HMS Raleigh was designed by Sir Edward Reed built
at Chatham dockyard and laid down in 1871 and and launched 1st March
1873 and completed 1874. Although not part of a class it had
similarities to HMS Inconstant and HMS Shah all designed by Sir Edward
Reed. HMS Raleigh was built with two layers of 3 inch timber
with the first being applied vertically and the second being
horizontal. then coppered over. The main armament of HMS
Raleigh were two 9 pounder chase guns which were fitted at the
extremities of the ship. and on the upper deck there were four 64
pounders in truck mounts. On the main deck were mounted 7 inch
guns on the broadsides. In 1884 HMS Raleigh was re armed
with eight 6 inch Breach loading guns and eight 5 inch
breach loading guns and 12 Machine guns plus Two TC.s from the previous
armament only eight of the 7 inch MLRs broadside remained,
HMS Ralirgh sail design was not similar to any
other ship in the Navy with her lower and topsail were on
the scale of a 2nd class frigate with the topgallants and royals were
the equivalent to the largest ships sails. This made her sails not interchangeable
with any other ship in the Royal Navy.
Displacement: 5200 tons, Speed 15.3
knots Crew 530
