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FIGHTING SHIPS OF THE WORLD
UNITED KINGDOM
CRUISERS
MARINER composite screw sloops (6, 1884 - 1889)


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Melita

Ships


Name

No

Yard No

Builder

Laid down

Launched

Comp

Fate

Reindeer     Devonport DYd 15.1.1883 14.11.1883 12.1884 boom defence vessel 1904
Mariner     Devonport DYd 8.1.1883 23.6.1884 19.3.1885 boom defence vessel 1903
Racer     Devonport DYd 9.4.1883 6.8.1884 9.4.1885 tender 1896
Acorn     Milford Haven SB 16.10.1883 6.9.1884 22.2.1885 sold 12.1899
Icarus     Devonport DYd 18.8.1883 27.7.1885 6.7.1886 sold 4.1904
Melita     Malta DYd 18.7.1883 20.3.1888 10.1889 boom defence vessel 5.1905


Technical data


Displacement normal, t

970

Displacement full, t 
Length, m

50.9 pp

Breadth, m

9.75

Draught, m

4.26

No of shafts

1

Machinery

sails + 1 2-cyl HCE

Power, h. p.

Reindeer: 1030

Mariner: 970

Racer: 920

Acorn: 1380

Icarus: 1230

Melita: 1200

Max speed, kts

Reindeer, Mariner, Racer, Acorn: 11.5

Icarus, Melita: 12.5

Fuel, t

coal 150

Endurance, nm(kts)

1900 - 2300(10)

Armament

Reindeer: 6 x 1 - 127/25 BL Mk I, 8 x 1 - 11.4/87

Mariner, Racer, Acorn, Icarus: 8 x 1 - 127/25 BL Mk II, 8 x 1 - 11.4/87

Melita: 8 x 1 - 127/25 BL Mk IV, 8 x 1 - 11.4/87

Complement

126



Graphics


<i>Melita</i>
Melita


Project history

Designed by Nathaniel Barnaby, originally rated as gun vessels but rerated as sloops in 1884. They were amongst the last sloops designed under the regime of Sir Nathaniel Barnaby. The decision to build Melita in the Malta dockyard to alleviate the employment situation, from laying down in 1882 to launching in 1888, cost 20% more than to build a comparable ship in the Royal Dockyards. All vessels were barque-rigged with the exception of Icarus which was schooner-rigged, with square topsails on the foremast. Two of the 127mm guns were mounted behind shields just forward of the foremast, and another two were similarly mounted by the mizzen mast. The other four guns were broadside mounted.

Modernizations

1891, Racer: - 8 x 1 - 127/25; + 8 x 1 - 127/25 BL Mk V

Naval service

No significant events.