HMS
Devastation of the Devastation Class
Battleships. Photographs and history of HMS Devastation
HMS Devastation built at Portsmouth and launched 12th July 1871.
The idea of Sir
E J Reed of the Admiralty as an improvement on the old Prince Albert
design. in 1881 Devastation was refitted with improvements in
ventilation, and an overhaul of machinery. Devastation
underwent modernization in 1890-92 and old guns were replaced with
quick-firers and breechloaders. HMS Devastation was
removed from the Navy List in 1907, being sold in May 1908.
Armament: four 29 ton guns, six 6 pounder guns and eight 3 pounder
quick firers with a partial belt of armour from 12ins to10 ins.
Displacement: 9,330 tons. I.H.P: 7,000. Length: 285 ft.
Beam: 62ft 3 ins. Max Draught: 27ft 6ins. Speed:
14 knots (after modernisation).
Complement: 410. |
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HMS
DEVASTATION |
12TH JULY
1871 |
SOLD MAY 1908 |
HMS Devastation.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code LGE0131 |
HMS Devastation in dock, 1873.
A
large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available. Reproduced
from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright
holder. A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price
£25. Order photograph here Order
Code XMP105
Original
republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here
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HMS Devastation, 1873.
A
large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available. Reproduced
from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright
holder. A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price
£25. Order photograph here Order
Code XMP103
Original
republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here
to order. Order Code MP103 |
HMS Devastation returning from her
Gibraltar service c.1902.
The Devastation was one of the earliest ironclad vessels to be built
in a public dockyard, and she excited considerable attention at the time.
She was thought by many to be too heavy, with sarcastic jokes made
about her weight. By 1902 she had served 31 years with the navy. Her
Gibraltar station was taken over by HMS Irresistible.
Original magazine photo is available image size
10" x 7" approx , price £20 plus £3 post for UK
£10 overseas, recorded airmail order
photograph here |
HMS Devastation, 1873.
A
large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available. Reproduced
from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright
holder. A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price
£25. Order photograph here Order
Code XMP104
Original
republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here
to order. Order Code MP104 |
HMS Devastation, July, 1894 |
HMS Devastation.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code LGE0132 |
HMS Devastation - Portguard Ship at Devonport
The Devastation was an iron second-class battleship and was
completed for sea in 1873. She was built at Portsmouth Dockyard and
engined by Messrs Maudsley, Son & Field. Commissioned at Portsmouth in
December 1893 under Captain William M Lang of Fleet Reserve at Devonport. A
large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available. Reproduced
from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright
holder. A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price
£25. Order photograph here Order
Code XMP106
Original
republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here
to order. Order Code MP106 |
HMS Devastation.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code LGE0167
HMS Devastation was launched in 1871 and performed well
on her first trials. She was originally designed to have two signal masts,
one forward and one aft of the turrets but after completion she only had
one mast on the superstructure.
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The Company of the Devastation 1896
The complete seagoing complement of the Devastation was 410 of all
ranks and ratings, but in ordinary conditions there was no need to keep so
many men on board. At this time there were portguardships at Portsmouth,
Chatham, Devonport, Pembroke, and Queenstown, all seagoing ships. There
special duty was to join and act with the coastguard ships, which
similarly comprised second-class ironclads and cruisers, as a Reserve
Fleet and second line in support of the Channel Squadron. The port and
coastguard ships were kept ready at all times to put to sea at short
notice, and in cases of emergency would fill up their seagoing complements
from the Naval Barracks and Marine Depots at each port, from the
Coastguardsmen and Naval Reserve men living at home within clearly defined
areas.
Original Page photo image from
quality magazine published in 1896 image size 10" x 8" approx ,
plus title and specifications. price £20 plus £3 post for UK £10 overseas, recorded airmail
order number AN2/105 order magazine photo here |
Commander Stewart off Devonport Dockyard
This shows Commandeer Alexander E Stewart in a ship's boat off the
dockyard. |
Devastation in the Hamoze
The Devastation is shown flying the flag of Admiral the Hon Sir
Edmund Fremantle, who had just taken up the office of Commander-in-Chief
in 1896 at Devonport. |
Petty Officers from the Devastation in 1896
The Chief and first and second class petty officers of the
Devastation - all men of tried experience at sea, and specially selected
for the Petty Officers' rating on account of good character, intelligence
and smartness. |
Captain Burnard and N.C.O.'s Marines 1896
Some of the Marines of the Devastation in 1896 both light infantry
and artillerymen, among these is shown the ship's postman with his
leathern wallet. |
The Devastation the Portguard ship at Devonport
The photograph shows Captain William Metcalfe Lang, the
distinguished and able officer who organised the Chinese Fleet between the
years 1886-1890 until compelled by a disgraceful mandarin intrigue to
throw up his appointment - surrounded by the other officers of the ship.
Original Page photo image from
quality magazine published in 1896 image size 6" x 8" approx ,
plus title and specifications. price £15 plus £3 post for UK £10 overseas, recorded airmail
order number AN2/104 order magazine photo here |
|
The following is an extract from the Naval and Military Gazette:
"We hesitated to give currency to reports which reached us
during the cruise of the Devastation round the coast with the Channel
Squadron, as we had good reason to believe that it was the intention of
the Admiralty to pay her off, and berth her in Portsmouth harbour as a
tender to the Excellent the advantage of so doing being that a very
large number of men passing through the School of Gunnery would thus be
enabled to become acquainted with the latest improvements in the turret
system ... But since the arrival of the Admiralty of Rear Admiral Hornby,
late in command of the Channel Squadron, who certainly should be able to
form a correct estimate of the Devastion's fitness in every respect
for the sea service, it has been determined that she shall be ordered to
Gibraltar, there probably to remain during the coming winter as a kind of
'guardo'. A cruise across the bay in the month of November is not looked
forward to by the present crew, who have had a little experience both of
being stifled by being battened down and of being nearly blown out of
their hammocks when efforts at ventilation are made by opening up every
hatch. Her qualities as a sea boat have been fairly tested, and the
present notion of filling her up with stores for six months further
service, and then stowing her away at Gibraltar, leads to the conclusion
that on this point at least the value of the counsel of the First Lord's
new Naval adviser is not altogether apparent." |
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