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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Online Library of Selected Images:
-- SHIPS of the BRITISH NAVY --
HMS Minotaur (Broadside Ironclad, 1867-1922)
HMS Minotaur, a 10,690-ton broadside ironclad built
at Blackwall, England, was one of six vessels built to the original
British concept of an armored battleship: a very long and relatively
fast iron-hulled steamer, carrying an extensive sail rig and a
large broadside battery of medium-sized (by emerging standards) guns. She was also one of the three completed with five masts and, with
her sister, HMS Agincourt,
had her gun deck almost completely coated with iron armor, a longer
expanse of protection than fitted to the other four ships of the
type.
Minotaur took a long time to reach active service: keel
laid in September 1861, launched in December 1863, completed for
experimental service in 1865 and commissioned in April 1867 (though
some standard sources don't have her completed until December
1868). During the next twenty years, with time out for refit and
rearmament in 1873-1875, Minotaur was flagship of the Channel
Squadron, flying the flags of a dozen Admirals. Other than the
pomp and circumstance of flagship duty, her career was relatively
free of notable events. In 1868 she nearly sank HMS Bellerphon
in a collision, and in July 1882 missed by a day the Royal Navy's
only battleship combat action of her era, the bombardment of Alexandria,
Egypt. Present at Spithead during Queen Victoria's Jubilee Naval
Review in mid-1887, she was decommissioned at the end of that
year.
Now thoroughly obsolete, Minotaur was placed back in
service in 1893 as a harbor training ship, first at Portland and,
from 1905 to late 1919, at Harwich. As was often the case for
such subsidiary service vessels, she was renamed several times,
becoming Boscawen II in 1904, Ganges in 1906 and
Ganges II in 1908. The old battleship was sold for scrapping
in 1922.
This page features all the views we have concerning the
British broadside ironclad Minotaur.
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 61440
HMS Minotaur (British Broadside Ironclad, 1868)
Engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", 1866, showing
the ship with square rig on her first four masts.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 149KB; 740 x 625 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 59979
HMS Minotaur (British Broadside Ironclad, 1868)
Photographed circa 1867, when first completed. She is still has
yards on her fourth mast.
The original print is mounted on a Carte de Visite.
Collection of Captain Robert F. Bradford, USN, 1941.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 50KB; 740 x 440 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 65961
HMS Minotaur (British Broadside Ironclad, 1868)
In a harbor, with boats alongside and signal flags flying, after
1875.
Donation of Rear Admiral Ammen Farenholt, USN (Medical Corps).
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 48KB; 740 x 535 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 76900
HMS Minotaur (British Broadside Ironclad, 1868)
Photographed while serving as flagship of the Channel Fleet,
subsequent to her 1873-1875 refit when alternate gun ports were
enlarged.
Note the sheer leg crane in the right background.
Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 590 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 71223
HMS Minotaur (British Broadside Ironclad, 1868)
Alongside a dockyard wharf, after 1875.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 55KB; 740 x 550 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 76929
HMS Minotaur (British Broadside Ironclad, 1868)
In harbor, prior to her 1887 decommissioning.
S.S. Great Eastern is partially visible in the left background.
Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 510 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 71225
HMS Minotaur (British Broadside Ironclad, 1868)
Photograph emphasizing her masts, yards and rigging, taken while
she was in port after 1875.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 97KB; 540 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 71224
HMS Minotaur (British Broadside Ironclad, 1868)
Closeup photograph of the ship's bow, taken in port after 1875,
showing crewmen, anchor and mooring chains, bowsprit rigging
and bow decorations.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 97KB; 740 x 575 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 65962
HMS Minotaur (British Broadside Ironclad, 1868)
In drydock after 1875, showing her bow decorations.
Note what appears to be a bollard in the foreground, marked "V
R".
Donation of Rear Admiral Ammen Farenholt, USN (Medical Corps).
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 103KB; 740 x 515 pixels |
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In the following photographs HMS Minotaur is seen
distantly, or may be among the ships present:
Photo #: NH 89536
Funchal, Madeira
View of Funchal harbor, taken by local photographer M.d.O. Perestrello
during the 1870s or 1880s.
Four British battleships are present, among them two of the three
"five masters" (Minotaur, Agincourt and
Northumberland). The ship at far right, partially hidden
by the land, appears to be HMS Monarch.
Collection of Captain E.L. Bennett, USN.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 253KB; 1200 x 935
pixels |
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Photo #: NH 88850
"Jubilee" Fleet Review at Portsmouth, England, 23 July
1887
British warships anchored off Portsmouth during the naval review
held in honor of Queen Victoria's 50th year on the throne. Identifiable
ships, all dressed with flags) include (from left to right):
HMS Minotaur (with five masts), HMS Agincourt (with
five masts), HMS Glatton (right center, in middle distance),
HMS Black Prince (behind Glatton), and HMS Prince
Albert (to the right of Glatton). A small yacht is
steaming by in the right foreground.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 485 pixels |
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Page made 9 May 2006