HMS Zealous (1864)

HMS Zealous at Esquimalt with her sails set
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Zealous
Cost£239,258
Laid down24 October 1859
Launched7 March 1864
Completed4 October 1866
CommissionedSeptember 1866
Decommissioned1875
FateSold for scrap, September 1886
General characteristics
TypeArmoured frigate
Displacement6,096 long tons (6,194 t)
Length252 ft (76.8 m)
Beam58 ft 7 in (17.9 m)
Draught25 ft 9 in (7.8 m)
Installed power3,623 ihp (2,702 kW)
Propulsion
Sail planShip rig
Speed11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)
Complement510
Armament20 × 7-inch (180 mm) muzzle-loading guns
Armour

HMS Zealous was one of the three ships (the others being HMS Royal Alfred and HMS Repulse) forming the second group of wooden steam battleships selected in 1860 for conversion to ironclads. This was done in response to the perceived threat to Britain offered by the large French ironclad building programme. The ship was ordered to the West Coast of Canada after she was completed to represent British interests in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Zealous became the flagship for the Pacific Station for six years until she was relieved in 1872. She was refitted upon her arrival and subsequently became the guard ship at Southampton until she was paid off in 1875. The ship was in reserve until she was sold for scrap in 1886.