HMS Europa (1897)

HMS Europa
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Europa
Builder:	J&G Thompson, Clydebank
Launched:	20 March 1897
Fate:	Sold 15 September 1920
General characteristics
Class & type:	Diadem-class protected cruiser
Displacement:	11,000 tons
Length:	435 ft (133 m) (462 ft 6 in (140.97 m) o/a)
Beam:	69 ft (21 m)
Draught:	25 ft 6 in (7.77 m)
Propulsion:	2 shaft triple expansion engines 16.500 - 18,000 hp
Speed:	20–20.5 kn (37.0–38.0 km/h; 23.0–23.6 mph)
Complement:	760
Armament:	16 × single QF 6-inch (152 mm) guns 14 × single QF 12-pounder (76 mm) guns 3 × single QF 3-pounder (47 mm) guns 2 × 18-inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes
Armour:	6 inch casemates 4.5-2 inch decks

HMS Europa was a ship of the Diadem-class protected cruisers in the Royal Navy. She was built by J&G Thompson of Clydebank and launched on 20 March 1897.

In the early years of her career, she served with the Channel Squadron. Under the command of Captain Archibald James Pocklington, she left Portsmouth 19 January 1900 with a new crew for HMS Ramillies, which had recently become flagship of the second in command, Mediterranean station.^[1] Leaving Malta again on 30 January, she transported the paid-off crew of Ramillies to Portsmouth, where she arrived the following month.^[2] She was then ordered to take out ratings for the Australia Station.^[3]

She underwent a general refit in 1902, including repairs to boilers.^[4]

At some point a few years later she was put in to reserve at Devonport whereby she was later recommissioned in November 1907 for the Home Fleet and paid off February 1910 but joined 3rd Fleet from November 1911 to outbreak of war.

On the outbreak of the First World War she was assigned to the 9th Cruiser Squadron operating in the Atlantic and was stationed off Cape Finisterre as flagship until June 1915. In 1915 she was operating off Moudros, participating in the Dardanelles Campaign, for which she received a battle honour.

Europa was the flagship at Mudros July 1915-1919 and paid off at Malta in March 1920. Purchased by G F Bletto on 15 September 1920 for conversion to an emigrant carrier, the vessel sank in a gale off Corsica in January 1921. The wreck was later raised and broken up in Genoa.

Notes

1. "Naval & Military intelligence" The Times (London). Saturday, 20 January 1900. (36044), p. 12.
2. "Naval & Military intelligence" The Times (London). Tuesday, 30 January 1900. (36052), p. 11.
3. "Naval & Military intelligence" The Times (London). Monday, 22 January 1900. (36045), p. 6.
4. "Naval & Military intelligence" The Times (London). Wednesday, 14 May 1902. (36767), p. 12.

References

• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8. OCLC 67375475.
• Diadem class at worldwar1.co.uk