HMS Mutine was a Doterel-class sloop of the Royal Navy, built at the Devonport Dockyard and launched on 20 July 1880. She became a boom defence vessel at Southampton in 1899 and was renamed Azov in 1904. She was sold after World War I.

Sister-ship Miranda under sail
History
Royal Navy EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Mutine
BuilderDevonport Dockyard
CostHull £37,500, machinery £11,770[1]
Laid down7 June 1879
Launched20 July 1880
Commissioned10 May 1881
Fate
  • Boom defence vessel, 1899
  • Renamed Azov in March 1904
  • Sold for breaking 25 August 1921
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeDoterel-class sloop
Displacement1,130 tons
Length170 ft (52 m) pp
Beam36 ft (11 m)
Draught15 ft 9 in (4.80 m)
Installed power1,120 ihp (840 kW)
Propulsion
  • 3 × cylindrical boilers
  • 2-cylinder horizontal compound-expansion steam engine
  • Single screw
Sail planBarque rigged
Speed11.6 knots (21.5 km/h)
Range1,480 nmi (2,740 km) at 10 kn (19 km/h) from 150 tons of coal
Complement140–150
Armament

Design edit

The Doterel class was designed by Nathaniel Barnaby as a development of William Henry White's 1874 Osprey-class sloop. The graceful clipper bow of the Ospreys was replaced by a vertical stem and the engines were more powerful. The hull was of composite construction, with wooden planks over an iron frame.[1]

Propulsion edit

Power was provided by three cylindrical boilers, which supplied steam at 60 pounds per square inch (410 kPa) to a two-cylinder horizontal compound-expansion steam engine driving a single 13-foot-1-inch (3.99 m) screw. This arrangement produced 1,020 indicated horsepower (760 kW) and a top speed of 11 knots (20 km/h).[1]

Armament edit

Ships of the class were armed with two 7-inch (90 cwt) muzzle-loading rifled guns on pivoting mounts, and four 64-pounder muzzle-loading rifled guns (two on pivoting mounts, and two broadside). Four machine guns and one light gun completed the weaponry.[1]

Sail plan edit

All the ships of the class were provided with a barque rig,[1] that is, square-rigged foremast and mainmast, and fore-and-aft sails only on the mizzen mast.

Crew edit

Mutine would have had a normal complement of 140–150 men.[1]

Construction edit

Mutine was ordered from Devonport Dockyard and laid down on 7 June 1879. She was launched on 20 July 1880 and was commissioned on 10 May 1881[1] at Devonport.[2]

Service edit

Sloops of the 1880s and beyond were built to an outmoded design specifically to act as guardians of Britain's far-flung maritime empire; their sailing rig gave them enormous range, and their armament was more than sufficient for minor conflicts around the globe.[3] Mutine was assigned to the Pacific Station, including service in China.[2]

In 1904 Admiral John Fisher (amid great controversy) listed over 90 ships for disposal. Among those listed as "ships available for subsidiary purposes of war"[Note 1] was Mutine.[3] Converted to a boom defence vessel in 1899,[3] she and her sister Espiegle were assigned to the boom protecting Southampton Water.[4] Mutine was renamed Azov in March 1904 (Espiegle became Argo at the same time).[1] They worked throughout World War I in this role.

 
The Pacific Squadron. Trying rate of sailings, H.M.S. Kingfisher and Mutine coming in to windward of Flag Ship, 9 January 1884

Fate edit

Azov (ex-Mutine) was sold to C A Beard for breaking on 25 August 1921.[3][1]

Notes edit

  1. ^ "Ships available for subsidiary purposes of war" were the so called "llamas"; those for sale were the "goats" and those for disposal the "sheep"

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Winfield (2004) p.292
  2. ^ a b "HMS Mutine at the Naval Database website". Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d Preston (2007) p.124
  4. ^ "Navy List 1908 (Other Lists)". battleshipscruisers website. Retrieved 1 August 2011.

References edit