HMS Condor (1876)

Early in 1882 Egypt was struggling to resist a wave of nationalism and independence from Britain under the banner of "Egypt for the Egyptians".

After rioting in Alexandria, during which Europeans were killed, Admiral Seymour aboard HMS Invincible in company with a fleet of 15 ironclads under his command, was ordered to go to the area in June 1882. He arrived at Alexandria in order to protect the lives and property of British subjects, and safeguard access to the Suez Canal. Local native forces began work to improve the fortifications, and when they failed to respond to Seymour's ultimatum to stop work on 6 July. A second ultimatum on 10 July was more specific that a bombardment would begin on the morning of 11 July unless the harbour defences were relinquished. Foreign ships were asked to leave the harbour, including a large French fleet which moved to Port Said.[6]

Seymour (on HMS Invincible) signalled to HMS Alexandra to commence firing at the Ras-el-Tin fortifications at 7:00 a.m. on 11 July 1882, followed by the general order to attack the enemy's batteries. The offshore squadron at first conducted the attack while underway, but this proved difficult, and by 9:40, Sultan, Superb and Alexandra had anchored off the Lighthouse Fort and concentrated their fire on the heavily armed Ras-el-Tin battery. By 12:30, Inflexible had joined the attack and the fort's guns were silenced.[7][8]

[A] steady cannonade was maintained by the attacking and defending forces, and for the next few hours the roar of the guns and the shrieks of passing shot and shell were alone audible."

— Royle[7]

The Bombardment of Alexandria, 11 July 1882, from Le Monde Illustré

The larger ships began an attack on the Fort Mex battery but Temeraire ran aground. This enabled Condor, commanded by Lord Charles Beresford, to go to her assistance. She was refloated around 8am and resumed the attack.

While the offshore squadron was engaging the forts at long-range, the in-shore group, Monarch, Penelope were engaging the main harbour and eastern forts including the Maza-el-Kanat battery. However, Fort Marabout to the west, had a raking view across the approaches to the harbour and was equipped with heavy guns capable of jeopardising the entire attack. Beresford stated he would attack Fort Marabout to divert their fire from the main group. Condor sailed to within 400m of Fort Marabout and began furiously firing at the fort. This great proximity had a strange advantage because the guns in the fort could only awkwardly be repositioned to point downwards.[9]

After two hours of exchanging fire, with Fort Marabout much disabled, Admiral Seymour ordered the smaller gunships, HMS Bittern, HMS Cygnet and HMS Decoy to move in to finish the affray.[10]

When Fort Marabout's guns were disabled, the flag lieutenant Hedworth Lambton on Invincible signalled "Well Done, Condor." Condor's action allowed the ships to finish off Fort Mex.[7]