Royal
Navy Sloops. History of the Royal Naval Sloops from the early
Fantome, Osprey and Doterel classes of the 19th Century to the Bittern
and Black Swan Classes of the Second World War.
Royal Navy Sloops came
back into existence soon after the outbreak of world war
one, when the Admiralty realised it required extra ships for general service
which could be used for mine sweeping, escort duties. The Sloops were used
exclusively for Mine sweeping until 1917 when they were re assigned for Convoy
duties as well.
|
|

The British Station in the Far West 1902
HMS Warspite shown on left, the flagship of the
station with HMS Icarus and Amphibian naval sloops and the ill-fated HMS
Condor. |
|
NAME |
LAUNCHED |
FATE |
|
Fantome Class Composite
Screw Sloops
|
| HMS Fantome |
26th March 1873 |
Sold in 1889. |
|

HMS Fantome (right) with Composite Corvette HMS Opal
HMS Fantome
The third “FANTOME” was a 4-gun screw sloop, launched at
Pembroke in 1873. She was of
940 tons, 970 horse-power, and 11 knots speed.
Her length, beam, and draught were 160ft., 31ft., and 14ft.
In 1875 the “Fantome” landed a force of men under the
command of Lieutenant Charles Napier Robinson
at La Union, San Salvador, Central Amercia to protect His Britannic
Majesty’s Consulate against insurgents.
And in the following year this same Lieutenant C.N. Robinson, who
subsequently made a great and lasting mark on the naval literature of his
time, landed and placed in position the guns, ect., for Captain Cook’s
monument at Kealakakua Bay, Hawaii.
In 1889 the “Fantome” was sold. |
| HMS Albatross |
24th July 1873 |
Scrapped in 1889. |
| HMS Daring |
4th February 1874 |
Sold in 1889. |
| HMS Egeria |
1st November 1873 |
Sold in 1911. |
|
HMS
Egeria - Name History |
|
The second “EGERIA” was a 4-gun screw sloop
launched at Pembroke in 1873. She
was of 940 tons, 1011 horse-power, and 11 knots speed.
Her length, beam, and draught were 160ft., 31ft., and 14ft. In
1875 the “Egeria,” commanded by Commander Ralph Lancelot Turton,
proceeded to Perak, as one of a squadron of six ships under Captain
Alexander Buller with his senior officer’s pennant in “Modeste,”
to take part in an expedition against the murderers of Mr. J. W. Birch,
the British resident in Perak. While
the troops and a naval brigade advanced on the upper reaches of the
Perak River simultaneously from two points, the “Egeria” blockaded
the Perak Littoral, and sent her boats up the Kurow River.
These boats destroyed or carried off some guns, arms, and
ammunition which might have
been useful to the enemy. Severe punishment was inflicted on the natives, but the
actual murderers were not brought to account for some time afterwards.
This vessel acted for many years in the Surveying Service, and in
November 1911 she was put up to public auction at Esquimalt, and sold to
the Vancouver branch of the Navy League for £1416. |
| HMS Flying Fish |
27th November 1873 |
Sold in 1888. |
| HMS Sappho |
20th October 1873 |
Sold in 1887. |
|
Osprey & Doterel Class
Composite
Screw Sloops
|
| HMS Osprey |
5th August 1876 |
Sold in 1890. |
| HMS Cormorant |
12th September 1877 |
Scrapped in 1949. |
|
HMS
Cormorant - Name History |
|
The
tenth “CORMORANT” is a 6-gun screw sloop, launched at Chatham in 1877.
She is of 1130 tons, 950 horse-power, and 11.3 knots speed.
Her length, beam, and draught were 170ft., 36ft., and 15ft.
In 1879 white men were being murdered in the New Hebrides, and a
boats crew belonging to the British trader “Mystery” had been
massacred. The “Cormorant,” commanded by Commander James Andrew
Bruce, was one of five ships, under Commodore John Crawford Wilson with
his broad pennant on “Wolverene,” which proceeded to the islands on a
punitive expedition and inflicted severe punishment on the natives.
The “Cormorant” subsequently became receiving ship at
Gibraltar. |
| HMS Pelican |
26th April 1877 |
Sold in 1901. |
| HMS Wild Swan |
28th January 1876 |
Sold in 1920. |
|
HMS
Clyde - Name History (Wild Swan) |
|
T
he sixth “CLYDE” is a 6-gun sloop which was
launched at Glagow as the “Wild Swan” in 1876.
She is of 1130 tons, 950 horse-power, and 11 knots speed.
Her length, beam, and draught were 170ft., 36ft., and 15ft. Her
name was subsequently to “Clyde,” and she became the Royal Naval
Reserve drill ship at Aberdeen. In
1912 her name was again changed, this time to “Columbine,” and she
became the depot vessel of the King’s Harbour Master at Rosyth, and then
the flagship of the Vice-Admiral commanding the Scottish Coast.
|
| HMS Penguin |
25th March 1876 |
Sold in 1924. |
| HMS Doterel |
2nd March 1880 |
Exploded & sank in Punta Arenas on 26th April 1881. |
HMS Doterel screw sloop
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHX137 |
| HMS Dragon |
30th May 1878 |
Sold in 1892 |
|

HMS Dragon.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHX487 |
|
HMS
Dragon - Name History |
|
The fifteenth “DRAGON” was a 6-gun screw sloop
launched at Devonport in 1878. She
was of 1140 tons, 1010 horse-power, and 11.5 knots speed.
Her length, beam, and draught were 170ft., 36ft., 15ft.
In 1882 the “Dragon,” commanded by Commander Edward Grey
Hulton, took part in the Egyptian War.
In August 1882 the “Dragon” contributed to a Naval Brigade
which was disembarked at Suez. The
inhabitants understood that the town was in danger of being burnt, but
the Naval Brigade, composed mostly of marines, occupied the town, and
the Egyptian troops fled.
In 1884 and 1885 the “Dragon” was employed in the suppression
of slavery in the Persian Gulf and east coast of Africa.
In 1892 the “Dragon” was sold. |
| HMS Espiegle |
3rd August 1880 |
Sold in 1921. |
| HMS Gannet |
31st August 1878 |
Was still afloat in 1978 present situation unknown. |
| HMS Kingfisher |
16th December 1879 |
Sold in 1919. |
| HMS Miranda |
30th September 1879 |
Sold in 1892 |
| HMS Mutine |
20th July 1880 |
Sold in 1921. |
| HMS Pegasus |
13th June 1878 |
Sold in 1892. |
| HMS Phoenix |
16th September 1879 |
Wrecked off Prince Edward Island on 12th September 1882. |
|
Dolphin Class Composite
Screw Sloops |
| HMS Dolphin |
9th December 1882 |
Became accommodation hulk for submarines in 1907. Sold in
1925. |
| HMS Wanderer |
8th February 1883 |
Sold in 1907. |
|
Mariner Class Composite
Screw Sloops |
| HMS Mariner |
23rd June 1884 |
Sold in 1929. |
| HMS Acorn |
6th September 1884 |
Sold in 1889. |
| HMS Icarus |
27th July 1885 |
Sold in 1903. |
| HMS Melita |
20th March 1888 |
Sold in 1920. |
| HMS Racer |
6th August 1884 |
Sold in 1928. |
| HMS Reindeer |
14th November 1883 |
Sold in 1924. |
|
Nymphe Class Composite Screw
Sloops |
| HMS Nymphe |
1st May 1888 |
Sold in 1920. |
HMS Nymphe screw sloop pictured pre
1896.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHX138 |
| HMS Buzzard |
10th May 1887 |
Sold in 1921. |
Commander Hon. Rupert Guinness, Officers and Men of HMS Buzzard,
c.1904.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHX681 |
Some of the crew of HMS Buzzard screw sloop
manning the 12-pr QF Gun.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHX139
|
| HMS Daphne |
29th May 1888 |
Sold in 1904. |
| HMS Swallow |
27th October 1885 |
Sold in 1904. |
|
Beagle Class Steel
Screw Sloops |
| HMS Beagle |
28th February 1889 |
Sold in 1905. |
| HMS Basilisk |
6th April 1889 |
Sold in 1920. |
|
Albert Class Steel
Screw Sloops |
| HMS Albert |
28th December 1894 |
Sold in 1926. |
| HMS Torch |
28th December 1894 |
Sold in 1920. |
HMS Torch, 1897.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHX509 |
|
Phoenix Class Steel Screw
Sloops |
| HMS Phoenix |
25th April 1895 |
Capsized off Hong Kong on 18th September 1906. |
|
The old sloop HMS Phoenix at anchor in the River Peiho
c.1900.
|
| HMS Algerine |
6th June 1895 |
Sold in 1919. |
|
Condor Class Steel Screw
Sloops
View
Class
|
| HMS Condor |
17th December 1898 |
Foundered in 1901. |
| HMS Mutine |
1st March 1900 |
Sold for scrapping in 1932. |
| HMS Rinaldo |
25th May 1900 |
Sold for scrapping in 1921. |
| HMS Rosario |
17th December 1898 |
Sold for scrapping in 1923. |
| HMS Shearwater |
10th February 1900 |
Sold for scrapping in 1922. |
| HMS Vestal |
10th February 1900 |
Sold for scrapping in 1921. |
|
Cadmus Class Steel Screw
Sloops
View
Class
|
| HMS Cadmus |
29th April 1903 |
Sold in 1921. |
| HMS Clio |
14th March 1903 |
Sold in 1920. |
| HMS Espiegle |
8th December 1900 |
Sold in 1923. |
| HMS Fantome |
23rd March 1901 |
Sold in 1925. |
| HMS Merlin |
30th November 1901 |
Sold in 1923. |
| HMS Odin |
30th November 1901 |
Sold in 1920. |
Acacia
Class
View Class
|
| HMS Acacia |
15th April 1915 |
Sold September 1922 |
| HMS Anemone |
30th June 1915 |
Sold September 1922 |
| HMS Aster |
1st May 1915 |
Mined 4th July 1917 |
| HMS Bluebell |
24th July 1915 |
Sold May 1930 |
| HMS Daffodil |
17th August 1915 |
Sold February 1935 |
| HMS Magnolia |
26th June 1915 |
Sold July 1932 |
| HMS Dahlia |
21st April 1915 |
Sold July 1932 |
| HMS Daphne |
19th May 1915 |
Sold January 1923 |
| HMS Foxglove |
30th March 1915 |
Scrapped September 1946 |
| HMS Hollyhock |
1st May 1915 |
Sold October 1930 |
| HMS Lily |
6th June 1915 |
Sold June 1930 |
| HMS Mallow |
13th July 1915 |
Transferred to Australia July 1919.
Sunk as target 1st August 1935 |
| HMS Honeysuckle |
29th April 1915 |
Sold September 1922 |
| HMS Iris |
1st June 1915 |
Sold January 1920 |
| HMS Jonquil |
12th May 1915 |
To Portugal May 1920 |
| HMS Laburnum |
10th June 1915 |
Lost at Singapore February 1942 |
| HMS Larkspur |
11th May 1915 |
Sold March 1922 |
| HMS Lavender |
12th June 1915 |
Torpedoed 4th May 1917 |
| HMS Lilac |
29th April 1915 |
Sold December 1922 |
| HMS Marigold |
27th May 1915 |
Sold January 1920 |
| HMS Mimosa |
16th July 1915 |
Sold November 1922 |
| HMS Primrose |
29th June 1915 |
Sold April 1923 |
| HMS Sunflower |
28th May 1915 |
Sold 27th January 1921 |
| HMS Veronica |
27th May 1915 |
Sold 22nd March 1935 |
| HMS Zinnia |
12th August 1915 |
Transferred to Belgium 19th April 1920,
retaining name. |
Arabis Class
View Class
|
| HMS Alyssum |
5th November 1915 |
Mined 18th March 1917 |
| HMS Amaryllis |
9th December 1915 |
Sold January 1923 |
| HMS Arabis |
6th November 1915 |
Sunk 10th February 1916 |
| HMS Asphodel |
21st December 1915 |
To Denmark 16th June 1920 |
| HMS Berberis |
3rd February 1916 |
Sold January 1923 |
| HMS Buttercup |
24th October 1915 |
Sold February 1920 |
| HMS Campanula |
25th December 1915 |
Sold September 1922 |
| HMS Celandine |
19th February 1916 |
Sold January 1923 |
| HMS Cornflower |
30th March 1916 |
Bombed 19th December 1941 |
| HMS Crocus |
24th December 1915 |
Sold July 1930 |
| HMS Cyclamen |
22nd February 1916 |
Sold July 1932 |
| HMS Delphinium |
23rd December 1915 |
Sold October 1933 |
| HMS Genista |
22nd February 1916 |
Torpedoed 23rd October 1916 |
| HMS Gentian |
23rd December 1915 |
Mined 16th July 1919 |
| HMS Geranium |
8th November 1915 |
Transferred to Australia 1920, Sunk as target
24th April 1935 |
| HMS Gladiolus |
25th October 1915 |
To Portugal September 1920 |
| HMS Godetia |
8th January 1916 |
Sold February 1937 |
| HMS Hydrangea |
2nd March 1916 |
Sold April 1920 |
| HMS Lobelia |
7th March 1916 |
Sold March 1920 |
| HMS Lupin |
21st May 1916 |
Sold March 1946 |
| HMS Marguerite |
23rd November 1915 |
Transferred to Australia 1919. Sunk as
target 1st August 1935 |
| HMS Mignonette |
26th January 1916 |
Mined 17th March 1917 |
| HMS Myosotis |
4th April 1916 |
Sold January 1923 |
| HMS Nasturtium |
21st December 1915 |
Mined 27th April 1916 |
| HMS Nigella |
10th December 1915 |
Sold November 1922 |
| HMS Pansy |
1st February 1916 |
Sold January 1920 |
| HMS Pentstemon |
15th February 1916 |
Sold April 1920 |
| HMS Petunia |
3rd April 1916 |
Sold December 1922 |
| HMS Poppy |
9th November 1915 |
Sold April 1923 |
| HMS Primula |
6th December 1915 |
Torpedoed 1st March 1916 |
| HMS Rosemary |
22nd November 1915 |
Sold December 1947 |
| HMS Snapdragon |
21st December 1915 |
Sold May 1934 |
| HMS Valerian |
21st February 1916 |
Foundered 22nd October 1926 |
| HMS Verbena |
9th November 1915 |
Sold October 1933 |
| HMS Wallflower |
8th November 1915 |
Sold August 1931 |
| HMS Wisteria |
7th December 1915 |
Sold January 1931 |
Aubrietia
Class
|
| HMS Aubretia |
17th June 1916 |
Sold October 1922 |
| HMS Heather |
16th June 1916 |
Sold February 1932 |
|

HMS Heather, 1924.
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
XMP2538
Original
republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here
to order. Order Code MP2538 |
| HMS Salvia |
16th June 1916 |
Torpedoed 20th June 1917 |
| HMS Tamarisk |
2nf June 1916 |
Sold October 1922 |
| HMS Tulip |
15th July 1916 |
Torpedoed 20th April 1917 |
| HMS Viola |
14th July 1916 |
Sold October 1922 |
| HMS Andromeda |
June 1917 |
To France 1917 (as Andromede) |
| HMS Gaillardia |
19th May 1917 |
Mined 22nd March 1918 |
| HMS Hibiscus |
17th November 1917 |
Sold January 1923 |
| HMS Lychnis |
21st August 1917 |
Transferred to Royal Indian Marine, renamed
Cornwallis. Broken up 1946. |
| HMS Montbretia |
3rd September 1917 |
Sold January 1923 |
| HMS Polyanthus |
24th September 1917 |
Sold May 1921 |
Anchusa Class
|
| HMS Anchusa |
21st April 1917 |
Torpedoed and sunk on 16th July 1918. |
| HMS Arbutus |
8th September 917 |
Torpedoed and sunk in 1917 |
| HMS Auricula |
4th October 1917 |
Sold in February 1923. |
| HMS Bergamot |
5th May 1917 |
Torpedoed and sunk on 13th August 1917. |
| HMS Bryony |
27th October 1917 |
Scrapped in 1938. |
|

HMS Bryony, October 1937.
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
XMP2540
Original
republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here
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|

Crew of HMS Bryony.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHX682 |
|

Ucker Team of HMS Bryony - Mediterranean Fleet
Champions, 1925-26.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHX683 |
|

Crew members of HMS Bryony.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHX684 |
| HMS Candytuft |
19th May 1917 |
Torpedoed and sunk on 18th November 1917. |
| HMS Ceanothus |
2nd June 1917 |
Transferred to Indian Marine in May 1922, renamed
Elphinstone. Wrecked on 29th January 1925. |
| HMS Chrysanthemum |
10th November 1917 |
Became drill ship with RNVR in 1938. May still be
moored off the London embankment. |
|

HMS Chrysanthemum.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Roy
Andrews, given to Walker Archive. Order Code PHX481 |
| HMS Convolvulus |
19th May 1917 |
Sold in 1922. |
| HMS Coreopsis |
15th September 1917 |
Sold in September 1922. |
| HMS Cowslip |
19th October 1917 |
Torpedoed and sunk on 25th April 1918. |
| HMS Dianthus |
1st December 1917 |
Sold in June 1921. |
| HMS Eglantine |
22nd June 1917 |
Sold in December 1921. |
| HMS Gardenia |
27th December 1917 |
Sold in January 1923. |
| HMS Gilia |
15th March 1918 |
Sold in January 1923. |
| HMS Harebell |
10th May 1918 |
Scrapped in 1939. |
|

HMS Harebell, 1935.
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
XMP2542
Original
republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here
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HMS Harebell, 1935.
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
XMP2541
Original
republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here
to order. Order Code MP2541 |
| HMS Ivy |
31st October 1917 |
Sold in February 1920. |
| HMS Marjoram |
26th December 1917 |
Wrecked in January 1921. |
| HMS Mistletoe |
17th November 1917 |
Sold in January 1921. |
| HMS Pelargonium |
18th March 1918 |
Sold in May 1921. |
| HMS Rhododendron |
15th October 1917 |
Torpedoed and sunk on 5th May 1918. |
| HMS Saxifrage |
29th January 1918 |
Became drill ship President with RNVR in 1921. Extant
1985. |
| HMS Silene |
13th March 1918 |
Sold in December 1921. |
| HMS Spiraea |
1st November 1917 |
Sold in September 1922. |
| HMS Sweetbriar |
5th October 1917 |
Sold in October 1927. |
| HMS Syringa |
29th September 1917 |
Transferred to Egypt on 31st March 1920, renamed Sollum. |
|

HMS Syringa, 1918.
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
XMP2539
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| HMS Tuberose |
16th November 1917 |
Sold in January 1923. |
| HMS Windflower |
12th April 1918 |
Sold in October 1927. |
24
Class
|
| HMS Ard Patrick |
1918 - 1919 |
Sold 1920 |
| HMS Cicero |
1918 - 1919 |
Scrapped December 1920 |
| HMS Flying Fox |
1918 - 1919 |
Berthed at Bristol 1924 as Drill ship. |
| HMS Minoru |
1918 - 1919 |
Sold 1920 |
| HMS Orby |
1918 - 1919 |
Sold 1922 |
| HMS Rocksand |
1918 - 1919 |
Sold 1922 |
| HMS Spearmint |
1918 - 1919 |
Sold 1922 |
| HMS Bend Or |
1918 - 1919 |
Sold 1920 |
| HMS Harvester |
1918 - 1919 |
Sold 1922 |
| HMS Iroquois |
1918 - 1919 |
Sold June 1937 |
|

HMS Iroquois, 1920.
A
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holder. A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price
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| HMS Sefton |
1918 - 1919 |
Sold 1922 |
| HMS Silvio |
1918 - 1919 |
Scrapped 1946 |
|

HMS Silvio, 1919.
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
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| HMS Sir Bevis |
1918 - 1919 |
Became Drill ship 1923 |
| HMS Donovan |
1918 - 1919 |
Sold 1922 |
|

HMS Donovan, laid up, 1920.
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
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Original
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| HMS Isinglass |
1918 - 1919 |
Sold 1920 |
| HMS Sanfoin |
1918 - 1919 |
Sold 1922 |
|

HMS Sanfoin.
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7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
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| HMS Sir Hugo |
1918 - 1919 |
Broken up December 1921 |
| HMS Ladas |
1918 - 1919 |
Sold 1920 |
|

HMS Ladas, 1919.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHX667
A
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Original
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| HMS Persimmon |
1918 - 1919 |
Sold 1920 |
| HMS Sir Visto |
1918 - 1919 |
Sold 1920 |
| HMS Merry Hampton |
|