| Builders | |
|---|---|
| Class before | Eclipse-class sloop |
| Class after | Osprey-class sloop |
| Cost |
|
| Built range | 1873–1874 |
| In commission range | 1873–1911 |
| Total ships completed | 6 |
| Total ships scrapped | 6 |
| Tons burthen | 727 bm |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 949 long tons (964 t) |
| Length | 160 ft (48.8 m) (p/p) |
| Beam | 31 ft 4 in (9.6 m) |
| Draught | 14 ft (4.3 m) |
| Depth | 15 ft 6 in (4.7 m) |
| Power | 836–1,011 hp (623–754 kW) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 10–11 knots (19–20 km/h; 12–13 mph) |
| Range | 1,000 nmi (1,900 km; 1,200 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Complement | 140 |
| Sail plan | Barque rig |
| Armament |
|
The Fantome class was a six-ship class of 4-gun screw composite sloops[2] built for the Royal Navy during 1873 and 1874.
Design
Construction
Fantome and her sister ships were constructed with an iron frame that was sheathed in teak and copper (hence 'composite').
Propulsion
The ships were powered by a two-cylinder horizontal compound-expansion steam engine supplied by Humphrys, Tennant & Co. This engine powered an 11-foot (3.4-metre) diameter screw. Steam was generated by three cylindrical boilers operating at 60 pounds per square inch (4.1 bar). The indicated horsepower varied from 836 to 1,011 hp (623 to 754 kW). Additionally, Daring was equipped with a trunk engine provided by John Penn & Sons.[1]
Sailing rig
All ships in the class were provided with a full barque rig.
Armament
The Fantome class carried two 7-inch (180-millimetre) and two 64-pounder muzzle-loading rifles, all mounted on pivots.
Evaluation
Built during a significant technological change in naval architecture, these composite sloops became obsolete before they were completed. Nevertheless, they served an important role on the far-flung stations of the British Empire, including participation in minor wars, such as the Perak War. They were also used for hydrography, and for this reason, Egeria was retained until 1911.
Ships
| Name | Ship builder | Launched | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| HMS Fantome | Pembroke Dock | 26 March 1873 | Sold 1889[2][3] |
| HMS Albatross | Chatham Dockyard[1] | 24 July 1873 | Scrapped 1889[2][4] |
| HMS Daring | Blackwall Yard, London | 4 February 1874 | Sold 1889[2][5] |
| HMS Egeria | Pembroke Dock | 1 November 1873 | Sold 1911 [2][6] |
| HMS Flying Fish | Chatham Dockyard[1] | 27 November 1873 | Sold 1888[2][7] |
| HMS Sappho | Money Wigram & Sons, Blackwall Yard[1] | 20 October 1873 | Sold 1887[2][8] |
Notes
- ^ Winfield (2004)
- ^ "Naval Sloops at battleships-cruisers.co.uk". Retrieved 2008-08-30.
- ^ "HMS Fantome at William Looney website". Retrieved 2008-08-30.
- ^ "RN Ships (A) at William Looney website". Archived from the original on 30 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
- ^ "RN Ships (D) at William Looney website". Archived from the original on 5 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
- ^ "HMS Egeria at William Looney website". Retrieved 2008-08-30.
- ^ "HMS Flying Fish at William Looney website". Retrieved 2008-08-30.
- ^ "HMS Sappho at William Looney website". Retrieved 2008-08-30.
Bibliography
- Ballard, G. A. (1939). "British Sloops of 1875: The Smaller Composite Type". Mariner's Mirror. 25 (April): 151–61. Cambridge, UK: Society for Nautical Research.
- "Great Britain and Empire Forces". Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860-1905. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. 1979. ISBN 0-8317-0302-4.