HMS Neptune (1832)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Neptune.

HMS Neptune was a 120-gun, three-deck, first rate, broadened Caledonia-class ship of the line built for the Royal Navy during the 1830s. Completed in 1832, the ship remained in ordinary until 1854. She was razeed and converted into a steam-powered, 89-gun, second rate, two decker in 1858–1859.

Neptune portrayed in the Illustrated London News, 1854
History
United Kingdom
Name	Neptune
Namesake	Neptune
Builder	Portsmouth Dockyard
Laid down	January 1827
Launched	22 September 1832
Fate	Sold, 1875
General characteristics (as built)
Class & type	Broadened Caledonia-class ship of the line
Tons burthen	270575⁄94 bm
Length	205 ft 8 in (62.7 m) (gundeck)
Beam	55 ft 7 in (16.9 m)
Draught	18 ft 4 in (5.6 m)
Depth of hold	23 ft 2 in (7.06 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Complement	900 (wartime)
Armament	120 guns: Gundeck: 30 × 32 pdrs, 2 × 68 pdr carronades Middle gundeck: 32 × 32 pdrs, 2 × 68 pdr carronades Upper gundeck: 32 × 32 pdrs, 2 × 68 pdr carronades Quarterdeck: 16 × 32 pdr carronades Forecastle: 2 × 32 pdrs, 2 × 32 pdr carronades

Description

The Caledonia class was an improved version of HMS Hibernia with additional freeboard to allow them to fight all their guns in heavy weather. Neptune measured 205 feet 8 inches (62.7 m) on the gundeck and 170 feet 6 inches (52.0 m) on the keel. She had a beam of 55 feet 7 inches (16.9 m), a depth of hold of 23 feet 3 inches (7.1 m), a deep draught of 18 feet 4 inches (5.59 m) and had a tonnage of 270575⁄94 tons burthen. Her crew numbered 820 officers and ratings in peacetime and 900 in wartime. The ship was armed with 120 muzzle-loading, smoothbore guns that consisted of thirty 32-pounder (56 cwt) guns^{[Note 1]} and two 68-pounder carronades on her lower gundeck, thirty-two 32-pounder 55 cwt guns]] and two 68-pounder carronades on her middle gundeck and thirty-two 32-pounders and two 68-pounder carrondaes on her upper gundeck. Her forecastle mounted a pair of 32-pounder 49 cwt guns and two 32-pounder carronades. On her quarterdeck she carried sixteen 32-pounder carronades. Neptune's armament was later modified with four 8 in (203 mm) shell guns that replaced her 68-pounder carronades on the lower and middle gundecks. The 68-pounder carronades on the upper gundeck were replaced by a pair of 32-pounders. All of the guns on the forecastle and quarterdeck were replaced by six 32-pounders and fourteen short 32-pounder guns.^[1]

Construction and career

Neptune was ordered on 12 February 1823, laid down at Portsmouth Dockyard in January 1827, launched on 27 August 1832 and completed in December. The ship remained in ordinary until she was commissioned on 5 December 1851 as a guard ship by Captain Richard Yates. Captain Edward H. Scott assumed command on 27 March 1852. He was relieved in turn by Captain Henry Smith on 17 February 1854. She was fitted with screw propulsion in 1859, and was sold out of the service in 1875.^[1]

Notes

1. "Cwt" is the abbreviation for hundredweight, 56 cwt referring to the weight of the gun.