British protected cruiser 1st class HMS Gibraltar 1889-1923

Blake-class

Edgar-class

Powerful-class

Part of the Edgar-class consisting of the Edgar, Hawke, Endymion, Royal Arthur (ex-Centaur), Gibraltar, Grafton, St. George, Theseus and Crescent, preceded by the Blake-class and succeeded by the Powerful-class. Built under the Naval Defence Act of 1889. Laid down by Robert Napier&Sons, Govan, Scotland on 2 December 1889, launched on 27 April 1892, commissioned on 1 November 1893 and sold to John Cashmore Ltd to be broken up at Newport in August 1923.

Displacement 7.770 tons and as dimensions 118,1 x 18 x 7,3 metres or 387.5 x 60 x 24 feet. Coal fired machinery including 4 double ended cylindrical boilers supplying 12.000hp allowing a speed of 18 (natural draught)-20 (forced draught) knots and with a speed of 10 knots a range of 10.000 nautical miles. Crew numbered 544 men. Armour consisted of 7,6cm/3”-12,7cm/5” decks with the casemate protected by 15,2cm/6” thick armour, the main guns by 7,6cm/3” thick shields, the ammunition hoists by 5,1cm/2”-17,8c,/7” and the conning tower by 25,4cm/10”. Armament consisted of 2x1-23,37cm/9.2” inch breech loading Mk VI guns, 10x1-5,24cm/6” quick firing guns, 12x1-6pd guns and 4-36cm/14” torpedo tubes.