History of the pre Dreadnought
Prince Consort Class battleships HMS Prince Consort, HMS Caledonia and
HMS Ocean.
HMS Prince
Consort. Built at Pembroke Dockyard. and laid down in 1860 as HMS
Triumph, The name being changed to HMS Prince Consort after the
death of Prince Albert in February 1862.
launched
on the 126th June 1862 and completed April 1864. Completed with a Barque
Rigged but converted to a ship rig in 1866. On Completion she was
ordered to |Liverpool to watch the Confederate rams being built at
Lairds. and was nearly lost during the journey to Liverpool/ Joined the
Channel Squadron in 1864 until 1867. transferring to the Mediterranean
Squadron in 1867 to 1871. Returning to Plymouth in 1871 be be laid
up. and during this period she was re armed for the second time. She was
sold in march 1882 after being in poor condition and had become in a bad
state of repair,.
HMS
Caledonia. Built at Woolwich Dockyard and laid down in 1860. being launched
on the 24th October 1862. and completed in July 1865. Commissioned
into the Mediterranean fleet as second in command. later moving to
become Flagship to the experimental squadron in the Channel. went into
refit and re armed in1 867. afterwards becoming flagship for
Commander in Chief of Mediterranean fleet (relieving the last of
the three deckers, HMS Victoria) serving there until 1869.
returning to UK in 1872. becoming Guard ship in the Forth between 1872
till 1875. Paid off at Plymouth and laid up . later being sold on the
30th September 1886
HMS
Ocean. Built at davenport Dockyard. and laid down on the 23red
August 1860. launched 19th March 1862. and completed July 1865. Commissioned
into the Channel Fleet at Devonport o in 1866. but soon
transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet On the 18th June 1867 HMS ocean
left Gibraltar for Hong Kong. arriving Batavia after 133 days a majority
of the time under sail. She was the only Armoured ship to double
the cape under sail. served in the China station between 1867 and
1872 without docking. returning home after 164 day journey form Singapore
under steam at 4.5 knots. went into reserve until 1882 when she
was sold. HMS Ocean never anchored in British waters during her
entire service career from 1867 to 1882.
Displacement:
6832 tons. Speed: 12.5 knots. (Caledonia 12.9 knots.)
Armament: Four 8 - inch Guns MLR. Twenty - 7 inch MLR Guns/
Crew 605
