HMS Himalaya (1854) facts for kids
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|} HMS Himalaya was a famous ship that had many different jobs during its long life. It started as a large passenger ship named SS Himalaya in 1853. Later, the Royal Navy bought it in 1854 and changed its name to HMS Himalaya. For many years, it carried soldiers around the world.
After its time as a troopship, it became a floating storage unit for coal. This type of ship is called a coal hulk. It was finally sunk during World War II in 1940.
Contents
- Building a Giant Ship
- First Journeys as a Passenger Ship
- Life as a Royal Navy Ship
- Becoming a Coal Hulk
- Legacy
- Images for kids
Building a Giant Ship
The Himalaya was ordered by a company called Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O). Building started in November 1851 in London. It was planned to be much bigger than any of P&O's other ships.
At first, it was going to be a paddle steamer. But because coal became expensive, the design was changed. It became a screw vessel instead, which used a propeller for power.
The ship had a powerful steam engine. It also had three masts with sails. This meant it could use wind power when the weather was good.
Himalaya was launched on May 24, 1853. It was said to be the biggest ship ever built at that time. It could carry 200 passengers and needed a crew of 213 people. It could also hold up to 2,000 soldiers or people moving to new countries.
First Journeys as a Passenger Ship
The new ship left London on January 12, 1854. It sailed to Southampton and then on its first journey to Alexandria. This trip took it through Gibraltar and Malta. It carried passengers, mail, and valuable metals.
When it returned, the ship was hired to carry soldiers. These soldiers were going to Constantinople for a war. In early March, it sailed with 1,452 soldiers and their gear.
P&O soon realized that Himalaya was too big for regular passenger trips. It was also expensive to run because coal prices were rising. So, in July 1854, the British Government bought the ship. They paid £133,000 for it.
After the Royal Navy bought Himalaya, it was changed to carry up to 3,000 soldiers. It served as a troopship for 40 years. This was a very long time for a ship back then.
During its time as a troopship, it helped in the Second Opium War. It carried soldiers to places like India, South Africa, and North America. The ship traveled all over the world.
In July 1857, Himalaya got stuck in the Strait of Banca. Another British ship helped it get free a day later. In 1859, it found a damaged ship called Norma and towed it safely to Bermuda.
In 1863, the ship got a new, more powerful engine. In 1870, it rescued the crew of another ship that was abandoned at sea. Later that year, it accidentally hit a Danish ship. Himalaya then towed the damaged ship to Gibraltar.
Becoming a Coal Hulk
Himalaya stopped carrying troops in 1894. It was then used as a coal hulk. This meant it was a floating storage unit for coal. It was moored in Devonport.
In December 1895, its name was changed to C60. It was sent to Hull to be made ready to store 4,500 tons of coal. It returned to Devonport in June 1896.
C60 was sold in 1920 to a private owner. It was towed to Portland Harbour and continued to be a coal hulk, once again named Himalaya. It stayed in this job until World War II.
On June 12, 1940, the ship was sunk. German Junkers 87 dive bombers from the Luftwaffe attacked it. This was the end of a very long and busy life for the Himalaya.
Legacy
The front part of the Himalaya, called its figurehead, is still around. It is a carving of an Indian warrior. You can see it at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.
Images for kids
HMS Himalaya carrying Armstrong Guns to the Second Opium War, 1860, from the Illustrated London News
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom |
|
| Name | Himalaya |
| Namesake | The Himalayas |
| Owner | Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, London |
| Route | Southampton – Alexandria |
| Builder | C. J. Mare & Co., Leamouth, London |
| Laid down | November 1851 |
| Launched | 24 May 1853 |
| Completed | 9 January 1854 |
| Out of service | 14 July 1854 sold to British Government |
| History | |
 United Kingdom |
|
| Name | HMS Himalaya |
| Acquired | 14 July 1854 |
| Out of service | Sold 28 September 1920 |
| Renamed | C60 in December 1895 |
| Reclassified | Coal hulk, December 1895 |
| Fate | Sunk by Junkers 87 dive bombers of the German Luftwaffe 12 June 1940 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type |
|
| Tonnage | 3,438 GRT, 2,327 NRT |
| Displacement | 4,690 tons |
| Length | 339 ft (103 m) |
| Beam | 46 ft (14 m) |
| Propulsion | Single expansion steam, single screw |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Speed |
|
| Capacity | 3000 troops |
| Complement | 213 crew |
