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FIGHTING SHIPS OF THE WORLD
UNITED KINGDOM
CRUISERS
SURPRISE dispatch vessels (2, 1886)


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Alacrity

Ships


Name No Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate
Surprise, 1914- Alacrity   539 Palmer, Jarrow 14.2.1884 17.1.1885 8.1886 sold 1919
Alacrity   540 Palmer, Jarrow 14.2.1884 28.2.1885 8.1886 sold 9.1913


Technical data


Displacement normal, t

Surprise: 1650

Alacrity: 1700

Displacement full, t

 

Length, m

76.2 pp 83.9 oa

Breadth, m

9.91

Draught, m

3.96

No of shafts

2

Machinery

sails + 2 2-cyl HC, direct action, 4 cylindrical boilers

Power, h. p.

natural draught: 2000

forced draught: 3030

Max speed, kts

natural draught: 16

forced draught: 17

Fuel, t

coal 400

Endurance, nm(kts)

6450(10)

Armour, mmsteel; deck: 10
Armament

4 x 1 - 127/25 BL Mk I/II/III/IV, 4 x 1 - 57/40 6pdr Hotchkiss Mk I, 2 x 1 - 11.4/78

Complement

93



Graphics


<i>Alacrity</i>
Alacrity


Project history

Surprise and Alacrity were laid down as unarmed despatch vessels but in 1885 it was decided to provide them with guns so they could be employed as fleet scouts in wartime. They were similar in design to the contemporary Scout class torpedo cruisers, with the same arrangement of machinery, protection and sub-divisions, bur were of finer form and had elaborate passenger accommodation (for diplomats, high ranking officers, etc). On trials Alacrity made 18kts with 3180ihp and Surprise 17.85kts with 3018ihp.

Ship protection

A protective deck of 10mm steel over the machinery.

Modernizations

late 1890s, Alacrity: - 4 x 1 - 127/25, 2 x 1 - 11.4/78; + 6 x 1 - 57/40 6pdr Hotchkiss Mk I

Naval service

Both had lengthy careers and were always classed as despatch vessels. Surprise was renamed Alacrity when her sister was sold in 1913.

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