Albion-class ship of the line (1842)

The Albion-class ships of the line were a class of two-deck 90-gun second rates, designed for the Royal Navy by Sir William Symonds. The first two were originally ordered in March 1840 as 80-gun ships of the Vanguard class, but were re-ordered to a new design of 90 guns some three months later. Three more ships to this design were ordered in March 1840, but two of these (Princess Royal and Hannibal) were re-ordered to fresh designs in 1847.

Her Majesty's Ship Albion entering the Bosphorus after the action of 17 October 1854.
Class overview
Name	Albion
Operators	Royal Navy
Preceded by	Rodney class
Succeeded by	None
In service	6 September 1842
Planned	5
Completed	3
General characteristics
Type	Ship of the line
Length	205 ft 6 in (62.6 m) (gundeck) 170 ft 4 in (51.9 m) (keel)
Beam	54 ft 5 in (16.59 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Armament	90 guns: Gundeck: 28 × 32-pounders, 4 × 68-pounder carronades Upper gundeck: 26 × 32-pounders, 6 × 8 in (203.2 mm) Quarterdeck: 16 × 32-pounders, 2 × 8 in (203.2 mm) Forecastle: 8 × 32-pounders
Notes	Ships in class include: Albion, Aboukir, Exmouth

Ships

• HMS Albion

Builder: Plymouth Dockyard

Ordered: 18 March 1839

Launched: 6 September 1842

Fate: Broken up, 1884

• HMS Aboukir

Builder: Plymouth Dockyard

Ordered: 18 March 1839

Launched: 4 April 1848

Fate: Broken up, 1878

• HMS Exmouth

Builder: Plymouth Dockyard

Ordered: 12 March 1840

Launched: 12 July 1854

Fate: Broken up, 1905

References

• Lavery, Brian (2003) The Ship of the Line - Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.
• Lyon, David and Winfield, Rif (2004) The Sail and Steam Navy List, 1815-1889. Chatham Publishing. ISBN 1-86176-032-9.