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Built as a third class protected cruiser by the Devonport Dockyard for the Royal Navy.
23 April 1889 laid down.
01 July 1890 launched as the HMS PHOEBE one of the Pallas Class, 8 sisters.
Displacement 2.575 tons, dim. 80.5 12.5 x 5.18m.
Powered by two triple expansion steam engines, 4.500 ihp., maximum power 7.500 ihp. , twin screws speed 19 knots.
Bunker capacity 440 tons coal.
Armament 8 – 4.7inch, 8 – 3pdrs., 4 – 14 inch torpedo tubes, one on the bow, one at the stern and two broadside, all above water.
Crew 190.
Building cost approx. £ 140.000.
25 August 1891 during a trial she got a boiler explosion.
01 December 1892 completed and commissioned.

After completing a unit of the Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa Station.
1894 She visited Ascension Island.
August/September 1894 took part in the operations in the Benin River, landed armed parties.
1896/99 Due to the unhealthy climate on the African West Coast (white man graveyard) which wrought havoc amongst the crew. Several died and many invalided came home.
Only 40 of the original crew came home with the ship.
Between 1899/1901 extensive refit in Devonport.
1901 A unit of the Australian Auxiliary Squadron, she made cruises around Australia and to the Pacific islands.
In 1903 she made a tour of duty to New Zealand and remained there till she was relieved by HMS PYLADES.
December 1903 she returned in Sydney.
23 December 1905 sailed homeward bound from Australia, after arrival in the U.K. decommissioned.
10 July 1906 sold at Portsmouth for £9.850 to A. Anderson of Copenhagen for scrapping, and she was broken up in Copenhagen.

Ascension 2001 35p sg?, scott?

Source Devonport built warships since 1860 by Lt. Cdr. K.V. Burns. Ships on the Australia Station by John Bastock.