Royal naval second class cruiser of the Astraea Class. HMS Astraea, HMS Bonaventure, HMS Cambrian, HMS Charybdis, HMS Flora, HMS Forte, HMS Fox and HMS Hermione. These second class cruisers were built in the early 1890's at Devonport, Pembroke, Sheerness and Chatham dockyards.

HMS Bonaventure was built at Devonport Dockyard and launched 2nd December 1892 and completed 5th July 1894  served  in the Pacific Squadron, returning in |May 1906 to Devonport to be paid off.  Went to Haulbowline Dockyard, Cork, Ireland to be converted into a depot ship for submarines. this work was completed in April 1907. and serve din World war One as a submarine depot ship,. after the war was finally scrapped in 1920

HMS Astrea was built at Devonport Dockyard and launched 17th March 1893 and completed 5th November  Served in the China Station in 1906 and went to Colombo in September 1908 and 1901. returning the the Uk in 1911. re commissioned in the 3rd Fleet at the Nore in June 1912. re commissioned for cape of Good Hope  and West Africa station in April 1913. Bombed Dar-es-Salaam on the 8th August 1914 and blockaded the German Cruiser Konigsburg in the Rufiji Delta. served returning to the UK after the war to be paid off in July 1919 scrapped in Germany 1920

HMS Cambrian. was built at Pembroke Dockyard and launched 30th January 1893. served in the Australian station  just after the turn of the century and re commissioned at Colombo in October 1907. again in September 1909 and in 1911 on the 19th September, becoming flagship in 1913. At the beginning of 1914 she was to be paid of back in the UK, but with the outbreak of war she was  reinstated and went to refit to become a training ship at Devonport for Stokers in March 1916. renamed HMS Harlech. finally scrapped in 1923

Displacement: 4,360 tons.    I.H.P: 7,500    Length: 320 feet.    Beam: 49 ft 6 ins.   Depth: 19 ft.    Speed: 18 - 19.5 knots.     Complement: 318.   Armament: Two 6 in quick firing guns, eight 4.7 in quick firing guns, ten 6 pdr quick firers, one 3pdr quick firer and four 18 in torpedo tubes.

HMS Flora in Dry Dock c.1901.  Esquimalt, British Columbia.  

The ninth “FLORA” was a 36-gun frigate, launched at Plymouth in 1844.  She was of 1634 tons, and carried a crew of 360 men.  Her length, beam and draught were 160ft., 49ft., and 17ft.  In 1879, while acting as a guardship at Simons Bay, the “Flora” contributed two officers, but no men, to join the Naval Brigade which took part in the Zulu War and first Boer War.  Surgeon Mahon greatly distinguished himself by his courage and devotion to the wounded in the disaster at Majuba Hill.  From 1874 to 1889 this vessel acted as a receiving ship, and in 1890-1891 she acted as a storeship, being sold in 1889.

The tenth “FLORA” was a small coastguard cruiser of 40 tons, which had been launched in 1863, and taken over by the Navy in 1869 on the abolition of the Coastguard Department.  In 1885 she was sold.

The eleventh “FLORA” was a 60-ton coastguard cruiser, launched as the “King George” in 1863.  This vessel also taken over from the Coastguard Department in 1869, and renamed “Flora” in 1885.  In 1885 she was renamed “Flora,” and on November 12^th, 1901, she was wrecked and lost at Kingstown, the wreck being sold in the following month.

Displacement: 4,360 tons.    I.H.P: 7,500    Length: 320 feet.    Beam: 49 ft 6 ins.   Depth: 19 ft.    Speed: 18 - 19.5 knots.     Complement: 318.   Armament: Two 6 in quick firing guns, eight 4.7 in quick firing guns, ten 6 pdr quick firers, one 3pdr quick firer and four 18 in torpedo tubes.

HMS Forte.

Crew member of HMS Forte c.1908.

Under the Hot Suns of Africa

Captain Sparkes CMG, and the Officers of the Cruiser Forte.

Officers of HMS Forte pictured c.1912. 

Captain Randolf F Foote with officers of the second class cruiser HMS Forte. Captain Foote is shown seated in the centre. Photograph taken in 1897.

8" x 5" photo from naval magazine 1897 available price £15. plus post order ref: V3/154B  order magazine photograph here

HMS Fox pictured pre 1896.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here.  Order Code  XMP1020

Original republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size).  Price £5 Click here to order.  Order Code  MP1020

HMS Fox, 1896.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here.  Order Code  XMP1022

HMS Fox, 1896.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here.  Order Code  XMP1019

HMS Fox, 1896.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here.  Order Code  XMP1021

Possibly one of the Astrea Class Ships near Sydney.

A reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x 7" approx available.  Order photograph here  © Walker Archive. Order Code  PHX314

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HMS ASTRAEA