NAVYPEDIA

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Melita

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Reindeer			Devonport DYd	15.1.1883	14.11.1883	12.1884	boom defence vessel 1904
Mariner			Devonport DYd	8.1.1883	23.6.1884	19.3.1885	boom defence vessel 1903
Racer			Devonport DYd	9.4.1883	6.8.1884	9.4.1885	tender 1896
Acorn			Milford Haven SB	16.10.1883	6.9.1884	22.2.1885	sold 12.1899
Icarus			Devonport DYd	18.8.1883	27.7.1885	6.7.1886	sold 4.1904
Melita			Malta DYd	18.7.1883	20.3.1888	10.1889	boom defence vessel 5.1905

Technical data

Displacement normal, t	970
Displacement full, t
Length, m	50.9 pp
Breadth, m	9.75
Draught, m	4.26
No of shafts	1
Machinery	sails + 1 2-cyl HCE
Power, h. p.	Reindeer: 1030 Mariner: 970 Racer: 920 Acorn: 1380 Icarus: 1230 Melita: 1200
Max speed, kts	Reindeer, Mariner, Racer, Acorn: 11.5 Icarus, Melita: 12.5
Fuel, t	coal 150
Endurance, nm(kts)	1900 - 2300(10)
Armament	Reindeer: 6 x 1 - 127/25 BL Mk I, 8 x 1 - 11.4/87 Mariner, Racer, Acorn, Icarus: 8 x 1 - 127/25 BL Mk II, 8 x 1 - 11.4/87 Melita: 8 x 1 - 127/25 BL Mk IV, 8 x 1 - 11.4/87
Complement	126

Graphics

Project history

Designed by Nathaniel Barnaby, originally rated as gun vessels but rerated as sloops in 1884. They were amongst the last sloops designed under the regime of Sir Nathaniel Barnaby. The decision to build Melita in the Malta dockyard to alleviate the employment situation, from laying down in 1882 to launching in 1888, cost 20% more than to build a comparable ship in the Royal Dockyards. All vessels were barque-rigged with the exception of Icarus which was schooner-rigged, with square topsails on the foremast. Two of the 127mm guns were mounted behind shields just forward of the foremast, and another two were similarly mounted by the mizzen mast. The other four guns were broadside mounted.

Modernizations

1891, Racer: - 8 x 1 - 127/25; + 8 x 1 - 127/25 BL Mk V

Naval service

No significant events.