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Captain (Captain Class)


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Laid down 30th January 1867
Launched 27th March 1869
Completed N/A
Commissioned 30th April 1870
Fate Sank:
7th September 1870
Builders Lairds, Birkenhead
United Kingdom
Complement 500
Dimensions
Displacement 7767 tons std
Dimensions 320' x 53' 3" x 24' 10"
97.54m x 16.23m x 7.57m
Armament
Guns 4 x 12" MLR (2 x 2)
2 x 7" MLR
Torpedo tubes None
Other weapons None
Countermeasures None
Armour Belt : 4" - 8" iron
Turrets : 9" - 10" iron
C.T. : 7"
Aircraft Facilities
Aircraft None
Flightdeck None
Hangar None
Aviation fuel None
Electronics Fit
Radar None
Sonar None
Other None
Machinery
Engines 8 x rectangular boilers
2 x 4 cyl. horizontal trunk
Power output 5400ihp
Speed 15.2kts steam
Shafts 2
Range N/A
Fuel N/A

Captain was constructed largely as a result of pressure from the public and media of the day. She was criticised by some of the naval authorities for her apparant instability. But her trials seemed to prove her detractors wrong.

On 6th September 1870, she was cruising with the Channel Fleet off Cape Finisterre, Northern Spain. Shortly after midnight, the wind strength increased, and she was apparantly hit by a large wave at around 1215AM.

She heeled over beyond her safe limit of 21 degrees, and started taking on water. She capsized and sank quickly, taking 472 of her crew with her, including Captain Burgoyne and her designer, Coles. Eighteen survived, 1 officer and 17 ratings.