HMS Halcyon (1894)
| HMS Halcyon HMS Halcyon | |
| Career (United Kingdom) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | HMS Halcyon |
| Builder: | Devonport Dockyard |
| Laid down: | 2 January 1893[1] |
| Launched: | 6 April 1894 |
| Commissioned: | 16 May 1895[1] |
| Fate: | Sold for breaking on 6 November 1919 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Dryad-class torpedo gunboat |
| Displacement: | 1070 tons[2] |
| Length: | 262 ft 6 in (80.01 m) |
| Beam: | 30 ft 6 in (9.30 m) |
| Draught: | 13 ft (4.0 m)[1] |
| Installed power: | 6,000 ihp (4,500 kW) |
| Propulsion: |
|
| Speed: | 19 kn (35 km/h) |
| Complement: | 120 |
| Armament: |
|
The third HMS Halcyon was a Dryad-class torpedo gunboat[1] of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1894 and was put up for sale before World War I. She was recommissioned in 1913, was converted to a minesweeper and served under the orders of the Admiral Commanding Coast Guard and Reserves. She was sold for breaking in 1919.
Contents
Design
Ordered under the Naval Defence Act of 1889, which established the "Two-Power Standard", the class was contemporary with the first Torpedo Boat Destroyers. With a length overall of 262 ft 6 in (80.01 m),[1] a beam of 30 ft 6 in (9.30 m)[1] and a displacement of 1,070 tons,[1] these torpedo gunboats were not small ships by the standard of the time; they were larger than the majority of World War I destroyers. Halcyon was engined by Hawthorn Leslie and Company[1] with two sets of vertical triple-expansion steam engines, two locomotive-type boilers, and twin screws. Halcyon produced 6,000 indicated horsepower (4,500 kW),[1] nearly twice the power of the rest of her class. She was capable of 19 knots (35 km/h).[3] She carried between 100 and 160 tons of coal and was manned by 120 sailors and officers.[1]
Armament
The armament when built comprised two QF 4.7-inch (12 cm) guns, four 6-pdr guns and a single 5-barrelled Nordenfelt machine gun. Her primary weapon was five 18-inch (460 mm) torpedoes, with two reloads.[1] On conversion to a minesweeper in 1914 two of the five torpedoes were removed.[1]
Construction
Halcyon was laid down at Devonport Dockyard on 2 January 1893[1] and launched on 6 April 1894.[2]
History
On 26 June 1897 Halcyon was present at the Fleet Review at Spithead in celebration of Queen Vicoria's Diamond Jubilee.[3]
Pre-war service
Although being offered for sale,[3] she was recommissioned at Sheerness on 5 July 1913.[3]
World War I service
In August 1914 she became the ship of the Senior Naval Officer North Sea Fisheries, serving under the orders of the Admiral Commanding Coast Guard and Reserves.[3]
Disposal
She was sold to J H Lee of Dover for breaking on 6 November 1919.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 Winfield, Rif; Lyon, David (2003). The Sail and Steam Navy List, 1815-1889. Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1861760326.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Times (London), Saturday, 7 April 1894, p.12
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "HMS Halcyon at NavalHistory.net". http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/18-1900/H/02117.html. Retrieved 2009-02-24.
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