HMS Spartiate was a ship of the Diadem-class protected cruisers in the Royal Navy. She was built at Pembroke Dock and launched on 27 October 1898. She was a stokers' training ship in 1914 and was renamed Fisgard in June 1915. She survived the First World War and was sold in July 1932. She returned to Pembroke to be broken up.

HMS Spartiate
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Spartiate
BuilderPembroke Dockyard
Laid down10 May 1897
Launched27 October 1898
ChristenedMrs. Burges Watson
RenamedFisgard, June 1915
FateSold July 1932
General characteristics
Class and typeDiadem-class cruiser
Displacement11,000 tons
Length435 ft (133 m) (462 ft 6 in (140.97 m) o/a)
Beam69 ft (21 m)
Draught25 ft 6 in (7.77 m)
Propulsion
Speed20–20.5 kn (37.0–38.0 km/h; 23.0–23.6 mph)
Complement760
Armament
Armour

Construction edit

Spartiate was laid down at Pembroke Dockyard, and launched on 27 October 1898, when she was christened by Mrs. Burges Watson, wife of Captain Burges Watson, Captain Superintendent of the yard.[1] She was delivered at Portsmouth from Pembroke dockyard in April, 1900, and in the following winter went on her trials. Sand in the condensers led to friction in her machinery, and her engines had to be re-constructed. New trials the following year ended with her condenser tubes leaking so badly they had to be replaced with new ones before she could be ready. A third attempt at trials in April 1902 was also abandoned, but she finally completed her trials in July that year,[2] and was ready for sea in March 1903.

Service history edit

Spartiate was commissioned in 1903 for service in home waters. The previous year she had been mentioned as a possible flagship for the Australia Station,[3] but this never happened (possibly due to the delay in her trials).

Notes edit

  1. ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 35659. London. 28 October 1898. p. 9.
  2. ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36820. London. 15 July 1902. p. 11.
  3. ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36896. London. 11 October 1902. p. 12.

References edit

External links edit