HMS Arethusa (1882)

Arethusa's sister ship Leander in 1897.
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Arethusa
Ordered:	1880
Builder:	Napier, Glasgow
Laid down:	14 June 1880
Launched:	23 December 1882
Commissioned:	8 July 1887
Decommissioned:	3 April 1903 (as sea-going warship)
Fate:	Sold 4 April 1905.
General characteristics
Class and type:	Leander-class second-class partially protected cruiser
Displacement:	4,300 tons (4,400 tonnes) load.
Tons burthen:	3,750 tons (B.O.M.).
Length:	300 ft (91 m) between perpendiculars. 315 ft 96.01 m) overall.
Beam:	46 ft (14 m).
Draught:	20 ft 8 in (6.30 m) aft, 19 ft 6 in (5.94 m) forward with 950 tons (970 tonnes) of coal and complete with stores and provisions.
Installed power:	12 cylindrical boilers, 5,500 ihp (4,100 kW).
Propulsion:	Sails and screw. Two shafts. Two cylinder horizontal direct acting compound engines,
Speed:	16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) designed 17-18 knots after funnels raised
Range:	11,000 nmi (20,000 km; 13,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). 725 tons coal normal, 1000 tons maximum = c. 6,000 nmi at economical speed.
Complement:	(1885): 275
Armament:	(1885): 10 × 6-inch Breechloading guns 8 1-inch Nordenfelt guns 2 5-barrel and 2 2-barrel 0.45-in machineguns 4 above water torpedo dischargers.
Armour:	1.5 in (40mm) steel armoured deck (with sloped sides) over 165 ft. 1.5 in (40mm) gun shields.
Notes:	Carried 2 second class torpedo boats. Carried 7-pounder and 9-pounder boat guns and field guns.

HMS Arethusa was a second class cruiser of the Leander class, which served with the Royal Navy. She was built at Napier, Glasgow, being laid down in 1880, launched in 1882 and completed in Financial Year 1886-87. She remained in ordinary reserve at Chatham, being commissioned for the 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890, and 1892 annual manoeuvres. She served in the Mediterranean from 1893 to 1896, was commissioned for the 1899 annual manoeuvres, then recommissioned for the Pacific, and later sent as a reinforcement to the China Station during the Boxer Rebellion until she came home for the last time in 1903.

Arethusa was built at Napier, Glasgow, and completed in Financial Year 1886-87.

The December 1885 Navy List listed her as at Chatham, with her commissioned and warrant officers borne in Pembroke as follows:

She lay in ordinary at Chatham after completion.

Arethusa was commissioned for the 1887 annual manoeuvres on 8 July 1887, and paid off on 1 September 1887.

Arethusa was commissioned for the 1888 annual manoeuvres on 4 July 1888, and paid off on 31 August 1888.Arethusa was part of Vice Admiral John K.E. Baird's fleet. In the manoeuvres, hostilities broke out at noon on 24 July 1888, and ended at noon on 20 August. Baird's force represented the British fleet, and England, Scotland and Wales were considered friendly to the British fleet and hostile to the enemy. Opposing Baird was the 'Achil' fleet, led by Rear Admiral George Tryon, and based in Berehaven on the south-west coast of Ireland and Lough Swilly on the north coast. All Irish territory was considered hostile to the British fleet and friendly to the enemy. At the outset Baird's fleet was concentrated on keeping Tryon's fleet shut up in their base ports. They failed. Both Tryon and his second in command broke the blockade on 4 August, and swooping round the extremities of Ireland, made a descent on British commerce and British ports. In the manoeuvres, the Arethusa was assessed as lost on 5 August.

The committee appointed to inquire into all circumstances connected with the 1888 British naval manoeuvres reported as follows:

The First Naval Lord, Admiral Sir Arthur Hood commented on this as follows:

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