HMS Cynthia (1898) facts for kids

HMS Cynthia
Quick facts for kids History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Cynthia
Ordered	1896 – 1897 Naval Estimates
Builder	John I. Thornycroft & Company, Chiswick
Yard number	321
Laid down	25 September 1897
Launched	3 September 1898
Commissioned	8 March 1900
Fate	Sold for breaking, 29 April 1920
General characteristics
Class and type	Two funnel, 30-knot destroyer
Displacement	270 long tons (274 t) standard 352 long tons (358 t) full load
Length	210 ft (64 m) o/a
Beam	19 ft 9 in (6.02 m)
Draught	7 ft 8 in (2.34 m)
Installed power	5,700 shp (4,300 kW)
Propulsion	4 × Thornycroft water tube boilers 2 × vertical triple-expansion steam engines 2 shafts
Speed	30 kn (56 km/h)
Range	80 tons coal 1,310 nmi (2,430 km) at 11 kn (20 km/h)
Complement	65 officers and men
Armament	1 × QF 12-pounder 12 cwt Mark I L/40 gun on a P Mark I low angle mount 5 × QF 6-pdr 8 cwt L/40 gun on a Mark I* low angle mount 2 × single tubes for 18-inch (450 mm) torpedoes
Service record
Operations:	World War I 1914 - 1918

HMS Cynthia was a fast destroyer built for the Royal Navy. She was part of a group of ships known as "30-knot" destroyers because of their impressive speed. Launched in 1898, Cynthia served in different parts of the world, including the Mediterranean Sea. During World War I, she helped train sailors in gunnery. After the war, she was sold in 1920.

Building a Fast Destroyer

Cynthia was built at the John I. Thornycroft & Company shipyard in Chiswick, England, near the River Thames. Her construction began on 16 July 1896. She was launched into the water on 8 January 1898.

During her tests, Cynthia showed off her speed, reaching an average of 30.2 knots (about 56 kilometers per hour). This was very fast for a ship of her time! After her weapons were added in Portsmouth, the Royal Navy officially accepted her in June 1899.

Cynthia's Service Life

Cynthia began her active service on 8 March 1900 at Chatham. Her first job was with the Medway Instructional Flotilla, which was a group of ships used for training.

In August 1901, Cynthia was sent to join the Mediterranean Fleet. This meant she sailed to the Mediterranean Sea to work with other British warships there. She had a quick repair in May 1902 at Sheerness Dockyard. Later that month, she traveled to Gibraltar. In September 1902, she visited Nauplia in Greece with other ships from the fleet.

Becoming a D-Class Destroyer

In 1912, the Royal Navy decided to give letters to all its destroyer classes to make them easier to identify. Cynthia was placed in the D class. This class included other 30-knot destroyers that had two funnels. After September 1913, she was officially known as a D-class destroyer. To show this, the letter 'D' was painted on her hull near the bridge and on one of her funnels.

World War I Service

When World War I started in August 1914, Cynthia was stationed at The Nore, which was a naval base near Sheerness. She was assigned to HMS Actaeon, which was a school for training sailors in gunnery. Cynthia acted as a training ship, helping new recruits learn how to use naval guns. She continued in this important role throughout the entire war.

End of Service

After World War I ended, Cynthia was taken out of active service in 1919. She was kept in reserve until she was sold on 29 April 1920. Cynthia was bought by a company called Thos. W. Ward and was broken up for scrap metal at Rainham, Kent.

Pennant Numbers

Naval ships often have special numbers, called pennant numbers, to identify them. Here are the numbers Cynthia used during her service: