Marathon-class cruiser

Last updated

HMS Magicienne.jpg
Chromolithograph of HMS Magicienne by W. Fred Mitchell, 1892
Class overview
NameMarathon class
Builders
OperatorsNaval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy
Built18871889
In commission18891920
Completed5
Retired5
General characteristics
Type2nd class cruiser
Displacement
  • 2,800 long tons (2,845 t) (Medea & Medusa)
  • 2,950 long tons (2,997 t) (Melpomene, Magicienne & Marathon)
Propulsion Dürr boilers (Medusa) [1]
Speed20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement218
Armament

The Marathon-class cruiser was a class of second class cruiser of the Royal Navy ordered under the naval programme of 1887. The class was a smaller version of the Mersey class.

Contents

Three of the ships, Melpomene, Magicienne and Marathon, were built for foreign (tropical) service, with a sheath of wood and copper - this added weight and made them slightly slower.

Ships

NameBuilderLaid downLaunchedCompleted
HMS Marathon Fairfields, Govan 10 August 188723 August 18881889
HMS Magicienne Fairfields, Govan10 August 188712 May 18881889
HMS Medea Chatham 25 April 18879 June 18881889
HMS Melpomene Portsmouth 10 October 188720 September 18881890
HMS Medusa Chatham25 August 188711 August 18881889
HMS Magicienne (picture taken between 1890 and 1899). HMS Magicienne LOC det 4a04844.jpg
HMS Magicienne (picture taken between 1890 and 1899).

Boiler trials

By 1901, the Royal Navy had ordered eight Dürr boilers from Germany, to be installed as a trial on board Medusa as a substitute for the Belleville boilers then in naval use. [2]

Notes

  1. Brown, D.K. (2010) [1997]. Warrior to Dreadnought. Seaforth. p. 165. ISBN   978-1-84832-086-4.
  2. William Allan MP (22 April 1901). "Dürr water-tube boilers". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . Vol. 92. House of Commons. col. 907. Eight water-tube boilers of the Durr type have been ordered from Germany. The total cost of the boilers is £19,450. This is exclusive of spare parts and fitting on board. The boilers are to be placed on board H.M.S. "Medusa." They have been guaranteed by the maker to give 155,000 lbs. dry steam per hour from feed water at 80 deg. F., with an air pressure of 1½ inches; 104,000 lbs. per hour with ½ inch air pressure (that used for continuous steaming); and 80,000 lbs. per hour with natural draught.

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References