Early Small Ironclad Warships of the Royal Navy

For images of the ships listed here, click on the appropriate link.

RESEARCH

Name Launched Displacement Dimensions Machinery Armament Armour Crew Notes
Research August 1863 1900 tons 195' x 38' 7" x 14' 6" 1-shaft
2 boilers
Watt engine
1040 ihp
10.3 knots
4 x 100 pdr. SBML
1870:
4 x 7" RML
Belt: 4.5"
Bulkheads: 4.5"
Iron
150 Originally laid down as a Steam powered Sloop
Originally named Trent
April 1864: Completed
1869 - 1870: Reconstructed and rearmed
1878: Reserve
1884: Sold for scrapping

ENTERPRISE

Name Launched Displacement Dimensions Machinery Armament Armour Crew Notes
Enterprise February 1864 1350 tons 180' x 36' x 13' 9" 1-shaft
2 boilers
Ravenhill engine
690 ihp
9.9 knots
2 x 100 pdr. SBML
2 x 110 pdr. BL
1868:
4 x 7" RML
Belt: 4.5"
Bulkheads: 4.5"
Iron
130 Originally laid down as a Steam powered Sloop
Originally named Circassian
June 1864: Completed
1868: Reconstructed and rearmed
1886: Sold for scrapping

FAVOURITE

Name Launched Displacement Dimensions Machinery Armament Armour Crew Notes
Favourite July 1864 3232 tons 225' x 46' 11" x 21' 6" 1-shaft
4 boilers
Humphreys & Tennant engine
1770 ihp
11.8 knots
8 x 100 pdr. SBML
1869:
8 x 7" RML
2 x 64 pdr. SBML
Belt: 4.5"
Bulkheads: 4.5"
Iron
250 Originally laid down as a Steam powered Corvette
March 1866: Completed
1869: Rearmed
1886: Sold for scrapping

PALLAS

Name Launched Displacement Dimensions Machinery Armament Armour Crew Notes
Pallas March 1865 3794 tons 225' x 50' x 21' 8" 1-shaft
4 boilers
Humphreys & Tennant engine
3580 ihp
12.5 knots
4 x 7" RML
2 x 7" BL
1866:
4 x 8" RML
2 x 7" BL
2 x 5" BL
1872:
4 x 8" RML
4 x 6" RML
Belt: 4.5"
Bulkheads: 4.5"
Iron
253 March 1866: Completed
1866: Rearmed
1870 - 1872: Rearmed
1886: Sold for scrapping

PENELOPE

Name Launched Displacement Dimensions Machinery Armament Armour Crew Notes
Penelope June 1867 4470 tons 265' x 50' x 17' 9" 2-shafts
4 boilers
Maudslay engines
4763 ihp
12.8 knots
8 x 8" RML
3 x 40 pdr. BL
2 x 20 pdr. BL
1888:
8 x 8" RML
4 x QF
2 x 20 pdr. BL
Belt: 6"
Bulkheads: 4.5"
Iron
350 June 1868: Completed
1887 - 1888: Refitted and rearmed
1888: Receiving ship (Simonstown)
1897: Prison hulk (Capetown)
1912: Sold for scrapping

Key

- = Unknown
BL = Breech Loading Gun
cwt. = 112 lbs.
ihp = indicated horse power
pdr. = pounder
QF = Quick Firing Gun
RML = Rifled Muzzle Loading Gun
SBML = Smooth Bore Muzzle Loading Gun
tons = 20 cwt. or 2240 lbs.
TS = Training Ship
TT = Torpedo Tubes

For images of the ships listed here, click on the appropriate link.

© Robert George Cordery (2005)