HMS Duke of Wellington
|
|
HMS Duke of Wellington, screw ship of the line of the Royal Navy, with towering masts and trim square-set yards, was the flagship of Sir Charles Napier.
First launched at Pembroke Dock in 1852, she was christened "Duke of Wellington" after Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington. With towering masts, and armed with an impressive total of 131 guns, she served as flagship for the Commander-in-Chief for the Queen's birthday celebration at Portsmouth in 1896 'dressed smartly for the occasion'.
The Duke of Wellington was one of the last of the tall wooden ships produced by Pembroke Yards for the Queen's Navy. Built during the early days of steam propulsion, having been "cut asunder" (along with several of her sister ships) during construction, lengthened and retrofitted with steam boilers and engines, she was launched with both sail and steam power ability.Template:Mil-ship-stub