Comus Class steel corvettes.  Photographs and history of the steel corvettes of the Comus Class, launched 1878 - 1881, including HMS Comus, HMS Carysfort, HMS Champion, HMS Cleopatra, HMS Conquest, HMS Curacoa, HMS Constance, HMS Canada and HMS Cordelia.

HMS Champion - Name History

The fifth ?CHAMPION? is a 14-gun screw corvette, launched at Glasgow in 1878.  She is of 2380 tons, 2300 horse-power, and 13 knots speed.  Her length, beam, and draught were 225ft., 44ft., and 19ft. In August 1891 the ?Champion,? commanded by Captain Frederick St. Clair, co-operated with some American, French, and German vessels in landing men at Valparaiso in order to protect the consulates during a Chilian revolution.  The officers of the international parties placed themselves in front of the muzzles of some machine guns with which the president-elect had intended to decimate the civilian populace. After some years service in the training squadron the ?Champion? became a strokers? training-ship at Chatham.  

HMS Champion, 1878.

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  XMP3032

Original republished ? MPL Photograph (Postcard Size).  Price ?5 Click here to order.  Order Code  MP3032

HMS Cleopatra

HMS Cleopatra on Duty as Senior Officer's Ship off Newfoundland

Here we have an incident of service in the Newfoundland division of the North America Station during the winter months. The ship is the cruiser Cleopatra, at the time a senior officer's ship, looking after the fisheries off Newfoundland, as the swallow-tailed pennant at the fore topmast indicates. At the time, 1896, the Cleopatra was at church, as shown by the pennant below the ensign in the mizzen rigging. The Cleopatra when off Newfoundland was the ship of Captain the Hon. A Curzon-Howe who became flag captain in the flying squadron.

HMS Curacoa, 1878.

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  XMP3033

Original republished ? MPL Photograph (Postcard Size).  Price ?5 Click here to order.  Order Code  MP3033

HMS Curacoa, 1891.

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  XMP3034

Original republished ? MPL Photograph (Postcard Size).  Price ?5 Click here to order.  Order Code  MP3034

HMS Constance, 1880.

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  XMP3035

Original republished ? MPL Photograph (Postcard Size).  Price ?5 Click here to order.  Order Code  MP3035