An engraving of HMS Devastation the first of two Devastation-class mastless steam propelled turret armed ironclad warships of the Royal Navy armed with four RML 12-inch (305 mm) rifled muzzle-loading guns at sea following her launch on 12 July 1871 at the Royal Dockyard Portsmouth, Portsmouth, England.  Original publication: Illustrated London News. (Photo by Illustrated London News/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)An engraving of HMS Devastation the first of two Devastation-class mastless steam propelled turret armed ironclad warships of the Royal Navy armed with four RML 12-inch (305 mm) rifled muzzle-loading guns at sea following her launch on 12 July 1871 at the Royal Dockyard Portsmouth, Portsmouth, England.  Original publication: Illustrated London News. (Photo by Illustrated London News/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
An engraving of HMS Devastation the first of two Devastation-class mastless steam propelled turret armed ironclad warships of the Royal Navy armed with four RML 12-inch (305 mm) rifled muzzle-loading guns at sea following her launch on 12 July 1871 at the Royal Dockyard Portsmouth, Portsmouth, England. Original publication: Illustrated London News. (Photo by Illustrated London News/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

14 fabulous rare images of Royal Navy ships from Portsmouth's past

Amazing engravings and photographs for you to enjoy looking through.

In this interesting selection you will see some quite rare images from Portsmouth including an engraving of HMS Minotaur from 1867, HMS Devastation from 1871.

HMS Thunderer in 1877, a great view from HMS Ark Royals flight deck in Portsmouth Dockyard in 1938 and spectators watching the launch of the 'Queen Elizabeth' at Portsmouth in 1913.

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