HMS Warspite (1884)
Template:Short description Template:Other ships Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English
Template:Infobox ship imageTemplate:Infobox ship careerTemplate:Infobox ship characteristicsHMS Warspite was an Template:Sclass first-class armoured cruiser, launched on 29 January 1884 and commissioned in 1886.
ConstructionEdit
Morris<ref>Morris, Douglas Cruisers of the Royal and Commonwealth Navies 0907771351 p. 30</ref> states that Warspite had her sailing rig removed while building. The illustration of her with masts therefore shows her on trials, or is conjectural.
Service historyEdit
Warspite was the flagship on the Pacific Station between 1890 and 1893, then a port guard ship at Queenstown until 1896. From 1896 until 1902 she again served as the flagship of the Pacific Station. Captain Thomas Philip Walker was appointed in command in March 1899, when Rear-Admiral Henry Palliser was Commander-in-Chief of the station. In June 1899 she became the flagship of Rear-Admiral Lewis Beaumont, who kept Captain Walker as flag captain. The ship visited Coquimbo in March 1900.<ref>Template:Cite newspaper The Times</ref> From late 1900 she was the flagship of Rear-Admiral Andrew Bickford, with Captain Colin Richard Keppel as flag captain in command of the ship.<ref>Template:Cite newspaper The Times</ref> In late March 1902, Rear-Admiral Bickford transferred his flag to the newly arrived Template:HMS, and was joined by Captain Keppel. Warspite returned home under the command of Captain John Locke Marx (who had arrived on Grafton),<ref>Template:Cite newspaper The Times</ref> stopping at Bahia and São Vicente, Cape Verde on the way. She arrived at Plymouth on 28 May 1902,<ref>Template:Cite newspaper The Times</ref> and paid off at Chatham on 1 July,<ref>Template:Cite newspaper The Times</ref> when she was placed in the D Division of the Dockyard reserve and prepared for emergency service.<ref>Template:Cite newspaper The Times</ref>
Template:Stack She was sold on 4 April 1904 to Thos. W. Ward of Preston. She arrived on the River Mersey on 3 October 1905 and then travelled on to Preston for breaking up.