HMS Royal George (1827) facts for kids

Depiction of HMS Royal George by Charles Fitzgerald
Quick facts for kids History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Royal George
Ordered	2 September 1819
Builder	Chatham Dockyard
Laid down	June 1823
Launched	22 September 1827
Fate	Sold, 1875
General characteristics
Class and type	Caledonia-class ship of the line
Tons burthen	2616 bm
Length	205 ft (62 m) (gundeck)
Beam	53 ft 6 in (16.31 m)
Depth of hold	23 ft 2 in (7.06 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	120 guns: Gundeck: 30 × 32 pdrs, 2 × 68-pdr carronades Middle gundeck: 34 × 32 pdrs Upper gundeck: 34 × 32 pdrs Quarterdeck: 2 × 18 pdrs, 14 × 32 pdr carronades Forecastle: 2 × 18 pdrs, 2 × 32 pdr carronades

HMS Royal George was a very powerful warship of the Royal Navy. She was a "first-rate" ship of the line, meaning she carried many guns. This mighty ship was launched on 22 September 1827. She was built at Chatham Dockyard in England.

HMS Royal George: A Mighty Warship

Building a Giant Ship

The construction of HMS Royal George began in June 1823. It took several years to build such a large vessel. Finally, she was ready to be launched in 1827. She was designed to be a strong warship. Her main power came from her many sails.

A New Way to Move: Screw Propulsion

In 1853, HMS Royal George got a big upgrade. She was fitted with a new type of engine called "screw propulsion." This meant she could now move using a propeller, not just sails. To make space for the new engines and boilers, some areas used for water tanks were changed. More room was also needed to store coal for the engines. This made the ship feel a bit more crowded than before.

Part of the Baltic Fleet off Cronstadt in 1855. Royal George is the third ship from the left.

Serving the Nation

In February 1856, Captain Henry Codrington was replaced by Captain Robinson. The ship continued her service to the Royal Navy. In 1864, it was announced that Royal George would take on a new role. She would become the Coast-guard ship at Devonport. This meant she would help patrol the coast.

The End of Her Journey

On 27 October 1867, Royal George faced a challenge. She was pushed ashore by strong forces at Kingstown, County Dublin. Luckily, she was refloated with help from another ship, the RMS Ulster. After many years of service, HMS Royal George was eventually sold in 1875. This marked the end of her time with the Royal Navy.

Images for kids

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  Remains of the stern posts and keel, showing effects from an explosion in 1840.