HMS Mariner (1884)
HMS Mariner (1884) was a Mariner-class composite screw gunvessel of the Royal Navy. Launched in 1884, she was one of six ships in her class, designed for colonial service and tasks such as suppressing the slave trade.
Design and Construction: The Mariner class were designed as relatively small, lightly armed vessels suitable for operating in shallow waters and distant locations. The composite construction, utilizing iron frames planked with wood, allowed for copper sheathing to prevent fouling in tropical waters, important for maintaining speed and efficiency on long deployments. Mariner was built by Devonport Dockyard and launched on 29 March 1884.
Service History: Mariner served primarily on foreign stations, typical for her class. These deployments often involved patrolling coastlines, supporting British interests, and showing the flag in various colonial territories. Specific details of her deployments may vary depending on archival records, but ships of this type regularly served in regions such as Africa, the Pacific, and the Far East.
Fate: The ultimate fate of HMS Mariner requires further investigation to determine when she was decommissioned, sold, or scrapped. Records from the Royal Navy or maritime archives would be necessary to confirm the specific details of her disposal.
Characteristics (Typical of Mariner Class):
- Displacement: Approximately 730 tons.
- Length: Approximately 165 feet.
- Beam: Approximately 28 feet.
- Draught: Approximately 10 feet.
- Armament: Typically included several breech-loading guns and machine guns. Specific armament configurations could vary slightly.
- Propulsion: Steam engine with sails. The steam engine provided power for independent movement, while the sails offered a more economical means of propulsion for longer voyages.
- Complement: Approximately 85 officers and men.