HMS Cyclops (1871)

HMS Cyclops was the lead ship of the Cyclops-class breastwork monitors built for the Royal Navy during the 1870s. The ships were ordered to satisfy demands for local defence during the war scare of 1870, but the pace of construction slowed tremendously as the perceived threat of war declined. The ship spent most of her career in reserve; her only sustained period in commission was four months in Portland Harbour, during the Russo-Turkish War in 1878 when the British were trying to force the Russians to end the war without allowing them to seize Constantinople. Cyclops was sold for scrap in 1903.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Cyclops.

Cyclops
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Cyclops
Namesake: Cyclops
Builder: Thames Ironworks, London
Cost: £156,782
Laid down: 10 September 1870
Launched: 18 July 1871
Completed: 4 May 1877
Commissioned: January 1872
Out of service: 1901
Refit: 1887–89
Fate: Sold for scrap 1903
General characteristics
Class and type: Cyclops-class breastwork monitor
Displacement: 3,480 long tons (3,540 t)
Length: 225 ft (68.6 m) (p/p)
Beam: 45 ft (13.7 m)
Draught: 16 ft 3 in (5.0 m) (deep load)
Installed power: 1,528 ihp (1,139 kW)
Propulsion: 2 shafts, 2 steam engines
Speed: 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)
Range: 3,000 nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement: 156
Armament: 2 × twin 10-inch rifled muzzle loaders
Armour:

Design and description
Right elevation plan from Brassey's Naval Annual 1888–1889

The Cyclops-class ships were modified versions of the Cerberus class.[1] The ships had a length between perpendiculars of 225 feet (68.6 m), a beam of 45 feet (13.7 m), and a draught of 16 feet 3 inches (4.95 m) at deep load. They displaced 3,480 long tons (3,540 t). Their crew consisted of 156 officers and men.[2] The ships had two 4-cylinder inverted compound steam engines, each driving a single propeller shaft. The engines produced a total of 1,528 indicated horsepower (1,139 kW) on 30 December 1871 during the ship's sea trials which gave her a maximum speed of 10.79 knots (19.98 km/h; 12.42 mph). Cyclops carried 250 long tons (250 t) of coal,[3] enough to steam 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).[4]

The ships mounted four 10-inch rifled muzzle-loading guns in twin-gun turrets fore and aft of the superstructure. The guns could fire both solid shot and explosive shells.[5] They were mounted on carriages that used hydraulic jacks to elevate and depress the guns.[1]

The Cyclops class had a complete waterline belt of wrought iron that was 8 inches (203 mm) thick amidships and thinned to 6 inches (152 mm) at the ends. The superstructure and conning tower was fully armoured, the reason it was called a breastwork, with 8–9 inches (203–229 mm) of wrought iron. The gun turrets had 10 inches on their faces and 9 inches on the sides and rear. All of the vertical armour was backed by 9–11 inches (229–279 mm) of teak. The decks were 1.5 inches (38.1 mm) thick.[6]

Construction

HMS Cyclops was laid down on 10 September 1870 by the Thames Ironworks in London. She was launched on 18 July 1871 and commissioned in January 1872. The ship was towed to Devenport that same month for what proved to be a very lengthy fitting out period that was not completed until 4 May 1877.[7] Cyclops cost £156,782 to build.[2][Note 1]

Refit

Although a recommendation had been made while the ships were still under construction to extend the superstructure out to the sides of the ship to improve their stability and habitability, this was not acted upon until they were refitted during the 1880s. This refit also strengthened the breastwork and upper decks, added another watertight bulkhead as well as a false keel. Four quick-firing 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns were added on the breastwork for torpedo boat defence as well as five machine guns and several searchlights.[8] This increased their crew to approximately 191 men[2] and added 80 long tons (81 t) to their displacement.[9]

Service

HMS Cyclops was the third ship to be completed, although she was the lead ship of the class. She was placed in 1st Class Reserve after her completion. The ship, along with her sisters, was commissioned between April and August 1878 during the Russo-Turkish War for service with Admiral Sir Cooper Key's Particular Service Squadron in Portland Harbour. Cyclops was paid off at Chatham in August 1878 and refitted in 1887–89. All four ships of the class participated in the annual fleet manoeuvers in 1887, 1889–90 and 1892; in between times they were in Fleet Reserve. HMS Cyclops, like all of her sisters, was placed on the non-effective list in January 1902,[10][7] transferred to the E Division of the Dockyard Reserve at Sheerness in May 1902,[11] and sold on 7 July 1903[12] for £8,400.[7][Note 2]

Notes
  1. Adjusted for inflation, the ship cost £17,562,711 in current pounds.
  2. Adjusted for inflation, the ship sold for £908,656 in current pounds.

Footnotes
  1. Parkes, p. 212
  2. Parkes, p. 213
  3. Ballard, pp. 246–49
  4. Silverstone, p. 169
  5. Gardiner, p. 6
  6. Parkes, pp. 213–14
  7. Parkes, p. 215
  8. Parkes, pp. 212, 214
  9. Gardiner, p. 25
  10. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times (36657). London. 6 January 1902. p. 8.
  11. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times (36771). London. 19 May 1902. p. 8.
  12. Silverstone, p. 224
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References
  • Ballard, G. A., Admiral (1980). The Black Battlefleet. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-924-3.
  • Beeler, John (2001). Birth of the Battleship: British Capital Ship Design 1870–1881. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-213-7.
  • Gardiner, Robert, ed. (1979). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. Greenwich: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-8317-0302-4.
  • Parkes, Oscar (1990). British Battleships (reprint of the 1957 ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-075-4.
  • Silverstone, Paul H. (1984). Directory of the World's Capital Ships. New York: Hippocrene Books. ISBN 0-88254-979-0.

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