 t) muzzle-loading guns with two single gun positions gun. Armor protection extends to 8 inches on the belt and 10 inches on the turret.

In any case, the HSM captain's tenure was short, as on September 6, 1870, she faced increasing winds while sailing with the ships of the Mediterranean and Channel squadrons. The storm got worse late at night, with about 480 people on board when the boat eventually capsized, flooded and sank.

Twenty-seven survived by clinging to a boat that had come loose during the ordeal.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Wing