Melita 1889
|
Name |
No |
Yard No |
Builder |
Laid down |
Launched |
Comp |
Fate |
| Reindeer | Devonport DYd | 15.1.1883 | 14.11.1883 | 12.1884 | boom defence vessel 1904 | ||
| Mariner | Devonport DYd | 8.1.1883 | 23.6.1884 | 19.3.1885 | boom defence vessel 1903 | ||
| Racer | Devonport DYd | 9.4.1883 | 6.8.1884 | 9.4.1885 | tender 1896 | ||
| Acorn | Milford Haven SB | 16.10.1883 | 6.9.1884 | 22.2.1885 | sold 12.1899 | ||
| Icarus | Devonport DYd | 18.8.1883 | 27.7.1885 | 6.7.1886 | sold 4.1904 | ||
| Melita | Malta DYd | 18.7.1883 | 20.3.1888 | 10.1889 | boom defence vessel 5.1905 |
|
Displacement normal, t |
970 |
|
Displacement full, t |
|
|
Length, m |
50.9 pp |
|
Breadth, m |
9.75 |
|
Draught, m |
4.26 |
|
No of shafts |
1 |
|
Machinery |
sails + 1 2-cyl HCE |
|
Power, h. p. |
Reindeer: 1030 Mariner: 970 Racer: 920 Acorn: 1380 Icarus: 1230 Melita: 1200 |
|
Max speed, kts |
Reindeer, Mariner, Racer, Acorn: 11.5 Icarus, Melita: 12.5 |
|
Fuel, t |
coal 150 |
|
Endurance, nm(kts) |
1900 - 2300(10) |
|
Armament |
Reindeer: 6 x 1 - 127/25 BL Mk I, 8 x 1 - 11.4/87 Mariner, Racer, Acorn, Icarus: 8 x 1 - 127/25 BL Mk II, 8 x 1 - 11.4/87 Melita: 8 x 1 - 127/25 BL Mk IV, 8 x 1 - 11.4/87 |
|
Complement |
126 |
Project history: Designed by Nathaniel Barnaby, originally rated as gun vessels but rerated as sloops in 1884. They were amongst the last sloops designed under the regime of Sir Nathaniel Barnaby. The decision to build Melita in the Malta dockyard to alleviate the employment situation, from laying down in 1882 to launching in 1888, cost 20% more than to build a comparable ship in the Royal Dockyards. All vessels were barque-rigged with the exception of Icarus which was schooner-rigged, with square topsails on the foremast. Two of the 127mm guns were mounted behind shields just forward of the foremast, and another two were similarly mounted by the mizzen mast. The other four guns were broadside mounted.
Modernizations: 1891, Racer: - 8 x 1 - 127/25; + 8 x 1 - 127/25 BL Mk V
Naval service: No significant events.
Melita
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-09