HMS Enterprise (1864) facts for kids
HM Gunboat Comet (left) and HMS Enterprise (right)
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name | HMS Enterprise |
| Ordered | 1861 |
| Builder | Deptford Dockyard, Deptford, England |
| Cost | £62,464 |
| Laid down | 5 May 1862 |
| Launched | 9 February 1864 |
| Completed | 3 June 1864 |
| Commissioned | 5 May 1864 |
| Fate | Sold 1885 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Ironclad sloop |
| Displacement | 1,350 long tons (1,370 t) |
| Tons burthen | 994 bm |
| Length |
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| Beam | 36 ft (11.0 m) |
| Draught | 15 ft 8 in (4.8 m) |
| Installed power | |
| Propulsion |
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| Sail plan |
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| Speed | 9.9 knots (18.3 km/h; 11.4 mph) |
| Complement | 130 |
| Armament |
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| Armour |
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HMS Enterprise was a special warship of the Royal Navy. She was an armoured sloop, a type of small warship. She was launched in 1864 at Deptford Dockyard in England.
Originally, Enterprise was planned to be a wooden ship. However, her design was changed by Edward James Reed. She became a "central battery ironclad," meaning her main guns were protected in a strong, armoured section in the middle of the ship. Enterprise spent most of her time with the Mediterranean Fleet. She was later sold for scrap in 1885.
Contents
What did HMS Enterprise look like?
Enterprise was about 180 feet (54.9 m) long. Her widest part, called the beam, was 36 feet (11.0 m). When fully loaded, she sat 15 feet 10 inches (4.83 m) deep in the water.
The ship weighed about 1,350 long tons (1,370 t). She carried a crew of 130 officers and sailors. Enterprise had a unique design with a plough-shaped ram at the front. This was meant for ramming enemy ships.
How was the ship built?
Enterprise was the first ship in the Royal Navy to use a "composite" construction. This meant she had a wooden hull. But her upper parts were made of iron.
She had two main decks. The lower main deck was very close to the water. The upper deck, where her weapons were, was about 6.5 feet (2.0 m) above the water.
How did HMS Enterprise move?
Enterprise used a steam engine to move. It was a 2-cylinder engine made by Ravenhill, Salkeld & Co. This engine turned a single propeller.
Steam for the engine came from two large boilers. The engine could produce 690 indicated horsepower (510 kW) of power. This allowed the ship to reach a top speed of about 9.9 knots (18.3 km/h; 11.4 mph).
Sail and Steam Power
The ship also carried 95 long tons (97 t) of coal for her engine. At first, her funnel was placed in the middle of the gun area. This made it hard to use the guns. So, in November 1864, the funnel was moved to the front.
Enterprise was also a barque-rigged ship. This means she had three masts with sails. Her total sail area was 18,250 square feet (1,695 m2). She could reach 9.8 knots (18.1 km/h; 11.3 mph) using both sails and steam.
What weapons did HMS Enterprise have?
When first built, Enterprise had two types of cannons. She had two 100-pounder smoothbore guns. These fired a round cannonball. She also had two 110-pounder Armstrong breech-loading guns. These were newer guns that loaded from the back.
Problems with the Guns
The 110-pounder guns were new and much was hoped for them. However, tests showed they were not very good at breaking through armour. Also, their breeches (the back part where they loaded) often exploded. Because of these problems, the navy removed these guns from service soon after.
To allow guns to fire forward or backward, parts of the hull were cut away. These openings were covered by a 12-foot (3.7 m) bulwark that could swing open. This gave the guns a wider firing range than traditional side-firing ships.
Later Armament Changes
In 1868, Enterprise was refitted. Her old guns were replaced. She received four new 7-inch (180 mm) rifled muzzle-loading guns. These guns weighed 6.5 long tons (6.6 t) each. They could fire a 112-pound (50.8 kg) shell. These new guns were powerful enough to penetrate 7.7-inch (196 mm) of armour.
How was HMS Enterprise protected?
Enterprise had a complete belt of wrought iron armour around her waterline. This armour was 4.5 inches (114 mm) thick. It protected the main deck. The armour belt was shallow, reaching only 3 feet 6 inches (1.1 m) below the water.
Her guns were also protected by 4.5 inches (114 mm) thick armour. This armour was 34 feet (10.4 m) long. There were also 4.5 inches (114 mm) thick armoured walls, called bulkheads. Behind the iron armour was 19.5 inches (500 mm) of strong teak wood. The total weight of her armour was 195 long tons (198 t).
What was the service history of HMS Enterprise?
Enterprise was started on 5 May 1862 at the Royal Dockyard in Deptford, England. She was first named Circassian. In July 1862, she was renamed Enterprise. She was also reclassified as an armoured corvette.
The ship was launched on 9 February 1864. She was ready for duty on 5 May 1864. Her construction cost £62,474.
Early Service and Incidents
Enterprise first served with the Channel Fleet. On 13 August 1864, she accidentally ran aground. The repairs cost £4. After this, she was moved to the Mediterranean Fleet. She stayed there until 1871.
In 1868, she was refitted and rearmed in Malta. When she returned to England in August 1871, she was paid off. This means she was taken out of active service. She was placed in the 4th Class Reserve at Sheerness.
End of Service
Enterprise was sold for scrap in 1885 for £2,072. On 6 October 1889, while being towed from Plymouth, Devon to Liverpool, Lancashire, she got caught in a storm. She was driven ashore and wrecked at Aberffraw on the coast of Anglesey.
