Royal Navy Sloops

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 to order. Order Code MP2540
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 to order. Order Code MP2542		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 Original republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here to order. Order Code MP2539
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 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 XMP2544 Original republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here to order. Order Code MP2544
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 £25. Order photograph here Order Code XMP2547 Original republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here to order. Order Code MP2547
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 £25. Order photograph here Order Code XMP2543 Original republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here to order. Order Code MP2543
HMS Isinglass	1918 - 1919		Sold 1920
HMS Sanfoin	1918 - 1919		Sold 1922
HMS Sanfoin. A reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x 7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker Archive. Order Code PHX697
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 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 XMP2545 Original republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here to order. Order Code MP2545
HMS Persimmon	1918 - 1919		Sold 1920
HMS Sir Visto	1918 - 1919		Sold 1920
HMS Merry Hampton