Monarch HMS (battleship) 1897

[john sefton]

HMS MONARCH 1897. Ironclad battleship, laid down 1st June 1866 at Chatham Dockyard and launched 25th May 1868. 8320 tons with 4x12" and 3x7" muzzle loading guns. First commissioned May 1869 at Chatham for the Channel Squadron on 11th July 1882 using 300 shells, bombarded the water front batteries at Alexandria on 26th January 1897 -after 4 years in the reserve fleet - re-commissioned at Chatham as guardship for Cape Town. On March 3rd 1904 was renamed 'Simon' and became a depot ship at Simonstown.
Brought home in 1905 and was sold 4.4.1905 to the Garnham shipbreaking Co. after 37 years service.
N.B. When built was the first sea-going capital ship to be armed on the centre line principle.
Log Book November 1986
Ascension SG423