HMS ''Pyramus'' was a
protected cruiser
Protected cruisers, a type of cruiser of the late 19th century, took their name from the armored deck, which protected vital machine-spaces from fragments released by explosive shells. Protected cruisers notably lacked a belt of armour alon ...
of the
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
. There were eleven "Third class" protected cruisers in the class, which was designed by
Sir William White. While well armed for their size, they were primarily workhorses for the overseas fleet on "police" duties and did not serve with the main battlefleet.
They displaced 2,135 tons, had a crew complement of 224 men and were armed with eight
QF 4 inch (102 mm, 25 pounder) guns, eight
3-pounder guns, three machine guns, and two 18 inch (457 mm)
torpedo tube
A torpedo tube is a cylindrical device for launching torpedoes.
There are two main types of torpedo tube: underwater tubes fitted to submarines and some surface ships, and deck-mounted units (also referred to as torpedo launchers) installed aboa ...
s. With reciprocating
triple expansion engines and a variety of boilers, the top speed was .
HMS ''Pyramus'' was laid down at
Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company
Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as "Palmers", was a United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, British shipbuilder, shipbuilding company. The company was based in Jarrow, County Durham, in north-eastern ...
,
Jarrow
Jarrow ( or ) is a town in South Tyneside in the county of Tyne and Wear, England. Historically in County Durham, it is on the south bank of the River Tyne, about from the east coast. The 2011 census area classed Hebburn and the Boldons as ...
in May 1896, and launched on 15 May 1897.
She served in various colonial posts, including in the
Mediterranean Fleet
The British Mediterranean Fleet, also known as the Mediterranean Station, was a formation of the Royal Navy. The Fleet was one of the most prestigious commands in the navy for the majority of its history, defending the vital sea link between ...
in 1901–02. Commander
Alfred Ernest Albert Grant was appointed in command on 2 August 1901. In October
1902
Events
January
* January 1
** The Nurses Registration Act 1901 comes into effect in New Zealand, making it the first country in the world to require state registration of nurses. On January 10, Ellen Dougherty becomes the world's ...
she was reported to be visiting
Suda Bay
Souda Bay () is a bay and natural harbour near the town of Souda on the northwest coast of the Greek island of Crete. The bay is about 15 km long and only two to four km wide, and a deep natural harbour. It is formed between the Akrot ...
at
Crete
Crete ( ; , Modern Greek, Modern: , Ancient Greek, Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the List of islands by area, 88th largest island in the world and the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, fifth la ...
.
In 1914 she formed part of the escort for the
New Zealand Force which
occupied German Samoa (now
Samoa
Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa and known until 1997 as Western Samoa, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania, in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu), two smaller, inhabited ...
). In July 1915 she was present at the
Rufiji river delta action when the
monitors and destroyed the German cruiser . She was sold for scrap on 21 April 1920.
Notes
References
''World War I Naval Combat'' webpage''Miramar Ship Index listing''* Imperial War Museum Book of the War at Sea 1914–1918.
* Gardiner, Robert, ed. ''Conways All the Worlds Fighting Ships 1860-1905''. New York: Mayflower Books Inc., 1979. .
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pyramus (1897)
Pelorus-class cruisers of the Royal Navy
Ships built on the River Tyne
1897 ships
World War I cruisers of the United Kingdom