Daphne 1889
Swallow 1886
|
Name |
No |
Yard No |
Builder |
Laid down |
Launched |
Comp |
Fate |
| Swallow | Sheerness DYd | 1.1.1885 | 27.10.1885 | 7.10.1886 | sold 1904 | ||
| Buzzard | Sheerness DYd | 1.5.1886 | 10.5.1887 | 14.4.1888 | drill ship 1904 | ||
| Nymphe | Portsmouth DYd | 5.7.1887 | 1.5.1888 | 3.7.1889 | base ship 1906 | ||
| Daphne | Sheerness DYd | 20.6.1887 | 29.5.1888 | 2.5.1889 | sold 2.1904 |
|
Displacement normal, t |
1140 |
|
Displacement full, t |
|
|
Length, m |
59.4 pp |
|
Breadth, m |
8.53 |
|
Draught, m |
3.81 |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
sails + 2 HTE, boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
Swallow, Daphne: 1570 Buzzard, Nymphe: 2000 |
|
Max speed, kts |
Swallow, Daphne: 13.5 Buzzard, Nymphe: 14.5 |
|
Fuel, t |
coal |
|
Endurance, nm(kts) |
3000(10) |
|
Armament |
Swallow: 8 x 1 - 127/25 BL Mk II, 8 x 1 - 11.4/87 Buzzard, Nymphe: 8 x 1 - 127/25 BL Mk III, 8 x 1 - 11.4/87 Daphne: 8 x 1 - 127/25 BL Mk IV, 8 x 1 - 11.4/87 |
|
Complement |
138 |
Project history: Designed and constructed during the office of Sir William White, Director of Naval Construction between 1885 and 1902. These were the last composite-hull sloops to be built. They were the first to have two-screw propulsion and TE engines. Since they were not armoured vessels, the Admiralty's policy of placing , machinery below the waterline persisted to the extent of positioning these engines horizontally. To accomodate the engines within a beam of only 8.5m, they were staggered, the port side engine being positioned foremost. Although a length to beam ratio of four to one was the acceptable dimension, in this class this ratio was extended to seven to one. With their superior steaming power the radius of action was 3000nm at 10kts. All vessels were schooner-rigged with square sails on the foremast, and fore and aft sails on the main and mizzen. However, the need for sail-power, as a complement to steam, had by then almost disappeared.
Modernizations: None.
Naval service: Nymphe became base ship in 1906 and renamed Wildfire in December. In August 1914 she bombarded Belgian coast, but in March 1916 became diving tender Gannet. Buzzard reduced to harbour service in 1909 as President.
Daphne 1889
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-09