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The new iron-clad fleet: launch at Chatham Dockyard of H.M.S. frigate Royal Oak, 50 guns, 1862. Creator: Unknown
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The new iron-clad fleet: launch at Chatham Dockyard of H.M.S. frigate Royal Oak, 50 guns, 1862. Creator: Unknown
The new iron-clad fleet: launch at Chatham Dockyard of H.M.S. frigate Royal Oak, 50 guns, 1862....the first completed of a new class of wooden vessels in the course of construction under the special direction of the Admiralty, and the first iron-cased war-ship built at the Royal dockyards [by Mr. 0. W. Lang. She has]...engines of 1000-horse power by Messrs. Maudslay...in the Royal Oak the usual figure-head, the graceful cutwater, and all the elaborate moulding that the eye is accustomed to meet in the bows of the earlier ships is entirely dispensed with, and a massive iron stem, with a sharp outward curve, for the purpose of being used as a ram, is substituted. The alteration from the general form of stem is still more complete, the lines at the counter and hammock netting running off to a point as fine as the bows of a schooner - a most excellent arrangement for the prevention of a vessel being raked. On each broadside of the ship three rows of iron plates, 4½in. thick, and weighing between four and five hundred tons, are already in their places. She will he encased in iron from stem to stem, the plates tapering off to about half the above-mentioned thickness at those parts, the armour descending to five feet below the water-line'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This photograph captures the historic moment of the launch of H.M.S. frigate Royal Oak at Chatham Dockyard in 1862. The Royal Oak was the first completed wooden vessel in a new class of ships being constructed under the special direction of the Admiralty and the first iron-cased warship built at the Royal dockyards, designed by Mr. O. W. Lang. The Royal Oak boasted impressive specifications, including engines of 1000-horse power by Messrs. Maudslay. The traditional figurehead, cutwater, and intricate moulding of earlier ships were replaced with a massive iron stem, designed as a ram, and a sharp, fine point at the counter and hammock netting for the prevention of raking. Three rows of iron plates, 4½ inches thick and weighing between four and five hundred tons, were already in place on each broadside. The ship would eventually be encased in iron from stem to stem, with the plates tapering off to about half the thickness at the ends and descending five feet below the waterline. The departure from the conventional form of the stem is evident in this photograph, with the lines at the counter and hammock netting running off to a point as fine as the bows of a schooner. The Royal Oak represented a significant shift in naval warfare, marking the beginning of the era of ironclad warships. This photograph, taken from the pages of the Illustrated London News in 1862, offers a glimpse into the past, showcasing the technological advancements and innovations that shaped the maritime history of the late 19th century.
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