Shearwater 1905
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Condor | Sheerness DYd | 1.1.1898 | 17.12.1898 | 1.11.1900 | foundered 3.12.1901 | ||
| Rosario | Sheerness DYd | 1.1.1898 | 17.12.1898 | 5.1899 | submarine depot ship 1910 | ||
| Shearwater | Sheerness DYd | 1899 | 10.2.1900 | 1900 | RCN submarine depot ship 1915 | ||
| Vestal | Sheerness DYd | 1899 | 10.2.1900 | 1900 | sold 10.1921 | ||
| Mutine | 635 | Laird, Birkenhead | 1898 | 1.3.1900 | 1900 | survey ship 5.1907 | |
| Rinaldo | 636 | Laird, Birkenhead | 1898 | 29.5.1900 | 1900 | sold 10.1921 |
|
Displacement normal, t |
980 |
|
Displacement full, t |
|
|
Length, m |
54.9 pp 62.2 oa |
|
Breadth, m |
9.90 |
|
Draught, m |
3.50 |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
sails + 2 3-cyl VTE, 4 Belleville boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
1400 |
|
Max speed, kts |
13.5 |
|
Fuel, t |
coal |
|
Endurance, nm(kts) |
3000(10) |
| Armour, mm | steel; deck: 38 - 25, gunshields: 6 |
|
Armament |
6 x 1 - 102/40 QF Mk III, 4 x 1 - 47/40 3pdr Hotchkiss Mk I |
|
Complement |
120 - 130 |
Project history: The rigging of this class reverted to former practice. On completion they were barque-rigged, but for service on the China and East African stations, the yards were removed and in, for example, Vestal left with two pole masts. The foremast was fitted with a large rectangular platform erected at a height of 6.1m from the deck, on which MGs were mounted. MGs were not included at the time of completion but added later according to the particular duty and station. The 102mm QF guns were two on the forecastle, two amidships, and two aft, with gun shields of 6mm armour. Vestal`s shields were removed from the forecastle guns when she shipped her unsightly foremast platform. The bridge was located aft on the poop deck. Figureheads and scrolled trail boards helped to make these handsome ships when in their full barque-rig. They had rounded sloping sterns, clipper bows, and a slightly raked funnel gave them a yacht-like appearance.
Ship protection: Ships had a protective deck of 25mm to 38mm steel extending over the machinery and boilers.
Modernizations: early 1900s, all: + 3 x 1 - 11.4/94
Naval service: Mutine completed conversion to a survey ship in 1907, she was paid off in August 1914 but recommissioned as a depot ship in December 1917, became RNVR drillship in September 1925 and sold in 1932. Rosario was converted to submarine depot ship in 1910-1911 and sold in November 1921. Shearwater served as depot ship for Canadian submarines CC1 and CC2 from 1915, sold in May, 1922. Vestal was a gunnery tender in August 1914, later served as guardship but reverted to harbour service in 1915.
Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.
Rosario 1898
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-09