HMS Trafalgar (1887)

HMS Trafalgar
History
United Kingdom
NameTrafalgar
NamesakeBattle of Trafalgar
BuilderPortsmouth Dockyard
Laid down18 January 1886
Launched20 September 1887
Commissioned2 April 1890
FateSold for scrapping 9 April 1912
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeTrafalgar-class battleship
Displacement12,590 tons
Length345 ft (105 m) p/p
Beam73 ft (22 m)
Draught28 ft 6 in (8.69 m)
Propulsion
  • 2-shaft Humphries triple expansion
  • 7,500 ihp (5,600 kW) normal draught, 12,102 ihp (9,024 kW) forced draught
Speed
  • 15.1 knots (28.0 km/h; 17.4 mph) normal draught
  • 17.2 knots (31.9 km/h; 19.8 mph) forced draught
Complement577
Armament
Armour
  • Belt: 20 in (508 mm) amidships, 14 in (356 mm) at ends
  • Forward Bulkheads: 16 in (406 mm)
  • After bulkhead: 14 in (356 mm)
  • Citadel: 16–18 in (406–457 mm)
  • Turrets: 18 in (457 mm)
  • Conning tower: 14 in (356 mm)
  • Battery bulkheads: 4–5 in (102–127 mm)
  • Deck: 3 in (76 mm)
Service record
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HMS Trafalgar was one of two Trafalgar-class battleships commissioned in 1890 and 1891, the other being HMS Nile. The ship was designed as an improved version of existing battleships with greater displacement and a thicker armoured belt amidships. Trafalgar saw active service as a battleship from 1890 to 1897 and from 1909 to 1911 when she was sold. Between these two periods as a combatant, Trafalgar served as a guardship and as a drill ship.