HMS Endymion
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Endymion
NamesakeEndymion
BuilderC & W Earle, Hull
Laid down21 November 1889
Launched22 July 1891
FateSold for breaking up 16 March 1920
General characteristics
Class and typeEdgar-class cruiser
Displacement7,350 tons
Length387.5 ft (118.1 m)
Beam60 ft (18 m)
Armament

HMS Endymion was a first-class protected cruiser of the Edgar class. She served in China during the Boxer Rebellion and later in the First World War, and was sold in 1920.

Construction

Endymion had a length of 387 feet 6 inches (118.11 m) long overall and 360 feet (109.73 m) between perpendiculars, with a beam of 60 feet (18.29 m) and a draught of 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 m). She displaced 7,350 long tons (7,470 t).[1] Armament consisted of two 9.2 inch guns, on the ships centreline, backed up by ten six-inch guns, of which four were in casemates on the main deck and the remainder behind open shields. Twelve 6-pounder and four 3-pounder guns provided anti-torpedo-boat defences, while four 18 inch torpedo tubes were fitted.[1]

The Edgars were protected cruisers, with an arched, armoured deck 5–3 inches (127–76 mm) thick at about waterline level. The casemate armour was 6 inches (152 mm) thick, with 3 inches (76 mm) thick shields for the 9.2 inch guns and 10 inches (254 mm) armour on the ship's conning tower.[1][2] It contained four double-ended cylindrical Fairfields boilers feeding steam at 150 pounds per square inch (1,000 kPa) to 2 three-cylinder triple expansion engines,[3] which drove two shafts. This gave 12,000 indicated horsepower (8,900 kW) under forced draught, giving a speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).[1]

Service details

Endymion was launched on 22 July 1891.

Endymion took part in suppressing the Boxer Rebellion in China, during which time future rear admiral and VC recipient Eric Gascoigne Robinson served aboard her. Captain Alfred Paget was appointed in command in February 1901, and in December 1901 she visited Manila, where the Governor and US officers hosted the crew, including many with whom they had served together during the rebellion.[4] She was ordered home in late May 1902,[5] stopping in Singapore on 22 June,[6] Colombo on 5 July, Suez on 22 July, Malta on 28 July, and Gibraltar on 1 August, before she returned to Portsmouth. She took part in the fleet review held at Spithead on 16 August 1902 for the coronation of King Edward VII,[7] and paid off at Chatham on 4 September 1902 when she was placed in the C division of the Medway fleet reserve[8] She was flag ship in Cork Harbour in 1914.

Endymion served in the First World War in the Gallipoli Campaign. On 30 August 1918, she was damaged at Stavros, Greece by the Imperial German Navy submarine SM UC-37; her crew survived.[9]

Endymion was sold for breaking up at Cardiff on 16 March 1920.

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Chesneau and Kolesnik 1979, p. 66.
  2. ↑ Brown 2003, pp. 132–134.
  3. ↑ "H.M.S. Hawke" (PDF). The Engineer. 18 March 1892. p. 229.
  4. ↑ "Naval and Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36640. London. 17 December 1901. p. 5.
  5. ↑ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36771. London. 19 May 1902. p. 8.
  6. ↑ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36803. London. 25 June 1902. p. 11.
  7. ↑ "The Coronation - Naval Review". The Times. No. 36845. London. 13 August 1902. p. 4.
  8. ↑ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36855. London. 25 August 1902. p. 8.
  9. ↑ "Endymion". Uboat.net. Retrieved 8 December 2012.

References

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