BRITISH NAVAL STRENGTH 1897
The strength
and power of the Royal Navy was demonstrated in the Diamond
Jubilee Review of the
Fleet at Spithead on 26th June 1897.
It was claimed that the total number of ships
presented was greater
than the combined naval strength of the other 'Great Powers',
and that the entire assembly was made up of warships normally
stationed in UK waters.
|
|
|
| HMY
Victoria & Albert II steaming through the
Fleet |
|
Steam
turbine-driven Turbinia racing through the Fleet
(Chevalier de Martino) |
The numerical
strength of the Royal Navy can be demonstrated by use of the
information in 'Abstract of Ships and Vessels constituting the
Fighting Division of the British Navy, on 1st January 1897'.
The document list each ship by type, with the newest
and most powerful ships listed first in each case. In addition
to basic technical details the
'disposition of each ship' is vessel is provided together with
information of forthcoming changes. This file has been created
from that part of the file.
In addition,
totals are listed for each type of warship, and they are:
| Class |
In
Commission
|
* |
In
Reserve
|
Under
Construction |
| Battleships-1st class |
21 |
[15] |
8 |
5
|
Battleships-2nd class
|
7 |
[6]
|
5 |
|
Battleships-3rd class
|
2
|
|
9 |
|
Coast Defence Ships
|
4
|
|
11 |
|
Armoured cruisers
|
10
|
[7] |
8 |
|
Cruisers-1st class
|
9
|
[8] |
5
|
7 |
Cruisers-2nd class
|
22 |
[27]
|
34 |
|
Cruisers-3rd class
|
34 |
[4]
|
19 |
|
Sloops
|
11
|
|
6 |
|
Gun Vessels-1st class
|
2 |
[2] |
|
|
Gun Vessels-2nd class
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
Gunboats-1st
class
|
37
|
[20] |
14 |
|
Gunboats-2nd class
|
5 |
[3] |
|
|
Gunboats-3rd class
|
19
|
|
21 |
|
TB destroyers
|
19
|
[30] |
13 |
52 [25 on trials] |
Special Service Vessels
|
3
|
|
1 |
|
Special Torpedo Vessels
|
3
|
|
1 |
|
Despatch Vessels
|
2 |
|
|
|
* the
numbers in brackets are the totals for each type present at
the Royal Review in June 1897. They include newly completed
ships, ships brought forward from reserve; and ships returned
to UK from foreign stations for the review.
The following
table is NOT part of the document but has been added to give a
broad comparison of naval strength in 1897 in terms of major
warships.
Effective
Strength of Other Navies
Country
|
Battleships
|
Armoured
Cruisers |
France
- split between Channel, Mediterranean and Colonies
|
10,
9 in Med
15 old ironclads
8 coast defence ships |
6,
4 in Med, 2 in Channel |
Russia
- split between Baltic and Black Sea
|
10,
6 in Baltic, 4 in Black Sea
5 old ironclads
6 coast defence ships |
8,
all Baltic |
Italy
|
10
8 coast defence ships |
1 |
Austria-Hungary
|
2
9 coast defence ships |
1 |
| Germany |
4
13 old ironclads
9 coast defence ships
|
0 |
United
States of America
|
6
|
2 |
| Japan |
2
2 old ironclads
1 coast defence ship
|
1 |
DISTRIBUTION
AND STATUS OF EACH CLASS OF WARSHIP
1st
January 1897
Notes: * -
present at Royal Review, C/Ch - Chatham, CG - Coast Guard, D -
Devonport, DR - Dockyard Reserve, GS - General Service, P -
Portsmouth, Sh - Sheerness
1.
FIRST CLASS BATTLESHIPS
HMS Majestic (Pat Gariepy)
Channel
Squadron
|
Coast
Guard
|
Mediterranean
|
China |
Majestic
[FF] *
Magnificent [F 2i/c] *
Prince George *
Royal Sovereign *
Empress of India *
Repulse *
Resolution * |
Benbow
* [Greenock]
Howe * [Queenstown]
Sans Pareil * [Sheerness] |
Ramillies
[FF]
Revenge [F 2i/c]
Camperdown
Anson
Rodney
Collingwood
Barfleur
Hood
Trafalgar
Nile |
Centurion
[F] |
| Fleet
Reserve |
Dockyard
Reserve |
Completing
|
Building |
Victorious
[Chatham]
Royal Oak [P'mouth] |
Hannibal
[Pembroke]
Caesar [Portsmouth]
Illustrious [Chatham]
Renown * [Dev] |
Mars
*
Jupiter * |
Goliath
Canopus
Ocean
Glory
Albion |
2.
SECOND CLASS BATTLESHIPS
HMS Devastation (Photo Ships)
| Coast
Guard/Port Guard |
Fleet
Reserve |
Inflexible
* [Portsmouth]
Dreadnought [Bantry]
Edinburgh * [Queensferry]
Colossus * [Holyhead]
Thunderer * [Pembroke]
Devastation * [Devonport]
Alexandra * [F] [Portland] |
Ajax
[Chatham]
Agamemnon [Devonport]
Neptune [Portsmouth]
Superb [Chatham]
Temeraire [Devonport] |
3.
THIRD CLASS BATTLESHIPS
HMS Conqueror (Photo Ships)
Tenders
|
Fleet
Reserve |
Conqueror
[to Cambridge]
Hero [to Excellent] |
Sultan
[Portsmouth]
Hercules [Portsmouth]
Bellerophon [Devonport]
Swiftsure [Portsmouth]
Triumph [Devonport]
Audacious [Chatham]
Invincible [Portsmouth]
Iron Duke [Portsmouth]
Monarch [Chatham] |
4.
COAST DEFENCE SHIPS
HMS Hecate (Photo Ships)
Tenders
|
Fleet
Reserve |
Dockyard
Reserve |
Overseas
|
| Hecate
[to Cambridge] |
Glatton
[Portsmouth]
Cyclops [Sheerness]
Hydra [Sheerness]
Gorgon [Devonport]
Hotspur [Sheerness]
Belleisle [Devonport] |
Prince
Albert [Dev] |
Magdala
[Bombay]
Abyssinia [Bombay]
Scorpion [Bermuda]
Wivern [Hong Kong]
Rupert [GS Gibraltar]
Orion [DR Malta]
Penelope [GS Simonstown] |
5. ARMOURED CRUISERS
HMS Australia (Cyber Heritage)
Coast
Guard
|
Miscellaneous/Home |
Fleet
Reserve |
Overseas |
Australia
* [Southampton]
Galatea * [Hull] |
Black
Prince [Tg Ship, Queenstown]
Nelson [Particular Service]
Northampton * [Boys Tg Ship] |
Minotaur
* [P]
Agincourt * [Ch]
Northumberland [D]
Achilles [P]
Warspite * [Ch]
Shannon [D]
Aurora * [D]
Dockyard Reserve
Warrior [P] |
China
Narcissus
Undaunted
Immortalite
Australia
Orlando [F]
Pacific
Imperieuse [F] |
6.
FIRST CLASS PROTECTED CRUISERS
HMS Blake (Cyber Heritage)
| Channel
Squadron |
Mediterranean
|
China |
Other
overseas |
Blake
*
Blenheim *
Particular service
Endymion * |
Theseus
*
Hawke
|
Grafton
[F] |
Cape
St George
Gibraltar
NAWI
Crescent [F]
|
| Fleet
Reserve |
Dockyard
Reserve
|
|
Building |
Royal
Arthur * [P]
Edgar * [D] |
Powerful
[P]
Terrible [P] |
|
Argonaut
Amphitrite
Ariadne
Spartiate
Andromeda
Niobe
Europa
Diadem |
7.
SECOND CLASS PROTECTED CRUISERS
HMS Hermione (Photo Ships)
| Channel
Squadron |
Coast
Guard
|
Training
Squadron |
Particular
Service |
Hermione
*
Charybdis * |
Mersey
[Harwich]
Melampus [Kingstown]
|
Volage
*
Active * |
Flora
* |
| Mediterranean
|
North
America & West Indies |
South
America
|
Cape
|
Astraea
Forte
Cambrian
Scylla
Sybille |
Talbot
Indefatigable
Intrepid
|
Retribution
|
Fox
|
|
East
Indies |
China |
|
|
Bonaventure
[F] |
Pique
Rainbow
Spartan *
Aeolus * |
|
Fleet Reserve
|
Dockyard Reserve
|
Completing
|
Building |
Eclipse
[P]
Severn [C]
Thames [D]
Forth [D]
Iphigenia [P]
Brilliant * [C]
Sirius * [D]
Terpsichore * [C]
Thetis * [C]
Tribune * [C]
Latona * [P]
Naiad * [P]
Andromache * [C]
Apollo * [C]
Phaeton [D]
Leander * [C]
Amphion [D]
Inconstant [D]
Raleigh [D]
Boadicea [P]
Iris [P] |
Arethusa
[C]
Mercury [P] |
Arrogant
Furious
Gladiator
Minerva *
Venus *
Diana *
Juno *
Doris *
Dido *
Isis * |
Vindictive
Hermes
Highflyer
Hyacinth |
8.
THIRD CLASS PROTECTED CRUISERS
HMS Bellona (Photo Ships)
| Channel
Squadron |
Training
Squadron |
RNR
Drill Ships
|
Particular
Service |
| Bellona |
Calypso
*
Champion *
Curacoa * [tdr to Northampton] |
Medea
[South Shields]
Medusa [South Shields] |
Melpomene |
Mediterranean
|
NAWI
|
South
America
|
Cape |
Blanche
Scout
Fearless |
Pallas
Cordelia
Mohawk
Tartar |
Barracouta |
Phoebe
Philomel
Barrosa
Blonde
Racoon |
| East
Indies |
China
|
Australia |
Pacific |
Marathon
Brisk
Cossack |
Archer
Porpoise |
Katoomba
Mildura
Wallaroo
Ringarooma
Royalist
Rapid
Pylades |
Comus
Satellite |
| Fleet Reserve |
Dockyard Reserve |
Completing |
Building |
Magicienne
[D]
Pearl [D]
Tauranga [Sydney]
Calliope * [P]
Cleopatra [C] |
Barham
[P]
Carysfort [D]
Conquest [C]
Constance [D] |
Pelorus
Proserpine |
Perseus
Prometheus
Pegasus
Pyramus
Pactolus
Pomone |
9.
SLOOPS
HMS Nymphe (Photo Ships)
| Mediterranean |
NAWI
|
South
America |
China
|
Nymphe
Melita |
Buzzard
Pelican |
Basilisk
Beagle
Acorn |
Daphne
|
Pacific
|
Tender
|
Fleet
Reserve
|
Dockyard
Reserve |
Wild
Swan
Icarus |
Racer
[to Britannia] |
Phoenix
[D]
Algerine [D]
Torch [Sh]
Alert [C]
Dolphin [Sh] |
Swallow
[Sh] |
10.
GUN VESSELS
HMS Curlew (Photo Ships)
| 1st
Class |
2nd
Class |
Curlew
[tdr to Cambridge]
Landrail [tdr to Wildfire] |
China
Linnet
Swift |
11.
GUN BOATS -1st Class
HMS Halcyon (Cyber Heritage)
| Channel |
Coast
Guard |
Tenders
|
Particular
Service |
Halcyon
*
Speedy *
|
Circe
* [Harwich]
Leda * [Netley]
Niger * [Queensferry]
Onyx * [Harwich]
Renard * [Holyhead]
Sheldrake * [Hull]
Spanker * [Portland]
Gossamer * [Kingstown |
Jaseur
* [Vernon] |
Jason
* [Irish Coast]
Sharpshooter * |
Mediterranean
|
NAWI
|
Cape
|
East Indies
|
Cockatrice
Hussar
Dryad
Hebe
Skipjack * |
Partridge |
Widgeon
Sparrow
Thrush
Magpie |
Lapwing
Redbreast
Pigeon
Assaye [RF Bombay]
Plassy |
| China |
Australia |
|
Pacific
|
Redpole
Pigmy
Peacock
Plover
Rattler |
Goldfinch
Ringdove
Lizard
Karrakatta |
|
Pheasant |
|
Fleet Reserve
|
Dockyard Reserve |
|
|
Harrier
[D]
Hazard [D]
Alarm [C]
Antelope [D]
Speedwell [D]
Gleaner [Sh]
Boomerang [Sydney]
Grasshopper [C]
Sandfly [Malta]
Rattlesnake [P] |
Salamander
[D]
Seagull [P] |
|
12.
GUNBOATS - 2nd Class
HMS Cockchafer (Photo Ships)
Home
waters
|
China |
Albacore
[Irish coast]
Cockchafer * [CG Queensferry]
Starling * [CG Kingstown]
Raven [" home service"] |
Firebrand |
13.
GUNBOATS - 3rd Class, Coast Defence
HMS Trent (Photo Ships)
Tenders
attached to
|
Dockyard
Reserve
|
China |
to
Wildfire/Nore
Trent
Bouncer
Bustard
to Excellent/Portsmouth
Pincher
Blazer
Comet
Kite
Mastiff
Pike
Snake
to Victory/Portsmouth
Insolent
Ant
Bloodhound
to Cambridge/Plymouth
Bonetta
Bulldog
Cuckoo
Snap
to Defiance/Plymouth
Scourge |
Chatham
Tees
Slaney [fleet reserve]
Portsmouth
Medina
Medway
Spey
Arrow
Badger
Fidget
Hyena
Pickle
Weazel
Plucky
Staunch
Devonport
Sabrina
Tay
Malta
Dee
Don
Hong Kong
Tweed
Simonstown
Gadfly
Griper
Tickler |
Esk |
14. MISCELLANEOUS
HMS Vulcan (Photo Ships)
Special
Service Vessels
|
Special
Torpedo Vessels
|
Despatch
Vessels
|
Colonial
Forces |
Coast
Guard
Hearty
East Indies
Sphinx
Dockyard Reserve, Malta
Moorhen
Cape & West Africa
Alecto |
Mediterranean
Vulcan
Polyphemus
Fleet Reserve,
Portsmouth
Hecla
Tender to Vernon
Vesuvius |
Mediterranean
Surprise
China
Alacrity |
Melbourne
Cerberus |
15.
TORPEDO BOAT DESTROYERS
HMS Boxer and Bruiser (Photo Ships)
| Nore |
Portsmouth |
Devonport |
Mediterranean
|
China |
Janus
*
Haughty *
Sturgeon *
Salmon *
Snapper *
Contest *
Fleet reserve-
Porcupine
Swordfish
Spitfire * |
Daring
*
Lightning *
Hardy *
Hasty *
Starfish *
Ranger *
Fleet reserve
Havock *
Hornet *
Surly
Charger
Hunter * |
Decoy
*
Ferret *
Lynx *
Skate *
Sunfish *
Opossum *
Fleet reserve
Porcupine
Swordfish
Spitfire * |
Ardent
Boxer
Bruiser
Banshee
Dragon |
Handy
Hart |
Completing
|
Building |
Conflict
Teazer
Wizard
Shark
Fervent
Zephyr
Dasher
Quail *
Sparrowhawk *
Thrasher *
Virago *
Earnest
Griffon
Locust
Avon
Deperate *
Fame *
Foam *
Mallard
Brazen
Electra
Recruit
Star
Whiting *
Bat
Chamois
Crane
Flying Fish
Otter |
Panther
Seal
Wolf
Bittern
Angler
Ariel
Vulture
Arab
Kestrel
Albatross
Coquette
Cynthia
Cygnet
Bullfinch
Dove
Cheerful
Mermaid
Fawn
Flirt
Violet
Sylvia
Leopard
Gipsy
Fairy
Osprey
Express |
16.
TORPEDO BOATS - 1st Class
HM TB.63 (Photo Ships)
Chatham
|
Portsmouth
|
Devonport
|
Chatham
RF-
63 64 65 67 68 72 73 74
Chatham Dkyd RF-
4 12 |
Portsmouth
RF-
3 19 23 33 42 49 50
59 60 66 71 77 78
79 81 83 84
Vernon-
14 25 41 82
For Jamaica
26 27 |
Devonport
RF-
45 52 53 54 55 57 58 80 85
Indus-
24 51 86
Defiance-
34 87 |
| Gibraltar |
Malta |
Bermuda
|
7
18 47 48 70 88 89
91 92 93 97 |
9
10 11 17 21 22 43
44 46 56 90 94 95
96 |
30
31 32 69 |
| Halifax- |
Simonstown- |
Bombay |
| 61
62 |
6
15 28 29 |
100
101 102 103 104
105 106 |
| Hong
Kong |
|
Esquimalt,
Pacific coast, Canada- |
| 8
30 35 36 37 38 |
|
39
40 |
