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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Photo # NH 71225:  HMS Minotaur in port, after 1875

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- SHIPS of the BRITISH NAVY --

HMS Minotaur (Broadside Ironclad, 1867-1922)

HMS Minotaur, a 10,690-ton broadside ironclad built at Blackwall, England, was one of six vessels built to the original British concept of an armored battleship: a very long and relatively fast iron-hulled steamer, carrying an extensive sail rig and a large broadside battery of medium-sized (by emerging standards) guns. She was also one of the three completed with five masts and, with her sister, HMS Agincourt, had her gun deck almost completely coated with iron armor, a longer expanse of protection than fitted to the other four ships of the type.

Minotaur took a long time to reach active service: keel laid in September 1861, launched in December 1863, completed for experimental service in 1865 and commissioned in April 1867 (though some standard sources don't have her completed until December 1868). During the next twenty years, with time out for refit and rearmament in 1873-1875, Minotaur was flagship of the Channel Squadron, flying the flags of a dozen Admirals. Other than the pomp and circumstance of flagship duty, her career was relatively free of notable events. In 1868 she nearly sank HMS Bellerphon in a collision, and in July 1882 missed by a day the Royal Navy's only battleship combat action of her era, the bombardment of Alexandria, Egypt. Present at Spithead during Queen Victoria's Jubilee Naval Review in mid-1887, she was decommissioned at the end of that year.

Now thoroughly obsolete, Minotaur was placed back in service in 1893 as a harbor training ship, first at Portland and, from 1905 to late 1919, at Harwich. As was often the case for such subsidiary service vessels, she was renamed several times, becoming Boscawen II in 1904, Ganges in 1906 and Ganges II in 1908. The old battleship was sold for scrapping in 1922.

This page features all the views we have concerning the British broadside ironclad Minotaur.


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 61440

HMS Minotaur
(British Broadside Ironclad, 1868)

Engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", 1866, showing the ship with square rig on her first four masts.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 149KB; 740 x 625 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 59979

HMS Minotaur
(British Broadside Ironclad, 1868)

Photographed circa 1867, when first completed. She is still has yards on her fourth mast.
The original print is mounted on a Carte de Visite.

Collection of Captain Robert F. Bradford, USN, 1941.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 50KB; 740 x 440 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 65961

HMS Minotaur
(British Broadside Ironclad, 1868)

In a harbor, with boats alongside and signal flags flying, after 1875.

Donation of Rear Admiral Ammen Farenholt, USN (Medical Corps).

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 48KB; 740 x 535 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 76900

HMS Minotaur
(British Broadside Ironclad, 1868)

Photographed while serving as flagship of the Channel Fleet, subsequent to her 1873-1875 refit when alternate gun ports were enlarged.
Note the sheer leg crane in the right background.

Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 590 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 71223

HMS Minotaur
(British Broadside Ironclad, 1868)

Alongside a dockyard wharf, after 1875.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 55KB; 740 x 550 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 76929

HMS Minotaur
(British Broadside Ironclad, 1868)

In harbor, prior to her 1887 decommissioning.
S.S. Great Eastern is partially visible in the left background.

Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 510 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 71225

HMS Minotaur
(British Broadside Ironclad, 1868)

Photograph emphasizing her masts, yards and rigging, taken while she was in port after 1875.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 97KB; 540 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 71224

HMS Minotaur
(British Broadside Ironclad, 1868)

Closeup photograph of the ship's bow, taken in port after 1875, showing crewmen, anchor and mooring chains, bowsprit rigging and bow decorations.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 97KB; 740 x 575 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 65962

HMS Minotaur
(British Broadside Ironclad, 1868)

In drydock after 1875, showing her bow decorations.
Note what appears to be a bollard in the foreground, marked "V R".

Donation of Rear Admiral Ammen Farenholt, USN (Medical Corps).

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 103KB; 740 x 515 pixels

 


In the following photographs HMS Minotaur is seen distantly, or may be among the ships present:

Photo #: NH 89536

Funchal, Madeira


View of Funchal harbor, taken by local photographer M.d.O. Perestrello during the 1870s or 1880s.
Four British battleships are present, among them two of the three "five masters" (Minotaur, Agincourt and Northumberland). The ship at far right, partially hidden by the land, appears to be HMS Monarch.

Collection of Captain E.L. Bennett, USN.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 253KB; 1200 x 935 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 88850

"Jubilee" Fleet Review at Portsmouth, England, 23 July 1887


British warships anchored off Portsmouth during the naval review held in honor of Queen Victoria's 50th year on the throne. Identifiable ships, all dressed with flags) include (from left to right): HMS Minotaur (with five masts), HMS Agincourt (with five masts), HMS Glatton (right center, in middle distance), HMS Black Prince (behind Glatton), and HMS Prince Albert (to the right of Glatton). A small yacht is steaming by in the right foreground.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 485 pixels

 


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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Page made 9 May 2006