NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Northampton with fighting top on mizzen

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Nelson		189	Elder, Govan	2.11.1874	4.11.1876	26.7.1881	training hulk 1901
Northampton		344	Napier, Govan	26.10.1874	18.11.1876	7.12.1878	training hulk 6.1894

Technical data

Displacement normal, t	Nelson: 7473 Northampton: 7630
Displacement full, t
Length, m	85.3 pp
Breadth, m	18.3
Draught, m	7.57
No of shafts	2
Machinery	Nelson: sails + 2 2-cyl IHC, 10 oval boilers Northampton: sails + 2 3-cyl IHC, 10 oval boilers
Power, h. p.	Nelson: 6624 Northampton: 6073
Max speed, kts	Nelson: 14 Northampton: 13
Fuel, t	coal 1150
Endurance, nm(kts)	5000(10.5)
Armour, mm	iron; belt: 229 - 152 on 330 - 254 teak backing, bulkheads: 229 - 152, decks: 76 - 51, CT: 229
Armament	4 x 1 - 254/15 MLR Mk I/II, 8 x 1 - 229/14 MLR Mk IV, 6 x 1 - 100/21 20pdr 16cwt BL, 3 x 1 - 76/16 9pdr 6cwt BL
Complement	560

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Enlarged versions of Shannon and of similarly limited value despite an increase in displacement of almost 2000t. The increased size resulted from the adoption of more powerful machinery, for a 1.7kt increase in speed, improved protection and heavier armament. The general distribution of armour and armament was similar to that in Shannon except that the arrangement forward, with a protective deck, deep bulkhead and upper deck armour screen with corner ports for two 254mm guns, was repeated aft. The addition of a protective deck aft was made possible by the adoption of twin screws which allowed the steering gear to be placed below the waterline and under the 76mm lower deck whereas that in Shannon, being above the waterline, required the protection of side armour. In place of the forecastle and poop of Shannon they carried a full length deck which covered the unprotected battery of 6 229mm guns.

Engines of Northampton had three equal size cylinders with adjustable volumes allowing their use as all high pressure, all low pressure or compound. Despite several trials and modifications to the propellers and engines she never achieved her designed speed of 14kts. Both completed with a barque rig of 2300 m2 sail area but unlike Shannon they were intended mainly for steam cruising and were given sufficient coal stowage to provide an endurance of 5000nm at 10kts, or 7500nm at 7kts. This was fortunate for although reasonable sea boats they proved to be poor sailers.

Ship protection

The lower strake of the belt, which was 55.2m long, was reduced to 152mm in thickness while the main deck over the length of the belt was 51mm. The main deck guns were divided into four groups by 25mm steel bulkheads which gave some measure of splinter protection and reduced the risk of several guns being knocked out by one hit. The side plating, abreast the midships guns, was also constructed of 25mm steel.

Modernizations

1886, Northampton: was converted to a military rig with fighting top on mizzen; - 6 x 1 - 100/21, 3 x 1 - 76/16; + 6 x 1 - 57/40 Hotchkiss Mk I, 8 x 1 - 47/40 Hotchkiss Mk I, 2 - 356 TT (beam aw)

1889-1891, Nelson: was converted to a military rig with fighting tops on fore and mizzen, torpedo net added; - 6 x 1 - 100/21, 3 x 1 - 76/16; + 4 x 1 - 120/40 QF Mk I/II/III/IV, 6 x 1 - 57/40 Hotchkiss Mk I, 14 x 1 - 47/40 Hotchkiss Mk I, 2 - 356 TT (beam aw)

Naval service

Nelson served as a guard-ship at Portsmouth in 1891-1894 and was then placed in reserve until 1901 when she was converted to a stokers` training ship. Northampton was placed in reserve after refit in 1886 but commissioned regularly to take part in manoeuvres until 1894 when she became a boys` training ship. Nelson was sold to BU in July 1910 and Northampton in April 1905.

Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.