HMS Black Prince (1861)

HMS "Black Prince", launched 27 February 1861, was the third ship of that name to serve with the British Royal Navy. She was the world's second ocean-going iron-hulled armoured warship, following her sister ship, HMS "Warrior" in the two-ship "Warrior" class. For a brief period the two ships were the most powerful warships in the world, being vitually impregnable to the naval guns of the time. Rapid advances in naval technology left "Black Prince" and her sister obsolete within a short time, however, and she spent more time in reserve and training roles than in first-line service.

Built at Glasgow, Scotland, her completion was delayed until September 1862 by a drydock accident during outfitting. Once in service, "Black Prince" was assigned to the Channel Fleet until 1866, then spent a year as flagship on the Irish coast. Overhauled and rearmed in 1867-68, she became guardship on the River Clyde. The routine of that duty was interrupted in 1869 when she and "Warrior" towed a large floating drydock from the Azores to Bermuda.

"Black Prince" was again refitted in 1874-75 and rejoined the Channel Fleet for a tour as flagship of that force's second-in-command. Later in the decade she crossed the Atlantic to visit Canada. In reserve from 1878, and reclassified as an armoured cruiser during much of that period, she was reactivated periodically to take part in annual fleet exercises.

"Black Prince" became a harbour training ship in 1896, stationed at Queenstown, Ireland. She was renamed "Emerald" in 1903. In 1910 she was taken to Plymouth for use in the training facility there under the name "Impregnable III", and sold for scrapping in 1923.

References

* Roger Chesneau and Eugene M. Kolesnik, ed., "Conway's All The Worlds Fighting Ships, 1860-1905", (Conway Maritime Press, London, 1979), ISBN 0-85177-133-5

External links

* [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/great_britain/pages/battleships/black_prince_1861.htm Maritimequest HMS Black Prince Photo Gallery]