Iris-class cruiser
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English
| Script error: No such module "InfoboxImage". Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". |
The Iris class consisted of two ships, Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". and Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities"., built for the Royal Navy in the 1870s. They were the first British all-steel warships.
Design and description
The Iris-class ships were designed as dispatch vessels by William White under the direction of Nathaniel Barnaby, Director of Naval Construction, and were later redesignated as second-class protected cruisers. The only visible difference between the sister ships was that Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". had a clipper bow and was longer than Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". with her straight stem. Iris was Script error: No such module "convert". long overall while Mercury was Script error: No such module "convert". long. The sisters had a beam of Script error: No such module "convert"., and a draught of Script error: No such module "convert".. They displaced Script error: No such module "convert". at normal load[1] and were the first British warships with an all-steel hull.[2] Their crew consisted of 275 officers and ratings.[1] The ships were not armoured but extensive internal subdivision gave them some protection against flooding, as did the Script error: No such module "convert". double bottom under the propulsion machinery compartments.[3]
The Iris class was powered by a pair of horizontal four-cylinder Maudslay, Sons and Field compound-expansion steam engines that were configured with a pair of high-pressure cylinders with a bore of Script error: No such module "convert". and a pair of low-pressure cylinders Script error: No such module "convert". in diameter. All cylinders had a Script error: No such module "convert". stroke. Each engine drove one propeller shaft using steam from eight oval and four cylindrical boilers with a working pressure of Script error: No such module "convert"..[1] The engines were designed to produce a total of Script error: No such module "convert". for a speed of Script error: No such module "convert"., which was handily exceeded by the sisters. Iris initially reached a maximum speed of Script error: No such module "convert". from Script error: No such module "convert". during her sea trials, but after new propellers were fitted, achieved Script error: No such module "convert". from Template:Cvt. Mercury became the fastest warship in the world when she made Script error: No such module "convert". from Template:Cvt.[3] The ships carried a maximum of Script error: No such module "convert". of coal, enough to steam Script error: No such module "convert". at Script error: No such module "convert".. They were initially fitted with a barque sailing rig, but this was removed after a few years.[1]
The Iris-class ships were originally armed with ten 64-pounder (Script error: No such module "convert".) rifled muzzle-loading (RML) guns, eight on the main deck and the remaining pair on the upper deck on pivot mounts to serve as chase guns fore and aft.[1]
Ships
| Name | Builder[3] | Laid down[3] | Launched[3] | Completed[3] | Fate[1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". | Pembroke Dockyard | 10 November 1875 | 12 April 1877 | April 1879 | Sold for scrap, 11 July 1905 |
| Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". | 16 March 1876 | 17 April 1878 | September 1879 | Sold for scrap, 9 July 1919 |
Construction and career
Iris was launched in 1877 and sold in 1905 while Mercury, launched a year later, was hulked at Chatham in 1914 and sold for scrap in 1919.[1]
Citations
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Bibliography
- Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".