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FIGHTING SHIPS OF THE WORLD
UNITED KINGDOM
CRUISERS
NYMPHE composite screw sloops (4, 1886 - 1889)


Photo



Daphne 1889

Ships


Name

No

Yard No

Builder

Laid down

Launched

Comp

Fate

Swallow     Sheerness DYd 1.1.1885 27.10.1885 7.10.1886 sold 1904
Buzzard     Sheerness DYd 1.5.1886 10.5.1887 14.4.1888 drill ship 1904
Nymphe     Portsmouth DYd 5.7.1887 1.5.1888 3.7.1889 base ship 1906
Daphne     Sheerness DYd 20.6.1887 29.5.1888 2.5.1889 sold 2.1904


Technical data


Displacement normal, t

1140

Displacement full, t 
Length, m

59.4 pp

Breadth, m

8.53

Draught, m

3.81

No of shafts

2

Machinery

sails + 2 HTE, boilers

Power, h. p.

Swallow, Daphne: 1570

Buzzard, Nymphe: 2000

Max speed, kts

Swallow, Daphne: 13.5

Buzzard, Nymphe: 14.5

Fuel, t

coal

Endurance, nm(kts)

3000(10)

Armament

Swallow: 8 x 1 - 127/25 BL Mk II, 8 x 1 - 11.4/87

Buzzard, Nymphe: 8 x 1 - 127/25 BL Mk III, 8 x 1 - 11.4/87

Daphne: 8 x 1 - 127/25 BL Mk IV, 8 x 1 - 11.4/87

Complement

138



Graphics


<i>Daphne </i>1889
Daphne 1889


Project history

Designed and constructed during the office of Sir William White, Director of Naval Construction between 1885 and 1902. These were the last composite-hull sloops to be built. They were the first to have two-screw propulsion and TE engines. Since they were not armoured vessels, the Admiralty's policy of placing , machinery below the waterline persisted to the extent of positioning these engines horizontally. To accomodate the engines within a beam of only 8.5m, they were staggered, the port side engine being positioned foremost. Although a length to beam ratio of four to one was the acceptable dimension, in this class this ratio was extended to seven to one. With their superior steaming power the radius of action was 3000nm at 10kts. All vessels were schooner-rigged with square sails on the foremast, and fore and aft sails on the main and mizzen. However, the need for sail-power, as a complement to steam, had by then almost disappeared.

Modernizations

None.

Naval service

Nymphe became base ship in 1906 and renamed Wildfire in December. In August 1914 she bombarded Belgian coast, but in March 1916 became diving tender Gannet. Buzzard reduced to harbour service in 1909 as President.