Naval History Homepage and Site Search

 





Royal Navy, "Pax Britannica", 1815-1914

 

YEAR OF THE DIAMOND JUBILEE NAVAL REVIEW: ROYAL NAVY SHIP DEPLOYMENTS 1897


by Dr Graham Watson, retired from History Dept, Cardiff University

Queen Victoria, 1837-1901, and below, HM Yacht Victoria & Albert II (believed in Public Domain, click to enlarge) return to "Pax Britannica", 1815-1914



A Note on Sources

The 'Abstract of the Ships and Vessels constituting the Fighting Division of the British Navy, on January 1897' was an Admiralty document which was produced annually. Historian Mike Cox copied it on one of his many trips to the Naval Historical Branch. He passed it on to me a few years ago, and I have used it as the basis for the current file.

From the listing of ships by type and by class, I have extracted the information on location, and compiled my survey of the distribution. Added to that was a lengthy newspaper report on the review at Spithead which was reproduced on line by P. Beynon on his website on the 18th-19th century navy. The table on foreign navies was compiled from Conways All the World's Fighting Ships 1860-1905

My thanks to Graham Watson for making this work available

Gordon Smith,
Naval-History.Net.






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
 

revised 16/8/15