HMS Gorgon (1871)

HMS Gorgon was the first ship commissioned of the four Cyclops-class breastwork monitors built for the Royal Navy during the 1870s.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Gorgon.

Right elevation plan from Brassey's Naval Annual 1888–1889
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Gorgon
Namesake: Gorgon
Builder: Palmers Shipbuilding, Jarrow
Cost: £141,254
Laid down: 5 September 1870
Launched: 14 October 1871
Completed: 19 March 1877
Commissioned: April 1872
Out of service: 1901
Refit: 1888–89
Fate: Sold for scrap 12 May 1903
General characteristics
Class and type: Cyclops-class breastwork monitor
Displacement: 3,480 long tons (3,540 t)
Length: 225 ft (68.6 m) (p/p)
Beam: 45 ft (13.7 m)
Draught: 16 ft 3 in (5.0 m) (deep load)
Installed power: 1,709 ihp (1,274 kW)
Propulsion: 2 shafts, 2 direct-acting steam engines
Speed: 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)
Range: 3,000 nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement: 156
Armament: 2 × twin 10-inch rifled muzzle loaders
Armour:

Design and description

The Cyclops-class ships were modified versions of the Cerberus class.[1] The ships had a length between perpendiculars of 225 feet (68.6 m), a beam of 45 feet (13.7 m), and a draught of 16 feet 3 inches (4.95 m) at deep load. They displaced 3,480 long tons (3,540 t). Their crew consisted of 156 officers and men.[2] Gorgon had two 4-cylinder horizontal direct-acting steam engine, each driving a single propeller shaft. The engines produced a total of 1,670 indicated horsepower (1,250 kW) during the ship's sea trials which gave her a maximum speed of 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph). They carried 250 long tons (250 t) of coal,[3] enough to steam 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).[4]

The ships mounted four 10-inch rifled muzzle-loading guns in twin-gun turrets fore and aft of the superstructure. The guns could fire both solid shot and explosive shells.[5] They were mounted on carriages that used hydraulic jacks to elevate and depress the guns.[1]

The Cyclops class had a complete waterline belt of wrought iron that was 8 inches (203 mm) thick amidships and thinned to 6 inches (152 mm) at the ends. The superstructure and conning tower was fully armoured, the reason it was called a breastwork, with 8–9 inches (203–229 mm) of wrought iron. The gun turrets had 10 inches on their faces and 9 inches on the sides and rear. All of the vertical armour was backed by 9–11 inches (229–279 mm) of teak. The decks were 1.5 inches (38.1 mm) thick.[6]

Construction and career

Together with her sister ships, the Cyclops and the Hecate, she was placed on the non-effective list of ships in January 1902.[7] She was sold for scrap the following year.

Notes
  1. Parkes, p. 212
  2. Parkes, p. 213
  3. Ballard, pp. 246–49
  4. Silverstone, p. 169
  5. Gardiner, p. 6
  6. Parkes, pp. 213–14
  7. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times (36657). London. 6 January 1902. p. 8.

References
  • Ballard, G. A., Admiral (1980). The Black Battlefleet. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-924-3.
  • Gardiner, Robert, ed. (1979). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860-1905. Greenwich: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-8317-0302-4.
  • Parkes, Oscar (1990). British Battleships (reprint of the 1957 ed.). Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-075-4.
  • Silverstone, Paul H. (1984). Directory of the World's Capital Ships. New York: Hippocrene Books. ISBN 0-88254-979-0.
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