NAVYPEDIA

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Salamander

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Sharpshooter			Devonport DYd	13.1.1888	30.11.1888	8.1889	hulk 1904
Spanker	C86, C82, C83		Devonport DYd	12.4.1888	27.2.1889	10.1890	minesweeper 1909, sold 3.1920
Speedwell	P89, PA4		Devonport DYd	18.4.1888	15.3.1889	7.1890	minesweeper 1909, sold 3.1920
Sheldrake			Chatham DYd	4.7.1888	30.3.1889	3.1890	sold 7.1907
Skipjack	P81, PA3		Chatham DYd	4.7.1888	30.4.1889	7.1891	minesweeper 1909, sold 4.1920
Seagull	C85, C81, C82		Chatham DYd	23.4.1888	31.5.1889	1.1891	minesweeper 1909, collision 30.9.1918
Salamander			Chatham DYd	23.4.1888	31.5.1889	7.1891	sold 5.1906
Boomerang (ex-Whiting) (RAN)		545	Armstrong, Elswick	17.8.1888	24.7.1889	2.1891	sold 7.1905
Karakatta (ex-Wizard) (RAN)		546	Armstrong, Elswick	17.8.1888	27.8.1889	2.1891	sold 1.1905
Gleaner			Sheerness DYd	21.1.1889	9.1.1890	12.1891	sold 4.1905
Gossamer	D58, N52		Sheerness DYd	21.1.1889	9.1.1890	9.1891	minesweeper 1908, sold 3.1920
Assaye (RIM)		548	Armstrong, Elswick	19.11.1888	11.2.1890	2.1892	sold 5.1904
Plassey (RIM)		547	Armstrong, Elswick	19.11.1888	5.7.1890	2.1892	sold 5.1904

Technical data

Displacement normal, t	735
Displacement full, t
Length, m	70.1 pp
Breadth, m	8.23
Draught, m	3.20
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 3-cyl VTE, 4 locomotive boilers
Power, h. p.	natural draught: 2500, forced draught: 3600
Max speed, kts	natural draught: 16.5, forced draught: 19
Fuel, t	coal 100
Endurance, nm(kts)	2500(10)
Armament	RN and RAN ships: 2 x 1 - 120/40 QF Mk I/II/III/IV, 4 x 1 - 47/40 3pdr Hotchkiss Mk I, 1 - 356 TT (bow, aw), 2 x 2 - 356 TT (8 at all) RIM ships: 2 x 1 - 120/40 QF Mk I/II/III/IV, 4 x 1 - 47/40 3pdr Hotchkiss Mk I, 1 - 356 TT (bow, aw), 2 x 1 - 356 TT (6 at all)
Complement	91

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

This numerically large class showed a considerable increase in size over the Grasshoppers, and was sometimes known as the Assaye or Gossamer class. One of the torpedo tubes was fixed in the bow, the others in paired mounts on either side amidships. The resemblance to contemporary small cruisers was marked. Whilst the vessels built in the Royal Dockyards were allocated to the Royal Navy (provided under the Naval Defence Act, 1889), the four built by Armstrong were allocated to colonial stations, two to the Royal Indian Marine, and two (names were changed in 1890) to the Australian station.  The original intention had been to fit a similar gun armament to the Grasshoppers (l- 102mm, 6-47mm) but trials at Elswick had shown that the 120mm QF gun could fire 10 times per minute as against 2 times for the old 102mm BL so the new gun was adopted instead. Initially the class suffered from hull weakness.

Modernizations

1895, Sharpshooter: was reboilered with 4 Belleville boilers

1896-1899, Sheldrake: was reboilered with 4 Babcock boilers

1896-1899, Seagull: was reboilered with 4 Niclausse boilers

1896-1899, Spanker: was reboilered with 4 Du Temple small-tube boilers

1896-1899, Salamander: was reboilered with 4 Mumford small-tube boilers

1896-1899, Speedwell: was reboilered with 4 Thornycroft small-tube boilers

1908, Gossamer; 1909, Spanker, Speedwell, Skipjack, Seagull: were converted to minesweepers; - 2 x 2 - 356 TT; + kite winch and gallows on quarterdeck.

Naval service

Sharpshooter was renamed Northampton in 1904 and relegated to instructional duties. She was broken up in 1922. Seagull was sunk in collision with s/s Corrib in the Clyde. Skipjack served with Fishery Protection Squadron in 1906-1908.