Nymphe HMS

[shipstamps]

H.M.S. Nymphe, a composite steam sloop of 1,140 tons, built at Portsmouth Dockyard in 1888. Length 195 ft., beam 28 ft., draft 12'/2 ft. Maker of ship's engines: Greenock Foundry Company; 2,000 i.h.p. Armed with eight 5-in, guns and eight machine guns. Speed 144 knots. She had bunkerage for 160 tons of coal, which gave a steaming distance of 3,000 miles at 10 knots. Single screw. Building cost £57,600. Ship's complement 138. Renamed Wildfire in December 1906, a base ship. In 1916 she was renamed Gannet; and in 1917, Pembroke. Sold in February 1920. After a look at the figurehead one can only say "Some nympher I wonder what the ship's crew said about it. SG1130

[aukepalmhof]

Built as composite screw sloop by the Portsmouth Drydock for the Royal Navy.
05 July 1887 keel laid down.
01 May 1888 launched under the name HMS NYMPHE one of the Nymphe class, three sisters the SWALLOW, BUZZARD and DAPHNE.
Displacement 1.140 ton, dim. 195.0 (bpp) x 28.0 x 12.6ft. (draught).
Two horizontal triple expansion steam engines, manufactured by Greenock Foundry Co. 2.000 ihp., twin screws, speed 14.5 knots.
Bunker capacity 160 ton coal, radius 3.000 miles by 10 knots.
Armament 8 – 5 inch B. L. guns. 8 Machine guns
Crew 135.
03 July 1889 commissioned, building cost £57.600. The design of the class was from William White.

The class was the last composite sloops built for the Royal Navy, and the only ones to adopt twin-screw propulsion.
31 December 1906 reduced to harbour service and renamed WILDFIRE, based at Sheerness.
She was pressed into service with Rear Admiral Hood’s squadron during World War I, off the Belgian coast. She bombarded the German right flank in the early months of 1915 and earned a Battle Honour.
1916 Renamed in GANNET.
June 1917 renamed in PEMBROKE.
10 February 1920 sold for breaking up to Ward, was broken up at Milford Haven.

Source: Send a Gunboat by Preston and Major. The Sail and Steam Navy List 1815 – 1889.