Carysfort 1879
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Comus | 206 | Elder, Govan | 17.8.1876 | 3.4.1878 | 23.10.1879 | sold 5.1904 | |
| Champion | 207 | Elder, Govan | 17.8.1876 | 1.7.1878 | 7.12.1880 | harbour service 1904 | |
| Carysfort | 208 | Elder, Govan | 17.8.1876 | 26.9.1878 | 15.9.1880 | sold 12.1899 | |
| Cleopatra | 209 | Elder, Govan | 17.8.1876 | 1.8.1878 | 24.8.1880 | harbour service 1905 | |
| Curacoa | 210 | Elder, Govan | 17.8.1876 | 18.4.1878 | 24.2.1880 | sold 5.1904 | |
| Conquest | 211 | Elder, Govan | 17.8.1876 | 28.10.1878 | 18.4.1885 | sold 3.1899 | |
| Constance | Chatham DYd | 14.9.1878 | 9.6.1880 | 3.10.1882 | sold 12.1899 | ||
| Canada | Portsmouth DYd | 7.7.1879 | 26.8.1881 | 1.5.1883 | sold 5.1897 | ||
| Cordelia | Portsmouth DYd | 17.7.1879 | 25.10.1881 | 25.1.1887 | sold 7.1904 |
|
Displacement normal, t |
2380 Constance: 2590 |
|
Displacement full, t |
|
|
Length, m |
68.6 pp |
|
Breadth, m |
13.6 |
|
Draught, m |
5.86 |
|
No of shafts |
1 |
|
Machinery |
Comus, Champion, Carysfort, Curacoa, Cleopatra, Conquest: sails + 1 3-cyl HC, 6 rectangular boilers Constance, Canada, Cordelia: sails + 1 4-cyl HC, 6 rectangular boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
Comus: 2447 Curacoa: 2540 Champion: 2310 Cleopatra: 2610 Carysfort: 2403 Conquest: 2670 Constance: 2590 Canada: 2430 Cordelia: 2420 |
|
Max speed, kts |
Comus: 12.9 Curacoa, Champion, Cleopatra, Carysfort, Conquest, Canada, Cordelia: 13 Constance: 13.7 |
|
Fuel, t |
coal 470 |
|
Endurance, nm(kts) |
3280(10) Comus: 3800(10) Champion, Carysfort: 3840(10) |
| Armour, mm | steel; deck: 13 |
|
Armament |
Comus: 8 x 1 - 160/16 64pdr 71cwt MLR, 4 x 1 - 152/26 BL Mk II, 2 x 1 - 76/19 12pdr 8cwt MLR, 2 - 356 TC Curacoa, Champion, Cleopatra, Carysfort, Conquest, Constance: 2 x 1 - 178/16 MLR Mk III, 12 x 1 - 160/16 64pdr 71cwt MLR, 2 x 1 - 76/19 12pdr 8cwt, 2 - 356 TC Canada, Cordelia: 10 x 1 - 152/26 BL Mk IV/VI, 2 x 1 - 76/19 12pdr 8cwt MLR, 2 - 356 TC |
|
Complement |
265 |
Project history: Designed by Nathaniel
Barnaby. These were the first cruisers of less than 3000t to be given metal
hulls. The hull was constructed of iron or steel framing, a gun metal stem
casting leading to a pointed ram, and steel plating. They were all timber-clad
up to the upper deck, from the keel upwards to about 0.9m
above the waterline in rwo layers, the inner of 76mm
teak. The outer cladding, 51mm thick, was left to the
builder's choice as regards the kind of timber used. All the ships were
copper-sheathed, and fitted with bilge keels. The internal
watertight protecdon consisted of six lateral bulkheads extending to the upper
deck and another three stopped short at the lower deck.
The lower deck accommodated
the ship's company, with the officers' quarters being aft to the after end of
the engine room. Warrant and petty officers berthed forward.
Decided improvements were the provision of a sick bay, a bathroom for ratings, a
ship's library and improved ventilation. The poop was where the commanding
officer, first lieutenant and navigating officer lived. A double hand-wheel
stood at the break of the poop. On either beam there were small semicircular
bullet-proof conning towers containing voice pipes and engine and steering
telegraph for use when in
All MLR guns were iron slide-mounted.
Except for Carysfort and
Constance they were all fitted with hoisting screws, the latter having a
feathering screw. The first six built were ship-rigged, the remaining three
being rigged as barques. The area of sail plan was from 1350m2 to
1483m2.
Successful as this class was, with the passing of the Naval
Defence Act of 1588 which brought about a flood of new construction, these ships
were soon obsolescent.
Ship protection: A protective deck of 13mm steel, extending for 31m amidships, was positioned over the machinery.
Modernizations: 1890s, Champion: was rearmed with 4 x 1 - 152/26 BL Mk III, 8 x 1 - 127/25 BL Mk III, 2 x 1 - 76/19 12pdr 8cwt BL, 4 x 1 - 47/40 3pdr Hotchkiss Mk I, 2 - 356 TC
1890s, Cleopatra: was rearmed with 4 x 1 - 152/26 BL Mk III, 8 x 1 - 127/25 BL Mk IV, 2 x 1 - 76/19 12pdr 8cwt BL, 4 x 1 - 47/40 Hotchkiss Mk I, 2 - 356 TC
1890s, Curacoa: was rearmed with 4 x 1 - 152/26 BL Mk IV, 8 x 1 - 127/25 BL Mk IV, 2 x 1 - 76/19 12pdr 8cwt BL, 1 x 1 - 47/40 3pdr Hotchkiss Mk I
1890s, Conquest: was rearmed with 9 x 1 - 152/26 BL Mk IV, 2 x 1 - 76/19 12pdr 8cwt BL, 2 - 356 TC
Naval service: No significant events.
Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.
© Ivan Gogin, 2014