NAVYPEDIA

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Abyssinia			Dudgeon, Poplar, UK	23.7.1868	19.2.1870	10.1870	sold to BU 1.1903

Technical data

Displacement normal, t	2901
Displacement full, t
Length, m	68.6 pp
Breadth, m	12.8
Draught, m	4.45
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 Dudgeon 2-cyl DRCR, boilers
Power, h. p.	1200
Max speed, kts	9.6
Fuel, t	coal 92
Endurance, nm(kts)
Armour, mm	iron; belt: 178 - 152 with 279 - 229mm wood backing, breastwork: 203 - 178, turrets: 254 - 203, decks: 38 - 25
Armament	2 x 2 - 254/15 MLR Mk I/II
Complement	100

Project history

Smaller and cheaper edition of Cerberus, intended to serve as coast defence ship at Bombay with Magdala. Compared with the previous class she had less freeboard and speed, and 25mm reduction in armour thickness on the belt amidships, breastwork and turret walls. The breastwork served to keep the turrets, hatchways, vents and funnels, comparatively clear of the water, making the ships more practical in a seaway the the low freeboard contemporary ships of the US Navy. A CT was fitted forward of the funnel.

Ship protection

The hull was protected by 178mm belt reducing to 152mm at the ends, and the turrets were raised on a central armoured breastwork 203mm at the ends and 178mm amidships. Turrets had 254mm faces and 203mm walls.

Modernizations

1892: - 2 x 2 - 254/15; + 2 x 2 - 203/30 BL Mk VI

Naval service

Abyssinia made the passage to Bombay under her own power where she remained until sold.