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FIGHTING SHIPS OF THE WORLD
UNITED KINGDOM
CRUISERS
INCONSTANT iron screw frigate (1869)


Ships


Name No Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate
Inconstant     Pembroke DYd 27.11.1866 12.11.1868 8.1869 hulk 1898


Technical data


Displacement normal, t5782
Displacement full, t

 

Length, m

102.8 pp

Breadth, m

15.3

Draught, m

7.49

No of shafts

1 (hoisting screw)

Machinery

sails + 1 2-cyl HSE trunk, 11 boilers

Power, h. p.

7360

Max speed, kts

16.2

Fuel, t

coal 750

Endurance, nm(kts)2780(10)
Armament

10 x 1 - 229/14 MLR Mk IV, 6 x 1 - 178/16 MLR Mk III

Complement

600



Project history

Designed by Sir Edward Reed. The Inconstant was the direct result of the American Wampanoag class, and when completed proved to be the fastest warship afloat. Iron hull, from keel to bulwarks, was clad with a double layer of 76mm timber. The first layer was applied vertically and the second layer horizontally. Ship was coppered, without double bottom or wing compartments, but had lateral watertight bulkheads extended up to the upper deck. Inconstant was fitted with a balanced rudder, controlled by two treble-hand wheels-one on deck, the other below.     The 229mm guns in Inconstant formed the main deck broadside battery; the 178mm guns were mounted on the upper deck and two of these were chase guns firing through embrasures forward. The engine was of greater size and power than any existing cruiser. It was a retrogressive step to retain simple expansion engine but nevertheless she provided a speed which was unprecedented for the times - she logged 15.5kts for 24 hours. Ship had telescopic funnels and hoisting screw. She was ship rigged, with fixed bowsprit, with 2500m² sail area, making 13.5kts under sail.

Modernizations

1872: + 6 x 1 - 100/21 20pdr BL, 2 x 1 QF guns, 11 x 1 MGs, 4 x 1 light guns

1877: + 2 x 1 - 356 TC

Naval service

No significant events.