HMS Sapphire (1904)


Sapphire's sister-ship, Amethyst
Career (United Kingdom)
Name: HMS Sapphire
Builder: Palmer Naval Works, Jarrow
Laid down: January 1903
Launched: 17 March 1904
Completed: February 1905
Fate: Sold for scrap in 1921
General characteristics
Class and type: Topaze-class protected cruiser
Displacement: 3,000 tons
Length: 360 ft (110 m)
Beam: 40 ft (12 m)
Draught: 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m)
Installed power: 9,800 ihp (7,300 kW)
Propulsion:
  • Steam reciprocating engines
  • 2 shafts
Speed: 22.3 kn (41 km/h)
Complement: 296
Armament:

12 x QF 4-inch guns
8 x 3-pounder guns

2 × 18-inch (450-mm) torpedo tubes
Armour: 1-inch gun shields, ½-inch to 2-inch deck armour

HMS Sapphire was a third-class protected cruiser of the Topaze class of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1904, saw active service in World War I and was sold for scrap in 1921.

Contents

Construction

She was laid down in January 1904 at Palmer, Jarrow, launched on 17 March 1904 and completed in February 1905. She was powered by an inverted, triple expansion, 4 cylinder, surface condensing, coal-fired boiler.

World War I

Sapphire was commissioned on 2 July 1914 at Chatham Dock, Kent,[1] before moving out into Kethole Reach, in the estuary of the Medway. On 16 July, "Sapphire" set sail from Sheerness Docks, Kent, for Spithead, Hampshire, where she took part in the Royal Fleet Review on 20 July.[2]

Dardanelles Campaign

Mediterranean

East Indies

On 8 January 1918, Sapphire arrived at Aden where Commander W. F. Sells joined from HMS Minto and took over command.[3]

Post World War I

Fate

Sapphire was sold for scrap on 9 May 1921.

References