HMS Hercules Central Battery Ironclad.  Photos and history of HMS Hercules,  HMS Hercules was an enlarged version of  HMS Bellerophon. built at Chatham Dockyard and laid down ion 1st February 1866, and launched 10th February 1868 and completed 21st November 1868.   Although she was a good gun platform she was difficult to handle in Heavy weather.  In 1878 Two 14 inch Torpedo carriages were added. and in 1886 net defences were also added. She went into refit and major re construction work was done including being re engined and six 4.7 inch quick firing guns added and two6 inch QF guns in the bow. and Nine 6 pounder QF and Thirteen 3 pounder QF were also fitted. with her new engines she could make 15.9 knots. But after her refit she was put into reserve and reclassified as a third class battleship. In 1905 she was converted into accommodation and renamed Calcutta in1 909 and Fisgard II in 1915 eventually being sold and scrapped in 1932.

Displacement:  8677 tons.  full load 88390 tons.  Speed: 14.7 knots.  Crew 638  Armament:  Eight 10 inch MLR, Two 9 inch MLR and Four 7 inch MLR.  (plus the above alterations) 

HMS Hercules - Name History

The eleventh ?HERCULES? was a 14-gun screw broadside ironclad, launched at Chatham in 1868.  She was of 9300 tons, 8530 horse-power, and 14 knots speed.  Her length, beam, and draught were 305ft., 59ft., and 25ft.    This vessel became a floating barrack for dockyard workmen at Gibralter, and her name was subsequently changed to ?Calcutta.?

HMS Hercules, 1868.

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HMS Hercules, 1868.

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HMS Hercules.