NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Rainbow as built

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Rainbow			Palmer, Jarrow, UK	30.12.1889	25.3.1891	1.1893 // 8.1910	depot ship 1914

Technical data

Displacement normal, t	3600
Displacement full, t
Length, m	91.4 pp 95.7 oa
Breadth, m	13.3
Draught, m	5.64
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 3-cyl VTE, 3 double-ended and 2 single-ended cylindrical boilers
Power, h. p.	natural draught: 7000 forced draught: 9000
Max speed, kts	natural draught: 18.5, forced draught: 19.7
Fuel, t	coal 535
Endurance, nm(kts)	8000(10)
Armour, mm	steel; deck: 51 - 32, gunshields: 114, engine hatch: 127, CT: 76
Armament	2 x 1 - 152/40 QF Mk I/II, 6 x 1 - 120/40 QF Mk I/II/III/IV, 8 x 1 - 57/40 6pdr Hotchkiss Mk I, 1 x 1 - 47/40 3pdr Hotchkiss Mk I, 4 x 1 - 11.9/78, 4 - 356 TT (aw, 1 bow, 2 beam, 1 aft)
Complement	273

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

The 21 ships of this class were provided under the Naval Defence Act of 1889. In design they were enlarged versions of the Medea class with the main armament modified to mixed calibre QF guns only. The two 152mm guns were placed on the centreline of the forecastle and poop and the 120mm were mounted 3 on each side of the upper deck amidships. The 57mm guns were all on the upper deck, 4 being amidships, between the 120mm, and 2 forward and 2 aft firing through embrasured ports for ahead and astern fire. The 120mm guns were not fitted on sponsons and the class were severely criticised for their lack of ahead and astern fire and for lack of gunpower generally in comparison to foreign cruisers of similar type. Two TT were fitted broadside abreast the mainmast on the upper deck and could be trained through an arc of 90°; one was carried in the bow, also on the upper deck; and a stern tube was fitted at main deck level.     The engines, being vertical instead of horizontal, were mounted side by side and separated from each other by a centreline bulkhead. The after boiler room contained two double-ended boilers while the forward room contained one double-ended and two single-ended boilers. Most of the class achieved the designed speed on trial and they were generally regarded as good steamers, and while several suffered early deterioration of their machinery and consequent loss of speed many others proved capable of achieving their designed speed until late in their careers. Ten of the class were sheathed in wood and copper for tropical service which added 200t to the displacement and resulted in a 0.3kt loss in designed speed.

Although larger than the Medea class, the Apollos had the same layout with a turtle back forecastle and a low freeboard, and although slightly better than their predecessors, they were wet ships and poor sea boats which would have found great difficulty in fighting their waist guns in a seaway.

Ship protection

The protective deck was 32mm thick on the flat and 51mm on the slope, and the engine cylinders, where they projected above this deck, were protected by a 127mm armoured glacis around the engine room hatch.

Modernizations

None.

Naval service

 No significant events.

© Ivan Gogin, 2015