NAVYPEDIA

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Katoomba 1890s

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Katoomba (ex-Pandora)		542	Armstrong, Elswick	15.8.1888	27.8.1889	24.3.1891	sold for BU 7.1906
Tauranga (ex-Phoenix)		243	Thomson, Clydebank	20.8.1888	28.10.1889	6.1891	sold for BU 7.1906
Mildura (ex-Pelorus)		543	Armstrong, Elswick	15.8.1888	25.11.1889	18.3.1891	sold for BU 4.1906
Ringarooma (ex-Psyche)		244	Thomson, Clydebank	20.8.1888	10.12.1889	3.2.1891	sold for BU 5.1906
Wallaroo (ex-Persian)	N82, N6A	544	Armstrong, Elswick	15.8.1888	5.2.1890	31.3.1891	harbour service 1906, guardship 11.1914, sold 2.1920
Pallas			Portsmouth DYd	1.7.1889	30.6.1890	7.1891	sold 7.1906
Phoebe			Devonport DYd	23.4.1889	1.7.1890	3.1892	sold for BU 7.1906
Pearl		224	Pembroke DYd	1.4.1889	28.7.1890	10.1892	sold for BU 7.1906
Philomel (1914- RNZN)			Devonport DYd	9.5.1889	28.8.1890	10.11.1891	depot ship 3.1921

Technical data

Displacement normal, t	2575
Displacement full, t
Length, m	80.8 pp 84.7 oa
Breadth, m	12.5
Draught, m	4.72
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 3-cyl VTE, 4 double-ended cylindrical boilers
Power, h. p.	Katoomba, Tauranga, Mildura, Ringarooma, Wallaroo: natural draught 4000, forced draught 7500 Pallas, Phoebe, Pearl, Philomel: natural draught 4500, forced draught 7500
Max speed, kts	Katoomba, Tauranga, Mildura, Ringarooma, Wallaroo: natural draught 17, forced draught 19 Pallas, Phoebe, Pearl, Philomel: natural draught 17.5, forced draught 19
Fuel, t	coal
Endurance, nm(kts)
Armour, mm	steel; deck: 51-25, gunshields: 51, CT: 76
Armament	8 x 1 - 120/40 QF Mk I/II/III/IV, 8 x 1 - 47/40 3pdr Hotchkiss Mk I, 4 x 1 - 11.4/78, 2 - 356 TT (1 bow, 1 aft, aw), 2 - 356 TC
Complement	217

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Five of this class were provided under the terms of the Imperial Defence Act of 1887 and were paid for by Australia on the understanding that they were to be stationed in Australian waters. They were, however, manned by the Royal Navy and remained under Admiralty control. They were all originally given 'P' names but were allotted new names of Australian origin 2.4.1890. In design they were modified versions of the Medea with the same dimensions and protection but reduced engine power and a main armament of eight 120mm QF instead of six 152mm BL guns. A further four were ordered by the Admiralty under the Naval Defence Act of 1889 but these differed from the Australian group in having the nominal power of the machinery raised from 4000 to 4500ihp for a 0.5kt improvement in speed although forced draught power was retained at 7500ihp in an attempt lo avoid boiler troubles. Their machinery power and speed dropped off after a few years' service although this was of course more marked in the Australian ships.     The main guns were disposed as in the Medea except that two were mounted on each side of the upper deck instead of one. All the 47mm QF guns were mounted on the upper deck with four in the waist and two each at bow and stern firing through embrasured ports. They had a fixed TT at the stem and stern and two TCs abreast the mainmast, all being carried at upper deck level. The Australian ships had fidded topmasts while the remainder had single pole masts. They were originally classified as second class cruisers but were re-rated prior to completion.

Ship protection

Protective deck extended to the full length of the ships, being 25mm on the flat and 51mm on the slope amidships and uniform 25mm at the ends.

Modernizations

None.

Naval service

Philomel was transferred to the New Zealand Government in 1914, became a base ship in March 1921, was sold as hulk in January 1947 and was scuttled off New Zealand 6.8.1949. Wallaroo was reduced to harbour service in 1906, renamed Wallington 5.3.1919 and sold to BU in February 1920.

Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.