HMS Bellerophon (1865)

HMS Bellerophon as she appeared when completed in 1866.
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Bellerophon
Namesake:	Bellerophon
Ordered:	23 July 1863
Builder:	Chatham Dockyard
Cost:	£356,493
Laid down:	28 December 1863
Launched:	26 April 1865
Completed:	11 April 1866
Commissioned:	March 1866
Renamed:	Indus III in 1904
Reclassified:	Training hulk in 1904
Struck:	1904
Nickname(s):	"Old Billy"
Fate:	Sold for scrap 12 December 1922
General characteristics
Type:	Central battery ironclad
Displacement:	7,551 long tons (7,672 t)
Length:	300 ft (91.4 m)
Beam:	56 ft 1 in (17.1 m)
Draught:	26 ft 7 in (8.1 m)
Installed power:	6,521 ihp (4,863 kW)
Propulsion:	1 shaft, 1 Trunk steam engine
Sail plan:	Ship rigged
Speed:	14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph) 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph) under sail
Range:	1,500 nmi (2,800 km; 1,700 mi) at 8 kn (15 km/h; 9.2 mph)
Complement:	650
Armament:	1866: 10 × 9-inch (229 mm) muzzle-loading rifles 5 × 7-inch (178 mm) muzzle-loading rifles 1885: 10 × BL 8-inch (203 mm) Mk III guns 4 × 6 in (152 mm) breech loaders 6 × 4 in (102 mm) breech loaders 2 × 16-inch (406 mm) torpedo carriages
Armour:	Belt: 5–6 in (127–152 mm) Battery: 6 in (152 mm) Conning tower: 6–8 in (152–203 mm) Bulkheads: 5 in (127 mm) Deck: .5–1 in (13–25 mm)

HMS Bellerophon was a central battery ironclad built for the Royal Navy in the mid-1860s.

In this ship, designed by Sir Edward Reed, the power-to-weight ratio was increased; the long rows of guns on the broadside were replaced by a small number of guns, centrally placed, of the largest possible calibre; the armour was increased in thickness but reduced in length, and a sharp beak ram was combined with a classical style plough bow.

This double bottom had the added advantage of allowing the engine to be carried higher, raising the centre of gravity of the whole ship and making her thereby a steadier gun platform. Unlike earlier classes, Bellerophon's bow and stern had a "U" shaped profile, giving increased buoyancy at the ends noticeably absent in some earlier battleships.Bellerophon carried the first balanced rudder in Royal Navy service. Full helm could be applied by eight men in about 27 seconds, whereas in HMS Warrior it took forty men 90 seconds to perform the same manoevre.

HMS Bellerophon was 280 feet (85.3 m) long between perpendiculars. She had a beam of 56 feet 1 inch (17.1 m) and a maximum draught of 26 feet 7 inches (8.1 m).

Bellerophon had one 2-cylinder trunk steam engine made by John Penn and Sons driving a single 23-foot-6-inch (7.2 m) propeller. Eight rectangular boilers provided steam to the engine at a working pressure of 27 psi (186 kPa; 2 kgf/cm²). The engine produced a total of 6,521 indicated horsepower (4,863 kW)n during the ship's sea trials in August 1864 and the ship had a maximum speed 14.17 knots (26.24 km/h; 16.31 mph).Bellerophon carried 640 long tons (650 t) of coal, enough to steam 1,500 nmi (2,800 km; 1,700 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph).