HMS Aurora (1887)

For other ships of the same name, see HMS Aurora.
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Aurora
Builder: Pembroke Dockyard
Laid down: 1 February 1886
Launched: 28 October 1887
Fate: Sold for breaking up 2 October 1907
General characteristics
Class & type: Orlando-class armoured cruiser
Displacement: 5,535 long tons (5,624 t)
Length: 300 ft (91.4 m) (p/p)
Beam: 56 ft (17.1 m)
Draught: 24 ft (7.3 m)
Installed power:
Propulsion:
Speed: 18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Range: 8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement: 484
Armament:
Armour:

HMS Aurora was one of seven Orlando-class armoured cruisers built for the Royal Navy in the mid-1880s. She was sold for scrap on 2 October 1907.

Design and description

Aurora had a length between perpendiculars of 300 feet (91.4 m), a beam of 56 feet (17.1 m) and a draught of 24 feet (7.3 m). Designed to displace 5,040 long tons (5,120 t), all of the Orlando-class ships proved to be overweight and displaced approximately 5,535 long tons (5,624 t). The ship was powered by a pair of three-cylinder triple-expansion steam engines, each driving one shaft, which were designed to produce a total of 8,500 indicated horsepower (6,300 kW) and a maximum speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) using steam provided by four boilers with forced draught. The ship carried a maximum of 900 long tons (910 t) of coal which was designed to give her a range of 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at a speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). The ship's complement was 484 officers and enlisted men.[1]

Aurora's main armament consisted of two breech-loading (BL) 9.2-inch (234 mm) Mk V guns, one gun fore and aft of the superstructure on pivot mounts. Her secondary armament was ten BL 6-inch (152 mm) guns, five on each broadside. Protection against torpedo boats was provided by six quick-firing (QF) 6-pounder Hotchkiss guns and ten QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns, most of which were mounted on the main deck in broadside positions. The ship was also armed with six 18-inch (457 mm) torpedo tubes: four on the broadside above water and one each in the bow and stern below water.[1]

The ship was protected by a waterline compound armour belt 10 inches (254 mm) thick. It covered the middle 200 feet (61.0 m) of the ship and was 5 feet 6 inches (1.7 m) high.[1] Because the ship was overweight, the top of the armour belt was 2 feet (0.61 m) below the waterline when she was fully loaded.[2] The ends of the armour belt were closed off by transverse bulkheads 16 inches (406 mm). The lower deck was 2–3 inches (51–76 mm) thick over the full length of the hull. The conning tower was protected by 12 inches (305 mm) of armour.[1]

Construction and service

Aurora, named for the eponymous Roman goddess of the dawn,[3] was laid down on 1 February 1886 by Pembroke Royal Dockyard. The ship was launched on 28 October 1887, and completed in July 1889.[4]

Aurora served on the China Station under the command of Captain Edward Henry Bayly, RN, and took part in the Boxer rebellion in 1901. In early February 1902 she was ordered to leave, homebound,[5] arriving at Aden 3 March, at Malta 17 March, and at Plymouth on 26 March.[6] Officers and crew received the China War Medal (1900) on 15 April,[7] before she paid off at Devonport two days later.[8]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Chesneau & Kolesnik, p. 65
  2. ↑ Friedman, p. 146
  3. ↑ Silverstone, p. 211
  4. ↑ Lyon & Winfield, p. 269
  5. ↑ "Naval & Military intelligence" The Times (London). Saturday, 1 February 1902. (36680), p. 13.
  6. ↑ "Naval & Military intelligence" The Times (London). Thursday, 27 March 1902. (36726), p. 4.
  7. ↑ "The recent operations in China" The Times (London). Wednesday, 16 April 1902. (36743), p. 7.
  8. ↑ "Naval & Military intelligence" The Times (London). Friday, 18 April 1902. (36745), p. 9.

References

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