Caledonia-class ship of the line explained

The Caledonia-class ships of the line were a class of nine 120-gun first rates, designed for the Royal Navy by Sir William Rule. A tenth ship (Royal Frederick) was ordered on 29 October 1827 to the same design, but was launched in 1833 as Queen to a fresh design by Sir William Symonds.

Armament

In the original configuration, the armament of the Caledonia class was consistent for the first three ships of the class. The exception was an increase in firepower on the poop deck from 2 to 6 18-pounder carronades.

Starting with the fourth ship, the armament of the class was significantly modified to adhere to the principle of a unified caliber of 32 pound. All guns on the middle and upper gun decks were replaced with the same number of 32-pounders, except for two 24-pounders on the middle deck that were replaced by two 8-inch-shell guns. Four of the 12-pounder guns on the quarterdeck were replaced with 32-pounder carronades. The remaining two were increased to 18-pounders, along with the two 12-pounders on the forecastle, and the carronades on the poop deck were removed.

By 1847 the armament had been brought to the 32-pounder standard.

Size

The last five ships of the class were built to a slightly broadened version of the draught, and this sub-class was armed in the same way as the last of the standard Caledonias, . Except for Caledonia herself, all these ships were converted into steam-powered screw battleships during the 1850s.

Ships

Standard group

Builder: Plymouth Dockyard

Ordered: 19 January 1797

Laid down: 1 January 1805

Launched: 25 June 1808

Fate: Broken up, 1875

Builder: Plymouth Dockyard

Ordered: 11 June 1812

Laid down: December 1813

Launched: 20 October 1820

Fate: Broken up, 1869

Builder: Chatham Dockyard

Ordered: 6 January 1812

Laid down: 17 July 1815

Launched: 12 April 1823

Fate: Broken up, 1873

Builder: Chatham Dockyard

Ordered: 2 June 1819

Laid down: June 1823

Launched: 22 September 1827

Fate: Sold out of the service, 1875

Broadened group

Builder: Portsmouth Dockyard

Ordered: 12 February 1823

Laid down: January 1827

Launched: 22 September 1832

Fate: Sold out of the service, 1875

Builder: Pembroke Dockyard

Ordered: 30 December 1823

Laid down: October 1825

Launched: 2 April 1833

Fate: Burnt, 1899

Builder: Chatham Dockyard

Ordered: 9 September 1823

Laid down: March 1827

Launched: 10 June 1833

Fate: Burnt, 1918

Builder: Plymouth Dockyard

Ordered: 2 June 1819

Laid down: May 1827

Launched: 27 August 1840

Fate: Sold out of the service, 1883

Builder: Woolwich Dockyard

Ordered: 22 February 1825

Laid down: November 1829

Launched: 21 June 1841

Fate: Sold out of the service, 1906

References