H.M.S. Serpent (1887)

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H.M.S. Serpent (1887)
Builder: Devonport Royal Dockyard[1]
Laid down: 9 Nov, 1885[2]
Launched: 10 Mar, 1887[3]
Completed: Mar, 1888[4]
Wrecked: 10 Nov, 1890[5]

H.M.S. Serpent was one of eight Archer Class torpedo cruisers completed for the Royal Navy.

Service

Commander Harry Leith Ross was appointed in command of the vessel in June, 1890 and commanded her in the Annual Manoeuvres of 1890, which ran from late July until late August.

Serpent departed Devonport for the West Africa Station on 8 November, 1890. On the night of the 10th in heavy weather, she struck the Puenta Buey reef off Spain's Cape Villano. Attempts to launch boats failed and the ship was forced parallel to the shore, taking the sea on the beam. Rolling sharply on her beam ends, she eventually capsized with only three men able to make it to shore.[6]

One hundred and seventy-three men died in her loss.[7]

Captains

See Also

Footnotes

  1. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 81.
  2. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 81.
  3. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 81.
  4. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 81.
  5. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 81.
  6. Hepper. British Warship Losses in the Ironclad Era: 1860-1919. p. 14.
  7. "The Loss of HMS Serpent." The Times (London, England), 14 Nov. 1890, p. 6.
  8. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), 3 July, 1888, p. 10.
  9. Powell Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39/243. f. 1052.
  10. Powell Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39/243. f. 1052.
  11. The Navy List. (July, 1890). p. 248.
  12. Hepper. British Warship Losses in the Ironclad Era: 1860-1919. p. 14.

Bibliography


Archer Class Torpedo Cruiser
  Archer Brisk Cossack Mohawk  
  Porpoise Racoon Serpent Tartar  
<– Scout Class Minor Cruisers (UK) Medea Class –>