HMS Warspite (1884)

HMS Warspite was an Imperieuse-class first-class armoured cruiser, launched on 29 January 1884 and commissioned in 1886.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Warspite.

HMS Warspite, about 1885, with her original 2 brig masts
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Warspite
BuilderChatham Dockyard
Laid down25 October 1881
Launched29 January 1884
Commissioned1886
FateSold for breaking up 4 April 1905
General characteristics
Class and typeImperieuse-class armoured cruiser
Displacement8,400 long tons (8,500 t)
Length315 ft (96 m) pp
Beam62 ft (19 m)
Draught26 ft 9 in (8.15 m)
Propulsion2 Shaft Penn engine
Speed16.75 knots (31.02 km/h)
Complement555
Armament
ArmourBelt: 10 in (250 mm)

Construction

Morris[1] states that Warspite had her sailing rig removed while building. The illustration of her with masts therefore shows her on trials, or is conjectural.

Service history

Warspite was the flagship on the Pacific Station between 1890 and 1893, then a port guard ship at Queenstown until 1896. From 1896 until 1902 she again served as the flagship of the Pacific Station. Captain Thomas Philip Walker was appointed in command in March 1899, when Rear-Admiral Henry Palliser was Commander-in-Chief of the station. In June 1899 she became the flagship of Rear-Admiral Lewis Beaumont, who kept Captain Walker as flag captain. The ship visited Coquimbo in March 1900.[2] From late 1900 she was the flagship of Rear-Admiral Andrew Bickford, with Captain Colin Richard Keppel as flag captain in command of the ship.[3] In late March 1902, Rear-Admiral Bickford transferred his flag to the newly arrived HMS Grafton, and was joined by Captain Keppel. Warspite returned home under the command of Captain John Locke Marx (who had arrived on Grafton),[4] stopping at Bahia and São Vicente, Cape Verde on the way. She arrived at Plymouth on 28 May 1902,[5] and paid off at Chatham on 1 July,[6] when she was placed in the D Division of the Dockyard reserve and prepared for emergency service.[7]

Warspite as she appeared later in her career, with a single military mast and sailing rig removed

She was sold on 4 April 1904 to Thos. W. Ward of Preston. She arrived on the River Mersey on 3 October 1905 and then travelled on to Preston for breaking up.

Notes
  1. Morris, Douglas Cruisers of the Royal and Commonwealth Navies 0907771351 p. 30
  2. "Naval & Military Intelligence". The Times. No. 36090. London. 15 March 1900. p. 7.
  3. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36395. London. 6 March 1901. p. 10.
  4. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36720. London. 20 March 1902. p. 10.
  5. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36780. London. 29 May 1902. p. 7.
  6. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36809. London. 2 July 1902. p. 7.
  7. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36794. London. 14 June 1902. p. 9.

References
  • Chesneau, Roger & Kolesnik, Eugene M., eds. (1979). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-8317-0302-4.
  • Friedman, Norman (2012). British Cruisers of the Victorian Era. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-59114-068-9.
  • Lyon, David; Winfield, Rif (2004). The Sail & Steam Navy List. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 1-86176-032-9.
  • Parkes, Oscar (1990). British Battleships (reprint of the 1957 ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-075-4.
  • Silverstone, Paul H. (1984). Directory of the World's Capital Ships. New York: Hippocrene Books. ISBN 0-88254-979-0.
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