Pelorus-class
HMS Hyacinth of the Highflyer-class
Building ordered in 1893, laid down at Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company, Jarrow, England in May 1896, launched on 4 March 1897, commissioned on 17 January 1899, sunk by the German light cruiser SMS Königsberg when lying with boiler and engine in the Zanzibar harbour on 20 September 1914, wreck sold for 500 pond sterling to be broken up in 1955 but parts are left behind on the sea bottom.Of the Pelorus-class designed by chief constructor of the British Royal Navy Sir William White (2 February 1985 Plymouth, England-27 February 1913 London, England)consisting of the Pactolus, Pandora, Pegasus, Pelorus, Perseus, Pioneer, Pomone, Prometheus, Proserpine, Psyche and Pyramus, preceded by the Arrogant-class and succeeded by the Highflyer-class.
Displacement of 2.169 (normal)-2.780 (full load) tons and as dimensions 91,4 (between perpendiculars)-95,6 (over all) x 11,1 x 4,9 metres or 300’-313’6” x 36’6” x 16’. Machinery consisted of 2 shafts reciprocating vertical triple expansion steam engines and 8 Reed water-tube boilers delivering 7.000 ihp allowing a speed of 20 knots. Crew numbered 224 men. Armour consisted of a 3,8/1.5”05,1cm/2” thick deck while the conning tower was protected by 7,6cm/3” thick armour. The armament consisted of 8x1-10,2cm/4” quick firing guns, 8x1-4,7cm/3pd quick firing guns, 3 machineguns and 2x1-45cm/18” torpedo tubes.
