HMS Australia (1886)
_in_the_1890s.jpg) Australia at anchor
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Australia |
| Namesake | Australia |
| Builder | Robert Napier and Sons, Govan, Glasgow |
| Laid down | 21 April 1885 |
| Launched | 25 November 1886 |
| Completed | 11 December 1888 |
| Fate | Sold for scrap, 4 April 1905 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | armoured cruiser |
| Displacement | 5,535 long tons (5,624 t) |
| Length | 300 ft (91.4 m) (p/p) |
| Beam | 56 ft (17.1 m) |
| Draught | 24 ft (7.3 m) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph) |
| Range | 8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Complement | 484 |
| Armament |
|
| Armour |
|
HMS Australia was one of seven
armoured cruisers built for the Royal Navy in the mid-1880s. She was assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet in 1889 and remained there until 1893 when she returned home. The ship was assigned to the Coast Guard Squadron for the next decade before she was placed in reserve in 1903. Australia was sold for scrap
in 1905.
Design and description
Australia had a
draught of 24 feet (7.3 m). Designed to displace
5,040 long tons (5,120 t), all of the Orlando-class ships proved to be overweight and displaced approximately 5,535 long tons (5,624 t).
The ship was powered by a pair of three-cylinder
forced draught. During her sea trials, Australia reached 18.8 knots (34.8 km/h; 21.6 mph). The ship carried a maximum of 900 long tons (910 t) of coal which was designed to give her a range of 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at a speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). The ship's complement was 484 officers and ratings.[1]
Australia's main armament consisted of two
BL 6-inch (152 mm) guns, five on each broadside. Protection against torpedo boats was provided by six quick-firing (QF) 6-pounder Hotchkiss guns and ten QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns, most of which were mounted on the main deck in broadside positions. The ship was also armed with six 18-inch (457 mm) torpedo tubes: four on the broadside above water and one each in the bow and stern below water.[1]
The ship was protected by a waterline compound armour belt 10 inches (254 mm) thick. It covered the middle 200 feet (61.0 m) of the ship and was 5 feet 6 inches (1.7 m) high.[1] Because the ship was overweight, the top of the armour belt was 2 feet (0.61 m) below the waterline when she was fully loaded.[2] The ends of the armour belt were closed off by transverse bulkheads 16 inches (406 mm). The lower deck was 2–3 inches (51–76 mm) thick over the full length of the hull. The conning tower was protected by 12 inches (305 mm) of armour.[1]
Construction and service
Australia, named for the Australian continent,[3] was laid down on 21 April 1885 by Robert Napier and Sons at their shipyard in Govan, Glasgow.
The ship was
launched on 25 November 1886, and completed on 11 December 1888.[4] Shortly after commissioning, she was assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet and remained there until 1893 when she participated in the Columbian Review held in New York City
that year to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of the New World.
Upon her return home, Australia became the coast
Elsinore.[7]
She took part in the
coronation of King Edward VII.[8] Captain Charles Home Cochran was appointed in command on 24 November 1902,[9] but the ship was placed in reserve at Chatham Dockyard in early 1903,[5] before being sold for scrap on 4 April 1905.[1]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e Chesneau & Kolesnik, p. 65
- ^ Friedman, p. 146
- ^ Silverstone, p. 216
- ^ Friedman, p. 342
- ^ a b Friedman, p. 141
- ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36049. London. 26 January 1900. p. 7.
- ^ "Royal gathering in Denmark - Arrival of the King". The Times. No. 36555. London. 9 September 1901. p. 4.
- ^ "The Coronation - Naval Review". The Times. No. 36845. London. 13 August 1902. p. 4.
- ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36919. London. 7 November 1902. p. 6.
References
- ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
- 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.
- Silverstone, Paul H. (1984). Directory of the World's Capital Ships. New York: Hippocrene Books. ISBN 0-88254-979-0.
External links
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