HMS Algerine (1895)

HMS Algerine was a Phoenix-class steel screw sloop of the Royal Navy. She was launched at Devonport in 1895, saw action in China during the Boxer Rebellion, and later served on the Pacific Station. She was stripped of her crew at Esquimalt in 1914, and transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy in 1917, being commissioned as HMCS Algerine. She was sold as a salvage vessel in 1919 and wrecked in 1923.

Design
Algerine was a Phoenix-class steel screw sloop mounting 10 guns. She and her sister ship, Phoenix, were designed by Sir William White, the Admiralty Chief Constructor. The class was essentially a twin-screw version of the Alert-class sloop.

Construction
Algerine was constructed of steel and given a protective deck of 1 to 1+1/2 in steel armour over her machinery and boilers. She was laid down at Devonport Dockyard on 25 July 1894 and launched on 6 June 1895.

Sail plan
As built the class were rigged with a barquentine sail plan (square rigged on the foremast, but fore-and-aft rigged on main and mizzen). This was removed in later years, leaving her dependent on her engines alone.

Propulsion
Algerine was provided with a three-cylinder vertical triple-expansion steam engine developing 1400 ihp and driving twin screws. The machinery was provided by Devonport Dockyard.

Armament
Her armament consisted primarily of six 4-inch quick-firing guns weighing a ton each and firing a 25 lb shell. In addition she was fitted with four 3-pound guns and three machine guns.

Royal Navy service
Algerine was deployed to the China Station. She recommissioned at Hong Kong and served in Chinese waters during the Boxer Rebellion. In June 1900 Algerine was involved in an attack on the Taku Forts by an international naval force, including contributing to a multi-national landing party, and had 6 men wounded. She also landed a 4-inch gun, and this was used in the capture of Tientsin.

Algerine served on the Pacific Station at Esquimalt and on the West Coast of the United States. In 1914 her crew was sent to man HMCS Niobe, and the ship lay unused at Esquimalt for most of World War I.

Royal Canadian Navy service
In 1917 she was lent to the Royal Canadian Navy to serve as a depot ship at Esquimalt. She was sold on 11 April 1919 for use as a salvage vessel.

Fate
In her new guise she was wrecked on 13 October 1923 in the Principe Channel, British Columbia.