HMS Antelope (1893)
Template:Short description Template:Other ships Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox ship HMS Antelope was an Template:Sclass of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1893, reduced to harbour service from 1910 and was sold for scrapping in 1919.
Design
The Alarm class was designed by Sir William White in 1889. They had a length overall of Template:Convert, a beam of Template:Convert and a displacement of Template:Convert.<ref name=RW/> Antelope was engined by Yarrows with two sets of vertical triple-expansion steam engines, two locomotive-type boilers, and twin screws.<ref name=RW/> This layout produced Template:Convert, giving her a speed of Template:Convert with forced draught.<ref name=RW/> She carried between 100 and 160 tons of coal and was crewed by 91 sailors and officers.<ref name=RW/>
Armament
When built Antelope was fitted with two [[QF 4.7 inch Gun Mk I - IV|QF Template:Convert/45-pounder guns]], four 3-pounder guns and one Gardner machine gun. Her three 18-inch torpedo tubes<ref group=Note>British "18 inch" torpedoes were 17.72 inches (45.0 cm) in diameter</ref> were arranged as a pair of revolving deck mounts and a single bow-mounted tube; three reloads were provided.<ref name=RW/>
History
Construction
Antelope was laid down at Devonport Dockyard on 21 October 1889.<ref name="Friedp301">Template:Harvnb</ref> Construction was delayed by several months by problems with the ship's propeller shafts.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> She was finally launched, by Miss Crocker, the daughter of the shipyard manager on 12 July 1893.<ref name= "AR">Template:Cite episode</ref><ref name="Friedp301"/> In 2015, her grandson displayed a commemorative wooden box, holding the mallet and chisel she used to server the rope tethering the ship, on the BBC programme Antiques Roadshow.<ref name= "AR" /> The ship was completed in May 1894 at a cost of £61,395.<ref name="Friedp301"/><ref>Template:Harvnb</ref>
Service
In August 1894 Antelope took part in that year's Naval Manoeuvres,<ref>Template:Harvnb</ref> and in July 1896 again took part in the Manoeuvres.<ref>Template:Harvnb</ref> On 26 June 1897 she was present at the Fleet Review at Spithead in celebration of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee,<ref name=PB/><ref>Template:Harvnb</ref> and in July that year took part in the Reserve Fleet Manoeuvres.<ref>Template:Harvnb</ref> In April 1899, it was announced that Antelope was to be allocated to training of naval reserves, supporting the training Hulk Template:HMS at Bristol.<ref>Template:Cite hansard</ref>
On 27 June 1900 it was announced that the date of the mobilization for naval manoeuvres had been fixed for 10 July. Antelope, together with capital ships, cruisers, torpedo boats and other torpedo gunboats, was ordered to be ready for sea,<ref name=PB/> and participated as part of 'Fleet B'.<ref>Template:Harvnb</ref> In July the next year Antelope took part in the 1901 manoeuvres.<ref>Template:Harvnb</ref>
Commander Henry Arthur Phillips was appointed in command in early May 1902,<ref>Template:Cite newspaper The Times</ref> and in July 1902 she rejoined the Channel and Home squadrons.<ref>Template:Cite newspaper The Times</ref> She took part in the fleet review held at Spithead on 16 August 1902 for the coronation of King Edward VII.<ref>Template:Cite newspaper The Times</ref> Commander William Nicholson was appointed in command on 10 September 1902.<ref>Template:Cite newspaper The Times</ref>
Antelope had been stricken from the effective list by 1905, being described in Parliament as being "of comparatively small fighting value", although her armament was not removed. Torpedo gunboats that had been re-boilered and re-engined were considered still effective and retained in service, but it was not felt worthwhile to re-engine the remaining torpedo gunboats, such as Antelope.<ref>Template:Harvnb</ref> Antelope was reduced to harbour service from 1910 and used as a training ship at Devonport.<ref name=RW/>
In July 1914 she was listed for sale at Devonport.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name=PB>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Following the outbreak of the First World War, Antelope returned to training duties at Devonport,<ref name="dittp322">Template:Harvnb</ref> where she was used for training of stokers.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Antelope was sold to T R Sales for breaking on 27 May 1919.<ref name=RW/>
Pennant numbers
| Pennant number<ref name="ditt p107">Template:Harvnb</ref> | From |
|---|---|
| D25 | 1914 |
| N25 | September 1915 |