HMS Spartan (1891)

HMS Spartan was an Apollo class cruiser of the Royal Navy constructed in 1891. The design was a variant of the Marathon class cruiser. The ships had quick firing guns which were effective as a broadside, but less so when attempting to fire fore or aft.

From 1907 she was placed on harbour duty. In 1921 she became part of the Royal Navy torpedo school at Devonport, HMS Defiance, which was based in floating obsolete ships, and named for the first ship which had housed the school. Spartan became Defiance II in August 1921. She was sold for scrapping on 26 June 1931.