Why the Chinese play cricket (an Imperial Federation timeline)

[Miss Construction]

The Mk III required a lot of lathe work. It was simplified in 1915, with a less complicated back sight and the omission of the cut off, Further developments in the interwar period further enhanced produceability, and the No.4 had beech rather than walnut furnishing. it's never going to match the Sten in cost terms, however.

Fun facts

• My father, RAF groundcrew, was issued with a No.5 in India. he said the recoil and noise were dreadful. The men were "encouraged" to render them u/s, and he received a Sten as a replacement. Much better "for blowing Shitehawks of the cookhouse roof", and also for taking on black market runs, "just in case".
• Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: the Indian Army unit featured at the end is using the No.4. ludicrous - everyone knows they had Mk III*s. how anyone can take Spielberg seriously is beyond me.

Price I have for an SMLE is three pounds fifteen shillings in 1915. Not sure if that's a Mk III or Mk III* though. I've assumed a straight Mk III. Mind you the Lee-Enfield was an expensive rifle I believe.

 

[Miss Construction]

~Jan-April 1896: Visions of the future

January 1896: After a sixteen day siege, the Italian garrison of Mekele in Eritrea surrenders to the Abyssinians. They are allowed to leave the fort with the full honours of war. With this reverse Italian commander General Oreste Baratieri realises he is outnumbers. Aware the Abyssinians can not keep a large in the field for long, he begins establishing a defensive position to await Menelik's army's dissipation. Unfortunately the Italian government is unwilling to simply wait and order Baratieri to advance and attack the Abyssinians.

January 1896: The British central African territories of Barotseland, Bembeland, Manicaland, Mashonaland and Matabeleland have been governed by the British South African Company since its creation in 1888. The company renames its territory Rhodesia for its director Cecil Rhodes. This territory is divided into two regions, Southern Rhodesia consisting of Manicaland, Mashonaland and Matabeleland and Northern Rhodesia of Barotseland and Bembeland.

January 1896: A drought in the Bundeklhad district of the United Provinces in India is declared to be a famine under the Famine Relief (India) Act of 1879, bring the act's first major test. By this stage what is thought to be a substantial fund of £3,500,000 {£4,097,222} has been built up for relief and it is hoped significant deaths can be avoided.

February 1896: In 1890, the Canadian province of Manitoba made English the only official language in the province and withdrew funding for religious schools, effectively halting public support for the French language. While this cause caused a great deal of anger in the French Canadian community throughout Canada, there was little the central government could do as eduction was devolved to the provinces. However in 1894, the Privy Council ruled the central government could intervene. Premier Charles Tupper prepared a bill to override the Manitoba provincial government and restore funding to denominational schools. However the bill causes immense controversy in Tupper's Conservatives, spiting the Party. Sensing an opportunity to overturn thirty years of Conservative dominance in government, Wilfrid Laurier's Liberals filibuster the bill, blocking its passage, hoping for an election before the bill is passed. However Tupper, aware of the positive impact the Ottawa Imperial Conference in July will have on public opinion resolves to delay any elections until after the Conference.

February 1896: With the massacres of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire continuing at ever increasing levels and public outrage in Europe now at fever pitch, Sultan Abdul Hamid II engages with Theodor Herzl and the Zionist Organisation to assist in countering the flow of information from Armenia, along with reducing the Ottoman public debt. Herzl agrees, hoping to sway the Sultan to support Jewish migration to Palestine. While Herzl attempts to keep Zionist involvement secret, it outrages several other leading Zionists who vehemently oppose cooperating with the Ottomans.

February 1896: in 1895 the ruling NRS government of Nikola Pašić of Serbiawas replaced by Jovan Avakumović's Liberalna stranka or Liberal Party. The policies pursued by Avakumović's have alienated popular opinion leading to widespread public unrest. Capitalising on this unrest. King Alexander stages a coup, replacing the liberal 1889 Constitution with the conservative 1869 document. His new regime invites former King Milan to return as Commander in Chief of the army and returns to the former pro Austria-Hungarian policies of former King Milan. Milan will soon become de facto ruler of Serbia and institute a number of reforms greatly improving the Serbian Army's efficiency.

February 1896: In keeping with the Liberal Party's policy of continuing devolution, the Regional Assemblies Bill is introduced. This bill would rename the current Regional Administration Boards as Regional Assemblies, recognising their intended function and establishing the originally intended English and Welsh Offices, though the Irish National Party has insisted the Ulster Assembly should remain under the Irish Office. The bill extends their powers to cover the Registrar-General, sports and recreation, land valuation, public houses and sale of liquor, along with forestry. The bill would also finally give the assemblies the power to set the sales taxes and reserve a portion of the national tax take for their use. As expected, the bill meets fierce opposition from the Conservatives, but passes the Commons easily.

March 1896: General Baratieri finally engages Abyssinian Emperor Menelik II in battle at Adwa. Baratieri's force of some 17,000 troops is simply overwhelmed by the 75,000-120,000 soldiers. Around 5,000 Italian troops are killed in the battle, with another 1,500 wounded and 3,000 captured. While the Italian prisoners are treated well given the circumstances, their indigenous troops are brutal punished with most dying. The crushing defeat results in mass shock in Italy, with rioting and the fall of the government of Francesco Crispi. Menelik does not attempt to force the Italians from Eritrea, being content with the recognition of Abyssinian independence in the Treaty of Addis Ababa.

March 1896: French intelligence officer Major Georges Picquart, comes across an intercepted German secret message similar to the Schwartzkoppen note which lead to the conviction of Alfred Dreyfus. Believing there is another spy, Picquart begins a secret personal investigation to avoid the possibility of another scandal. The note is addressed to one Major Charles Esterhazy. Picquart discovers Esterhazy has been frequently reprimanded for ill-discipline, has heavy gambling debts and has already been suspected of espionage. Upon informing his superiors he is told to continue his investigation in secret to avoid another scandal.

March 1896: The failed Jameson Raid has essential deprived the Southern Rhodesia of its defensive forces. Taking advantage of this situation the Matabele people launch a revolt. Local forces are quickly raised by Frederic Selous and Frederick Burnham to defend the settlers but order will not be restored until reinforcements arrive from the Cape Colony under General Frederic Carrington.

April 1896: The Waffenfabrik Mauser company introduces a radical new handgun, the Mauser C96, the world's first successful automatic pistol. A recoil operated recoil operated locked breach pistol firing a powerful high velocity 7.63x23mm round from a long 14cm barrel. It is loaded by a ten round stripper clip into a fixed magazine in front of the trigger. While the pistol will not see adoption as an official stand sidearm by any European army, it will be a huge commercial success, with large numbers of officers in many countries purchasing the weapon privately, along with being extremely popular with civilians. As the first of a new type of weapon, naturally the design is not without faults, being expensive, heavy, and somewhat unbalanced due to it forward magazine. However perhaps its biggest flaw is that it has to chamber a round after being loaded, but totally lacks a manual safety.

April 1896: After many attempts to revive them, the First Modern Summer Olympic Games are held in Athens. Organised by French aristocrat Pierre de Coubertin, the games are attended by 241 athletes from fourteen countries.

April 1896: In the wake of the disastrous Jameson Raid, though no direct evidence can be found of British South African Company involvement, Cecil Rhodes is nonetheless removed as Premier of the Cape Colony and direct company rule over Northern and Southern Rhodesia is ended in favour of direct rule by the Colonial Office. The company however retains its dominant commercial interests in the new colonies.

April 1896: With the ongoing depression in the US, Congress is only willing to authorise the construction of three battleships and four of the new destroyer type warships. The Montana class are the first US battleships to truly match European designs, while the destroyers, technically classified as torpedo boats are, like the British destroyers, designed by individual yards to a general set of specifications.

 

[Miss Construction]

Probably worth mentioning though a direct copy and paste from the OTL

====

November 1888: The French Navy commissions the submarine Gymnôte. Designed by engineer Gustav Zédé, the Gymnôte is armed with two fourteen inch torpedoes and powered by a 41kW electric motor, the Gymnôte will be the worlds first practical military submarine. An experimental vessel, the Gymnôte will be subject to constant modifications throughout her career before being decommissioned in 1907 and turned into a museum ships at Toulon.

November 1893: The French Navy complete the submarine Gustav Zédé, and enlarged version of the earlier Gymnôte. The submarine was laid down as the Sirène but renamed Gustav Zédé after his death in 1891. Armed with one fourteen inch fixed torpedo tube and two addition torpedoes in drop collars designed by Polish engineer Stefan Drzewiecki, supposedly able to fire at torpedo at an angle from the hull. These Drzewiecki drop collars will become a feature of French and Russian submarines. Again powered solely by an electric motor, the Gustav Zédé will undergo extensive trial before finally being commissioned in 1900.

=McUpdate=

 

[kelgar04]

April 1896: With the ongoing depression in the US, Congress is only willing to authorise the construction of three battleships and four of the new destroyer type warships. The Montana class are the first US battleships to truly match European designs, while the destroyers, technically classified as torpedo boats are, like the British destroyers, designed by individual yards to a general set of specifications.

That is going to be a headache for the engineering division.

 

[Miss Construction]

That is going to be a headache for the engineering division.

Lmao, apparently it was. Both the British and US eventually abandoned this policy.

 

[mudhead]

their was little the central government could do as eduction was devoted to the provinces

"there" and "devolved".

February 1896: With the massacres of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire continuing at ever increasing levels and public outrage in Europe now at fever pitch, Sultan Abdul Hamid II engages with Theodor Herzl and the Zionist Organisation to assist in countering the flow of information from Armenia, along with reducing the Ottoman public debt. Herzl agrees, hoping to sway the Sultan to support Jewish migration to Palestine. While Herzl attempts to keep Zionist involvement secret, it outrages several other leading Zionists who vehemently oppose cooperating with the Ottomans.

In other words: you can go on killing people, but if you help our group, we'll help you suppress news of it.

While the Italian prisoners are treated well given the circumstances, their indigenous troops are brutal punished with most dying.

Same as OTL, I believe. "Brutally" is something of an understatement.

 

[Miss Construction]

"there" and "devolved".

Thank you

In other words: you can go on killing people, but if you help our group, we'll help you suppress news of it.

Herzl was well aware exactly how morally bankrupt this was and tried to keep Zionist involvement secret. However other Zionists had a better ethical compass and were quite scathing in their criticism. But definitely a low point in Zionism.

Same as OTL, I believe. "Brutally" is something of an understatement.

Yep, stomach turning in fact

 

[Miss Construction]

~May-Aug 1896: Truth and consequences

May 1896: Public pressure over the Armenian Massacres force Chamberlain to act. He pressures the British banks to cut off loans to the Ottoman government. While the measure does impact the Ottomans, the massacres continue unabated as German and French financiers step in to partially replace the lost funds.

May 1896: Campbell-Bannerman, in his new position as Home Secretary sees the Pensions Act passed into law. The act establishes a national fund to provide pensions for those over the age of 60. This will be funded by a combination of worker and employer contributions along with additional funds from taxation. As with the 1892 Health Insurance Act, these pensions will be administered by the five Regional Administration Boards within a national minimum framework. The nature of these two acts, established nationally but administered locally, will go a long way toward increasing support for the Liberals policy of devolution will prevent the national government, quieting fears it will prevent the central government acting nationally.

May 1896: Despite his defeat in the Battle of Omdurman, the Khalifa still retained a considerable army under his command, and retreated to the west of Sudan. With his army's morale severely deteriorating after the crushing defeat, the Khalifa determines to halt his retreat and make a stand at Umm Diwaykarat. General Gatacre's Dominion Brigade, supported by 5,000 Sudanese troops have been pursuing the defeated Mahdist force. With some 15,000 troops at his command, the Khalifa launches an attack, attempting to destroy Gatacre's force, but are driven off by withering Maxim gun fire. Recognising all is lost the Khalifa makes a final stand, being killed along with his personal guard.

June 1896: The Russians exploit Chinese weakness in the wake of the Sino-Japanese War to force the Qing to sign the Li-Lobanov Treaty. During a visit by Li Hongzhang to Moscow Russian finance minister Sergei Witte offers to provide loans to help pay the large indemnity imposed as a result of of their defeat. In return the Russians would be granted extensive concessions in northeastern China, including the right along with granting the right to construct and garrison a Trans-Manchurian railway linking the Trans-Siberian railway at Chita to Harbin and then Vladivostok. These concessions amount to the virtual ceding of the region to Russia. With no options available, Li agrees. However the result will be a major increase in hostility toward westerners in China.

June 1896: The the formation of the New Army underway the Guangxu Emperor turn his attention to the dire state of the Chinese navy. Every modern warship in the navy was either sunk or captured during the Sino-Japanese War. In addition, the only naval base capable of repairing large vessels has been lost. Though there are two modern battleships now nearing completion in British yards, the Emperor recognises they would impossible to maintain. He therefore offers to sell the ships to the British, intending to use the funds to order more suitable ships and upgrade the Fuzhou naval base to replace the one lost at Lüshunkou. The British are initially reluctant but agree to prevent another power obtaining them. The Emperor's decision creates a great deal of opposition in the Qing court, but he is rapidly learning to work within the intricate politics of the court and prevent himself being overruled. To replace the two battleships he orders two small cruisers and four destroyers from British yards, along with beginning improvements to the Fuzhou Navy Yard as well as constructing a new naval yard at Nantong. Unfortunately he is unable to muster enough support to succeed in his attempt to abolish the four essentially separate navies in favour of a single fleet deployed as required.

July 1896: The Fourth Congress of the Second International in London is dominated by the split with the anarchist movement. Several prominent members of the Black International, including Lucy Parsons, Sam Mainwaring, and Peter Kropotkin attend attempting to get the ban on anarchist overturned and end the conflict between the two movements. Their efforts are in vain, with the Congress refusing to rescind the ban. As usual other resolutions are passed opposing militarism, colonialism, and monarchism. The Congress also passes a resolution by the Hay Heghap'vokhakan Dashnakts'ut'yun or Armenian Revolutionary Federation, condemning the role of the 'Jewish media and financiers' in supporting the Ottomans with the ongoing Armenian massacres.

July 1896: Security issues are the first matter raised at the Ottawa Imperial Conference, will all the Dominions concerned the Venezuela Crisis could signal a return to the Blaine years, especially as it is considered highly likely the Republicans will take the Presidency in November. There are also many concerns regarding the quality of the army and navy's equipment after the Cordite Issue which brought down the Campbell-Bannerman Ministry. Field Marshall Wolseley and First Sea Lord Tryon both reassure the Conference the army and navy's equipment and training are world class pointing to the successful Sudan Campaign. They also highlight the great improvements since the Goschen Report and reforms after the Toronto Imperial Conference. In this discussion. For his part Chamberlain is confident the Blaine Administration was an exception and any future US government will not pursue his path. The Pacific Dominions raise the Sino-Japanese War, believing the Qing Empire will inevitably collapse and that it might be better to foster improved relations with Japan. Chamberlain confirms his intending to pursue a policy of improving relations with Japan as a counter to the Russians, but he firmly believe it is wise to maintain the current modest support for the Chinese. He does not believe a Qing collapse is in any way imminent and even if were to occur, the policy of closer relations will put the Empire in a favourable position to prevent other powers exploiting such a collapse to the Empire's detriment.

July 1896: With security concerns dealt with attention turns to Imperial integration and economic issues. Colonial Secretary Lord Lansdowne presents the report of the Imperial Security Council into a common tariff regime and an 'All Red' shipping policy. The report recommends when tariff changes are required the Imperial Security Council should produce a preliminary report. This report would then go for to the various governments for comment and alteration, and when finalised, uniformly implemented across the Empire. In fact the Imperial Security Council has already produced such a preliminary report for consideration. While there are still concerns regarding the loss of autonomy, the Conference agrees to the scheme for a trial period, being reviewed at the next Imperial Conference. It is even suggested this would be a suitable method for determining all non-urgent matters of common concern and this will eventually be accepted becoming the Ottawa Doctrine. Regarding the 'All Red Route' the Council suggest a radical option. The establishment of a common registry and navigation policies for the Dominions and Home Nations. There is some disquiet at this suggestion, and it is decided the Dominion governments should return home and review the proposal with their full cabinets At this juncture, Lord Salisbury makes another radical suggestion. The Dominions should have a permanent representative in the London Cabinet, a Secretary of State for the Dominions who would a voice and even vote on matters of Imperial Concern. While Chamberlain and the other ministers present are taken aback, the Dominions are enthusiastic. Eventually the proposal is accepted, with a review to be made as to who should fill the post. While the next regular Conference is scheduled for Port Elizabeth, Natal in 1898, it is decided as all the Dominion government Premiers will be in London fro Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee next year, an additional Conference will be held then with the Port Elizabeth Conference delayed to 1899. It is also decided in light of the increasingly close alliance with the Chileans, they should be invited to send a delegation of observers to the Conference.

August 1896: in an effort to avoid a repeat of the Cordite Vote which brought down Campbell-Bannerman's government, the Chemical Industry (Support) Act is passed. It is intended to encourage the growth of the British chemical industry and ensure it is a the forefront of science in the field. The act provides generous subsidies for research and education along with loans to establish or expand chemical production facilities.

August 1896: Inspired by the ongoing Cuban Rebellion, Filipino revolutionaries led by Andrés Bonifacio launch a revolt against Spanish rule. The revolt will spread rapidly forcing additional troops to be dispatched to the Philippines from Spain.

 

[Stark]

So far looking good the empire. I hope 'All Red Route' succeeds.

 

[UrbanNight]

Secretary of State for the Dominions

I imagine there will eventually be various Ministers or Under-Secretaries of State from/for each of the dominions within this new Dominions Office.

 

[Miss Construction]

I imagine there will eventually be various Ministers or Under-Secretaries of State from/for each of the dominions within this new Dominions Office.

The political integration of the Empire is still at a very early stage, with only the barest bones in place. On the other had, economic integration is much further advance with the early stage of full common market already. It's actually economics which are push towards the Imperial Federation, the move to a single Imperial economy. Political structures will follow later. Plus there's a few odd slow left hand spin balls coming up, the first of which just ever so slightly peaked its head up at the 1896 Ottawa Imperial Conference.

 

[Miss Construction]

And for anyone who is interested and has a LOT of time on their hands, I just copied the entire 73 year third iteration timeline into a single 105,433 word file. For comparison, the 31 years from1870 to 1900 in this iteration has required 79,635 words. While I am still using the the third iteration as a guide for this fourth iteration, it is already departing from the that path quite noticeably. Particularly I notice if the Transpacific War between the Commonwealth and Pacific Alliance does happen (the odds of it seem to be falling in this iteration), I suspect it will happen later, but still in the 1940s.

Okay had to break it up into three to upload. And hope I haven't broken any forum rules by adding something so large. The first covers 1870 to 1919 (50 years), the second 1920 to 1939 (20 years) and the third 1940 to 1942 (3 years) which is when things ground to a halt.

 

[Miss Construction]

Something I'd missed which is quite significant to several things

October 1888: Seeking to limit British control over the Suez Canal, the French are able to gain sufficient support from the other Great Powers to pressure Britain into a conference in Constantinople over control of the canal. The resulting Suez Convention neutralises the canal, establishes an international commission to take actual control of the waterway, and guarantees access to all nations in peace and war. However the British only reluctantly accept the convention with the major reservation that it will not prevent them taking any action they feel necessary to defend or maintain public order in Egypt. This last reservation effectively prevents the convention having any legal effect.

=McUpdate=

 

[Miss Construction]

Royal Navy from 1870 to 1904: Battleships and Monitors

Battleships

Devastation class
9,300 tons, 4 x 12” MLR turret, 12" Iron belt, 4" Iron deck, 14 knots SE FT Coal, low freeboard
- Devastation, ordered 1868, laid down 11/1896, commissioned 4/1873, rebuilt 1890
- Thunderer, ordered 1870, laid down 6/1869, commissioned 5/1877, rebuilt 1890

Devastation (modernized) class
9,300 tons, 4 x 10” BL turret, 3 (6) x 3”, 12" Iron belt, 4" Iron deck, 14 knots TE FT Coal, low freeboard
- Devastation, begun 1890, recommissioned 7/1892, preserved 1905
- Thunderer, begun 1890, recommissioned 9/1892, disposed 1904

Prince Rupert class
5,400 tons, 4 x 10” MLR turret, 1 (2) x 6.3” MLR, Ram, 10" Iron belt, 3" Iron deck, 10 knots SE FT Coal, low freeboard
- Prince Rupert, ordered 1869, laid down 6/1870, commissioned 7/1874, rebuilt 1891

Prince Rupert (modernised) class
5,800 tons, 4 x 9.2” BL turret, 1 (2) x 6” BL 2 (4) x 14” TT, Ram, 10" Iron belt, 3" Iron deck, 14 knots TE FT Coal, low freeboard
- Prince Rupert, begun 1891, recommissioned 2/1893, disposed 1904

Dreadnought class
10,900 tons, 4 x 12.5” MLR turret, 14" Iron belt, 3" Iron deck, 14 knots CE FT Coal, low freeboard
- Dreadnought, ordered 1869, laid down 9/1870, commissioned 1879, disposed 1898

Neptune class
9,100 tons, 4 x 12” MLR turret, 1 (2) x 9”MLR, 12" Iron belt, 3" Iron deck, 14 knots SE FT Coal
- Neptune (ex Brazilian Independencia), ordered 1872, laid down 9/1873, completed 9/1878, purchased 12/1878 commissioned 9/1881, disposed 1896

Inflexible class
11,900 tons, 4 x 16” MLR turret, 1 (2) x 14”TT, 24" Iron belt, 3" Iron deck, 15 knots CE FT Coal
- Inflexible, ordered 1873, laid down 2/1874, commissioned 10/1881, disposed 1899

Agamemnon class
8,500 tons, 4 x 12.5” MLR turret, 2 x 6” BL, 1 (2) x 14” TT uw, 18" Iron belt, 3" Iron deck, 13 knots CE FT Coal
- Agamemnon, ordered 1875, laid down 5/1876, commissioned 10/1883, disposed 1898
- Ajax, ordered 1875, laid down 3/1879, commissioned 3/1883, disposed 1897

Colossus class
9,400 tons, 4 x 12” BL turret, 3 (5) x 6” BL, 1 (2) x 14” TT uw, 18" Compound belt, 3" Compound deck, 16.5 knots CE FT Coal
- Colossus, ordered 1878, laid down 4/1879, commissioned 10/1886, disposed 1906
- Edinburgh, ordered 1878, laid down 3/1879, commissioned 71887, expended Battle of the Kentish Coast 3/1905

Conqueror class
6,200 tons, 4 x 12” BL turret, 2 (4) x 6” BL, 3 (6) x 14” TT uw, Ram, 12" Compound belt, 2.5" Compound deck, 14 knots CE FT Coal, low freeboard
- Conqueror, ordered 1878, laid down 4/1879, commissioned 3/1886, disposed 1904
- Hero, ordered 1878, laid down 4/1884, commissioned 5/1888, expended Battle of the Kentish Coast 3/1905

Collingwood class (Admiral group I)
9,500 tons, 4 x 12” BL barbette, 3 (6) x 6" BL, 2 (4) x 14” TT uw, 18" Compound belt, 3" Compound deck, 17 knots CE FT Coal
- Collingwood, ordered 1879, laid down 7/1880, commissioned 7/1887, expended Battle of the Kentish Coast 3/1905

Anson class (Admiral group II)
10,600 tons, 4 x 13.5” BL barbette, 3 (6) x 6" BL, 2 (5) x 14” TT uw 1 fwd, 18" Compound belt, 3" Compound deck, 17 knots CE FT Coal
- Anson, ordered 1881, laid down 4/1883, commissioned 5/1889, disposed 1908
- Camperdown, ordered 1881, laid down 12/1882, commissioned 7/1889, disposed 1908
- Howe, ordered 1881, laid down 6/1882, commissioned 7/1889, disposed 1908
- Rodney, ordered 1881, laid down 2/1882, commissioned 6/1888, disposed 1908

Benbow class (Admiral group III)
10,600 tons, 2 x 16.25” BL barbette, 5 (10) x 6" BL, 2 (5) x 14” TT uw 1 fwd, 18" Compound belt, 3" Compound deck, 17 knots CE FT Coal
- Benbow, ordered 1881, laid down 11/1882, commissioned 6/1887, disposed 1906

Victoria class
10,500 tons, 2 x 16.25” BL turret, 1 x 10" BL turret, 6 (12) x 6" BL, 1 (4) x 14” TT uw 1 fwd 1 stn, 18" Compound belt, 3" Compound deck, 17 knots TE FT Coal, low freeboard
- Victoria, ordered 1884, laid down 4/1885, commissioned 3/1890, disposed 1906
- Sans Pareil, ordered 1884, laid down 4/1885, commissioned 7/1891, disposed 1906

Trafalgar class
12,600 tons, 4 x 13.5” BL turret, 3 (6) x 4.7", 1 (4) x 14” TT uw 1 fwd,1 stn,, 20" Compound belt, 3" Compound deck, 15 knots TE FT Coal, low freeboard
- Trafalgar, ordered 1885, laid down 1/1886, commissioned 3/1890, disposed 1907
- Nile, ordered 1885, laid down 7/1886, commissioned 7/1890, expended Battle of the Kentish Coast 3/1905

Broke class
13,300 tons, 4 x 13.5” BL barbette, 4 (8) x 4.7", 1 (4) x 14” TT uw 1 fwd 1 stn, 20" Compound belt, 3" Compound deck, 16 knots TE FT Coal
- Broke, ordered 1886, laid down 2/1887, commissioned 8/1891
- Hayes, ordered 1886, laid down 5/1887, commissioned 2/1891

Royal Sovereign class
14,200 tons, 4 x 13.5” BL barbette, 5 (10) x 6", 3 (7) x 18” TT uw 1 fwd, 18" Compound belt, 3" Compound deck, 16 knots TE FT Coal
- Royal Sovereign, ordered 1889, laid down 9/1889, commissioned 5/1892
- Ramilles, ordered 1889, laid down 8/1890, commissioned 11/1893
- Redoubtable, ordered 1889, laid down 1/1890, commissioned 8/1893
- Repulse, ordered 1889, laid down 1/1890, commissioned 4/1894
- Resolution, ordered 1889, laid down 6/1890, commissioned 11/1893
- Revenge, ordered 1889, laid down 2/1891, commissioned 3/1893
- Royal Oak, ordered 1889, laid down 5/1890, commissioned 6/1894
- Renown, ordered 1889, laid down 5/1890, commissioned 5/1893

Centurion class
10,500 tons, 4 x 10” BL, 5 (10) x 4.7", 2 (5) x 18” TT uw 1 fwd, 12" Harvey belt, 2.5" Harvey deck, 16 knots TE FT Coal, shallow draft
- Centurion, ordered 1889, laid down 3/1890, commissioned 2/1894
- Barfleur, ordered 1889, laid down 10/1890, commissioned 6/1894

Hood class
12,400 tons, 4 x 10” BL, 5 (10) x 6", 6 (12) x 3”, 2 (5) x 18” TT 1 fwd, 8" Harvey belt, 3" Harvey deck, 16 knots TE FT Coal, shallow draft
- Hood, ordered 1891, laid down 2/1892, commissioned 1/1896

Majestic class
15,000 tons, 4 x 12", 6 (12) x 6”, 8 (16) x 3”, 2 (5) x 18” TT uw 1 fwd, 9" belt Harvey, 4" deck Harvey, 18 knots TE FT Coal
- Majestic, ordered 1892, laid down 2/1893, commissioned 12/1894
- Hannibal, ordered 1892, laid down 5/1893, commissioned 5/1897
- Illustrious, ordered 1892, laid down 3/1893, commissioned 5/1897
- Jupiter, ordered 1892, laid down 4/1893, commissioned 5/1896
- Caesar, ordered 1893, laid down 3/1894, commissioned 1/1897
- Magnificent, ordered 1893, laid down 12/1893, commissioned 12/1895
- Mars, ordered 1893, laid down 6/1894, commissioned 6/1897
- Prince George, ordered 1893, laid down 9/1894, commissioned 11/1896
- Victorious, ordered 1894, laid down 1/1895, commissioned 3/1897
- Pompey, ordered 1894, laid down 2/1895, commissioned 1/1898
- Empress of India, ordered 1894, laid down 5/1895, commissioned 6/1897
- Poseidon, ordered 1894, laid down 3/1895, commissioned 12/1897

Swiftsure class
11,000 tons, 4 x 10", 5 (10) x 6", 3 (7) x 14” TT aw 1 fwd, 12" Harvey belt, 2.5" Harvey deck, 18.5 knots TE FT Coal, shallow draft
- Swiftsure (ex Chinese Hai Chen), ordered 1891, laid down 2/1892, purchased 6/1896 commissioned 7/1896
- Triumph (ex Chinese Hai Nan), ordered 1891, laid down 5/1892, Purchased 6/1896, commissioned 10/1896

Canopus class
13,200 tons, 4 x 12", 6 (12) x 6”, 5 (10) x 3”, 2 (4) x 18” TT uw, 6" belt, 2" deck, 18 knots TE WT Coal
- Canopus, ordered 1896, laid down 12/1896, commissioned 6/1901
- Albion, ordered 1896, laid down 1/1897, commissioned 12/1899
- Glory, ordered 1896, laid down 12/1896, commissioned 10/1900
- Goliath, ordered 1896, laid down 1/1887, commissioned 3/1900
- Ocean, ordered 1896, laid down 2/1897, commissioned 2/1900
- Vengeance, ordered 1897, laid down 1898, commissioned 5/1902

Formidable class
14,500 tons, 4 x 12", 6 (12) x 6”, 8 (16) x 3”, 2 (4) x 18” TT uw, 9" belt, 3" deck, 18 knots TE WT Coal
- Formidable, ordered 1897, laid down 3/1898, commissioned 8/1901
- Irresistible, ordered 1897, laid down 4/1898, commissioned 2/1902
- Implacable, ordered 1897, laid down 7/1898, commissioned 9/1901
- Bulwark, ordered 1898, laid down 3/1899, commissioned 3/1902
- London, ordered 1898, laid down 12/1898, commissioned 6/1902
- Venerable, ordered 1898, laid down 1/1899, commissioned 1902
- Queen, ordered 1898, laid down 3/1899, commissioned 3/1902
- Prince of Wales, ordered 1898, laid down 3/1899, commissioned 3/1902

Duncan class
13,300 tons, 4 x 12", 6 (12) x 6”, 5 (10) x 3”, 2 (4) x 18” TT uw, 7" belt, 2" deck, 19 knots TE WT Coal
- Duncan, ordered 1899, laid down 7/1900, commissioned 11/1903
- Albermarle, ordered 1899, laid down 1/1900, commissioned 11/1903
- Cornwallis, ordered 1899, laid down 7/1899, commissioned 2/1904
- Exmouth, ordered 1899, laid down 8/1899, commissioned 5/1903
- Montagu, ordered 1900, laid down 11/1900, commissioned 10/1904
- Russell, ordered 1900, laid down 3/1901, commissioned 2/1904

King Edward VII class
15,600 tons, 4 x 12", 2 (4) x 9.2”, 5 (10) x 6”, 7 (14) x 3”, 2 (4) x 18” TT uw, 9" belt, 2.5" deck, 18.5 knots TE WT Coal
- King Edward VII, ordered 1901, laid down 3/1902, commissioned 5/1905
- Africa, ordered 1901, laid down 1/1902, commissioned 11/1904
- Britannia, ordered 1901, laid down 2/1902, commissioned 9/1904
- Commonwealth, ordered 1901, laid down 6/1892, commissioned 3/1905
- Dominion, ordered 1901, laid down 5/1902, commissioned 7/1905
- Hindustan, ordered 1901, laid down 2/1902, commissioned 9/1905

New Zealand class
16,100 tons, 4 x 12", 5 (10) x 9.2”, 12 (24) x 3”, 2 (5) x 18” TT uw 1 fwd, 12" belt, 4" deck, 18 knots TE WT Coal
- New Zealand, ordered 1902, laid down 5/1903, commissioned 10/1905, renamed Zealandia 1911
- Hibernia, ordered 1902, laid down 5/1903, commissioned 6/1905
- Erin, ordered 1903, laid down 6/1904, commissioned 2/1906
- Egypt, ordered 1903, laid down 4/1904, commissioned 12/1905

Dreadnought class
18,000 tons, 8 (10) x 12”, 12 (24) x 3”, 11” belt, 3” deck, 21 knots Tu WT Coal
- Dreadnought, ordered 1904, laid down 10/1904, commissioned 12/1905

Monitors

Cyclops class
3,500 tons, 4 x 10” MLR turret, 8" Iron belt, 1.5" Iron deck, 11 knots SE, very low freeboard
- Cyclops, ordered 1870, laid down 9/1870, commissioned 5/1877, disposed 1896
- Gorgon, ordered 1870, laid down 9/1870, commissioned 3/1874, disposed 1896
- Hecate, ordered 1870, laid down 9/1870, commissioned 5/1877, disposed 1896
- Hydra, ordered 1870, laid down 9/1870, commissioned 5/1876, disposed 1896

 

[Miss Construction]

Sorry for the delete and repost, but I realised I'd left out the most important class lol.

 

[kelgar04]

Gearing is important if you want to run a ships shaft off a turbine so you can get some useavle horsepower of the turbine to the shaft rest can be used with a generator to make power.

Huh makes me wonder if Diesel will avoid assassination and actually make it to the UK now.... Diesel is one of the better marine fuels.

 

[Miss Construction]

Gearing is important if you want to run a ships shaft off a turbine so you can get some useavle horsepower of the turbine to the shaft rest can be used with a generator to make power.

Huh makes me wonder if Diesel will avoid assassination and actually make it to the UK now.... Diesel is one of the better marine fuels.

Not sure about the Diesel murder theory. His patents expired in 1908 so the "he refused to give the Germans exclusive rights" idea doesn't really stack up. Plus the Germans didn't start using marine diesels till 1912 and had to rely on Italian companies for the technology. Still is an intriguing theory and might use it lol.

 

[Miss Construction]

Royal Navy from 1870 to 1904: Armoured and 1st Class Protected Cruisers

Armoured Cruisers

Shannon class
5,700 tons, 1 (2) x 10” MLR, 4 (7) x 9” MLR, 9” Iron belt, 3” Iron deck, 12 knots SE FT Coal
- Shannon, ordered 1873, laid down 8/1873, commissioned 9/1877, disposed 1896

Nelson class
7,500 tons, 2 (4) x 10” MLR, 4 (8) x 9” MLR, 9” Iron belt, 3” Iron deck, 14 knots CE FT Coal
- Nelson, ordered 1874, laid down 10/1874, commissioned 7/1881, disposed 1897
- Northampton, ordered 1874, laid down 11/1874, commissioned 12/1878, disposed 1898

Imperiuse class
8,500 tons, 4 x 9.2” BL barbette, 5 (10) x 6” BL, 2 (6) x 14” TT uw 1 fwd 1 stn, 10” Iron belt, 4” Iron deck, 17 knots CE FT Coal
- Imperiuse, ordered 1880, laid down 8/1881, commissioned 9/1886, disposed 1896
- Warspite, ordered 1880, laid down 10/1881, commissioned 6/1888, disposed 1896

Orlando class
5,600 tons, 2 x 9.2” BL, 5 (10) x 6” BL, 2 (6) x 14” TT uw 1 fwd 1 stn, 10” Compound belt, 2” Compound deck, 18 knots CE FT Coal
- Orlando, ordered 1884, laid down 4/1885, commissioned 6/1888, disposed 1904
- Aeneas, ordered 1884, laid down 4/1885, commissioned 10/1888, expended Battle of the Kentish Coast 3/1905
- Galatea, ordered 1884, laid down 4/1885, commissioned 3/1889, disposed 1904
- Narcissus, ordered 1884, laid down 4/1885, commissioned 7/1889, disposed 1904
- Undaunted, ordered 1884, laid down 4/1885, commissioned 7/1889, expended Battle of the Kentish Coast 3/1905
- Aurora, ordered 1885, laid down 2/1886, commissioned 7/1889, disposed 1904
- Imortalité, ordered 1885, laid down 1/1886, commissioned 7/1889, disposed 1904

Cressy class
12,000 tons, 2 x 9.2”, 6 (12) x 6”, 3 (6) x 3”, 1 (2) x 18” TT aw, 6” belt, 3” deck, 21 knots TE WT Coal
- Cressy, ordered 1897, laid down 10/1898, commissioned 5/1901
- Aboukir, ordered 1897, laid down 11/1898, commissioned 4/1902
- Bacchante, ordered 1897, laid down 2/1899, commissioned 11/1902
- Euryalus, ordered 1897, laid down 7/1899, commissioned 1/1904
- Hogue, ordered 1897, laid down 7/1898, commissioned 11/1902
- Sutlej, ordered 1897, laid down 8/1898, commissioned 5/1902

Drake class
14,200 tons, 2 x 9.2”, 8 (16) x 6”, 7 (14) x 3”, 1 (2) x 18” TT aw, 6” belt, 2.5” deck, 23 knots TE WT Coal
- Drake, ordered 1898, laid down 4/1899, commissioned 1/1903
- Good Hope, ordered 1898, laid down 9/1899, commissioned 11/1902
- King Alfred, ordered 1898, laid down 8/1889, commissioned 12/1903
- Leviathan, ordered 1898, laid down 11/1889, commissioned 6/1903

Monmouth class
9,800 tons, 9 (14) x 6”, 5 (10) x 3”, 1 (2) x 18” TT aw, 4” belt, 2” deck, 23 knots TE WT Coal
- Monmouth, ordered 1898, laid down 8/1899, commissioned 12/1903
- Bedford, ordered 1898, laid down 4/1899, commissioned 12/1903
- Essex, ordered 1899, laid down 1/1900, commissioned 3/1904
- Kent, ordered 1899, laid down 2/1900, commissioned 10/1903
- Berwick, ordered 1900, laid down 4/1901, commissioned 11/1903
- Cornwall, ordered 1900, laid down 3/1901, commissioned 12/1904
- Cumberland, ordered 1900, laid down 2/1891, commissioned 12/1904
- Donegal, ordered 1900, laid down //1901, commissioned 11/1903
- Lancaster, ordered 1900, laid down 3/1901, commissioned 4/1904
- Suffolk, ordered 1900, laid down 3/1901, commissioned 5/1904

Devonshire class
10,900 tons, 4 x 7.5”, 3 (6) x 6”, 1 (2) x 3”, 1 (2) x 18” TT aw, 6” belt, 2” deck, 23 knots TE WT Coal
- Devonshire, ordered 1901, laid down 3/1902, commissioned 8/1905
- Antrim, ordered 1901, laid down 8/1902, commissioned 6/1905
- Argyll, ordered 1901, laid down 9/1902, commissioned 12/1905
- Carnarvon, ordered 1901, laid down 10/1902, commissioned 5/1905
- Hampshire, ordered 1901, laid down 9/1902, commissioned 7/1905
- Roxburgh, ordered 1901, laid down 6/1902, commissioned 9/1905

Duke of Edinburgh class
13,600 tons, 5 (6) x 9.2”, 2 (4) x 7.5”, 1 (3) x 18” TT uw 1 fwd, 6” belt, 1.5” deck, 23 knots TE WT Coal
- Duke of Edinburgh, ordered 1902, laid down 2/1903, commissioned 1/1906
- Black Prince, ordered 1902, laid down 6/1903, commissioned 3/1906

Warrior class
13,600 tons, 5 (6) x 9.2”, 5 (10) x 6”, 1 (3) x 18” TT uw 1 fwd, 6” belt, 1.5” deck, 23 knots TE WT Coal
- Warrior, ordered 1903, laid down 11/1903, commissioned 12/1906
- Achilles, ordered 1903, laid down 2/1904, commissioned 4/1907
- Cochrane, ordered 1903, laid down 3/1904, commissioned 2/1907
- Natal, ordered 1903, laid down 1/1904, commissioned 3/1907

Minotaur class
14,600 tons, 4 x 9.2”, 5 (10) x 7.5”, 8 (16) x 3”, 2 (4) x 18” TT dk, 6” belt, 2” deck, 23 knots TE WT Coal, torpedoes trainable mounted amidships on main deck
- Minotaur, ordered 1904, laid down 1/1905, commissioned 4/1908
- Defence, ordered 1904, laid down 2/1905, commissioned 2/1909
- Shannon, ordered 1904, laid down 1/1905, commissioned 3/1908

1st Class Protected Cruisers

Blake class
9,200 tons, 2 x 9.2” BL, 5 (10) x 6”, 2 (4) x 14” TT uw, 6” Compound slope, 3” Compound deck, 22 knots CE FT Coal
- Blake, ordered 1887, laid down 7/1888, commissioned 2/1892, sold to Xianfa China 5/1908 for £1 and preserved
- Blenheim, ordered 1887, laid down 10/1888, commissioned 5/1894, expended Battle of the Kentish Coast 3/1905

Edgar class
7,400 tons, 2 x 9.2” BL, 5 (10) x 6”, 2 (4) x 18” TT aw, 5” Harvey slope, 3” Harvey deck, 20 knots TE FT Coal
- Edgar, ordered 1889, laid down 12/1889, commissioned 9/1893
- Crescent, ordered 1889, laid down 10/1890, commissioned 2/1894
- Endymion, ordered 1889, laid down 11/1889, commissioned 5/1894
- Gibraltar, ordered 1889, laid down 12/1889, commissioned 11/1894
- Grafton, ordered 1889, laid down 1/1890, commissioned 10/1894
- Hawke, ordered 1889, laid down 2/1890, commissioned 1/1894
- Royal Arthur, ordered 1889, laid down 1/1890, commissioned 3/1893
- St George, ordered 1889, laid down 4/1890, commissioned 10/1894
- Theseus, ordered 1889, laid down 7/1890, commissioned 1/1896
- Australia, ordered 1889, laid down 2/1890, commissioned 11/1893, refitted and to RAN 11/1905
- New Zealand, ordered 1889, laid down 2/1890, commissioned 3/1894, renamed Zealandia 1902, sold to New Zealand 12/1910 for £1 and preserved

Edgar class (refitted)
7,400 tons, 8 (14) x 7.5”, 5 (10) x 4”, 2 (4) x 18” TT aw, 5” Harvey slope, 3” Harvey deck, 20 knots TE WT Coal
- Australia (RAN), refitted 11/1905, recommissioned 8/1906, returned to RN as Prince Rupert 7/1913

Powerful class
14,200 tons, 2 x 9.2”, 6 (12) x 6”, 8 (16} x 3”, 2 (4) x 18” TT aw, 6” Harvey slope, 2” Harvey deck, 22 knots TE WT Coal
- Powerful, ordered 1893, laid down 2/1894, commissioned 6/1897
- Terrible, ordered 1893, laid down 3/1894, commissioned 8/1898

Diadem class
11,000 tons, 9 (16) x 6”, 7 (14) x 3”, 1 (3) x 18” TT uw 1 stn, 4” slope, 2.5” deck, 21 knots TE WT Coal
- Diadem, ordered 1895, laid down 1/1896, commissioned 7/1898
- Andromeda, ordered 1895, laid down 12/1895, commissioned 9/1899
- Europa, ordered 1895, laid down 1/1896, commissioned 11/1899
- Niobe, ordered 1895, laid down 12/1895, commissioned 12/1898
- Amphitrite, ordered 1896, laid down 12/1896, commissioned 9/1901
- Argonaut, ordered 1896, laid down 11/1896, commissioned 4/1900
- Ariadne, ordered 1896, laid down 10/1896, commissioned 6/1902
- Spartiate, ordered 1896, laid down 5/1897, commissioned 3/1903

 

[Miss Construction]

Royal Navy from 1870 to 1904: 2nd Class Protected, 3rd Class Protected and Scout Cruisers

2nd Class Protected Cruisers

Iris class
3,700 tons, 7 (13) x 5” BL, 0” slope, 0” deck, 17 knots SE FT Coal
- Iris, ordered 1875, commissioned 1879, disposed 1896
- Mercury, ordered 1875, commissioned 1879, disposed 1896

Leander class
4,300 tons, 5 (10) x 6” BL, 2 (4) x 14” TT, 3” Compound slope, 1.5” Compound deck, 16.5 knots SE FT Coal
- Leander, ordered 1880, commissioned 1885
- Amphion, ordered 1880, commissioned 1887
- Arethusa, ordered 1880, commissioned 1886
- Phaeton, ordered 1880, commissioned 1886

Mersey class
4,100 tons, 5 (10) x 6” BL, 2 (4) x 14” TT, 2” Compound slope, 1” Compound deck, 20 knots SE FT Coal
- Mersey, ordered 1883, commissioned 1887
- Severn, ordered 1883, commissioned 1888
- Thames, ordered 1883, commissioned 1888
- Forth, ordered 1883, commissioned 1889

Medea class
2,800 tons, 2 x 8” BL, 5 (10) x 6” BL, 1 (2) x 14” TT, 3” Compound slope, 2” Compound deck, 20 knots CE FT Coal
- Medea, ordered 1887, commissioned 1889
- Marathon, ordered 1887, commissioned 1889
- Magicienne, ordered 1887, commissioned 1889
- Medusa, ordered 1887, commissioned 1889
- Melpomeme, ordered 1887, commissioned 1889

Apollo class
3,400 tons, 2 x 6”, 3 (6) x 4.7”, 2 (4) x 14” TT, 2” Harvey slope, 1” Harvey deck, 20 knots TE FT Coal
- Apollo, ordered 1889, commissioned 1892
- Aeolus, ordered 1889, commissioned 1893
- Andromache, ordered 1889, commissioned 1892
- Brilliant, ordered 1889, commissioned 1893
- Indefatigable, ordered 1889, commissioned 1892
- Intrepid, ordered 1889, commissioned 1894
- Iphigenia, ordered 1889, commissioned 1892
- Latona, ordered 1889, commissioned 1893
- Melampus, ordered 1889, commissioned 1892
- Naiad, ordered 1889, commissioned 1893
- Pique, ordered 1889, commissioned 1892
- Rainbow, ordered 1889, commissioned 1892
- Retribution, ordered 1889, commissioned 1893
- Sappho, ordered 1889, commissioned 1892
- Sirius, ordered 1889, commissioned 1891
- Spartan, ordered 1889, commissioned 1892
- Sybille, ordered 1889, commissioned 1893
- Terpischore, ordered 1889, commissioned 1892
- Thetis, ordered 1889, commissioned 1892
- Tribune, ordered 1889, commissioned 1893
- Scylla, ordered 1889, commissioned 1893
- Theban, ordered 1889, commissioned 1894
- Undine, ordered 1889, commissioned 1892

Astraea class
4,400 tons, 2 x 6”, 4 (8) x 4.7”, 2 (4) x 18” TT, 2.5” Harvey slope, 1.5” Harvey deck, 19.5 knots TE FT Coal
- Astraea, ordered 1890, commissioned 1895
- Bonadventure, ordered 1890, commissioned 1894, to RCN 1897
- Cambrian, ordered 1890, commissioned 1894
- Charybis, ordered 1890, commissioned 1895
- Flora, ordered 1890, commissioned 1894
- Forte, ordered 1890, commissioned 1895
- Fox, ordered 1890, commissioned 1896
- Hermione, ordered 1890, commissioned 1896

Eclipse class
5,600 tons, 3 (5) x 6”, 3 (6) x 4.7”, 1 (3) x 18” TT 1 stn, 3” Harvey slope, 1.5” Harvey deck, 19.5 knots TE FT Coal
- Eclipse, ordered 1893, commissioned 1897
- Diana, ordered 1893, commissioned 1897
- Dido, ordered 1893, commissioned 1898
- Doris, ordered 1893, commissioned 1897
- Isis, ordered 1893, commissioned 1897
- Juno, ordered 1893, commissioned 1897
- Minerva, ordered 1893, commissioned 1897
- Talbot, ordered 1893, commissioned 1896
- Venus, ordered 1893, commissioned 1897

Arrogant class
5,800 tons, 2 (4) x 6”, 3 (6) x 4.7”, 2 (4) x 18” TT, 3” slope, 1.5” deck, 20 knots TE WT Coal
- Arrogant, ordered 1895, commissioned 1898
- Furious, ordered 1895, commissioned 1898
- Gladiator, ordered 1896, commissioned 1899
- Vindictive, ordered 1896, commissioned 1900

Highflyer class
5,700 tons, 6 (11) x 6”, 5 (9) x 3”, 1 (2) x 18” TT, 2” slope, 1.5” deck, 20 knots TE WT Coal
- Highflyer, ordered 1897, commissioned 1899
- Hermes, ordered 1897, commissioned 1899
- Hyacinth, ordered 1897, commissioned 1900
- Quebec (RCN), ordered 1898, commissioned 1902
- Manitoba (RCN), ordered 1900, commissioned 1902

Challenger class
5,900 tons, 6 (11) x 6”, 5 (9) x 3”, 1 (2) x 18” TT, 2” slope, 1.5” deck, 21 knots TE WT Coal
- Challenger, ordered 1900, commissioned 1903

Encounter class
5,900 tons, 6 (11) x 6”, 5 (9) x 3”, 1 (2) x 18” TT, 2” slope, 1.5” deck, 22 knots Tu WT Coal
- Encounter, ordered 1900, commissioned 1903

3rd Class Protected Cruisers

Surprise class
1,700 tons, 2 (4) x 5” BL, 0” slope, 3” compound deck, 17 knots SE FT Coal
- Surprise, ordered 1884, commissioned 1886
- Alacrity, ordered 1884, commissioned 1886

Scout class
1,600 tons, 2 (4) x 5” BL, 1 x 14” TT, 0” slope, 3” compound deck, 17 knots SE FT Coal
- Scout, ordered 1884, commissioned 1885
- Fearless 1884, commissioned 1887

Archer class
1,900 tons, 3 (6) x 6” BL, 3 x 14” TT, 0” slope, 3” compound deck, 16.5 knots SE FT Coal
- Archer, ordered 1885, commissioned 1888
- Brisk, ordered 1885, commissioned 1888
- Cossack, ordered 1885, commissioned 1888
- Mohawk, ordered 1885, commissioned 1890
- Porpoise, ordered 1885, commissioned 1888
- Raccoon, ordered 1885, commissioned 1888
- Serpent, ordered 1885, commissioned 1888
- Tartar, ordered 1885, commissioned 1891

Barracouta class
1,600 tons, 3 (6) x 4.7”, 1 (2) x 14” TT, 2” Compound slope, 1” Compound deck, 16.5 knots TE FT Coal
- Barracouta, ordered 1888, commissioned 1890
- Barrosa, ordered 1888, commissioned 1890
- Blanche, ordered 1888, commissioned 1890
- Blonde, ordered 1888, commissioned 1890

Barham class
1,800 tons, 3 (6) x 4.7”, 1 (2) x 14” TT, 2” Compound slope, 1” Compound deck, 19.5 knots TE FT Coal
- Barham, ordered 1888, commissioned 1890
- Bellona, ordered 1888, commissioned 1891

Pearl class
2,600 tons, 4 (8) x 4.7”, 1 (2) x 14” TT, 2” Compound slope, 1” Compound deck, 19 knots TE FT Coal
- Katoomba (ex Pandora), ordered 1888, commissioned 1891, to RAN 1902
- Mildura (ex Pelorus), ordered 1888, commissioned 1891
- Ringarooma (ex Psyche), ordered 1888, commissioned 1891
- Tauranga (ex Phoenix), ordered 1888, commissioned 1891
- Wallaroo (ex Persian), ordered 1888, commissioned 1891
- Pearl, ordered 1889, commissioned 1892
- Pallas, ordered 1889, commissioned 1892
- Phoebe, ordered 1889, commissioned 1892
- Philomel, ordered 1889, commissioned 1892
- Phoenix, ordered 1889, commissioned 1892
- Penguin, ordered 1889, commissioned 1892

Pelorus class
2,100 tons, 4 (8) x 4”, 2 x 18” TT, 2” slope, 1.5” deck, 20 knots TE WT Coal
- Pelorus, ordered 1895, commissioned 1897
- Pandora, ordered 1895, commissioned 1901
- Pegasus, ordered 1895, commissioned 1899
- Perseus, ordered 1895, commissioned 1901
- Pactolus, ordered 1895, commissioned 1898
- Pioneer, ordered 1895, commissioned 1900
- Pomone, ordered 1895, commissioned 1899
- Prometheus, ordered 1895, commissioned 1900
- Proserpine, ordered 1895, commissioned 1899
- Psyche, ordered 1895, commissioned 1900
- Pyramus, ordered 1895, commissioned 1900

Gem class
3,000 tons, 7 (12) x 4”, 2 x 18” TT, 2” slope, 1” deck, 22 knots TE WT Coal
- Amethyst, ordered 1902, commissioned 1904
- Topaz, ordered 1902, commissioned 1904
- Diamond, ordered 1903, commissioned 1905
- Sapphire, ordered 1903, commissioned 1905
- Hobart (RAN), ordered 1903, commissioned 1905
- Perth (RAN), ordered 1903, commissioned 1905

Scout Cruisers

Forward class
2,900 tons, 6 (10) x 3”, 2 x 18” TT, 2” belt, 1” deck, 25 knots TE WT Coal
- Forward, ordered 1903, commissioned 1905
- Foresight, ordered 1903, commissioned 1905

Pathfinder class
2,900 tons, 6 (10) x 3”, 2 x 18” TT, 2” belt, 1” deck, 25 knots TE WT Coal
- Pathfinder, ordered 1903, commissioned 1905
- Patrol, ordered 1903, commissioned 1905

Sentinel class
2,900 tons, 6 (10) x 3”, 2 x 18” TT, 0” belt, 1” deck, 25 knots TE WT Coal
- Sentinel, ordered 1903, commissioned 1905
- Skirmisher, ordered 1903, commissioned 1905

Adventure class
2,600 tons, 6 (10) x 3”, 2 x 18” TT, 2” slope, 1” deck, 25 knots TE WT Coal
- Adventure, ordered 1904, commissioned 1905
- Attentive, ordered 1904, commissioned 1905

Montreal class
2,800 tons, 5 (8) x 4”, 2 x 18” TT, 2” belt, 1” deck, 26 knots Tu WT Coal
- Montreal (RCN), ordered 1903, commissioned 1906
- Vancouver (RCN), ordered 1903, commissioned 1906

 

[Miss Construction]

~Sept-Dec 1896: An exercise of power

September 1896: Canadian Premier Charles Tupper's instincts prove correct. The boast in pro-Imperial sentiments feeling from the Ottawa Imperial Conference allows him to narrowly win the federal elections, taking 109 seats as opposed to 98 for Wilfrid Laurier's Liberals. Tupper will adopt strong policies moving Canada closer to the Empire.

September 1896: Aware the general mood of the country is in favour of further devolution, Lord Salisbury's Conservatives elect not to attempt to block the Regional Assemblies Bill in the Lords. Instead they focus on limiting its scope. They are once successful in removing the provisions for a separate English and Welsh Office, along with blocking giving the Assemblies power over taxation, thought they are unable to prevent a portion of the national tax take being dedicated to the Assemblies.

September 1896: Major Picquart, having obtained examples of Esterhazy's handwriting and compared it to the note used to convict Dreyfus discovers Esterhazy's handwriting is identical to that the Schwartzkoppen note and that Esterhazy is the spy, with Dreyfus being innocent. Though he brings the matter to his superior's attention they inform him the matter can not be reopened. Rumours of Dreyfus escape bring the matter back to public attention along with another round of anti-Jewish racism in the press and the French General Staff decided that, in light of Picquart's determination to pursue the matter he should be sent to an isolated posting out the way.

September 1896: In a further attempt to satisfy the demands of the Irish nationalists, an Irish Land Conference between moderate landlord, unionist and nationalist representatives is arranged. The conference will recommend far reaching reforms to encourage the sale of land to tenant farmers in Ireland.

October 1896: The rail line from Ankara to Konya is completed. However by now the funding has become a serious problem, with the Ottomans unable to further subsidise construction due to the British freeze on loans to the Ottomans. Regardless, the Sultan is determined to press ahead with further railways, beginning work on a line from Damascus to Mecca. The work on the Hijaz Railway progresses slowly as the Sultan insists the route is out of the range of British naval gunfire, preventing the use of the easier coastal route.

October 1896: Danish weapons engineers Vilhelm Madsen and Julius Rasmusse have been working on developing a self loading rifle for approximately a decade. Their initial Rekylgevær m/1888 or Recoil Rifle model 1888 was unsuccessful but showed enough promise to warrant further development. This led to the Rekylgevær m/1893 which was sufficiently developed to attract an order for 100 rifles for use in Danish fortifications. Further development results in the lighter and more reliable Rekylkarabin m/1896 or Recoil Carbine model 1896 for the Danish navy, who order 300 for use on warships, making it the world's first self loading service rifle. The Rekylkarabin m/1896 is a recoil operated falling block semi automatic rifle firing the standard Danish 8x58mmR round from a ten round detachable gravity fed magazine.

October 1896: The report of the Machine Gun Committee into the use of the Maxim gun in the Sudan Campaign is released. It finds the weapon proved to be highly effective, with its devastating fire a key contributing factor to the scale of the victory. While acknowledging the usefulness of Maxim guns organically attached to units in dealing with unexpected situations such as the Egyptian Revolt, it states the Maxim gun is best employed as specialist units allocated to units as required by operational considerations. Therefore, while it recommends the number directly attached to each battalion be increased to two, it states the bulk of machine guns should remain allocated to the Royal Artillery. However it is felt the current six gun battery organisation is too inflexible, suggesting instead four gun troops as the basic unit. Despite its positive finding the report includes two caveats Firstly the Committee finds the primary determinant of victory remains disciplined massed rifle fire by volley. Secondly the Committee stresses while the Maxim gun's effectiveness against 'native' opponents is clear, there is no evidence to suggest it would be equally as effective against disciplined regular European troops. As a result to the report, the existing ten Machine Gun Batteries will be reorganised into fifteen independent troops, though the increase of guns per battalion is estimated to cost £40,000 {£46,825} and thus rejected on economic grounds.

October 1896: The summer monsoon has brought only limited rain to India and the famine has spread to the entire United Provinces, Central Provinces and parts of Madras and Bombay, severely stretching the Famine Relief Commission's resources, with the funds available proving inadequate. In response Parliament votes an additional £3,500,000 {£4,097,222} for famine relief, in addition to Viceroy Lord Wallington ordering a halt to all food exports from the effected regions. These measures will improve relief efforts, but will still fail to fully deal with the scale of the famine.

November 1896: The Dominion Affairs Act is passed creating the position of Secretary of State for the Dominions in the British cabinet. Unlike other British Secretaries of State, the Dominion Secretary will only have the automatic right to be included in discussions of matters of Imperial concern, though the Prime Minister may include them in other matters at his discretion. The Dominion Secretary will head the Dominion Office, responsible for coordinating the Imperial government's relations with the Dominions. After consultation with the Dominions the initial appointee is Jan Hofmeyr, a well respect Afrikaner politician from the Cape Colony who has attended every Imperial Conference and a strong supporter of greater economic integration in the Empire. Hofmeyr is created Baron of Stellenbosch to enable to him to take the post.

November 1896: Following tradition, President Cleveland declines to run for a third term as President. The campaign is therefore between Republican William McKinley and Democrat William Bryan. The major campaign issue is the ongoing US depression and financial policy. McKinley advocates abandoning bimetalism in favour of the Gold standard, along with increased protectionism. Bryan on the other hand, is strong supporter of bimetalism regardless of its inflationary effects along with reduced tariff barriers to encourage international trade. The Republicans are expecting an easy victory after their landslide victory in the 1894 midterm elections, but Bryan is able to mobilise significance support in the largely rural Midwest, leading to a fierce campaign. Eventually however, McKinley's appeal to the urban working class gives him a clear victory.

November 1896: Since the appointment of Admiral George Tryon to the position of First Sea Lord, the Royal Navy has been engaged in a major program of expansion, with eighteen battleships and thirty four cruisers having been ordered. The cost of the program has drawn heavy criticism from many in the Liberal government. In an effort to reduce naval expenditure, Admiral Tryon begins ordering the wholesale disposal of many obsolete ships which have little or no value in modern naval warfare. While some vessels are re purposed as training ships or for other roles, the vast majority are simply scrapped. Unusually, HMS Warrior the first British ironclad, is saved from the scrapyard when a group of retired officers form a charitable trust to preserve her.

December 1896: With the final defeat of the Mahdists and death of the Khalifa at Umm Diwaykarat, the British coerce the new Egyptian Khedive Hussein Kamel to signing the Treaty of Cairo permanently ceding Sudan to Britain as a crown colony.

December 1896: While former Prime Minster Celso's austerity program has succeeded in stabilising the Brazilian economy, it has come at great social cost, falling predominantly on the lower and middle classes. Recognising the need to shift some of the burden onto the landowning elite, Prime Minister João Correia de Oliveira enacts the Lei da Reconciliação or Law of Reconciliation pardoning those involved in the attempted 1889 republican coup. The law is an attempt by Correia de Oliveira to shore up conservative support before introducing what he realises will be deep unpopular measures to improve the economy.

December 1896: With the formation of the first divisions of the Chinese New Army progressing well, and funds being available for further expansion, the Guangxu Emperor moves on to the next stage of his planned reforms. He orders the creation of a second group of four divisions identical to the first to be based at Guangzhou under his ally Yin Chang, to provide a core to base defence in the south around. Additional he plans the creation of proper army services, ordering the formation of medical, commissariat, and ordinance corps to support the field army. However he is politically outmanoeuvred, with the Dowager Empress overriding him, cancelling his proposed service corps in favour of further field divisions in the Gansu Province under the highly conservative Dong Fuxiang.