HMS Challenger (1902)

HMS Challenger was a second-class protected cruiser of the Challenger-class of the Royal Navy.

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

History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Challenger
Builder: HM Dockyard Chatham
Laid down: 1 December 1900
Launched: 27 May 1902
Christened: Mrs. Eva Holland
Completed: 1904
Fate: Broken up for scrap in 1920
General characteristics
Class and type: Challenger-class protected cruiser
Displacement: 5,900 tons
Length: 355 ft (108.2 m)
Beam: 56 ft (17.1 m)
Draught: 21 ft 8 in (6.60 m)
Propulsion: 12,500 horsepower
Speed: 21 knots (39 km/h)
Armament:

Construction

Challenger was designed by Sir William Henry White, Director of Naval Construction, and was built at the Chatham Dockyard, where she was laid down on 1 December 1900.[1] She was launched there on 27 May 1902, when she was named by Eva Holland, wife of Rear-Admiral S. C. Holland, Admiral-Superintendent of Chatham Dockyard.[2]

Her machinery was made by the Wallsend Slipway & Engineering Company, and there were 12 boilers of the Babcock & Wilcox type.[1]

Service history
Challenger being docked in 1905

Challenger was commissioned on 30 May 1904, and commenced duty on the Australia Station.[3] She was paid off into reserve on 10 October 1912 before recommissioning during the First World War. She initially served as part of the Ninth Cruiser Squadron off West Africa before serving in East African waters. She was sold in 1920 and was broken up for scrap.

Notes
  1. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times (36778). London. 27 May 1902. p. 10.
  2. "Naval & Military intelligence - Float-out of the Challenger". The Times (36779). London. 28 May 1902. p. 9.
  3. Bastock, p.128-130.

References
  • Bastock, John (1988), Ships on the Australia Station, Child & Associates Publishing Pty Ltd; Frenchs Forest, Australia. ISBN 0-86777-348-0

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