HMS Antelope (1893)

For other ships of the same name, see HMS Antelope.
HMS Antelope in the River Avon, Bristol, circa 1908.
Career (UK)
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:1 × bow 18-inch torpedo tube

2 × revolving 18-inch torpedo tubes
2 × QF 4.7-inch (12 cm) guns
4 × 3-pounder guns

1 × Gardner machine gun

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

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.[2]

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.[2] Commander H. A. Phillips was appointed in command in early May 1902.[3]

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.[2] 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. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Winfield (2004) p.306.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "HMS Antelope at the Index of 19th Century Naval Vessels". Retrieved 2009-02-24.
  3. "Naval & Military intelligence" The Times (London). Friday, 11 April 1902. (36739), p. 10.