HMS Antelope (1893)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Antelope.
HMS Antelope in the River Avon, Bristol, circa 1908.
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Antelope
Builder: Devonport Dockyard
Laid down: 21 October 1889[1]
Launched: 12 July 1893
Commissioned: 18 July 1894[1]
Fate: Sold for breaking on 27 May 1919
General characteristics [1]
Class and type: Alarm-class torpedo gunboat
Displacement: 810 tons
Length: 242 ft (74 m)
Beam: 27 ft (8.2 m)
Draught: 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m) maximum
Installed power: 3,500 ihp (2,600 kW)
Propulsion:
  • 2 × 3-cylinder vertical triple-expansion steam engines
  • Locomotive boilers
  • Twin screws
Speed: 18.7 kn (34.6 km/h)
Complement: 91
Armament:

HMS Antelope was a Royal Navy Alarm-class torpedo gunboat. She was launched in 1893, reduced to harbour service from 1910 and was sold for scrapping in 1919.

Design

The Alarm class was designed by Sir William White in 1889. They had a length overall of 242 ft (74 m), a beam of 27 ft (8.2 m) and a displacement of 810 tons.[1] Antelope was engined by Yarrows with two sets of vertical triple-expansion steam engines, two locomotive-type boilers, and twin screws.[1] This layout produced 3,500 indicated horsepower (2,600 kW), giving her a speed of 18.7 knots (34.6 km/h) with forced draught.[1] She carried between 100 and 160 tons of coal and was manned by 91 sailors and officers.[1]

Armament

When built Antelope was fitted with two QF 4.7-inch (12 cm)/45-pounder guns, four 3-pounder guns and one Gardner machine gun. Her three 18-inch torpedo tubes torpedo tubes[Note 1] were arranged as a pair of revolving deck mounts and a single bow-mounted tube; three reloads were provided.[1]

History

Launch

The ship was launched by Miss Crocker, the daughter of the shipyard manager.[2] In 2015, her grandson displayed a commemorative wooden box, holding the mallet and chisel she used to server the rope tethering the ship, on the BBC programme Antiques Roadshow.[2]

Naval Review of 1897

On 26 June 1897 she was present at the Fleet Review at Spithead in celebration of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.[3]

1900 mobilization

On 27 June 1900 it was announced that the date of the mobilization for naval manoeuvres had been fixed for 10 July. Antelope, together with capital ships, cruisers, torpedo boats and other torpedo gunboats, was ordered to be ready for sea.[3] Commander Henry Arthur Phillips was appointed in command in early May 1902,[4] and in July 1902 she rejoined the Channel and Home squadrons.[5]

Harbour service

Antelope was reduced to harbour service from 1910 and used as a training ship at Devonport.[1]

Sale list

In August 1914 she was listed for sale at Devonport.[3] It is likely that she remained in harbour service for the duration of World War I.

Disposal

Antelope was sold to T R Sales for breaking on 27 May 1919.[1]

Notes

  1. British "18 inch" torpedoes were 17.72 inches (45.0 cm) in diameter

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Winfield (2004) p.306.
  2. 1 2 "The Royal William Yard 2". Antiques Roadshow. Series 38. 19 October 2015. BBC. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 "HMS Antelope at the Index of 19th Century Naval Vessels". Retrieved 2009-02-24.
  4. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times (36739). London. 11 April 1902. p. 10.
  5. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times (36824). London. 19 July 1902. p. 8.
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