Pelorus class cruiser

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HMAS Psyche in 1916

The Pelorus class cruiser was a ""Third class"" protected cruiser design class of 11 warships designed by Sir William White (Director of Naval Construction 1885 - 1902), built for the Royal Navy. The first, HMS Pelorus, was commissioned in 1896. In an era of naval innovation, the class was almost outdated before it even hit the water, and most were sold for scrap by 1914. The survivors were kept in service through the First World War, where one was sunk, and scrapped thereafter.

[edit] Development and design

The Pelorus class ships displaced 2,135 tons and had a top speed of 20 knots (17.4 mph). They had reciprocating triple expansion steam engines and Normand water-tube boilers which could give 7,000 horsepower for limited periods of time with forced draught, and 5,000 horsepower under natural draught. They carried a crew complement of 224 and were armed with eight 4 inch (25 pounder) guns, eight 3 pounder guns, 3 machine guns, and two 18-inch (457 mm) torpedo tubes. Different boilers were trialled across the class. In effect most served in minor roles and not with the battlefleets.

[edit] Ships

Ship	Launched	Fate
HMS Pandora	January 17, 1900	Sold for scrap in July 1913.
HMS Pelorus	December 15, 1896	Sold for scrap on May 6, 1920.
HMS Pegasus	March 4, 1897	Sunk September 20, 1914 by SMS Königsberg.
HMS Perseus	July 15, 1897	Sold for scrap on May 26, 1914.
HMS Pactolus	December 21, 1896	Sold for scrap on October 25, 1921.
HMS Pioneer	June 28, 1899	Sold to Australia July 1, 1915. Scuttled on February 19, 1931.
HMS Pomone	November 25, 1897	Sold for scrap in June 1922.
HMS Prometheus	October 20, 1898	Sold for scrap on May 28, 1914.
HMS Proserpine	December 5, 1896	Sold for scrap on November 30, 1919.
HMS Psyche	July 19, 1898	Sold to Australia July 1, 1915. Sold for scrap in June 1922.
HMS Pyramus	May 15, 1897	Sold for scrap April 21, 1920.