HMS Hyacinth (1898)
| Career | | | Ordered: |
| Laid down: |
| Launched: | 27th October 1898 |
| Commissioned: |
| Fate: | Sold for scrap in November 1923. |
| Struck: |
| General Characteristics |
|---|
| Displacement: | 5,600 tons |
| Length: | 350 ft (106.7 m) |
| Beam: | 54 ft (16.5 m) |
| Draught: | 20 ft (6.1 m) |
| Propulsion: | twin screw |
| Horsepower: | 10,000 |
| Speed: | 20 knots |
| Fuel: |
| Complement: |
| Armament (1939): | 11 guns |
| - | Armor: |
| Motto: |
The fifth ship to be named
HMS Hyacinth was an 11-gun twin-screw cruiser, one of five
Hermes-class cruisers. It was built in
Glasgow. She was 5,600 tons with a length of 350 feet (106.7 m).
In 1904 the Hyacinth, commanded by Captain the Hon. Horace Hood, and flying the flag of Rear-Admiral George Atkinson-Willes, was at the head of a squadron of three ships which took part in the
Somaliland campaign. On 20th April the Hyacinth, and
HMS Fox arrived off the
Gulluli River after dark, and on the following day a small landing party went ashore under
Flag-Captain Hood. One hundred and twenty-five men of the
Hampshire Regiment accompanied the sailors. The brigade advanced upon
Fort Illig in face from a brisk fire from rifles, and two old fashioned
cannon loaded with
mixed iron, and finally carried the place at the point of the bayonet. The Hyacinths' subsequently cleared the village and some caves at the bottom of the cliffs. The enemy left between 60 and 70 dead, and the British re-embarked with a loss of 3 killed and 11 wounded. Fort Illig was then reduced, and the British ships withdrew. At various dates the Hyacinth, while commanded by Captain J.D Dick and flying the flag of Rear-Admiral E.J.W. Slade, was employed in the prevention of the
gun-running traffic in the Persian Gulf. 760 rifles were captured off the
Jagin River on one occasion.
See
HMS Hyacinth for other ships of the name.
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