History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Orlando
BuilderPalmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company, Jarrow
Laid down23 April 1885
Launched3 August 1886
FateSold for breaking up 11 July 1905
General characteristics
Class and typeOrlando-class armoured cruiser
Displacement5,600 long tons (5,700 t)
Length300 ft (91 m) p/p
Beam56 ft (17 m)
Draught22.5 ft (6.9 m)
Installed power
  • 5,500 hp (4,100 kW)
  • 8,500 hp (6,300 kW) forced-draught
Propulsion
  • 3-cylinder triple-extension steam engines
  • two shafts
  • 4 double-ended boilers
Speed
  • 17 knots (31 km/h) natural draught
  • 18 knots (33 km/h) forced draught
Range10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h)
Complement484
Armament
Armour

HMS Orlando was the lead ship of the Orlando class of first-class cruisers built in the yards of Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company, Jarrow and launched on 3 August 1886.

Service history

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She was commanded by Charles Ramsay Arbuthnot on the Australia Station from 1892 to 1895. In 1899 she was assigned to the China Station,[1] Captain James Henry Thomas Burke in command. During the Boxer Rebellion in 1900, sailors from HMS Orlando formed part of the force led by Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Seymour attempting to relieve the British Legation in Beijing. A replica of a bell captured from the Taku Forts forms part of a memorial to HMS Orlando in Victoria Park, Portsmouth.

In late March 1902 she left Hong Kong for Singapore, arriving there on 6 April.[2] After three weeks, she left Penang in late April, homebound,[3] stopping at Colombo on 5 May,[4] Aden on 14 May,[5] Malta on 28 May,[6] and Gibraltar on 2 June, before arriving at Portsmouth four days later.[7] Captain Burke died at sea on 12 May 1902, during the journey, and was buried at Aden.[8] Commander Philip Howard Colomb was in charge for the remainder of the journey. She paid off at Portsmouth on 25 July, and was placed in the B Division of the Fleet Reserve.[9]

HMS Orlando was sold for scrapping on 11 July 1905 to Thos. W. Ward of Morecambe for £10,000.[1]

Memorial to HMS Orlando, Victoria Park, Portsmouth

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Bastock, pp.98–99.
  2. ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36737. London. 9 April 1902. p. 10.
  3. ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36755. London. 30 April 1902. p. 9.
  4. ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36761. London. 7 May 1902. p. 10.
  5. ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36769. London. 16 May 1902. p. 11.
  6. ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36779. London. 28 May 1902. p. 9.
  7. ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36788. London. 7 June 1902. p. 9.
  8. ^ "Obituary - Captain James Burke". The Times. No. 36770. London. 17 May 1902. p. 8.
  9. ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36830. London. 26 July 1902. p. 8.

References

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