Summary
The Nymphe class was a class of four screw composite sloops[4] built for the Royal Navy between 1885 and 1888. As built they were armed with four 4-inch guns and four 3-pounder guns.[2]
 HMS Nymphe, name ship of the Nymphe class
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Nymphe class |
| Operators |  Royal Navy |
| Preceded by | Satellite class |
| Succeeded by | Beagle class |
| Built | 1885–1888 |
| In commission | 1885–1921 |
| Completed | 4 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Screw composite sloop |
| Displacement | 1140 tons[2] |
| Length | 195 ft (59 m) pp[1] |
| Beam | 28 ft (8.5 m)[1] |
| Draught | 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m)[1] |
| Installed power | |
| Propulsion |
|
| Sail plan | Barquentine rigged |
| Speed |
|
| Range | 3,000 nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Armament |
|
Design edit
Built to a design by William Henry White, Director of Naval Construction,[5] Nymphe and her sister ships were constructed of an iron frame sheathed with teak and copper (hence 'composite'), and powered by both sails and a steam engine delivering 1,570 to 2,000 indicated horsepower (1,170 to 1,490 kW) through twin screws.
Employment edit
Although made obsolete by quickly changing naval technology, these sloops were ideal for operations in the far distant outposts of the British Empire in the late 19th century. Swallow served on the South Atlantic Station, Buzzard on the North America and West Indies Station and Nymphe on the Pacific Station. Daphne served on the China Station, and it was in June 1900 that she brought ammunition into Shanghai during the Boxer Rebellion. Nymphe and Buzzard survived until after World War I as harbour training ships.
Ships edit
| Name | Ship Builder | Launched | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nymphe | Portsmouth Dockyard | 1 May 1888 | Shore training ship at Sheerness from Aug 1914, later renamed Wildfire[2] and sold in 1920[4] |
| Buzzard | Sheerness Dockyard | 10 May 1887 | Renamed President on 1 April 1911 and sold on 6 September 1921[4] |
| Daphne | Sheerness Dockyard | 29 May 1888 | Sold 1904[4] |
| Swallow | Sheerness Dockyard | 27 October 1885 | Sold 1904[4] |
Citations edit
References edit
- 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.
- Preston, Antony; Major, John (2007). Send a Gunboat: The Victorian Navy and Supremacy at Sea, 1854–1904 (2nd ed.). London: Conway. ISBN 978-0-85177-923-2.