HMS Flora (1893)

HMS Flora was an Astraea-class cruiser of the Royal Navy launched on 21 November 1893.[2] She was constructed under the Naval Defence Act 1889 along with several other Astraea-class cruisers.[3] Flora was decommissioned in 1922.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Flora.

HMS Flora
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Flora
Builder:	Pembroke Dock
Launched:	21 November 1893
Commissioned:	24 July 1895[1]
Decommissioned:	March 1922
Renamed:	TS Indus II in April 1915
Fate:	Sold 12 December 1922 for breaking up in Dover
General characteristics
Class and type:	Astraea-class cruiser
Displacement:	4,360 long tons (4,430 t) fully loaded
Length:	320 ft (98 m)
Beam:	49 ft 6 in (15.09 m)
Draught:	19 ft (5.8 m)
Propulsion:	2 shaft, 3 cycle TE, 8 cylinder boilers 7,500 hp (5,600 kW) natural draught; 9,500 hp (7,100 kW) forced draught Coal 1000 tons maximum load
Speed:	18 knots (33 km/h) natural draught 19.5 knots (36.1 km/h) forced draught
Range:	7,000 nmi (13,000 km)
Complement:	44
Armament:	2 × QF 6 in (152 mm) guns 8 × QF 4.7 in (120 mm) guns 1 × 3 pdr (47 mm) quick firing gun 4 × 18 in (450 mm) torpedo tubes
Armour:	Deck 2 in (51 mm) Conning tower 3 in (76 mm) Gunshields 4.5 in (114 mm) engine hatch 5 in (127 mm)

Operational history

HMS Flora served a commission, under the command of Commodore Robert Leonard Groome and later of Captain Frederick Sidney Pelham, as senior officer′s ship on the South East Coast of America Station until June 1901, when she returned to Devonport to pay off.[4]

She was commissioned at Devonport on 11 November 1902 by Captain Casper Joseph Baker[5] to relieve HMS Phaeton for service on the Pacific Station.[6]

HMS Flora was the subject of a famous salvage operation after running aground in 1903.[7]

In 1914, just prior to the First World War, Flora was placed on the sale list and remained on harbour service for the majority of the conflict. In April 1915 Flora was renamed TS Indus II. She was sold on 12 December 1922 and was broken up at Dover.

HMS Beagle, Swallow, Basilisk and Flora, unknown artist

References

1. The Times (London), Thursday, 25 July 1895, p.10
2. Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
3. Historyofwar.org
4. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times (36476). London. 8 June 1901. p. 9.
5. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times (36902). London. 18 October 1902. p. 9.
6. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times (36922). London. 11 November 1902. p. 5.
7. Wreckers at Work on H.M.S. Flora, New York Times, 5 December 1903

Publications

• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.