HMS
Gladiator 2nd Class Cruiser
HMS Gladiator
was built at Portsmouth Dock Yard and laid down
in January 1896, launched 18th December 1896 and completed in April
1899. HMS Gladiator was built as part of the 1895 Naval programme
and were intended to be used with the fleet and to use "ramming
tactics during action. Their ram was heavier and more pronounced than
other second rate cruisers. The arrogant Class were the first second
rate cruisers to be fitted with water tube boilers, with six
Belleville boilers mounted in each of the three Boiler rooms. In
1903 to 1904 the class were re armed with ten 6 -inch Guns.
She joined the Home Fleet on completion.
On the afternoon of the
25th, April 1908 , when the second class cruiser HMS Gladiator was off
Yarmouth, isle of White, she came into collision, during a blinding
snowstorm, wit the liner St Paul outward bound for New York. the bow of
the liner struck the starboard side of HMS Gladiator nearly amidships, and
just aloft the first funnel. the liner went astern and the cruiser immediately
began to fill, taking a heavy list to starboard, but there was fortunately,
just time to beach her near Black Rock buoy, about 400 yards from the
shore, under Fort Victoria. this accident resulted in the loss of one
officer and 127 men. HMS
Gladiator was raised later that year and towed to Portsmouth, where she
was berthed in dry dock. Examination of the ship showed that she was unfit
for further service and she would be sold for scarp. she was sold
for around £5,000 for scrap. (The Original cost of building was £287,604
plus it cost further £60,000 in raising and re-floating her
back to Portsmouth.)
Displacement: 5750 tons, Speed: 19 Knots.
Compliment 480 Armament: Four 6 inch Guns, Six 4.7-inch QF
guns , Eight 12 pdr and Three 3 pdr QF, 5 machine Guns. Three
18-inch Torpedo Tubes
