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HMS Iron Duke (1870)
Encyclopedia
The first HMS Iron Duke was an iron Audacious-class
central battery ironclad.
She was originally to have been called HMS Duke but she was nicknamed Iron Duke during construction as she was armoured unlike many other vessels under construction. The phrase was already in circulation as it was a nickname given to Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
. The name was adopted when she was launched at Pembroke shipyard.
She became the flagship of the China Station
on 31 August 1871, one of the first large ships to use the Suez canal
to reach there. In an age of inefficient engines, her full sailing rig made her particularly suitable for operations in the Pacific Ocean
. She returned to the UK in 1875 and joined the First Reserve Squadron.
On 1 September 1875 during the squadron's summer cruise she was en route with several other ships between Kingstown (now Dún Laoghaire
) and Queenstown (now Cobh
). She accidentally rammed her sister ship, another member of the squadron, HMS Vanguard
off Kish Bank, Dublin Bay in thick fog. Although Iron Duke sustained minor damage, a large hole was torn in Vanguard. Vanguards engine room was flooded which prevented her from using her pumps and she sunk in a little over an hour. All the crew were rescued.
Following the loss, Iron Duke replaced Vanguard as guard ship at Kingstown, a role in which she remained until July 1877.
She then returned to the China station again as flagship, returning in January 1883. After refitting, on 16 April 1885 she became a member of Admiral Hornby's Particular Service Squadron until August, when she joined the Channel Squadron.
She entered the reserve in May 1890 and was finally paid off on 2 May 1893. She was converted to a coal hulk in 1900 before eventually being sold for £15,000 as scrap on 15 May 1906.
Audacious class battleship
The Audacious class battleships were designed by Sir Edward Reed at the request of the Board of Admiralty to serve as second-class battleships on distant foreign stations.-Background and design:...
central battery ironclad.
She was originally to have been called HMS Duke but she was nicknamed Iron Duke during construction as she was armoured unlike many other vessels under construction. The phrase was already in circulation as it was a nickname given to Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
. The name was adopted when she was launched at Pembroke shipyard.
She became the flagship of the China Station
China Station
The China Station was a historical formation of the British Royal Navy. It was formally the units and establishments responsible to the Commander-in-Chief, China....
on 31 August 1871, one of the first large ships to use the Suez canal
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
to reach there. In an age of inefficient engines, her full sailing rig made her particularly suitable for operations in the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. She returned to the UK in 1875 and joined the First Reserve Squadron.
On 1 September 1875 during the squadron's summer cruise she was en route with several other ships between Kingstown (now Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire or Dún Laoire , sometimes anglicised as "Dunleary" , is a suburban seaside town in County Dublin, Ireland, about twelve kilometres south of Dublin city centre. It is the county town of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County and a major port of entry from Great Britain...
) and Queenstown (now Cobh
Cobh
Cobh is a seaport town on the south coast of County Cork, Ireland. Cobh is on the south side of Great Island in Cork Harbour. Facing the town are Spike Island and Haulbowline Island...
). She accidentally rammed her sister ship, another member of the squadron, HMS Vanguard
HMS Vanguard (1869)
The eighth HMS Vanguard of the British Royal Navy was an Audacious-class central-battery ironclad battleship, launched in 1870.Vanguard — under the command of Captain Richard Dawkins, sailed out of Kingstown harbour on 27 August 1875 in company with three other ironclads, , and...
off Kish Bank, Dublin Bay in thick fog. Although Iron Duke sustained minor damage, a large hole was torn in Vanguard. Vanguards engine room was flooded which prevented her from using her pumps and she sunk in a little over an hour. All the crew were rescued.
Following the loss, Iron Duke replaced Vanguard as guard ship at Kingstown, a role in which she remained until July 1877.
She then returned to the China station again as flagship, returning in January 1883. After refitting, on 16 April 1885 she became a member of Admiral Hornby's Particular Service Squadron until August, when she joined the Channel Squadron.
She entered the reserve in May 1890 and was finally paid off on 2 May 1893. She was converted to a coal hulk in 1900 before eventually being sold for £15,000 as scrap on 15 May 1906.