Ajax-class ironclad

Launch of HMS Agamemnon in 1879 from The Illustrated London News
Class overview
Builders
  • Pembroke Dockyard
  • Chatham Dockyard
Preceded byHMS Inflexible
Succeeded byColossus class
Built1876–1883
In commission1884–1904
Completed2
General characteristics
TypeIronclad battleship
Displacement8,510 tons
Length
  • 300 ft 9 in (91.67 m) o/a
  • 280 ft (85 m) p/p
Beam66 ft (20 m)
Draught23 ft 6 in (7.16 m)
Propulsion
  • Two-shaft Penn inverted compound
  • 6,000 ihp (4,500 kW)
Speed13 kn (24 km/h)
Complement345
Armament
Armour
  • Citadel: 18 in (460 mm) tapering to 15 in (380 mm)
  • Turret: 16 in (410 mm) faces, 14 in (360 mm) sides
  • Conning tower: 12 in (300 mm)
  • Bulkheads: 16.5 in (420 mm) to 13.5 in (340 mm)
  • Deck: 3 in (76 mm)

The Ajax class of ironclad battleships consisted of two ships, HMS Ajax and HMS Agamemnon, serving in the Victorian era Royal Navy. Their main armament was turret-mounted.