HMS Volage (1869) facts for kids
Circa 1892 photograph of HMS Volage, lead ship of the class
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name | HMS Volage |
| Builder | Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company, Blackwall, London |
| Cost | £126,156 |
| Laid down | September 1867 |
| Launched | 27 February 1869 |
| Commissioned | March 1870 |
| Decommissioned | 1899 |
| Nickname(s) | Vollidge |
| Fate | Sold for scrap, 17 May 1904 |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Class and type | Volage-class iron screw corvette |
| Tonnage | 2,322 bm |
| Displacement | 3,078 long tons (3,127 t) |
| Length | 270 ft (82.3 m) (p/p) |
| Beam | 42 ft 1 in (12.8 m) |
| Draught | 21 ft 5 in (6.5 m) |
| Installed power | 4,130 ihp (3,080 kW) |
| Propulsion |
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| Sail plan | Ship rig |
| Speed | 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Range | 2,000 nmi (3,700 km; 2,300 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Complement | 340 |
| Armament |
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HMS Volage was a special type of warship called a corvette. It was built for the Royal Navy in the late 1860s. This ship was designed to be fast and strong.
Volage spent much of its early service sailing around the world. It was part of a group of ships called the Flying Squadron. Later, it helped scientists travel to the Kerguelen Islands in 1874. They went there to watch a rare event called the transit of Venus. The ship then served in South America before joining the Training Squadron in the 1880s. Volage was taken out of service in 1899 and sold for scrap in 1904.
Contents
About HMS Volage
Ship's Size and Structure
The Volage was 270 feet (82.3 m) long. This is about the length of a football field. Its beam, or width, was 42 feet 1 inch (12.8 m). The ship's draught (how deep it sat in the water) was 16 feet 5 inches (5.0 m) at the front. At the back, it was 21 ft 5 in (6.5 m) deep.
The ship weighed about 3,078 long tons (3,127 t). Its body was made of iron. This iron hull was covered with a 3-inch (76 mm) layer of oak wood. Below the waterline, the wood was covered with copper. This copper layer stopped sea creatures and plants from sticking to the hull. This problem is called biofouling. The ship's inside was divided into many sections by strong walls called bulkheads. This helped make the ship safer.
Crew and Nickname
A total of 340 officers and sailors worked on Volage. The crew had a special nickname for their ship: Vollidge.
How the Ship Moved
The Volage had one large engine. This engine was a 2-cylinder trunk engine made by John Penn & Sons. It turned a single 19-foot (5.8 m) propeller. Five large boilers created steam for the engine. The steam pressure was 30 psi (207 kPa; 2 kgf/cm2).
The engine was very powerful, making 4,530 indicated horsepower (3,380 kW) of power. This allowed Volage to reach a top speed of 15.3 knots (28.3 km/h; 17.6 mph). The ship could carry 420 long tons (430 t) of coal. This was enough fuel to travel 1,850 nautical miles (3,430 km; 2,130 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).
Sails and Special Features
Besides its engine, Volage also used sails. It was a ship rigged vessel. This means it had three masts with square sails. The total sail area was 16,593 square feet (1,542 m2). The ship's best speed using only sails was 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph).
The lower parts of the masts were made of strong iron. The upper masts were made of wood. The ship had a special funnel (smokestack) that could be partly lowered. This helped reduce wind resistance when sailing. Its propeller could also be lifted out of the water. This reduced drag when the ship was only using its sails.
Ship's Weapons
When first built, Volage had a mix of guns. It had six 7-inch and four 64-pounder rifled muzzle-loading guns. Six of the 7-inch guns and two 64-pounders were on the sides of the ship. The other two 64-pounders were placed at the front and back. These were called chase guns.
In 1873, the 7-inch guns were replaced. The ship then had a total of eighteen 64-pounders. Later, in 1880, ten BL 6-inch 80-pounder breech-loading guns replaced all the side guns. The ship also gained two launchers for 14-inch (356 mm) torpedoes.
Volage's Journey and Service
The building of HMS Volage began in September 1867. It was officially launched into the water on 27 February 1869. The ship was fully finished in March 1870. Its total cost was £132,817.
Early Missions
Volage first joined the Channel Fleet. This was a group of ships protecting the English Channel. Soon after, in late 1870, it joined the Flying Squadron. This squadron sailed all the way around the world. The ship returned to England in late 1872. It then underwent a long period of repairs and upgrades.
Scientific Expedition
In 1874, Volage was put back into service. Its new mission was to take a group of astronomers to the Kerguelen Islands. These islands are far away in the southern Indian Ocean. The scientists wanted to observe the transit of Venus. This is when the planet Venus passes directly in front of the Sun. During this trip, the ship accidentally hit an uncharted shoal (a shallow area). Luckily, the ship was not damaged.
Later Service and Retirement
The next year, Volage became the main ship for the senior officer in the South American part of the South Atlantic. It stayed there until 1879. Then, it was ordered back home for more refitting. Its boilers were replaced, and its weapons were updated again.
In the 1880s, Volage joined the Training Squadron. This squadron was used to train new sailors. The ship served in this role until the squadron was stopped in 1899. After that, Volage was officially taken out of service. It was sold for scrap metal on 17 May 1904.
