Turbinia at speed in 1897
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History | |
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United Kingdom | |
Name | Turbinia |
Launched | 2 August 1894 |
Out of service | 1927 |
Refit | 1960s |
Nickname(s) | "The Ocean Greyhound" |
Status | Museum ship |
General characteristics | |
Displacement | 44.5 long tons (45.2 t) |
Length | 104 ft 9 in (31.93 m) |
Beam | 9 ft (2.7 m) |
Draught | 3 ft (0.91 m) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion |
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Speed | 34.5 knots (63.9 km/h; 39.7 mph) |
Turbinia was the first steam turbine-powered steamship. Built as an experimental vessel in 1894, and easily the fastest ship in the world at that time, Turbinia was demonstrated dramatically at the Spithead Navy Review in 1897 and set the standard for the next generation of steamships, the majority of which would be turbine powered. The vessel is currently located at the Discovery Museum in Newcastle upon Tyne, North East England, while her original powerplant is located at the Science Museum in London.