HMS Active (1869) facts for kids
HMS Active
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name | HMS Active |
| Builder | Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company, Blackwall, London |
| Cost | £126,156 |
| Laid down | 1867 |
| Launched | 13 March 1869 |
| Commissioned | March 1871 |
| Decommissioned | 1898 |
| Fate | Sold for scrap, 10 July 1906 |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Class and type | Volage-class iron screw corvette |
| Tonnage | 2,322 bm |
| Displacement | 3,078 long tons (3,127 t) |
| Length | 270 ft (82.3 m) (p/p) |
| Beam | 42 ft 1 in (12.8 m) |
| Draught | 21 ft 5 in (6.5 m) |
| Installed power | 4,130 ihp (3,080 kW) |
| Propulsion |
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| Sail plan | Ship rig |
| Speed | 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Range | 2,000 nmi (3,700 km; 2,300 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Complement | 340 |
| Armament |
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HMS Active was a special kind of warship called a corvette. It was built for the Royal Navy in the late 1860s. This ship was launched in 1869 and started service in 1873. Active was an important ship, serving as the main ship for the commodore on the Cape of Good Hope and West Africa Station. Its crew even fought on land during the Third Anglo-Ashanti and Zulu Wars. Later, from 1885 to 1898, Active was the main ship for the Training Squadron. The ship was eventually sold for scrap in 1906.
Contents
What Was HMS Active Like?
Active was a long ship, measuring about 270 feet (82.3 m) from front to back. It was also 42 feet 1 inch (12.8 m) wide. The front of the ship sat lower in the water, about 16 feet 5 inches (5.0 m) deep. The back of the ship went deeper, about 21 ft 5 in (6.5 m) into the water.
The ship weighed about 3,078 long tons (3,127 t). Its body was made of strong iron. This iron hull was covered with a 3-inch (76 mm) layer of oak wood. Below the waterline, the wood was covered with copper. This copper layer stopped sea creatures and plants from sticking to the hull. Inside, strong walls called bulkheads divided the ship. This helped keep it from sinking if there was a leak. The ship had a crew of 340 sailors and officers.
How Did HMS Active Move?
Active had one large engine made by Humphreys and Tennant. This engine turned a single 19-foot (5.8 m) propeller. Five large boilers created steam for the engine. This steam pushed the ship to a top speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).
The ship could carry 410 long tons (420 t) of coal. This was enough fuel to travel 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km; 2,300 mi) at a speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).
Active also had sails, like older ships. It was a ship rigged vessel, meaning it had three masts with square sails. The total sail area was 16,593 square feet (1,542 m2). The lower parts of the masts were made of iron, but the rest were wood. Under sail alone, the ship could reach 12.5 knots (23.2 km/h; 14.4 mph). The ship's funnel (smokestack) could be lowered to reduce wind resistance. Its propeller could also be lifted out of the water. This helped the ship move faster when only using sails.
What Weapons Did HMS Active Have?
When it was first built, Active had different types of guns. It had six 7-inch guns and four 64-pounder guns. Most of these guns were on the sides of the ship. Two of the 64-pounder guns were placed at the front and back. These were called chase guns and were used to shoot at ships in front or behind.
In 1879, the ship's weapons were updated. Ten 6-inch 80-pounder guns replaced the old side guns. The ship also got two special launchers for 14-inch (356 mm) torpedoes.
HMS Active's Time in Service
HMS Active was started in 1867 and launched on March 13, 1869. It was fully ready for service in March 1871. The total cost to build the ship was £126,156. Unlike its sister ship Volage, Active was kept in reserve at first. It began active service in 1873.
Active became the main ship for Commodore William Nathan Wrighte Hewett. He was the head of the Royal Navy's forces in the Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa area. The ship took part in naval actions during the Third Anglo-Ashanti War in 1874. Some of its crew even went ashore to help the soldiers fighting there. Commodore Francis Sullivan took over from Hewett in 1876. Active returned home for repairs in 1879.
HMS Active in the Zulu War
From November 19, 1878, to July 21, 1879, Active played a role in the Anglo-Zulu War. A group of 173 men from Active joined a larger group of sailors and marines. This group was called a naval brigade. The men from Active included officers, sailors, Marines, and medical helpers.
They brought small arms (like rifles), two 12-pounder guns, rockets, and a Gatling gun. Before entering Zululand, they swapped their 12-pounders for two smaller 7-pounder mountain guns.
The naval brigade from Active was part of a group led by Colonel Charles Pearson. They crossed into Zululand on January 12, 1879. On January 22, they fought in the Battle of Inyezane. They used rockets, Martini-Henry rifles, and the Gatling gun to push back the Zulu attackers.
On the same day, the main British force was defeated at the Battle of Isandlwana. Because of this, Pearson's group moved to Eshowe. They were then surrounded for two months until help arrived on April 3. In February, Active got stuck in the mud in Tugela Bay. It was helping HMS Tenedos, which was also stuck. Both ships were freed 36 hours later.
During this war, only one man from Active was killed in action. Nine were wounded. Sadly, nine men died from illness during the siege. One man drowned while crossing a river. In 1881, the South Africa Medal was given to the crew members of Active who served in the war.
Serving in the Training Squadron
After being repaired and getting new weapons in 1879, Active was kept in reserve. In 1885, it was chosen to be the main ship for the new Training Squadron. This squadron helped train new sailors. Active was the very last square-rigged naval ship to leave Portsmouth Harbour using only its sails.
The ship was taken out of service in 1898. It was then sold for scrap metal on July 10, 1906.
There is a special monument in Victoria Park, Portsmouth. It remembers the men from Active who lost their lives during the wars in Africa.
