Surprise-class cruiser

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Surprise and HMS Alacrity.

Class overview
Name	Surprise class
Builders	Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company, Jarrow
Operators	Royal Navy
Built	1884–1885
In commission	1885–1919
Completed	2
Retired	2
General characteristics
Displacement	1,700 long tons (1,727 t)
Length	250 ft (76 m) o/a
Beam	32 ft 6 in (9.91 m)
Draught	13 ft (4.0 m)
Propulsion	2 × 2-cylinder Palmers compound steam engines 2,000 ihp (1,491 kW) 2 shafts
Speed	18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement	93
Armament	4 × 5 in (130 mm) Breech Loading guns 4 × QF 6-pounder Hotchkiss guns 2 × machine guns

The Surprise class were two 3rd class cruisers built for the British Royal Navy, and launched in 1885.

Class history

Originally designed as unarmed dispatch ships, they were redesignated as fleet scouts while under construction and fitted with four 5-inch guns, four quick-firing 6-pounders, and two machine guns. Built by Palmers at Jarrow, they displaced 1,700 tons, were 250 feet long, 36 feet 6 inches in the beam, and had a draught of 13 feet. Powered by two 2-cylinder compound steam engines they were capable of 18 knots, and had a crew of 93.

Ships

HMS Surprise

The ship was laid down on 14 February 1884, launched on 17 January 1885, and completed in June 1885. After her sister ship was sold in 1913, she was renamed Alacrity, and served during World War I. Sold in 1919.

HMS Alacrity

The ship was laid down on 14 February 1884, launched on 28 February 1885, and completed in July 1885. She saw action during the Boxer Rebellion, taking part in the capture of the Dagu Forts in June 1900. Sold at Hong Kong in September 1913.

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