RN First Class Cruisers: Edgar Class

[Pelican]

On 8th September1892 the Edgar class protected cruiser HMS Theseus was launched.
Laid down at Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company, Leamouth, London on 16th July 1890, launched 8th September 1892 & commissioned on 14th January 1896.

[Brian James]

Courtesy of the White Star, Black Sea site.....Photographer Robert Welch has perched his plate camera atop the starboard propeller wing of RMS Olympic for this rather unique view, taken within the Graving Dock at Belfast during early October of 1911. Damage to the blades is clearly visible here, recently suffered on the 20th of September just outside of Southampton during her collision with Edgar Class Protected Cruiser HMS Hawke. Though no one was hurt seriously in the accident, damage to both vessels was severe, with the large hole torn in Olympic’s side causing flooding enough to settle her noticeably by the stern and with her starboard propellor shaft being badly bent. Hawke’s bow had been completely crushed, and the smaller ship in fact narrowly avoided being lost entirely to the Solent.