NAVYPEDIA

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Comus		206	Elder, Govan	17.8.1876	3.4.1878	23.10.1879	sold 5.1904
Champion		207	Elder, Govan	17.8.1876	1.7.1878	7.12.1880	harbour service 1904
Carysfort		208	Elder, Govan	17.8.1876	26.9.1878	15.9.1880	sold 12.1899
Cleopatra		209	Elder, Govan	17.8.1876	1.8.1878	24.8.1880	harbour service 1905
Curacoa		210	Elder, Govan	17.8.1876	18.4.1878	24.2.1880	sold 5.1904
Conquest		211	Elder, Govan	17.8.1876	28.10.1878	18.4.1885	sold 3.1899
Constance			Chatham DYd	14.9.1878	9.6.1880	3.10.1882	sold 12.1899
Canada			Portsmouth DYd	7.7.1879	26.8.1881	1.5.1883	sold 5.1897
Cordelia			Portsmouth DYd	17.7.1879	25.10.1881	25.1.1887	sold 7.1904

Technical data

Displacement normal, t	2380 Constance: 2590
Displacement full, t
Length, m	68.6 pp
Breadth, m	13.6
Draught, m	5.86
No of shafts	1
Machinery	Comus, Champion, Carysfort, Curacoa, Cleopatra, Conquest: sails + 1 3-cyl HC, 6 rectangular boilers Constance, Canada, Cordelia: sails + 1 4-cyl HC, 6 rectangular boilers
Power, h. p.	Comus: 2447 Curacoa: 2540 Champion: 2310 Cleopatra: 2610 Carysfort: 2403 Conquest: 2670 Constance: 2590 Canada: 2430 Cordelia: 2420
Max speed, kts	Comus: 12.9 Curacoa, Champion, Cleopatra, Carysfort, Conquest, Canada, Cordelia: 13 Constance: 13.7
Fuel, t	coal 470
Endurance, nm(kts)	3280(10) Comus: 3800(10) Champion, Carysfort: 3840(10)
Armour, mm	steel; deck: 13
Armament	Comus: 8 x 1 - 160/16 64pdr 71cwt MLR, 4 x 1 - 152/26 BL Mk II, 2 x 1 - 76/19 12pdr 8cwt MLR, 2 - 356 TC Curacoa, Champion, Cleopatra, Carysfort, Conquest, Constance: 2 x 1 - 178/16 MLR Mk III, 12 x 1 - 160/16 64pdr 71cwt MLR, 2 x 1 - 76/19 12pdr 8cwt, 2 - 356 TC Canada, Cordelia: 10 x 1 - 152/26 BL Mk IV/VI, 2 x 1 - 76/19 12pdr 8cwt MLR, 2 - 356 TC
Complement	265

Standard scale images

Project history

Designed by Nathaniel Barnaby. These were the first cruisers of less than 3000t to be given metal hulls. The hull was constructed of iron or steel framing, a gun metal stem casting leading to a pointed ram, and steel plating. They were all timber-clad up to the upper deck, from the keel upwards to about 0.9m above the waterline in rwo layers, the inner of 76mm teak. The outer cladding, 51mm thick, was left to the builder's choice as regards the kind of timber used. All the ships were copper-sheathed, and fitted with bilge keels. The internal watertight protecdon consisted of six lateral bulkheads extending to the upper deck and another three stopped short at the lower deck.      The lower deck accommodated the ship's company, with the officers' quarters being aft to the after end of the engine room. Warrant and petty officers berthed forward. Decided improvements were the provision of a sick bay, a bathroom for ratings, a ship's library and improved ventilation. The poop was where the commanding officer, first lieutenant and navigating officer lived. A double hand-wheel stood at the break of the poop. On either beam there were small semicircular bullet-proof conning towers containing voice pipes and engine and steering telegraph for use when in     All MLR guns were iron slide-mounted.

Except for Carysfort and Constance they were all fitted with hoisting screws, the latter having a feathering screw. The first six built were ship-rigged, the remaining three being rigged as barques. The area of sail plan was from 1350m2 to 1483m2. Successful as this class was, with the passing of the Naval Defence Act of 1588 which brought about a flood of new construction, these ships were soon obsolescent.

Ship protection

A protective deck of 13mm steel, extending for 31m amidships, was positioned over the machinery.

Modernizations

1890s, Champion: was rearmed with 4 x 1 - 152/26 BL Mk III, 8 x 1 - 127/25 BL Mk III, 2 x 1 - 76/19 12pdr 8cwt BL, 4 x 1 - 47/40 3pdr Hotchkiss Mk I, 2 - 356 TC

1890s, Cleopatra: was rearmed with 4 x 1 - 152/26 BL Mk III, 8 x 1 - 127/25 BL Mk IV, 2 x 1 - 76/19 12pdr 8cwt BL, 4 x 1 - 47/40 Hotchkiss Mk I, 2 - 356 TC

1890s, Curacoa: was rearmed with 4 x 1 - 152/26 BL Mk IV, 8 x 1 - 127/25 BL Mk IV, 2 x 1 - 76/19 12pdr 8cwt BL, 1 x 1 - 47/40 3pdr Hotchkiss Mk I

1890s, Conquest: was rearmed with 9 x 1 - 152/26 BL Mk IV, 2 x 1 - 76/19 12pdr 8cwt BL, 2 - 356 TC

Naval service

No significant events.

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