HMS Buzzard was a Nymphe-class composite screw sloop and the fourth ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name.
 HMS Buzzard at Blackfriars on the Thames in 1906
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Buzzard |
| Builder | Sheerness Dockyard |
| Cost |
|
| Laid down | 1 May 1886[2] |
| Launched | 10 May 1887[1] |
| Commissioned | 14 April 1888[2] |
| Fate | Sold for scrap on 6 September 1921 |
| General characteristics [2] | |
| Class and type | Nymphe-class sloop |
| Tonnage | 584 tons[1] |
| Displacement | 1,140 tons |
| Length | 195 ft 0 in (59.4 m) pp |
| Beam | 28 ft 0 in (8.5 m) |
| Draught | 12 ft 6 in (3.8 m) |
| Installed power | 2,000 ihp (1,500 kW) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Sail plan | Barquentine rigged |
| Speed | 14.5 kn (26.9 km/h) |
| Range | 3,000 nmi (5,600 km) at 10 kn (19 km/h) |
| Complement | 135 |
| Armament |
|
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Design edit
Developed and constructed for the Royal Navy on a design by William Henry White, Director of Naval Construction,[1] she was launched at Sheerness Dockyard on 10 May 1887.
Foreign service edit
The Nymphe-class sloops were ideal for service in the far distant outposts of the British Empire, and Buzzard was employed on the North America and West Indies Station. In early April 1902, under the command of Commander Leicester Francis Gartside Tippinge (1855–1938), she left Bermuda for home waters, calling at Faial Island,[4] before she arrived at Devonport on 20 April.[5] She was paid off at Chatham on 13 May 1902.[6]
Harbour training ship edit
In 1904 she was converted to a drill ship for the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve at Blackfriars, London, and in 1911 Buzzard relieved HMS President (formerly HMS Gannet of 1878) as headquarters ship, being renamed HMS President on 1 April 1911.
Disposal edit
As President she served until 23 January 1918, when she was lent to the Marine Society. She was sold to C A Beard for breaking on 6 September 1921, and was later re-sold to Dutch ship breakers.[2]
Citations edit
- ^ a b c The Times (London), Wednesday, 11 May 1887, p.9
- ^ a b c d e f Winfield (2004) p.293
- ^ Preston (2007) p.182
- ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36731. London. 2 April 1902. p. 8.
- ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36747. London. 21 April 1902. p. 6.
- ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36767. London. 14 May 1902. p. 12.
References edit
- Preston, Antony; Major, John (2007). Send a Gunboat: The Victorian Navy and Supremacy at Sea, 1854–1904 (2nd ed.). London: Conway. ISBN 978-0-85177-923-2.
- Winfield, R.; Lyon, D. (2004). The Sail and Steam Navy List: All the Ships of the Royal Navy 1815–1889. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-032-6. OCLC 52620555.
- Battleships-cruisers.co.uk: Royal Navy Sloops
- Port Cities: London