HMVS Victoria (1884) facts for kids
Victoria at Portsmouth in 1884 before sailing to Australia
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 .svg){kind=small} Victoria |
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| Name | Victoria II |
| Builder | Armstrong Mitchell and Co. |
| Launched | 1884 |
| Decommissioned | 1893 |
| In service | 1884 |
| Homeport | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Fate | Scrapped 1920 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Armstrong type D flat-iron gunboat |
| Displacement | 530 tons |
| Length | 145 ft (44 m) |
| Beam | 27 ft (8.2 m) |
| Propulsion | Expansion steam engines |
| Speed | 12 knots |
| Armament |
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HMVS Victoria was a special kind of warship called a gunboat. It served with the Victorian Naval Forces and later in Western Australia. After its time as a naval ship, it was sold for private use.
Contents
Ship Design and Features
The Victoria was built by a company called Armstrong Mitchell and Co. It was designed as a "type D flat-iron gunboat". This means it had a flat, low shape, which was common for gunboats of that time.
Adventures of the Victoria
In early 1884, the Victoria was on its way to Australia. It was sailing with two other ships, the gunboat Albert and the torpedo boat Childers. They were in Malta when they heard important news. A famous British general, Charles George Gordon, had died in a conflict in Khartoum.
Joining the Sudan Campaign
Because of this news, the three ships were quickly offered to help in the Sudan Campaign. This was a military effort by the British Empire. The offer was accepted, and the smaller Childers went ahead.
By the time Victoria and Albert reached Suakin on March 19, the fighting had moved far inland. This meant the warships could not help anymore. So, just three days later, all the ships left to continue their journey to Australia.
Journey to Australia
The ships arrived in Melbourne on June 26, 1884. Their long journey included stops in places like Aden, Colombo, the Dutch East Indies, and through the Torres Strait.
Later Life and Retirement
In the 1890s, there was a big economic problem called a depression. This meant money was tight, and many people lost their jobs. Because of this, the Victoria was taken out of service in 1893 and sold.
The government of Western Australia bought the ship in 1896. Later, in 1902, a company from Sydney called Fenwicks bought it. They used the Victoria as a tugboat, pulling other ships around Sydney Harbour. After 18 years of service as a tug, the Victoria was taken apart for scrap metal in 1920.
See also
- List of Victorian Naval Forces ships
- Colonial navies of Australia - Victoria
