HMS Bellerophon - Battleship
Country : UK Launched : 26th April 1865
Displacement: 7551 tons (load). Complement: 550. Engine: Penn 2 cyl. HT, one shaft. 8 rectangular boilers. 14 kts.
Armour: Battery 6", Belt 6" amidships reducing to 3" at the bows and 4.5" at the stern, both with 10" wood backing. CT 8". The prototype of the Central Battery Ship in the RN; she was designed by Edward Reed. In a successful effort to produce a more handy (if not faster) ship her LOA was reduced by eighty feet in comparison with WARRIOR and
Armament was ten 9" MLR, five to a side, within the armoured box. There were three 7" MLR as stern chasers and two more 7" MLR as bow chasers, plus four 12pdr Arstrong breechloaders for saluting. In her refit in 1881-4 the 9" MLRs were replaced by 8" BLs, the three 7" sternchasers replaced by two 6" BLs and the two 7" bowchasers by two 6" BLs. The four 12pdrs were removed and six 4" BLs installed in their stead. She was also equipped with two torpedo carriages for 16" Whiteheads at main deck ports outside the armoured citadel.
A dull mover under canvas.
In this ship the mens' accomodation was improved but that of the officers was decidedly worstened.
Became port guard ship at Pembroke Dock in 1892. Converted to a stokers' training ship March 1904 and renamed Indus III. Sold for scrap 12th December 1922.
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