Upper deck plan of the HMS Minotaur.

Upper deck plan of the HMS Minotaur.

Launched at the Thames Ironworks on 12 December 1863, 'Minotaur' was 120 metres (400 feet) long and had a displacement of 10,690 tons. Her maximum speed was 14 knots and she was armed with four 300-pounder breech-loading guns and 26 180-pounders.