Greek ironclad Vasilefs Georgios facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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| Name | Vasilefs Georgios |
| Namesake | King George |
| Builder | Thames Ironworks, Blackwall, London |
| Launched | 28 December 1867 |
| Completed | 1868 |
| Decommissioned | 1915 |
| Reclassified | Training ship, early 1900s |
| Fate | Scrapped, 1915 |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Type | Armored corvette |
| Displacement | 1,774 long tons (1,802 t) |
| Length | 200 ft 2 in (61.0 m) |
| Beam | 33 ft (10.1 m) |
| Draft | 16 ft (4.9 m) |
| Installed power | 2,100 ihp (1,600 kW) |
| Propulsion | 1 shaft, 1 steam engine |
| Sail plan | Schooner rigged |
| Speed | 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Range | 1,300 nautical miles (2,400 km; 1,500 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Complement | 152 |
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| Armor |
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The Greek ironclad Vasilefs Georgios (meaning King George in Greek) was a powerful armored ship built in Great Britain in the 1860s. It was designed for the Royal Hellenic Navy, which is the navy of Greece. This ship later became a training ship for young naval cadets, helping them learn how to be sailors. It was removed from the navy's list of ships in 1912 and taken apart for scrap metal in 1915.
Contents
Ship Design and Features
Vasilefs Georgios was an armored corvette, a type of warship. It was built to be strong and fast for its time.
Size and Speed
The ship was about 213 feet 3 inches (65.0 m) (65 meters) long. Its beam (width) was 33 feet 2 inches (10.1 m) (10.1 meters). The ship sat 20 feet (6.1 m) (6.1 meters) deep in the water. It weighed about 1,774 long tons (1,802 t) (1,802 metric tons).
The Vasilefs Georgios used steam engines to power its two propellers. These engines were meant to produce 2,400 indicated horsepower (1,800 kW) (indicated horsepower) for a top speed of 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) (26 km/h). However, they actually produced 2,100 ihp (1,600 kW) and reached a speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) (22 km/h). For longer journeys, the ship also had two masts and was rigged like a schooner, meaning it could use sails. It carried 210 long tons (210 t) of coal, which allowed it to travel about 1,300 nautical miles (2,400 km; 1,500 mi) (2,400 km) at full speed. The ship needed a crew of 120 officers and sailors to operate.
Armament and Protection
The Vasilefs Georgios was armed with two large Armstrong nine-inch (229 mm) rifled muzzle-loading guns. These guns were placed in a special armored section in the middle of the ship, called a central battery. This section was shaped like a hexagon.
The ship's armor was very strong for its time. The armored section in the middle was protected by six-inch (152 mm) (152 mm) thick metal plates. The entire side of the ship was covered in armor. This armor was thickest in the middle, at seven inches (178 mm) (178 mm), and became a bit thinner at the ends, at four point five inches (114 mm) (114 mm).
Building and Service History
The Vasilefs Georgios was named after King George I of Greece. It was built by a company called Thames Ironworks in Blackwall, London, in Great Britain.
The ship was launched into the water on December 28, 1867. It was fully finished and ready for service the next year, in 1868.
In February 1870, the Vasilefs Georgios was damaged while at sea. Some of the guns in its turrets became loose. The ship had to stop in Lisbon, Portugal, on February 9 for repairs.
Later, around the end of the 19th century, the ship was changed into a training ship for young naval cadets. This meant it was used to teach future sailors how to work on a ship. The Vasilefs Georgios was removed from the navy's active list in 1912. Finally, in 1915, the ship was taken apart for scrap metal.
