Condor Class Composite Gunvessels.  Ship photos, crew photos and history of the Condor Class gunboats of the late 19th and early 20th century.  Class includes HMS Condor, HMS Falcon, HMS Flamingo and HMS Griffon, all launched 1876-77.

HMS Griffon

HMS Griffon - Name History

The fourteenth “GRIFFON” was a 3-gun screw gun vessel, launched at Birkenhead in 1876.  She was of 774 tons, 790 horse- power, and 11 knots speed.  Her length, beam, and draught were 158ft., 29ft., and 14ft.  In 1888 the “Griffon” commanded by Commander John E. Blaxland, was one of a squadron of one German and seven English ships under Rear-Admiral the Hon.  Edmund Fremantle with his flag in “Boadicea,” which took part in the blockade of the Zanzibar littoral.  This was undertaken in the interests of the suppression of slavery, and also in consequence of the revolt of several of the coast towns against German authority.  Apart from the capture of slave dhows, the blockade incidents were of an uninteresting nature. On October 17^th, 1888, the “Griffon’s” steam cutter, under Lieutenant Myles Cooper, chased and engaged a large dhow armed with one gun.  The dhow opened heavy fire; Lieutenant Cooper was mortally wounded and two seamen were injured.  Ship’s Corporal John Bray took charge and drove the dhow ashore, where the Arabs jumped overboard and fled, leaving her to be captured.   In 1891 the “Griffon” was sold.

Original republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size).  Price £5 Click here to order.  Order Code  MP3072