HMS Andromache (1890)

History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Andromache
Builder: Chatham Dockyard
Laid down: May 1889 [1]
Launched: 14 August 1890 [1]
Commissioned: 1892
Nickname(s): "Andy Mac"
Fate: broken up 1920
General characteristics
Class and type: Apollo-class cruiser
Displacement: 3,600 tons
Length: 314 ft (95.7 m)
Beam: 43.5 ft (13.3 m)
Draught: 17.5 ft (5.3 m)
Propulsion:
Speed: 19.75 knots (36.58 km/h)
Complement: 273 to 300 (Officers and Men)
Armament:

HMS Andromache was an Apollo-class protected cruiser of the Royal Navy. William Henry White designed her, and she was built at Chatham Dockyard and launched on 14 August 1890. The total cost of construction was £186,234.[4]

Andromache was initially allocated to A Division of the Fleet Reserve.[2]

History

Ordered under the Naval Defence Act 1889, Andromache was built in 1890 at Chatham Dockyard. She was present at the Naval Review at Spithead on 26 June 1897 in celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. On 28 February 1900, the Andromache and her sister ship Apollo reportedly had been transferred from the Medway to the Devonport Fleet Reserve.[5] With the exception of the previous year's manoeuvres Andromache had been unemployed since being built. On 27 June 1900, orders from Devonport were given for a naval mobilization to take place on Tuesday, 10 July. Commander Francis Alan Richard Bowles was appointed in command on 23 April 1902,[6] and in June that year she was reported to serve as Naval Reserve drill ship at North Shields.[7] She took part in the fleet review held at Spithead on 16 August 1902 for the coronation of King Edward VII.[8]

On 1 February 1908, the torpedo gunboat Leda collided with Andromache in Harwich harbour, and had to be beached to avoid sinking.[9] In September 1909, the ship completed conversion to a minelayer at Chatham Dockyard.[10] Andromache took part in naval exercises off the East coast of Britain in July–August 1910, but on the night of 1 August, the steamship Neapolitan Prince, employed as a transport during the exercises, collided with Andromache on leaving Harwich harbour, crushing boats and davits on Andromache's starboard side.[11] In August 1914 she joined the Minelayer Squadron, after which she was reduced to harbour duties.

References

  1. 1 2 The Times (London), Friday, 15 August 1890, p.6
  2. 1 2 The Times (London), Tuesday, 22 December 1891, p.8
  3. ↑ Admiral Percy Scott quotes 6 × 4.7 inch guns on sister ship HMS Scylla in 1899. "Fifty Years in the Royal Navy" published 1919, page 88
  4. ↑ The Times (London), Tuesday, 26 April 1892, p.10
  5. ↑ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times (36077). London. 28 February 1900. p. 11.
  6. ↑ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times (36741). London. 14 April 1902. p. 11.
  7. ↑ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times (36793). London. 13 June 1902. p. 10.
  8. ↑ "The Coronation - Naval Review". The Times (36845). London. 13 August 1902. p. 4.
  9. ↑ "Naval Matters—Past and Prospective: Chatham Dockyard". The Marine Engineer and Naval Architect. Vol. 30. 1 March 1908. p. 321.
  10. ↑ Gardiner & Gray 1985, p. 14
  11. ↑ "Naval Matters—Past and Prospective: Chatham Dockyard". The Marine Engineer and Naval Architect. Vol. 33. September 1910. p. 52.

Publications

  • Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8. OCLC 67375475.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.



This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.