H.M.S. Traveller (1885)
| H.M.S. Traveller (1885) | |
|---|---|
| Purchased: | 1885[Fact Check] |
| Launched: | 1885[1] |
| : | |
H.M.S. Traveller was a civilian twin-screw tug of uncertain heritage which the Royal Navy acquired through a Vote of Credit around 1885 for conversion into an armed tug/special service vessel for use in the Mediterranean.[2] Her date of launch and her fate are not known.
She displaced 700 tons and boasted 1120 H.P..[3]
Service
Mention I can find of Traveller's employment seem to be centred on accompanying torpedo gunboats, which were notoriously unreliable in their machinery, on Annual Manoeuvres, to be on hand in the event of a breakdown.
Her conversion seems to have taken years, as it was not before January 1889 that she underwent her trials, where great friction in piston caused a near-fatal accident when a fitter had his neck caught as in a vice when he attempted to inspect the engine and wave action caused the engine to cycle. He was nearly decapitated as a result, and the vessel returned so that he could be sent to Haslar Hospital.[4]
She was mobilised on 18 June 1889 to participate in the Annual Manoeuvres of 1889. She also participated in those of 1890, 1892 and 1893.
She participated in the Jubilee Naval Review and possibly the Annual Manoeuvres of 1897.[5]
In 1900, she became a tender to Nile under the charge of Chief Boatswain William Platt after Richard Archibald Cathie stepped aside after nearly a decade in command.[6]
She passed into a semi-active state from around mid 1903 to November, 1905.
Though a Chief Bosun in Command commanded her through the first half of the Great War, and she is still listed in The Navy List of December 1918, no personnel were known to be assigned to her after mid-1917.[7]
Armament
The initial concept would be that she would carry about six guns, the cost for strengthening her hull to accommodate the weaponry was thought to run to £8,000. It is not clear whether her outfit matched this plan in the end.[8]
Captains
Dates of appointment are provided when known.
- Lieutenant & Commander George Drury, 23 July, 1889[9]
- Lieutenant & Commander Gustavus H. Yonge, 22 July, 1890[10] – 3 September, 1890 (for Annual Manoeuvres of 1890)
- Lieutenant & Commander Richard A. Cathie, 1 October, 1891[11][12] – c. April, 1900[Inference]
- Chief Boatswain (in Command?) William Platt, 12 April, 1900[13] – 23 June, 1901[14]
- Lieutenant & Commander Thomas J. S. Lyne, 30 June, 1902[15] – 22 May, 1903
- Gunner in Command William T. Ahearn, 27 November, 1905[16]
- Lieutenant & Commander Frank Lewis, 27 November, 1906[17][18] – 21 July, 1907[19]
- Lieutenant in Command Theodore Bye, 22 July, 1907[20] – 22 January, 1909[21]
- Lieutenant in Command William B. Mann, 17 January, 1909[22] – 10 August, 1910
- Lieutenant in Command John Edwards, 31 August, 1910[23] – 1 February, 1912[24]
- Chief Boatswain in Command Robert J. Dailey, 1 February, 1912[25] – December, 1913[Inference]
- Chief Boatswain in Command James J. Webber, 18 December, 1913[26][27] – 8 June, 1917[28]
See Also
Footnotes
- ↑ This year may be incorrect.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Wednesday, Aug 26, 1885; pg. 10; Issue 31535.
- ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1887) Corrected to 20 March, 1887. p. 235.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Tuesday, Jan 15, 1889; pg. 7; Issue 32596.
- ↑ "The Naval Review at Spithead." The Times (London, England), 25 June 1897; p. 13.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1901). p. 307a.
- ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 298n.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Wednesday, Aug 26, 1885; pg. 10; Issue 31535.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Wednesday, Jul 24, 1889; pg. 12; Issue 32759.
- ↑ "Naval Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Saturday, Jul 19, 1890; pg. 12; Issue 33068.
- ↑ The Navy List. (February, 1900). p. 307.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Wednesday, Sep 30, 1891; pg. 4; Issue 33443.
- ↑ The Navy List. (May, 1902). p. 307a.
- ↑ Platt Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/31/426. f. 433.
- ↑ The Navy List. (May, 1903). p. 308a.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Monday, Nov 27, 1905; pg. 10; Issue 37875.
- ↑ Lewis Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/31/600. f. ?.
- ↑ The Navy List. (March, 1907). p. 387.
- ↑ Lewis Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/31/600. f. ?.
- ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1908). p. 387.
- ↑ Bye Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/31/559. f. ?.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 387.
- ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1911). p. 387.
- ↑ Edwards Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/84/63. f. ?.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1914). p. 384.
- ↑ Webber Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/35/74. f. ?.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 398t.
- ↑ Webber Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/35/74. f. ?.
Bibliography
