Protected Cruisers: Highflyer Class

[Brian James]

Highflyer Class, Second Class Protected Cruiser HMS Hyacinth pictured c1902..Her main armament consisted of 11 quick-firing (QF) 6-inch Mk I guns. One gun was mounted on the forecastle and two others were positioned on the quarterdeck. The remaining eight guns were placed port and starboard amidships. They had a maximum range of approximately 10,000 yards with their 100-pound shells. Eight quick-firing (QF) 12-pounder 12 cwt guns were fitted for defence against Torpedo Boats. One additional 12-pounder 8 cwt gun could be dismounted for service ashore. Hyacinth also carried six 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns and two submerged 18-inch torpedo tubes, one on each broadside. The ship's protective deck armour ranged in thickness from 1.5 to 3 inches, the engine hatches were protected by 5-inches of armour. The main guns were fitted with 3-inch gun shields and the conning tower had armour 6 inches thick...She was sold for scrap on October 11th 1923.