NAVYPEDIA

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Monarch 1872

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Monarch			Chatham DYd	1.6.1866	25.5.1868	12.6.1869	guard ship 1897, hulk 3.1904

Technical data

Displacement normal, t	8322
Displacement full, t
Length, m	100.6 pp
Breadth, m	17.5
Draught, m	7.39
No of shafts	1
Machinery	sails + 1 2-cyl HSE return connection rod, 9 rectangular boilers
Power, h. p.	7842
Max speed, kts	14.9
Fuel, t	coal 600
Endurance, nm(kts)	2000(10)
Armour, mm	iron; belt: 178 - 114 with 305 - 254mm wood backing, bulkheads: 114 - 102, main turrets: 254 - 203, secondary turrets: 127, CT: 203
Armament	2 x 2 - 305/12 MLR Mk II, 3 x 1 - 178/16 MLR Mk III
Complement	575

Graphics

Project history

The first sea-going turret ship and the first British ship with 305mm guns. She originated from an Admiralty design produced as result of agitation by Coles and the recommendations of a committee appointed in 1865. For ocean service a full rig and forecastle were considered essential, although this resulted in serious restrictions to arcs of fire of main turrets. To compensate for the loss of end-on fire, two 178mm guns were mounted fwd on the upper deck and one 178mm gun aft on the upper deck.

Monarch was a good steamer and the fastest battleship afloat at the time of her completion. Equipped with auxiliary machinery for steering, capstan and turret training, she was ship-rigged with 2580m2 of sail area. She proved to be a fast sailer but was difficult to handle, although modifications to the balanced rudder slightly improved matters. She was a steady gun platform and a good seaboat, being very dry in heavy weather.

Ship protection

The turrets had 254mm faces and 203mm sides, the turret bases were protected by a box citadel between the upper and main decks, with 178mm sides and 114-102mm bulkheads. The belt extended from the main deck to 1.5m below the waterline and was 178mm below the citadel reducing to 152mm fore and aft and 114mm at the ends. Hinged bulwarks were provided on the edge of the upper deck. There was an armoured CT positioned fwd of the funnel on the hurricane deck. 178mm gun aft on the upper deck was protected by 127mm armour.

Modernizations

1872: ship was altered to barque-rig

1878: + 2 - 356 TC

(1890-1897): was re-engined and re-boilered (1 HTE, 8 cylindrical boilers, 8216hp, 15.8kts), new funnel was installed, the rig was cut down to lower masts with light topmasts and yards, new bridge was fitted; + 4 x 1 - 76/40 QF Mk I, 10 x 1 - 47/40 Hotchkiss QF Mk I

Naval service

Monarch became a guardship in 1897. In March 1904 she was hulked as depot ship and renamed Simoom. She was sold to BU 4.4.1905.