1872 Keel laid down on the yard of Money Wigram & Sons, Blackwall for the Royal Navy.
20 October 1873 launched as the HMS SAPPHO one of the Fantome class of which six were built.
Displacement 994 ton, 727 ton (BM), dim. 160 x 31.4 x 12.6ft.
Powered by a horizontal 2-cyl. compound steam engine, manufactured by Humprys ,Tennant & Co., 884 ihp., one shaft, hoisting screw, speed 10.6 knots.
Coal capacity 100 tons.
Range 1.000 miles with a speed of 10 knots.
Armed and masted at Sherness,
Armament 2 – 7 inch, and 2 – 64pdrs., mounted on sliding wooden carriages, one light gun and two MG.
Crew 125.
February 1874 completed.
She was of the composite construction with iron frames and a teak hull.
Under command of Commander Noel S.F. Digby she sailed from the UK to the Australian Station where she arrived December 1874.
March 1877 she visited New Zealand and after a call at Wellington she sailed to Port Chalmers with on board crew relief for HMS SAPPHIRE which was serving at that time in New Zealand waters.
During her stay on the Australian Station she carried out patrol duties which was mostly of routine nature.
August 1878 she sailed from the Australian Station.
1881 Stationed at the Pacific Station.
1882 She made a visit at Pitcairn Island, where new blood brought new ways and ideas to the tight little society. But when one of the new-comers fell in love with a native girl on the island who was already engaged to one of the Christian family, thing changed and strong passions were aroused.
The Captain of the visiting HMS SAPPHO at that time was induced to approve a law forbidding strangers to settle on Pitcairn Island.
Till 1886 she was stationed on the Pacific Station, where after she sailed back to England.
After arrival in the U.K. decommissioned.
December 1887 sold to Castle for breaking up.
Pitcairn Island 1988 $1.80 sg325, scott?
Sources: The Sail & Steam Navy List by David Lyon and Rif Winfield. Ships on the Australian Station by John Bastock. Some web-sites.