HMS Windsor Castle was a formidable first-rate Royal Navy ship of the line, originally constructed as a triple-decker with a formidable armament of 102 guns. Laid down at Pembroke Dockyard in 1844 under the initial name HMS Victoria, her design was based on HMS Queen, and she was intended to carry 110 guns. However, her construction was delayed, and she was reordered twice—first in 1848 to a modified design, and again in 1857 to incorporate a mixed sail and steam propulsion system, along with an increased armament of 120 guns. She was renamed Windsor Castle in 1855 and launched on 26 August 1858 by Lady Pakington. Measuring 204 feet in length and displacing approximately 4,971 tons, she was a sizable vessel with a crew complement of around 930 men. Her hull cost was £84,555, with an additional £14,878 spent on her conversion to steam power. Initially, she carried 116 guns, but her armament was reduced over time, and by 1862, she was armed with 97 guns. Her early service saw her assigned to the first-class steam reserve, as reported in The Times in 1860, indicating her readiness for rapid deployment. Throughout her career, HMS Windsor Castle underwent several renamings and roles, including her renaming to HMS Cambridge in 1869 when she replaced a ship of the same name as a gunnery ship off Plymouth. Notable incidents include being driven ashore during a storm in December 1872, when she was armed with only 29 guns but was refloated the next day. She served as a tender to other ships, including HMS Calcutta, with whom she was connected by a wooden bridge, and her tenders included vessels like HMS Gorgon, Sabrina, and others through the late 19th and early 20th centuries. By 1902, she was stationed at Devonport, serving as part of the Channel Squadron, with Rear-Admiral Curzon-Howe hoisting his flag aboard. Her final years saw her relegated from active service before being paid off in 1907. She was sold for breaking up in 1908 at Falmouth, marking the end of her maritime service. HMS Windsor Castle/ Cambridge represents a significant example of transitional naval technology and the Royal Navy’s evolution during the mid-19th century.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.