Turbinia

The Turbinia
Turbinia at speed in 1897
History
United Kingdom
NameTurbinia
Launched2 August 1894
Out of service1927
Refit1960s
Nickname(s)"The Ocean Greyhound"
StatusMuseum ship
General characteristics
Displacement44.5 long tons (45.2 t)
Length104 ft 9 in (31.93 m)
Beam9 ft (2.7 m)
Draught3 ft (0.91 m)
Installed power
Propulsion
  • Three-stage axial-flow direct-acting Parsons steam turbine driving two 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m) outer shafts, each with three 18-inch-diameter (460 mm), 24-inch-pitch (610 mm) propellers, and one inner shaft with three propellers
  • 200 psi (1.4 MPa), 170 psi (1.2 MPa) at the turbine
Speed34.5 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.