BACCHANTE hms 1879

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aukepalmhof
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BACCHANTE hms 1879

Post by aukepalmhof » Thu May 21, 2009 9:46 pm

Built as an iron screw corvette on the Portsmouth Dockyard for the Royal Navy.
1872 Ordered.
15 March 1873 laid down.
19 October 1876 launched under the name HMS BACCHANTE, this was originally a prize-name as the French BACCHANTE was captured by HMS ENDYMION on the 25th June 1803, she was taken in by the Royal Navy as HMS BACCHANTE. The name originates from the Roman Mythology: a Bacchante (translated literally as ‘frenzied woman’) was a priestess or female votary of Bacchus, the Roman god of the wine.
Displacement 4.070 ton. BM 2.690 ton. Dim. 280.0 x 45.6 x 23.9ft., draught 23.4ft.
Powered by 3-cyl horizontal compound expansion engine, manufactured by J & G Rennie, 5.416 ihp., single (hoisting) screw, speed 15.5 knots. Bunker capacity 550/570 ton.
Range by 10 knots 4.000 miles.
Armament, middle deck 14 – 7 inch, upper deck 2 – 7 MRL inch chase guns, 1882 two torpedo carriages added.
Ship rigged, total area of canvas 38.300 sq. ft. Her best logged speed under sail was 11.5 knots.
1882/85 changed to 12 – 6inch and 4 – 5 inch guns, 8 MG
Crew 375 later increased to 420.
July 1879 completed.

The class of three was designed by Nathaniel Barney, and the last ships of the Royal Navy built of iron, with teak planking.
BACCHANTE was zinc-sheated.
Her first year she served as an independent command.
Then with four other Royal Navy vessels under command of Admiral Earl of Clarwilliam on board the HMS INCONSTANT, they formed the Detached Squadron for a world wide cruise covering 40.000 miles, sailed from Portland on 04 October 1879.
On board the BACCHANTE at that time under command of Lord Charles Scott, were t Princes Albert and George, sons of Prince Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII).
Via the West Indies, South America, South Africa, Australia, the Fiji Islands, Japan, Ceylon, Egypt, Palestine and Greece she returned home in 1882.
When in Australian waters, her rudder was seriously damaged and she became broached-to during a very severe storm.
She was parted from the squadron in that storm, and it was feared she was lost until her eventual arrival at an Australian port.
After her return home was refitted.
1885 Relieved HMS EURYALUS as flagship of Rear Admiral Sir Frederick Richards of the East Indies Station.
When the Third Burmese War broke out, she was at Zanzibar and sailed for Rangoon, where she arrived on 07 October 1885.
Crew of the ship formed part of a naval brigade under Commodore Charles Barlow, 20 November the brigade moved to the front.

After she was relieved by HMS BOADICEA she sailed for home.
July 1897 sold to Cohen at Blackwall for scrap, and the same year scrapped.

From a portion of her wooden hull a model was made, and presented to H.R.H. the Duke of York later King George V, as a souvenir of the time he served on the BACCHANTE.

Trinidad & Tobago 1980 $1.50 sg558, scott?

Source: Royal Naval Ships Badges Vol. 2. Ships on the Australian Station by John Bastock. The Sail & Steam Navy List by Lyon and Winfield. Watercraft Philately CD-Rom Ships on Stamps.
Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1860-1905.
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