HMS London (1840)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 HMS London in Zanzibar |
|
| Career (UK) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | HMS London |
| Builder: | Chatham dockyard |
| Laid down: | October 1827 |
| Launched: | 28 September 1840 |
| Fate: | Sold for breaking up, 1884 |
| Notes: | Converted to a 72-gun third rate screw ship, 1858 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Rodney class ship of the line |
| Tons burthen: | 2598 tons (2639.7 tonnes) |
| Length: | 205 ft 6 in (62.6 m) (gundeck) |
| Beam: | 54 ft 5 in (16.6 m) |
| Depth of hold: | 23 ft 2 in (7.1 m) |
| Propulsion: | Sails (and steam, after 1858) |
| Sail plan: | Full rigged ship |
| Armament: |
As second rate, 90 guns:
|
HMS London was a two-decker 90-gun second rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 28 September 1840 at Chatham Dockyard.
In 1854 this wooden ship took part in the bombardment of Fort Constantine at Sevastopol during the Crimean War, where she sustained damage.
In 1858 she was converted to screw propulsion, and reduced to 72 guns.
By 1873, she was a hulk, serving as a depot ship in Zanzibar Bay, off the east coast of Africa. In March of 1878 she was recommissioned, and involved in the suppression of the slave trade in the area, serving as a central depot for many smaller steam screw boats; she functioned as a repair depot, a hospital and a storage ship. At this time there were Africans from West Africa (Kroomen or Krumen) and East Africa (Seedies or Sidis) serving onboard. There were also Zanzibari and Arab interpreters and cooks from Portuguese Goa (India).
In 1884 she was sold and broken up.
[edit] References
- Lavery, Brian (2003) The Ship of the Line - Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.
