HMS Calypso (1883)
Encyclopedia
HMS Calypso was a corvette (redesignated as a third-class cruiser
from 1888) of the Royal Navy
and the name ship of her class. Built for distant cruising in the heyday of the British Empire, she served as a warship and training vessel until 1922, when she was sold.
As originally classified as a screw corvette
, Calypso was one of the Royal Navy’s last sailing corvettes. She supplemented her extensive sail rig with powerful engines. Among the first of the smaller cruisers to be given all-metal hulls, she nevertheless was cased with timber and coppered
below the water line, as were wooden ships.
Unlike her more famous sister Calliope
, Calypso had a quiet career, consisting mainly of training cruises in the Atlantic Ocean. In 1902 she was sent to the colony of Newfoundland
, where she served as a training vessel for the Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve
before and during the First World War. In 1922 she was declared surplus and sold, then used as a storage hulk. Her hull still exists, awash in a coastal bay off Newfoundland.
. These vessels were among the last sailing corvettes ever built for the Royal Navy. They differed from prior ships in having an all-metal hull, of both steel and iron. The metal hull was encased in timber below the waterline, and the timber was in turn sheathed with copper plates, in a manner similar to prior wooden vessels.
The Calypsos differed from the ships of the preceding Comus class in armament, including new 6" rifles in place of the 7" muzzleloaders and 64-pounders that originally armed the first ships of the parent class. Although similar in general appearance to their predecessors, the Calypsos had guns sponson
ed out both fore and aft and had no gunports under the quarterdeck and foredeck. They were also slightly longer, had a deeper draught, and displaced 390 tons more. Calypso's engines were of 4,023 i.h.p., over 50% more powerful than those of her nine half-sisters, which gave her one more knot of speed. These compound engines could drive Calypso at 13¾ knots, or 14¾ knots with forced draught.
She nevertheless flew a barque rig of sail on three masts, including a full set of studding sail
s on her fore and mainmast. This rig enabled her to serve in areas where coaling stations were rare, and to rely entirely on her sails for propulsion. The class therefore was well-suited to her designed role: trade protection and distant cruising service for the British Empire
at its Victorian
peak.
She served in home waters, and participated in fleet exercises, including a simulated attack on Britain, and visited Kiel
, site of a major base of the Imperial German Navy often visited by British vessels. In 1890, Britain gave up the isle of Heligoland
in the Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty
, and Calypso was assigned to carry out the ceremony of transfer to the German Empire
and bring back the island's last British governor.
From the time of her first commission in 1885 until she was placed in reserve in 1898, she was part of the Sail Training Squadron, the "last refuge of the sailing navy" apart from a handful of smaller vessels. She made cruises to the West Indies, the Canary Islands, and Norway. In 1895 the ship was part of the squadron which conducted surveys well above the Arctic Circle, and a landfall and cluster of buildings on Svalbard
, Norway, now a cultural heritage site, were named for her in honour of her visits to those waters. On other occasions she assisted in the salvage of a civilian ship, for which her officers and crew were awarded salvage money, and passed on hydrographic information from waters near Iceland.
On 26 June 1897 she was present at the Review of the Fleet off Spithead
held to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee
of Queen Victoria's
accession to the throne. Paid off into reserve at Devonport
in 1898, she was no longer considered a fighting ship by the turn of the century, and it was felt she could best be employed in training naval reservists for service at sea.
The location of the vessel was controversial, with the community of Argentia
proferred as a substitute for the colonial capital of St. John's
. Reasons for this proposal included both a desire to protect the larger city from the conjectured debaucheries of sailors, and to protect the reservists, many of whom were married, from the temptations (including prostitution) which might be available in the city. In a time of tensions between Britain and France, Argentia also had the benefit of being closer to the French territory of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, and it was felt beneficial to have a British military force in proximity to the French territory in the event of a dispute. These objections were felt to be outweighed by cost, convenience, and accessibility of staff to the colonial government, and St. John's was chosen to host the ship.
Calypso's masts were removed, as was the funnel from the boilers, and a drill hall was erected on her weather deck. Without sail or working boilers she could no longer go to sea, but was permanently moored wharfside at the western end of the St. John's harbour.
Prior to the outbreak of war candidates had to be fishermen or sailors, and the RVNR maintained a reserve strength of 500–600 men. By 1914, over 1,400 seamen had been trained, and more than 400 answered the call to arms on the outbreak of the Great War. The Reserve provided crew for ships of the Royal Navy, including over 100 seamen taken aboard HMCS Niobe a month after the start of the war, the first group of Newfoundlanders to go to war. It also provided home defence, including manning artillery at the entrance to the St. Johns harbour, and the protection of Newfoundland's shore and shipping. Calypso and a small, slow armed patrol vessel were the colony's only warships.
In 1916, Calypso was renamed HMS Briton, and surrendered her former name to a new light cruiser laid down in that year, which entered service in 1917.
Before the war the owner of the dock where Calypso was berthed had sought the vessel's removal. The matter was held in abeyance during the war years, but after the conclusion of hostilities the subject arose anew. Relocation would have been a significant expense to the Admiralty, and the Colonial Office was informed that the dominion would accept complete withdrawal of the vessel. By 1922 naval estimates were being slashed and the Washington Naval Treaty
limited the size of fleets. The Admiralty therefore summarily discontinued the NRNR, and there being no further need of her services, HMS Briton was made available for disposition.
harbour. Some thought was given to preservation, but in 1968 she was towed to a coastal bay near Embree
, and burned to the waterline. Her hull still is there, awash in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Her anchor sits outside a local inn, and other artefacts are in museums.
These remnants are not her sole remaining legacy. Calypso, created as a ship of war, has inspired another training institution, but one with more peaceful purposes. Inspired by the traditions of the ship where Newfoundlanders once trained to be competent and able seamen for the Royal Navy, the Calypso Foundation of Lewisporte trains developmentally disabled individuals to become productive workers and live independently. This charitable foundation carries on the name of HMS Calypso.
Facsimile of 1919 edition Of Janes’s Fighting Ships published by Jane’s Publishing Company, supplemented by entries from 1914 edition.
.
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
from 1888) of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
and the name ship of her class. Built for distant cruising in the heyday of the British Empire, she served as a warship and training vessel until 1922, when she was sold.
As originally classified as a screw corvette
Corvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
, Calypso was one of the Royal Navy’s last sailing corvettes. She supplemented her extensive sail rig with powerful engines. Among the first of the smaller cruisers to be given all-metal hulls, she nevertheless was cased with timber and coppered
Copper sheathing
Copper sheathing was the practice of protecting the under-water hull of a ship or boat through the use of copper plates affixed to the outside of the hull. It was pioneered and developed by the Royal Navy during the 18th century.-Development:...
below the water line, as were wooden ships.
Unlike her more famous sister Calliope
HMS Calliope (1884)
HMS Calliope was a Calypso-class corvette of the Royal Navy which served from 1887 until 1951. Like all the remaining frigates and corvette extent in 1887, she was re-classified as a third-class cruiser in the year she was completed, and exemplified the transitional nature of the late Victorian navy...
, Calypso had a quiet career, consisting mainly of training cruises in the Atlantic Ocean. In 1902 she was sent to the colony of Newfoundland
History of Newfoundland and Labrador
The History of Newfoundland and Labrador is the story of the peoples who have lived in what is now the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador....
, where she served as a training vessel for the Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve
Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve
The Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve was a military reserve force founded in 1900 in what was then the Colony of Newfoundland, a part of the British Empire...
before and during the First World War. In 1922 she was declared surplus and sold, then used as a storage hulk. Her hull still exists, awash in a coastal bay off Newfoundland.
Design
Calypso and Calliope made up the Calypso class of corvettes, designed by Nathaniel BarnabyNathaniel Barnaby
Sir Nathaniel Barnaby, KCB was Chief Constructor of the Royal Navy from 1872 to 1885....
. These vessels were among the last sailing corvettes ever built for the Royal Navy. They differed from prior ships in having an all-metal hull, of both steel and iron. The metal hull was encased in timber below the waterline, and the timber was in turn sheathed with copper plates, in a manner similar to prior wooden vessels.
The Calypsos differed from the ships of the preceding Comus class in armament, including new 6" rifles in place of the 7" muzzleloaders and 64-pounders that originally armed the first ships of the parent class. Although similar in general appearance to their predecessors, the Calypsos had guns sponson
Sponson
Sponsons are projections from the sides of a watercraft, for protection, stability, or the mounting of equipment such as armaments or lifeboats, etc...
ed out both fore and aft and had no gunports under the quarterdeck and foredeck. They were also slightly longer, had a deeper draught, and displaced 390 tons more. Calypso's engines were of 4,023 i.h.p., over 50% more powerful than those of her nine half-sisters, which gave her one more knot of speed. These compound engines could drive Calypso at 13¾ knots, or 14¾ knots with forced draught.
She nevertheless flew a barque rig of sail on three masts, including a full set of studding sail
Studding sail
A studding sail or studsail is a sail used to increase the sail area of a square rigged vessel in light winds. Traditionally pronounced stuns'l.It is an extra sail hoisted alongside a square-rigged sail on an extension of its yardarm...
s on her fore and mainmast. This rig enabled her to serve in areas where coaling stations were rare, and to rely entirely on her sails for propulsion. The class therefore was well-suited to her designed role: trade protection and distant cruising service for the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
at its Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
peak.
Service with the fleet
While the class was designed for long-range protection of the trade routes of the empire, and Calypso participated in war games, much of her career comprised activities appropriate to an empire at peace.She served in home waters, and participated in fleet exercises, including a simulated attack on Britain, and visited Kiel
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
, site of a major base of the Imperial German Navy often visited by British vessels. In 1890, Britain gave up the isle of Heligoland
Heligoland
Heligoland is a small German archipelago in the North Sea.Formerly Danish and British possessions, the islands are located in the Heligoland Bight in the south-eastern corner of the North Sea...
in the Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty
Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty
The Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty of 1 July 1890 was an agreement between the United Kingdom and the German Empire concerning mainly territorial interests in Africa.-Terms:...
, and Calypso was assigned to carry out the ceremony of transfer to the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
and bring back the island's last British governor.
Svalbard
Svalbard is an archipelago in the Arctic, constituting the northernmost part of Norway. It is located north of mainland Europe, midway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. The group of islands range from 74° to 81° north latitude , and from 10° to 35° east longitude. Spitsbergen is the...
, Norway, now a cultural heritage site, were named for her in honour of her visits to those waters. On other occasions she assisted in the salvage of a civilian ship, for which her officers and crew were awarded salvage money, and passed on hydrographic information from waters near Iceland.
On 26 June 1897 she was present at the Review of the Fleet off Spithead
Spithead
Spithead is an area of the Solent and a roadstead off Gilkicker Point in Hampshire, England. It is protected from all winds, except those from the southeast...
held to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee
Diamond Jubilee
A Diamond Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 60th anniversary in the case of a person or a 75th anniversary in the case of an event.- Thailand :...
of Queen Victoria's
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
accession to the throne. Paid off into reserve at Devonport
HMNB Devonport
Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport , is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy . HMNB Devonport is located in Devonport, in the west of the city of Plymouth in Devon, England...
in 1898, she was no longer considered a fighting ship by the turn of the century, and it was felt she could best be employed in training naval reservists for service at sea.
Training ship
On 2 September 1902 Calypso was placed back into commission, and was sent across the Atlantic to become a training ship for Newfoundland’s branch of the Royal Navy, the Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve (RNR). The Reserve had been founded in 1900 as an experiment to assist the Admiralty in the manning of ships, and to enable the Newfoundlanders to assist in the defence of the empire and provide their seafarers in the winter months when the fishery was not worked. As the result of the experiment, the Admiralty agreed to provide a vessel, and the colony agreed to pay for the refit, as well as an annual subvention to support the training programme.The location of the vessel was controversial, with the community of Argentia
Argentia, Newfoundland and Labrador
Argentia is a community on the island of Newfoundland in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is situated on a flat headland located along the southwest coast of the Avalon Peninsula on Placentia Bay...
proferred as a substitute for the colonial capital of St. John's
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
. Reasons for this proposal included both a desire to protect the larger city from the conjectured debaucheries of sailors, and to protect the reservists, many of whom were married, from the temptations (including prostitution) which might be available in the city. In a time of tensions between Britain and France, Argentia also had the benefit of being closer to the French territory of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, and it was felt beneficial to have a British military force in proximity to the French territory in the event of a dispute. These objections were felt to be outweighed by cost, convenience, and accessibility of staff to the colonial government, and St. John's was chosen to host the ship.
Calypso's masts were removed, as was the funnel from the boilers, and a drill hall was erected on her weather deck. Without sail or working boilers she could no longer go to sea, but was permanently moored wharfside at the western end of the St. John's harbour.
Prior to the outbreak of war candidates had to be fishermen or sailors, and the RVNR maintained a reserve strength of 500–600 men. By 1914, over 1,400 seamen had been trained, and more than 400 answered the call to arms on the outbreak of the Great War. The Reserve provided crew for ships of the Royal Navy, including over 100 seamen taken aboard HMCS Niobe a month after the start of the war, the first group of Newfoundlanders to go to war. It also provided home defence, including manning artillery at the entrance to the St. Johns harbour, and the protection of Newfoundland's shore and shipping. Calypso and a small, slow armed patrol vessel were the colony's only warships.
In 1916, Calypso was renamed HMS Briton, and surrendered her former name to a new light cruiser laid down in that year, which entered service in 1917.
Before the war the owner of the dock where Calypso was berthed had sought the vessel's removal. The matter was held in abeyance during the war years, but after the conclusion of hostilities the subject arose anew. Relocation would have been a significant expense to the Admiralty, and the Colonial Office was informed that the dominion would accept complete withdrawal of the vessel. By 1922 naval estimates were being slashed and the Washington Naval Treaty
Washington Naval Treaty
The Washington Naval Treaty, also known as the Five-Power Treaty, was an attempt to cap and limit, and "prevent 'further' costly escalation" of the naval arms race that had begun after World War I between various International powers, each of which had significant naval fleets. The treaty was...
limited the size of fleets. The Admiralty therefore summarily discontinued the NRNR, and there being no further need of her services, HMS Briton was made available for disposition.
Later use, and legacy
HMS Briton was sold in 1922, and was used in St. John's for the storage of salt. In 1952 she was towed to LewisporteLewisporte
Lewisporte is a town in central Newfoundland Island, Canada, with a population of 3,312. It is situated in a bay close to the mouth of the Exploits River. Lewisporte has an excellent port and related facilities that serve the many communities along Notre Dame Bay. Gander and its international...
harbour. Some thought was given to preservation, but in 1968 she was towed to a coastal bay near Embree
Embree, Newfoundland and Labrador
Embree is a small community just outside Lewisporte. It is a drive-through town that eventually leads into neighbouring Little Burnt Bay....
, and burned to the waterline. Her hull still is there, awash in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Her anchor sits outside a local inn, and other artefacts are in museums.
These remnants are not her sole remaining legacy. Calypso, created as a ship of war, has inspired another training institution, but one with more peaceful purposes. Inspired by the traditions of the ship where Newfoundlanders once trained to be competent and able seamen for the Royal Navy, the Calypso Foundation of Lewisporte trains developmentally disabled individuals to become productive workers and live independently. This charitable foundation carries on the name of HMS Calypso.
Principal sources
- Hadley, Michael L.; Hubert, Robert Neal; & Crickard, Fred W. (1992). A Nation's Navy: In Quest of Canadian Naval Identity. McGill–Queen's University Press. ISBN 0-7735-1506-2.
- HMS Calypso fonds, summary of records of the vessel, including records of construction and RN service, obtained from A.H. Murray & Co., her owner from 1922–52. Maintained by Memorial University of NewfoundlandMemorial University of NewfoundlandMemorial University of Newfoundland, is a comprehensive university located primarily in St...
. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
- Hunter, Mark C. "HMS Calypso: Locating the Newfoundland Royal Naval reserve drill ship, 1900-22". The Great Circle: Journal of the Australian Association for Maritime History, 28:1 (2006), 36-60. ISSN 0156-8698.
Facsimile of 1919 edition Of Janes’s Fighting Ships published by Jane’s Publishing Company, supplemented by entries from 1914 edition.
- Lewisporte, Memorial University of NewfoundlandMemorial University of NewfoundlandMemorial University of Newfoundland, is a comprehensive university located primarily in St...
, Division of Extension Services, Decks Awash, Vo. 15, No. 3 (May–June 1986), republished by CanadaGenWeb.org. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
- The Maple Leaf (5 March 2008), Vol. 11, No. 9. Canadian ForcesCanadian ForcesThe Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
.
- Parsons, W. David (2003), "Newfoundland and the Great War", published in Canada and the Great War: Western Front Association Papers. McGill-Queen's University PressMcGill-Queen's University PressThe McGill-Queen's University Press is a joint venture between McGill University in Montreal, Quebec and Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario....
. ISBN 0-7735-2546-7.
External links to photographs
- Black and white drawing, port bow 1/4 view, spectacular view of vessel under full sail including stunsails; appears to show ship rig.
- Photograph, port broadside view, no sails set, yards on mizzen. Boat alongside; vessel appears to be at anchor.
- Links to photographs showing Calypso/Briton while in Newfoundland, including personnel, and erection on deck.