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{{Short description|1882 class of British ironclads}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}
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{{Infobox ship class overview
{{Infobox ship class overview
|Builders=[[Portsmouth Dockyard]], [[Pembroke Dockyard]]
|Builders=[[Portsmouth Dockyard]], [[Pembroke Dockyard]]
|Operators= {{navy|UK}}
|Operators= {{navy|United Kingdom}}
|Class before= {{sclass-|Ajax|ironclad|4}}
|Class before= {{sclass|Ajax|ironclad|4}}
|Class after={{sclass2-|Admiral|battleship|4}}
|Class after={{sclass2|Admiral|battleship|4}}
|Subclasses=
|Built range=
|Built range=
|In commission range=1882–1910
|In commission range=1882–1910
|Total ships building=
|Total ships planned=
|Total ships completed=2
|Total ships completed=2
|Total ships cancelled=
|Total ships active=
|Total ships laid up=
|Total ships lost=
|Total ships retired=2
|Total ships retired=2
|Total ships preserved=
}}
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
{{Infobox ship characteristics
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*[[Deck (ship)|Deck]]: 2.5–3 inches
*[[Deck (ship)|Deck]]: 2.5–3 inches
*[[Conning tower|Conning Tower]]: {{convert|14|in|mm|sigfig=3}}
*[[Conning tower|Conning Tower]]: {{convert|14|in|mm|sigfig=3}}
*[[Turret]]s: 16-inch faces, 14-inch sides and rear
*[[Gun turret|Turrets]]: 16-inch faces, 14-inch sides and rear
|Ship armor=
|Ship armor=
|Ship aircraft=
|Ship aircraft=
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==Design==
==Design==
[[File:Colossus class battleship diagrams Brasseys 1896.jpg|thumb|left|<center>Right elevation and plan as depicted in Brassey's Naval Annual 1896</center>]]
[[File:Colossus class battleship diagrams Brasseys 1896.jpg|thumb|left|{{center|Right elevation and plan as depicted in Brassey's Naval Annual 1896}}]]
They were in all essential points improved versions of the {{sclass-|Ajax|ironclad|4}}, with slightly greater displacement, protection and speed, with better handling characteristics, and most significantly, with breech-loading artillery replacing the obsolescent muzzle loaders. They also used steel rather than iron for most of the hull structure, and utilised the innovative compound armour for the belt and turrets.
They were in all essential points improved versions of the {{sclass|Ajax|ironclad|4}}, with slightly greater displacement, protection and speed, with better handling characteristics, and most significantly, with breech-loading artillery replacing the obsolescent muzzle loaders. They also used steel rather than iron for most of the hull structure, and utilised the innovative compound armour for the belt and turrets.


The class was originally designed to carry the then-standard muzzle-loading artillery, while European navies had already for several years been equipped with breech-loading guns. At this time, for historical reasons, the [[Board of Admiralty]] was ultimately responsible for the designs of Royal Naval warships, but the [[War Office]] was responsible for the design and provision of naval artillery. In 1879, while the ''Colossus'' class was under construction, a 100-ton muzzle-loader was being tested at the [[Royal Arsenal]], [[Woolwich]], and the [[RML 16 inch 80 ton gun|16-inch 80-ton guns]] destined for {{HMS|Inflexible|1876|6}} were nearly complete. Responding to a groundswell of professional opinion, the Admiralty sent a group of senior officers to witness and report on the performance of the new breech-loading weapons being produced by [[Krupp]] in [[Essen]]. As a result of their report, Woolwich undertook the manufacture of 12&nbsp;inch calibre breech-loaders, with a breech mechanism manufactured at [[Elswick, Tyne and Wear|Elswick]]. The ''Colossus'' class was nominated to be armed with these guns; the delay in their manufacture largely accounts for the protracted building times of these vessels.
The class was originally designed to carry the then-standard muzzle-loading artillery, while European navies had already for several years been equipped with breech-loading guns. At this time, for historical reasons, the [[Board of Admiralty]] was ultimately responsible for the designs of Royal Naval warships, but the [[War Office]] was responsible for the design and provision of naval artillery. In 1879, while the ''Colossus'' class was under construction, a 100-ton muzzle-loader was being tested at the [[Royal Arsenal]], [[Woolwich]], and the [[RML 16 inch 80 ton gun|16-inch 80-ton guns]] destined for {{HMS|Inflexible|1876|6}} were nearly complete. Responding to a groundswell of professional opinion, the Admiralty sent a group of senior officers to witness and report on the performance of the new breech-loading weapons being produced by [[Krupp]] in [[Essen]]. As a result of their report, Woolwich undertook the manufacture of 12&nbsp;inch calibre breech-loaders, with a breech mechanism manufactured at [[Elswick, Tyne and Wear|Elswick]]. The ''Colossus'' class was nominated to be armed with these guns; the delay in their manufacture largely accounts for the protracted building times of these vessels.
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==References==
==References==
* {{cite book|title=British Battleships|first=Oscar|last=Parkes|publisher=Cooper|year=1990|isbn=978-0-85052-604-2|oclc=21677208}}
* {{cite book|title=British Battleships|first=Oscar|last=Parkes|publisher=Cooper|year=1990|isbn=978-0-85052-604-2|oclc=21677208}}
* {{cite book|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1860–1905|first=Roger|last=Chesneau|author2=Eugène M Koleśnik |author3=N. J. M. Campbell |location=London|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|year=1979|isbn=978-0-85177-133-5|oclc=5834247}}
* {{cite book|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905|first=Roger|last=Chesneau|author2=Eugène M. Koleśnik |author3=N. J. M. Campbell |location=London|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|year=1979|isbn=978-0-85177-133-5|oclc=5834247 | url-access = registration
| url = https://archive.org/details/conwaysallworlds0000unse_l2e2
}}


==External links==
==External links==
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* [http://dreadnoughtproject.org/tech/colossus An Animated Technical Study of HMS Colossus]
* [http://dreadnoughtproject.org/tech/colossus An Animated Technical Study of HMS Colossus]


{{Portal|Battleships}}
{{Colossus class battleship (1882)}}
{{Colossus class battleship (1882)}}
{{British ironclads}}
{{British ironclads}}

Latest revision as of 14:30, 2 February 2024

HMS Colossus, lead ship of the class, painted in 1891, Malta
Class overview
BuildersPortsmouth Dockyard, Pembroke Dockyard
Operators Royal Navy
Preceded byAjax class
Succeeded byAdmiral class
In commission1882–1910
Completed2
Retired2
General characteristics
Displacement9,420 tons
Length325 ft (99 m) pp
Beam68 ft (21 m)
Draught25 ft 9 in (7.85 m)
Propulsion2-shaft Maudslay engine, 7,488 ihp (5,584 kW)
Speed16.5 knots (30.6 km/h)
Armament
Armour

The Colossus-class battleships were British ironclad warships, carrying their main armament in turrets, which served in the Victorian Royal Navy from 1882. They were the first British warships to carry large rifled breech-loading main guns.

Design

[edit]
Right elevation and plan as depicted in Brassey's Naval Annual 1896

They were in all essential points improved versions of the Ajax class, with slightly greater displacement, protection and speed, with better handling characteristics, and most significantly, with breech-loading artillery replacing the obsolescent muzzle loaders. They also used steel rather than iron for most of the hull structure, and utilised the innovative compound armour for the belt and turrets.

The class was originally designed to carry the then-standard muzzle-loading artillery, while European navies had already for several years been equipped with breech-loading guns. At this time, for historical reasons, the Board of Admiralty was ultimately responsible for the designs of Royal Naval warships, but the War Office was responsible for the design and provision of naval artillery. In 1879, while the Colossus class was under construction, a 100-ton muzzle-loader was being tested at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, and the 16-inch 80-ton guns destined for HMS Inflexible were nearly complete. Responding to a groundswell of professional opinion, the Admiralty sent a group of senior officers to witness and report on the performance of the new breech-loading weapons being produced by Krupp in Essen. As a result of their report, Woolwich undertook the manufacture of 12 inch calibre breech-loaders, with a breech mechanism manufactured at Elswick. The Colossus class was nominated to be armed with these guns; the delay in their manufacture largely accounts for the protracted building times of these vessels.

Both ships did well on sea-trials, exceeding their design speed. They threw up what is described as a "remarkable bow wave, which rose like a solid wall for thirteen feet, the like of which has never been observed." They had a quick roll, and because of the low freeboard and the long chases of the guns, the gun muzzles dipped into the sea at a roll of 13° when trained on the beam. They were fitted with large bilge keels and with anti-rolling tanks.

They were both reported to be slow to respond to the helm, with large turning circles.

Ships

[edit]
Name Builder Laid down Launched Completed
Colossus Portsmouth Dockyard 6 June 1879 21 March 1882 1886
Edinburgh Pembroke Dockyard 20 March 1879 18 March 1882 8 July 1887

References

[edit]
  • Parkes, Oscar (1990). British Battleships. Cooper. ISBN 978-0-85052-604-2. OCLC 21677208.
  • Chesneau, Roger; Eugène M. Koleśnik; N. J. M. Campbell (1979). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 978-0-85177-133-5. OCLC 5834247.
[edit]