Displacement: 10,600 tons.     I.H.P: 11,500.     Length: 330 ft.     Beam: 68ft 6 in.     Speed: 16.9 knots.    Complement: 515.    Max draught: 27ft 3 in.   Armament: four 67 ton guns, four 6 in guns, twelve 6 pounder guns and ten 3 pounder quick-firers.  Partial belt of 18 in composite armour.

(Pictured right the damage down to HMS Howe's keel when she grounded at Ferrol)

HMS Howe aground at Ferrol, November 1892.

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  XMP143

HMS Howe, 1889.

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  XMP142

HMS Howe, 1889.

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  XMP141

Photograph of HMS Howe sent in by Bill Hatcher.

HMS Howe pictured pre 1896

A reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x 7" approx available.  Order photograph here  © Walker Archive. Order Code  PH12

HMS Howe photographed 1901/1903. 

A reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x 7" approx available.  Order photograph here  © MPL. Order Code  PH13

The Officers of the Battleship Howe at Malta 1896

Here we see Captain R W Stopford of the first-class battleship Howe, together with his officers of all ranks. The Captain is the white-haired officer shown in the centre of the group in front. The photograph was taken at Malta when the Howe, with the rest of the Mediterranean Fleet, was in harbour there. The Howe had four years before this in 1892 touched on a rock in Ferrol Harbour and remained in a critical condition for some weeks after. She was then floated and brought back to England to be completely overhauled and repaired at Chatham Dockyard, after which, in November 1893, she proceeded to join the Mediterranean Fleet.

The Company of the Battleship Howe 1896

The Howe carried for her company some 510 officers and men, practically the same number as carried by other battleships of the Admiral class. Here we see a large part of the Howe's company assembled on the forecastle of the ship and on the port side of the fore barbette. The photograph being taken in Malta during 1896, where the Howe was in harbour together with the First Division of the Mediterranean Fleet. The Howe was raised from the bottom of the sea in Ferrol Harbour.

Gymnastics on Board The Battleship Howe 1896

All mastless ships in Her Majesty's Navy of 1896 were provided with the necessary fixtures for a gymnasium, in order that Jack, having lost the many exercises aloft of the old days, may have some other means of developing his muscles and of keeping them in working order. As a general rule, the horizontal and parallel bars, the clubs, the dumb bells, mats and other requisites are kept stowed away, but after evening quarters the word is passed, and in rather less than no time the port side of the quarter-deck or some other convenient place is transformed into a capital gymnasium. A qualified gymnast instructor was available, and the average bluejacket makes an exceedingly apt pupil.

Inspection of Bags and Bedding on Howe 1896

Here we see the operation of inspecting clothes and bedding of the seamen and marines. Each lieutenant in a ship had charge of a certain number of men, called a Division, being responsible for the cleanliness and correctness of the uniform of the men under his charge, and inspecting it, assisted by his midshipmen, when he considered necessary. A bluejacket called his clothes collectively his "bag", from the fact that everything he possessed was kept in a painted canvas bag. His "bag" consisted of 20 articles of clothing - of cloth, serge, duck or drill - cholera belts; comforters; jerseys; brushes for hair, clothes and boots; a box for his private correspondence and cash; and other small items.

At Physical Drill on Board the Howe at Malta 1896

When the days of the sail ship ended there was no scope for sail drill and the exercise aloft that had been used to keep the men of the fleet on board ship in such splendid condition and health, other devices had to be used to provide a means of hardening muscles. Here we show part of the Howe's company engaged in what was officially styled "Physical Drill" sometime in 1896.

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Photographs and information on historical events about HMS Howe requested for this new website. If you have any information you would like to send us including photographs of crew members serving on HMS Howe and also photographs of the ship please  USE OUR MESSAGE FORM 

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I have information that HMS Howe was renamed HMS Impregnable: my father, Joseph Shrigley served on HMS Impregnable from the 3rd December 1924 - 30th December 1925. It was his first ship and so HMS Impregnable must have been a depot ship. He would have been around 16 years old at the time, and was a Boy, 2nd Class. I desperately need information about both my father during his time in the Royal Navy, and HMS Impregnable. Please email me at theobald@geo.net.au. Any contributions gratefully accepted and highly regarded.