HMS Amphion (1883)

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

Amphion moored at Coal Harbour, Vancouver, while serving on the Pacific Station in British Columbia, Canada, 1900.
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Amphion
Ordered1880[1]
BuilderPembroke dockyard[2]
Laid down25 April 1881[2]
Launched13 October 1883[2][3]
Commissioned5 July 1887[2][4]
Decommissioned25 May 1904[5]
FateSold 1906[2]
General characteristics
Class and typeLeander-class second-class partially protected cruiser
Displacement4,300 tons (4,400 tonnes) load.[2][3]
Tons burthen3,750 tons (B.O.M.).[6]
Length
  • 300 ft (91 m) between perpendiculars.[2]
  • 315 ft 96.01 m) overall.[2][3]
Beam46 ft (14 m).[2][3]
Draught
  • 20 ft 8 in (6.30 m) aft, 19 ft 6 in (5.94 m) forward
  • with 950 tons (970 tonnes) of coal and complete with stores and provisions.[7]
PropulsionSails and screw. Two shafts. Two cylinder horizontal direct acting compound engines, 12 cylindrical boilers, 5,500 IHP.[2][3]
Speed
  • 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) designed[2]
  • 17–18 knots after funnels raised[2]
Range
  • 11,000 nmi (20,000 km; 13,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).[2]
  • 725 tons coal normal, 1000 tons maximum = c. 6,000 nmi at economical speed.[8]
Complement(1885): 275[7][9]
Armament
Armour
  • 1.5 in (40mm) steel armoured deck (with sloped sides) over 165 ft.[2][8]
  • 1.5 in (40mm) gun shields.[2][8]
Notes
  • Carried 2 second class torpedo boats.[7]
  • Carried 7-pounder and 9-pounder boat guns and field guns.[7]

HMS Amphion was a second-class cruiser of the Leander class which served with the Royal Navy. She was built at Pembroke Dockyard, being laid down in 1881, launched in 1883, and completed in financial year 1885–86, and then lay in ordinary at Devonport. She was commissioned for the 1887 and 1888 annual manoeuvres. She was recommissioned in December 1888. served in the Pacific until 1890, in the Mediterranean from 1890 to 1895, in ordinary in Devonport from 1895 to 1897 and in the Pacific once more from 1897 to 1904, having a refit in 1900.

  1. ^ Lyon & Winfield The Sail and Steam Navy List, All the Ships of the Royal Navy 1815–1889 pages 270–271
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905, page 75.
  3. ^ a b c d e www.worldnavalships.com Leander class
  4. ^ The Amphion's first logbook covers 5 July 1887 to 31 August 1887, and is UK National Archives catalogue reference ADM 53/12451
  5. ^ The Amphion's final logbook covers 1 August 1903 to 25 May 1904, and is UK National Archives catalogue reference ADM 53/17022
  6. ^ Navy List, December 1884, page 230.
  7. ^ a b c d e Log of HMS Leander 29 May 1885 – 22 May 1886, UK National Archives file ADM 53/14282
  8. ^ a b c Jane, All the World's Fighting Ships, 1900, page 102.
  9. ^ Conway's lists her complement as 278, which appears to be an error. See Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905, page 75.