HMS Amphion (1883)

HMS ''Amphion'' was a second-class cruiser of the which served with the Royal Navy. She was built at Pembroke Dockyard, being laid down in 1881, launched in 1883, and completed in financial year 1885–86, and then lay in ordinary at Devonport. She was commissioned for the 1887 and 1888 annual manoeuvres. She was recommissioned in December 1888. served in the Pacific until 1890, in the Mediterranean from 1890 to 1895, in ordinary in Devonport from 1895 to 1897 and in the Pacific once more from 1897 to 1904, having a refit in 1900.

Construction

''Amphion'' was built at Pembroke Dockyard, and completed in financial year 1885–86.

The December 1885 Navy List, listed ''Amphion'' at Devonport, with her commissioned and warrant officers borne in the ''Nanking''.''Navy List, December 1885'', p. 194.

Sea-going career

Annual manoeuvres 1887

''Amphion'' was commissioned for the annual manoeuvres on 5 July 1887, and paid off on 31 August 1887.

Annual manoeuvres 1888

''Amphion'' was commissioned for the annual manoeuvres on 4 July 1888, and paid off on 31 August 1888.The ''Amphion's'' second logbook covers 4 July 1888 to 31 August 1888, and is
UK National Archives catalogue
reference ADM 53/12452 In the manoeuvres, hostilities broke out at noon on 24 July 1888, and ended at noon on 20 August.

In the manoeuvres, Vice Admiral John Baird's force represented the British fleet, and England, Scotland and Wales were considered friendly to the British fleet and hostile to the enemy. Opposing Baird was the 'Achill' fleet, led by Rear Admiral George Tryon, and based in Berehaven on the south-west coast of Ireland and Lough Swilly on the north coast. All Irish territory was considered hostile to the British fleet and friendly to the enemy. At the outset Baird's fleet was concentrated on keeping Tryon's fleet shut up in their base ports. They failed. Both Tryon and his second in command broke the blockade on 4 August, and swooping round the extremities of Ireland, made a descent on British commerce and British ports.''New York Times'', 2 July 1893, ''Tryon's brilliant tactics; dazing his opponents in the manoeuvres of 1888''
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''Amphion'' was part of Rear Admiral George Tryon's 'Achill' fleet.

"The ''Amphion'' left Lough Swilly with the ew battleship, and broke the blockade with her on the night of 4th–5th August. During her cruize in the Channel and up the East Coast of Great Britain she claims the destruction of much shipping; and the capture of the coastguard stations at Scarborough and Wick, also, after leaving Lough Swilly the second time, to have visited Bude with a hostile purpose.

As Scarborough had already been attacked by five days earlier, her visit there could not have been of much effect, neither does it seem that nay useful purpose was served on the occasion of her visit to Wick, as she was taken there in order that her captain might telegraph to the Achill Admiral through the enemy's wires, an impossible condition in wartime. In no case, according to her log, does it appear that the Rules as to Capture of shipping were adhered to."

1888–1892

''Amphion'' was commissioned at Devonport by Captain Edward G. Hulton on 11 December 1888.Th
UK National Archives
has logbooks for ''Amphion'' covering 11 December 1888 to 25 January 1892, catalogue reference ADM 53/12453-12454. The January 1889 Navy List, listed ''Amphion'' at Devonport, fitting out for service on the Pacific Station,''Navy List, January 1889, corrected to 20 December 1888'', page 194

1892–1895

''Amphion'' was re-commissioned at Malta, by Captain John R.E. Pattisson, on 26 January 1892.Th
UK National Archives
has logbooks for the ''Amphion'' covering 26 January 1892 to 28 February 1895, catalogue reference ADM 53/12455-12457.''Navy List, January 1892, corrected to 20 December 1891'', pages 197–98.''Navy List, January 1895, corrected to 18th December 1894'', page 198.

1895–1897

''Amphion'' laid in ordinary at Devonport from 1 March 1895 to 6 January 1897.

1897–1900

''Amphion'' was commissioned at Devonport by Captain Frank Finnis, on 7 January 1897Th
UK National Archives
has logbooks for ''Amphion'' covering 7 January 1897 to 13 February 1900, catalogue reference ADM 53/12458-12461.''Navy List, January 1898, corrected to 13th December 1897'', page 198. She served on the Pacific Station. She paid off at Devonport on 13 February 1900, Captain Finnis was appointed to HMS ''Illustrious''.

1900 refit

''Amphion'' was refitted at Devonport immediately after she paid off. On 25 February 1900, it was reported that: "The refit of the ''Amphion'' at Devonport is to be completed at the earliest possible date. Although the cruiser only paid off last week she has been dismantled and the work is well advanced. She only recently returned from the Pacific station, and it is understood she is to be sent back to that station to relieve the ''Phaëton'' or the ''Leander'', which will complete their three years/ commission in June. The ''Amphion''s engines and boilers are in capital condition, although she has served over nine years on foreign stations, and it is believed that her refit can be carried out for £3,000 less than the sum provided for it."

1900–1904

''Amphion'' was commissioned at Devonport by Captain John Casement, on 20 September 1900.Th
UK National Archives
has logbooks for ''Amphion'' covering 20 September to 25 May 1904, catalogue reference ADM 53/12462-12463 and 17021-17022.''Navy List, March 1901, corrected to 18 February 1901'', page 223. She served on the Pacific Station. This commission was the subject of a book in the 'Log' series, entitled: ''HMS Amphion, Pacific Station, 1901–1904''. She arrived at Colón, Panama, in late December 1900. In January 1902, it was reported that ''Amphion'' had struck on a reef while on her way from Panama to Callao, was seriously damaged, and had to proceed to Valparaíso for repairs. In early August that year she was back at the station headquarters at Esquimalt. In January 1903 she was reported to be in Paita, Peru, visiting Panama, Acapulco and San Diego before her return to Esquimalt in late March.

Disposal

''Amphion'' was sold in 1906.

Footnotes

References

* The Naval Annual, various issues.
* Brown, David K. ''Warrior to Dreadnought, Warship Development 1860–1905'', published Chatham Publishing, 1997.
Blueprints
*Chesneau, Roger, and Eugene M. Kolesnik, eds. ''All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905'', published Conway Maritime Press, 1979.
*Jane, Fred T. ''All the World's Fighting Ships, 1900''
* Lyon, David and Winfield, Rif ''The Sail and Steam Navy List, All the Ships of the Royal Navy 1815–1889'', published Chatham, 2004,

Amphion logbooks in the UK National Archives

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Amphion (1883
Leander-class cruisers (1882)
Ships built in Pembroke Dock
1883 ships