HMS Hermione (1893)

HMS Hermione was an Astraea-class protected cruiser launched at Devonport in 1893. She was a 10-gun twin-screw cruiser of 4360 tons, 9000 horse-power, and 19 knots speed. Her length, beam, and draught were 320ft., 49ft., and 19ft. She served in World War I and was sold in 1921. She was renamed HMS Warspite in 1922, and broken up in 1940.

Service history
In 1896 the Hermione, commanded by Captain Charles R. Arbuthnot, was one of a squadron of six ships which was specially commissioned in reply to a congratulatory telegram from the German Emperor to President Paul Kruger on the repulse of Dr. Jameson's Raid. The squadron, known as the Particular Service Squadron, was commanded by Rear-Admiral Alfred Taylor Dale with his flag in Revenge.

Hermione was assigned to the China Station in 1898. In 1900 under the command of Captain R S D Cumming, she played a minor part in the third China war or Boxer Riots. In December 1899 and May 1900, Marines from the Hermione served an honour guard and pallbearers for the funerals of the Governor of the Straits Settlements, Sir Charles Mitchell and the Chief Justice of the British Supreme Court for China and Corea, Sir Nicholas John Hannen, who had also served as consul-general in Shanghai.

In 1906 Hermione went into reserve at Portsmouth, refitted in 1907 and sent to the Cape Town Station. On 14 February 1909 she ran aground at Zanzibar but was re-floated sustaining only slight damage. In June 1909 she joined the 3rd Cruiser Squadron at Portsmouth and in July joined the Home Fleet. On 6 August Hermione ran aground off Killingholme in the Humber and after 8 hours was re-floated.

In September 1910 she began preparations for use as a tender for the Royal Navy's first airship, but when this project was abandoned, she rejoined the Home Fleet in January 1912. In the meantime, she had hosted the first British seaplane experiments, with an Avro Type D in November 1911.

At the outbreak of World War I in August 1914, she became guard ship at Southampton, later becoming HQ Ship for motor launches and coastal motor boats from December 1916 until December 1919. Sold off October 1921 and resold to the Marine Society in 1922 and became training ship Warspite, finally scrapped September 1940.