Iron Duke, 1870
Type: Central battery ironclad ; Armament 14
Launched : 1 Mar 1870 ; Disposal date or year : 1906
BM: 3787 tons ; Displacement: 6034 tons
Propulsion: Screw Complement: 450
Machinery notes: 4268 hpi 800 hp ; Speed ; 13.6 knots ;
Notes:

1870 Pembroke, Ships's Co borne in Indus.

14 Jan 1871 having made alterations to her ballast and having been re-rigged as a bark, departed from Plymouth to trial her engines.

31 Jan 1871 arrived at Vigo.

11 Feb 1971 arrived Lisbon.

21 Apr 1871 at Devonport.

27 Apr 1871 went to sea with the Vanguard on a 2 month experimental cruise to test the merits of the 2 ships.

1 Sep 1875 collided with and sank the Central battery Vanguard off the Kish Bank, Wicklow, Ireland. No life lost.

5 Jul 1878 Commissioned at Devonport.

1879 Flag Ship, China.

1879 Officers borne on the books for Hospitals in China and Japan ; and for Sick Quartes, Yokohama and Naval and Victualling Storekeeper at Yokohama.

16 Apr 1885 Commissioned at Devonport.

Apr 1886 Channel Squadron.

13 Sep 1888, taken out of the basin at Keyham Yard (Plymouth).

14 Sep 1888, departs for Spithead (Portsmouth), to join the Channel Squadron.

22 Sep 1888, arrived in the Firth of Forth in a thick fog, with the Northumberland, and Monarch, and anchor at St. Margaret's Hope.

25 Oct 1888, departed Greenwich [with the fleet, appears to have been calling at coastal towns and ports etc., where the public have been allowed on board, as was the case at Liverpool].

27 Oct 1888, arrived off the Mersey (Liverpool).

3 Nov 1888, arrived with the Channel Squadron off the Lizard, English Channel, from Liverpool, and arrived in Plymouth Sound later in the day, and will come into harbour the following week to refit.

Circa 12 Dec 1888, the Channel Squadron is expected to assemble at Portland for the winter cruise, and will depart for Vigo, Gibraltar, Carthagena, Port Mahon, and Cagliari, returning to Gibraltar 18 Feb., and from thence to Madeira (5 Mar), and back to Gibraltar (18), and then calls at Lisbon, Vigo and Ferrol, before returning to Portland on 28 Apr. Those are the plans, but you know what they say about plans !

Circa 2 Jan 1889, arrived at Gibraltar and dropped off an injured seaman.

29 Jan 1889, departed Gibraltar to rejoin the Channel Squadron.

Circa 2 Feb 1889, arrived Gibraltar from the coast of Morocco.

13 Mar 1889, involved in landing exercises at Gibraltar with the Channel Squadron.

18 Mar 1889, arrived Gibraltar from Tangier, and having coaled is to return to Tangier.

Circa 1 Apr 1889, departed Gibraltar, sailing westward.

Circa 18 May 1889, Blacksmith G. Vosper awarded the long service and good conduct medal.

18 Jul 1889, at Spithead, having recently arrived from Norway. It would appear that the fleet is preparing for the usual summer fleet exercise.

31 Aug 1889, arrived in Plymouth Sound, presumably for the usual refit ; the summer exercises would appear to have been completed.

20 Sep 1889, moved from Hamoaze, Plymouth Harbour, into Plymouth Sound, to be swung to ensure that her compasses are working properly before she goes to sea.

22 Sep 1889, departed for Portland, to carry out Whitehead Torpedo trials, en route for Spithead, and rejoining the Channel Squadron, before they depart for the Baltic, returning to England in early November, but as with the cruise to the Mediterranean, but we know about plans !

23 Sep 1889, joined the Channel Squadron at Spithead.

25 Sep 1889, departed for a cruise of the Baltic with the Channel Squadron, including the Northumberland, Monarch, Anson and Curlew, touching at Copenhagen, Kiel, Wilhelmshaven, and Carlskrona.

30 Oct 1889, arrived Plymouth Sound, from the Baltic, and discharged her powder and came up into the harbour, for what would appear to be the usual refit. It was noted that the Anson was damaged in Kiel harbour and required repair. 10 days leave was to be granted in watches. As an aside it is noted that a seaman by the name of Scannell, on the Monarch, which was in company with the Iron Duke, when assisting in the reefing of a foresail in rough weather, fell from aloft when the ship pitched, whilst "sailing" down the North Sea, and died shortly afterwards!

13 Dec 1889, departed Plymouth for Portland, to join up with the other part of the Channel Squadron, arriving from Portsmouth. It was then planned that the Squadron would depart Portland for winter cruise, via Arosa Bay, Vigo, Port Mahon, and Morocco, returning in April, with the usual caveats regarding planned cruises.

20 Apr 1890, arrived at Plymouth from Arosa Bay (18th), having been sent home in advance of the rest of the Channel Squadron, having a case of scarlet fever on board.

22 Apr 1890, plans are afoot to replace some of the vessels of the Channel Squadron ie the Iron Duke is reported to be replaced by the Rodney, and will relieve the Devastation as coast guard ship at Queensferry.

23 Apr 1890, is supposed to be leaving Plymouth for Portsmouth ?

8 May 1890, paid off at Portsmouth.

19 Jul 1890, is noted as being available for the usual summer exercises.

30 Aug 1890, having been inspected was ready to sail when signalled so to do.

31 Aug 1890, anchored at Spithead.

9 Sep 1890, has received orders to depart Sheerness, to resume her coast guard duties at Queensferry, N.B., and guard ship at that place.

Circa 1 Jan 1891, the long service and good conduct medal awarded to Chief Writer J Foster.

10 Sep 1891, as guard ship at Queensferry exchanged salutes with 3 German ships of war just arrived.

24 Nov 1892, still appears to be guard ship and coast guard ship at Queensferry, N.B.

17 Jan 1893, a court martial was held on board the Northampton flag ship at Sheerness on Able Seaman John Elijah Richardson, of the Iron Duke, at Queensferry, N.B., who admitted the charge of stealing a railway ticket worth �1 3s. 5�d., from a ship mate on 10 Dec. This being a repeat offence he was sentenced to 6 months hard labour, and to be dismissed the service.

4 Apr 1893, the Admiralty is reported to be replacing the Iron Duke as guard ship by the Galatea at Queensferry, N.B.

2 May 1893, the Galatea will also replace the Iron Duke as coast guard ship at Queensferry, N.B.

2 May 1893, was paid off at Portsmouth, and her crew will transfer to the Galatea.

7 Nov 1893, Staff Engineer appointed to the Iron Duke, which suggests that she was probably in some form of reserve.

Iron Duke, 1912
Type: Battleship; Armament 10 x 13.5" ; 12 x 6" ; 2 x 3" AA etc.
Launched : 1912 ; Disposal date or year : 1946
Displacement: 25000 tons
Complement: 995 to 1022
Speed ; 21�50 knots ;
Notes:

Aug 1914 Flagship of the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleets.

29 Apr 1919 took up position in Kaffa Bay - see p. 658-> www.naval-review.org/issues/1921-4.pdf.

24 Jun 1920 to assemble off Haider Pasha - see p. 620-> www.naval-review.org/issues/1924-4.pdf.

25 Jun 1920 anchored off Mudania - operations carried out ashore, and from thence to Ghemlik - see p. 620->.

5 July 1920 Royal Marines detached to the Marlborough - see p. 625->.

31 Aug 1922 at Constantinople - see p. 548-> www.naval-review.org/issues/1923-3.pdf.

3 Sep 1922 arrived Smyrna - see p. 548-> www.naval-review.org/issues/1923-3.pdf.

7 Sep 1922 Marines were landed from Iron Duke and King George V at Smyrna - see p. 738-> www.naval-review.org/issues/1923-4.pdf.

14 Sep 1922 departed for Chanak - see p. 162-> www.naval-review.org/issues/1924-1.pdf.