HMS Racoon (1887)

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

History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Racoon
Ordered1885[1]
BuilderDevonport Dockyard
Cost
  • Hull: £60,600
  • Machinery: £31,000[1]
Laid down1 February 1886
Launched6 May 1887
Commissioned1 March 1888
Decommissioned1 January 1905
FateSold to G Cohen on 4 April 1905[1]
General characteristics
Class and typeArcher-class torpedo cruiser
Displacement1770 tons
Length140 ft (43 m)
Beam36 ft (11 m)
Draught13.5 ft (4.1 m)
Installed power
  • 2,500 ihp (1,900 kW)
  • 4,500 ihp (3,400 kW) forced draught
Propulsion
  • Twin 2-cylinder compound steam engines
  • Four boilers
  • Twin screws
Speed17.5 kn (32.4 km/h)[1]
Range7,000 nmi (13,000 km) at 10 kn (19 km/h)
Complement176 men
Armament
Armour

HMS Racoon, sometimes spelled HMS Raccoon, was an Archer-class torpedo cruiser of the Royal Navy. Racoon was laid down on 1 February 1886 and came into service on 1 March 1888.[2][3]

The Crisis at Zanzibar, British War-Ships engaged in the Bombardment of the Sultan's Palace, Racoon (right side, foreground)

She served on the East Indies Station where, on 27 August 1896, she was involved in the bombardment of Sultan Khalid's palace during the 40 minute Anglo–Zanzibar War.[4]

Showing 33 slaves captured by the boats of the Racoon in 1901

In early May 1901 Racoon returned to the United Kingdom,[5] and was paid off at Sheerness on 6 July 1901.[6]

She was decommissioned on 1 January 1905 and sold for scrap.[2][7]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Winfield, R.; Lyon, D. (2004). The Sail and Steam Navy List: All the Ships of the Royal Navy 1815–1889. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-032-6. OCLC 52620555.
  2. ^ a b HMS Racoon at Naval History
  3. ^ Patience 1994, p. 11.
  4. ^ Patience (1994)
  5. ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36437. London. 24 April 1901. p. 11.
  6. ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36501. London. 8 July 1901. p. 6.
  7. ^ Archer Class at Battleships-Cruisers