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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Online Library of Selected Images:
-- SHIPS of the BRITISH NAVY --
HMS Northumberland (Broadside Ironclad, 1868-1927)
HMS Northumberland, a 10,780-ton broadside ironclad
built at Millwall, England, was a modification of the type represented
by HMS Minotaur and
HMS Agincourt. Of
very similar appearance to those two, with five masts atop a long
hull, Northumberland had a shorter battery with an armored
bulkhead at each end, and an armored conning tower. Like her near-sisters,
she was laid down in 1861 and took a long time to complete. Her
launching in 1866 was a prolonged affair as she stuck fast on
the slipway and did not enter the water for a month. Further delayed
by the financial collapse of her builders, the ship was commissioned
in October 1868.
Northumberland's first seven years of service was mostly
spent with the Channel Squadron, but in mid-1869 came a special
task. In company with HMS Agincourt she towed a large floating
drydock to Madeira, where the ironclads Warrior
and Black Prince took
over and took the dock to its final destination at Bermuda. While
at Funchal, Madeira, on Christmas Day 1872 her anchor chain parted
during a storm and Northumberland drifted across the battleship
Hercules' ram bow. Though she suffered serious underwater
damage, her compartmented iron hull limited the flooding and she
was able to steam to Malta for repairs.
Beginning in 1875 Northumberland underwent an extensive
refit, losing two of her five masts and receiving a new set of
guns. She rejoined the Channel Squadron in 1879. Except for another
period of dockyard refit in 1885-1887, she was active for the
next decade, including a tour as flagship toward the end of this
time. Northumberland, now quite outdated, was harborbound
from the early 1890s onward, initially in reserve and then as
a stokers training ship (under the name Acheron). In 1909
she was converted to a coal hulk and had eighteen years' employment
in that humble, but important role. Sold by the Navy in 1927,
the old former battleship was used as a hulk (named Stedmound)
at Dakar until 1935 and then scrapped.
This page features all the views we have concerning the
British broadside ironclad Northumberland.
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 61441
HMS Northumberland
(British Broadside Ironclad Battleship, 1868)
Engraving published in "Harper's Weekly" in 1866, while
the ship was still under construction.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 154KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 71222
HMS Northumberland
(British Broadside Ironclad Battleship, 1868)
In harbor, while fitted with her original five-masted rig, circa
1868-1875.
Copied from the photographic album "Types of Ships in the
British Navy", prepared in 1877.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 53KB; 740 x 535 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 71227
HMS Northumberland
(British Broadside Ironclad Battleship, 1868)
Moored to a buoy, while carrying her original five-masted rig,
circa 1868-1875.
Copied from the photographic album "Types of Ships in the
British Navy", prepared in 1877.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 49KB; 740 x 490 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 71226
HMS Northumberland
(British Broadside Ironclad Battleship, 1868)
Seen from astern while alongside a wharf, while carrying her
original five-masted rig, circa 1868-1875.
Note her sternwalk and boats.
Copied from the photographic album "Types of Ships in the
British Navy", prepared in 1877.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 73KB; 740 x 485 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 58651
HMS Northumberland
(British Broadside Ironclad Battleship, 1868)
At anchor, after her rig was reduced from five to three masts
in 1875-1879.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 53KB; 740 x 455 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 75980
HMS Northumberland
(British Broadside Ironclad Battleship, 1868)
In harbor, drying canvas aloft, after her rig was reduced to
three masts during the later 1870s.
Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 555 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 75982
HMS Northumberland
(British Broadside Ironclad Battleship, 1868)
In harbor while serving as the Channel Fleet's Second Flagship,
1890.
Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 575 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 75997
HMS Northumberland (British Broadside Ironclad, 1868),
center, and
HMS Agincourt (British Broadside Ironclad, 1868),
at left
Photographed together while serving in the Channel Fleet after
1879, when Northumberland was reduced from five-masted
to three-masted rig, but prior to 1889, when Agincourt
was placed in reserve.
Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 585 pixels |
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In the following photographs HMS Northumberland 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 |
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Page made 10 May 2006