Pearl-class cruiser

Pearl-class cruiser
HMS Tauranga in Tasmania circa. 1902
Class overview
Name:	Pearl
Operators:	Royal Navy Royal Australian Navy Royal New Zealand Navy
Preceded by:	Eclipse-class cruiser
Succeeded by:	Arrogant-class cruiser
In commission:	1890 - 1947
Completed:	9
Active:	none
General characteristics
Type:	Third-class cruiser
Displacement:	2,575 tons
Length:	278 ft (84.7 m) oa 256 ft (78.0 m) pp
Beam:	41 ft (12.5 m)
Draught:	15 ft 6 in (4.72 m)
Installed power:	7,500 ihp on forced draught
Propulsion:	2 x 3-cylinder triple-expansion steam engines 4 x double-ended cylindrical boilers 2 screws
Speed:	19 knots
Complement:	217
Armament:	8 x QF 4.7 inch (120 mm) guns 8 x 3-pounder guns 4 x machine guns 2 x 14-inch (356 mm) torpedo tubes

The Pearl-class cruiser was a class of nine third-class cruisers designed by Sir William White, five of which were paid for by Australia under the terms of the Imperial Defence Act of 1887 to serve in Australian waters.

Design

Pearl-class ships displaced 2,575 tons and were capable of 19 knots (35.2 km/h).

Right elevation, deck plan and hull section as depicted in Brassey's Naval Annual 1897

Ships

Name	Launched	Fate
HMS Pallas	1890	Sold for scrap in 1906.
HMS Pandora	1889	Renamed HMS Katoomba. Sold for scrap in 1906.
HMS Pearl	1890	Sold for scrap in 1906.
HMS Pelorus	1889	Renamed HMS Mildura. Sold for scrap in 1906.
HMS Persian	1890	Renamed HMS Wallaroo and then HMS Wallington. Changed back to original in 1920 before being sold for scrap.
HMS Philomel	1890	Transferred to New Zealand Navy in 1914. Sold on 17 January 1947. Scuttled 6 August 1949.
HMS Phoebe	1890	Sold for scrap in 1906.
HMS Phoenix	1889	Renamed HMS Tauranga. Sold for scrap in 1906.
HMS Psyche	1889	Renamed HMS Ringarooma. Sold for scrap in 1906.

References

• Winfield, Rif; Lyon, David (2004). The Sail and Steam Navy List: All the Ships of the Royal Navy 1815–1889. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-032-6. OCLC 52620555. 
• Battleships-cruisers.co.uk: Pearl-class