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. The lead ship of the class, , had "superb sailing qualities"Winfield 2010, p. 90 and was chosen by the Board of Admiralty to serve as the model for all future three-decker ships of the line.
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 two to six 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 pounds. 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
Citations
References Duckers, Peter (2011) The Crimean War at Sea: The Naval Campaigns against Russia, 1854-56. Pen & Sword Maritime. .