NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Northumberland with three masts.

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Minotaur (ex-Elephant)		81e	Thames Iron Wks, Blackwall	12.9.1861	12.12.1863	1.6.1867	TS 1895
Agincourt (ex-Captain)		291	Lairds, Birkenhead	30.10.1861	27.3.1865	19.12.1868	TS 1895
Northumberland			Millwall Iron Wks, Blackwall	10.10.1861	17.4.1866	8.10.1868	depot ship 1898

Technical data

Displacement normal, t	Minotaur: 10690 Agincourt: 10600 Northumberland: 10784
Displacement full, t
Length, m	122.0 pp 124.0 oa
Breadth, m	18.1
Draught, m	8.46
No of shafts	1
Machinery	Minotaur, Northumberland: sails + 1 2-cyl HSE, trunk, 10 rectangular boilers Agincourt: sails + 1 2-cyl HSE, double piston rods, 10 rectangular boilers
Power, h. p.	Minotaur: 6702 Agincourt: 6867 Northumberland: 6558
Max speed, kts	Minotaur: 14.4 Agincourt: 15.4 Northumberland: 14.1
Fuel, t	coal 750
Endurance, nm(kts)	1200(10)
Armour, mm	Minotaur, Agincourt: iron; belt: 146 - 114 with 254mm teak backing, bulkhead: 140 Northumberland: iron; belt: 146 - 114 with 254mm teak backing, bulkheads: 140, CT: 114
Armament	Minotaur, Agincourt: 4 x 1 - 229/14 MLR Mk IV, 24 x 1 - 178/16 MLR Mk III, 8 x 1 - 148/11 24pdr brass MLSB howitzers Northumberland: 4 x 1 - 229/14 MLR Mk IV, 22 x 1 - 203/15 MLR Mk III, 2 x 1 - 178/16 MLR Mk III
Complement	705

Graphics

Project history

Initially ships of class were designed as 50-gun armoured frigates with full length protection to the battery to avoid unprotected gun positions on the main deck, really they were enlarged version of Achilles with a ram-shaped bow, heavier armour and armament and increased engine power. They were the largest warships to be propelled by single screw. Northumberland was built under design modified by Reed and had heavier armament and fewer guns, enabling the battery to be shorter.

Minotaur was really completed in 1865 but spent 18 months testing experimental armaments and rigs before commission. Originalle she had a square rig on her first four masts and a spanker on the 5th mast, this proved unsatisfactory and the yards were removed from the 4th mast. Other sister-ships were completed with this rig. Northumberland had a gaff on all masts, other two ships had no gaff on the 2nd mast. The sail area was 3010m2. These were unhandy vessels and poor sailers, their best speed under sail was 9-10kts, but they were good seaboats, being very steady and steamed well. In 1870s two first ships received steam-powered steering gear and Northumberland was so completed being the first ship so fitted.

Ship protection

On Minotaur and Agincourt the armour (146mm amidships and 114mm near the ship ends) covered the entire side from the upper deck to 1.8m below the waterline, except for the extreme forward end between the main and upper decks. Single 140mm bulkhead closed the fwd end of the battery and extended to the top of the bulwarks to give protection to chase guns on the forecastle.

On Northumberland the side armour between the main and upper decks covered only the length of the battery (56.3m) to compensate for the increased armament weight, and the ends were enclosed by 140mm bulkheads extending the full depth of the side armour. Also Northumberland had armoured CT protected by 114mm plates.

Modernizations

(1873-1875), Minotaur, (1875-1877), Agincourt: were reboilered, new propeller and steam steering were fitted (6288hp, 14.1kts), completely rearmed with 17 x 1 - 229/14 MLR Mk IV, 2 x 1 - 95/21 20pdr 16cwt BL

(1875-1879), Northumberland: 2nd and 4th masts were removed, ship was re-rigged as a barque, was completely rearmed with 7 x 1 - 229/14 MLR Mk IV, 20 x 1 - 203/15 MLR Mk III, 2 x 1 - 95/21 20pdr 16cwt BL, 4 x 1 - 356 TT

early 1880s, Minotaur, Agincourt: - 2 x 1 - 229/14; + 2 x 1 - 152/26 BL Mk III/IV/VI

(1885-1887), Northumberland: - 2 x 1 - 203/15; + 1 x 1 - 152/26 BL Mk III/IV/VI, 1 x 1 - 127/25 BL Mk I/II/III/IV/V

(1891-1892), Minotaur, Agincourt: + 4 x 1 - 120/40 QF Mk I/II/III/IV, 8 x 1 - 47/40 Hotchkiss QF Mk I, 8 x 1 - 11.4/87, 2 x 1 - 356 TT

early 1890s, Northumberland: + 6 x 1 - 120/40 QF Mk I/II/III/IV, 10 x 1 - 47/40 Hotchkiss QF Mk I, 6 x 1 - 11.4/87

Naval service

Minotaur was converted to TS at Portland and renamed Boscawen in 1904, Ganges in 1906, Ganges II in 1908 and sold for BU 30.1.1922. Agincourt also became TS at Portland in 1895, renamed Boscawen III in 1904 and Ganges II in 1906, in 1908 converted to coal hulk C109 and arrived for BU 21.10.1960. Northumberland became depot ship in 1898, TS Acheron in 1904 and coal hulk C8 in 1909 (since 1926 C68) and sold in June 1927.

Thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.