HMS Bristol (1861) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name | Bristol |
| Namesake | Bristol |
| Ordered | 9 April 1856 |
| Builder | Woolwich Dockyard |
| Laid down | 16 September 1859 |
| Launched | 12 February 1861 |
| Completed | October 1865 |
| Fate | Sold for scrap, July 1883 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Bristol-class frigate |
| Displacement | 4,020 long tons (4,080 t) |
| Tons burthen | 3,027 26⁄94 bm |
| Length | 250 ft (76.2 m) |
| Beam | 52 ft (15.8 m) |
| Draught | 18 ft 10 in (5.7 m) |
| Installed power | 4 boilers; 2,088 ihp (1,557 kW) |
| Propulsion | 1 shaft, 1 Steam engine |
| Speed | 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph) |
| Complement | 550–600 |
| Armament |
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The HMS Bristol was a special kind of wooden warship called a screw frigate. It was built for the Royal Navy (Britain's navy) in the 1860s. It was the first ship of its type, giving its name to the 'Bristol-class' of frigates.
Contents
Ship Design and Features
The Bristol was a large ship for its time. It was about 250 feet (76.2 m) long. This is roughly the length of 8 school buses lined up! The ship was also 52 feet (15.8 m) wide. When fully loaded, it sat about 18 feet 10 inches (5.7 m) deep in the water.
The Bristol weighed about 4,023 long tons (4,088 t). It needed a large crew of 550 to 600 sailors and officers to operate.
Engine and Speed
Unlike older sailing ships, the Bristol had a powerful steam engine. This engine was built by Robert Napier and Sons. It used steam from four large boilers to turn a single propeller shaft.
The engine gave the ship a top speed of about 11.8 knots (21.9 km/h; 13.6 mph) (knots) when using steam. To help it sail better when there was wind, the ship's propeller could be lifted up into the hull. This reduced drag in the water.
Ship's Guns
The Bristol was armed with many powerful guns. At first, it had thirty 8-inch (203 mm) guns on its main gun deck. These were muzzle-loading guns, meaning they were loaded from the front. They were designed to fire new exploding shells.
On its upper deck, the ship carried twenty 32-pounder guns. It also had one very large 68-pounder gun that could turn on a pivot mount.
Later, in 1868, the ship's guns were updated. It then had 10 eight-inch shell guns and twelve rifled, muzzle-loading 64-pounder guns on the main deck. Four more 64-pounders were placed on the upper deck.
Building and Service
The Bristol was named after the city of Bristol in England. It was ordered in 1856. However, its design kept changing, so it wasn't started until September 1859. The ship was built at the Woolwich Dockyard.
The ship was officially launched into the water on February 12, 1861. But it took several more years to finish building and fitting out the ship. It wasn't ready to be commissioned (put into active service) until October 1865.
Early Incidents
Soon after it was commissioned, the Bristol had a couple of accidents.
- On November 10, 1865, it ran aground (got stuck on the seabed) near the Nore during its sea trials. It was pulled free and sailed to Portsmouth, Hampshire.
- On December 11, 1869, it ran aground again. The repairs for this cost about £2,197. The person guiding the ship, called a maritime pilot, was found responsible. He lost his special license to guide warships.
The HMS Bristol was eventually sold for scrap in July 1883.
Images for kids
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Bristol and the British Flying Squadron leaving False Bay, Cape of Good Hope on 18 October 1869
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The Flying Squadron lying at anchor
