RIMS Warren Hastings

A sketch depicting the wreck of the RIMS Warren Hastings, published by the Dundee Courier on 24 March 1897.
History
Royal Navy
Name:	Warren Hastings
Builder:	Barrow Shipbuilding Company
Launched:	18 April 1893
Completed:	1893
Fate:	Hit a rock and was wrecked on 14 January 1897
General characteristics
Type:	Troopship
Displacement:	5,000 long tons (5,100 t)
Length:	330 ft (100 m)
Beam:	49 ft 3 in (15.01 m)
Propulsion:	Eight boilers and two triple-expansion engines
Speed:	18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Armament:	Six quick firing guns, six three pounder guns, and four five barreled guns

RIMS Warren Hastings was a Royal Indian Marine troopship built by the Barrow Shipbuilding Company. She was launched on 18 April 1893, and claimed to be "practically unsinkable" because of her 33 watertight compartments. However, whilst in service the ship struck a rock and was wrecked off the coast of Réunion on the night of 14 January 1897, while travelling to Mauritius from Cape Town. The wreck resulted in two deaths.

Warren Hastings was completed by the Barrow Shipbuilding Company in 1893. Sir Edward Reed oversaw the design and construction, and she was named by Lady Agnes Burne. She was launched on 18 April of that year. Contemporary media claimed her to be "practically unsinkable" because of her 33 watertight compartments.The launch was accompanied by a luncheon where several distinguished persons were present. The ship was 330 ft (100 m) long, with a beam of 49 ft 3 in (15.01 m), and 36 ft 9 in (11.20 m) moulded depth. She displaced around 5,000 long tons (5,100 t), was propelled by two triple-expansion engines capable of producing 3,500 horsepower (2,600 kW), which were supplied by eight boilers, and had a coal capacity of 700 long tons (710 t). She attained a maximum speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph).

The hull of the ship was steel, and the woodwork teak, so that she would be fit for tropical environments. She was outfitted with six quick firing guns, six three pounder guns, and four five barreled guns. The ship's internal spaces had electric lights.

On 20 November 1896, the 1st Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps, stationed at Jullundur, was ordered to go to Mauritius. The battalion set sail on 30 November 1896. They passed through Deolali, and boarded Warren Hastings in Bombay. The ship, captained by Gerald Edward Holland, left Bombay on 10 December. The ship was to stop in Cape Town, and continue to Mauritius from there. After a brief stop for coaling in Seychelles, the ship arrived in Cape Town on 28 December.