HMS Arethusa was a second-class cruiser of the Leander-class cruiser (1882), which served with the Royal Navy. She was built at Napier, Glasgow, being laid down in 1880, launched in 1882 and completed in financial year 1886–87. She remained in ordinary reserve at Chatham, being commissioned for the 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890, and 1892 annual manoeuvres. She served in the Mediterranean from 1893 to 1896, was commissioned for the 1899 annual manoeuvres, then recommissioned for the Pacific, and later sent as a reinforcement to the China Station during the Boxer Rebellion until she came home for the last time in 1903.

Construction

Arethusa was built at Napier, Glasgow, and completed in financial year 1886–87.

Sea-going career

She lay in ordinary at Chatham after completion.

1887 annual manoeuvres

Arethusa was commissioned for the 1887 annual manoeuvres on 8 July 1887, and paid off on 1 September 1887.

1888 annual manoeuvres

Arethusa was commissioned for the 1888 annual manoeuvres on 4 July 1888, and paid off on 31 August 1888. Arethusa was part of Vice Admiral John K.E. Baird's fleet. In the manoeuvres, hostilities broke out at noon on 24 July 1888, and ended at noon on 20 August. Baird's force represented the British fleet, and England, Scotland and Wales were considered friendly to the British fleet and hostile to the enemy. Opposing Baird was the 'Achil' fleet, led by Rear Admiral George Tryon, and based in Berehaven on the south-west coast of Ireland and Lough Swilly on the north coast. All Irish territory was considered hostile to the British fleet and friendly to the enemy. At the outset Baird's fleet was concentrated on keeping Tryon's fleet shut up in their base ports. They failed. Both Tryon and his second in command broke the blockade on 4 August, and swooping round the extremities of Ireland, made a descent on British commerce and British ports. In the manoeuvres, the Arethusa was assessed as lost on 5 August. The committee appointed to inquire into all circumstances connected with the 1888 British naval manoeuvres reported as follows: The First Naval Lord, Admiral Sir Arthur Hood commented on this as follows:

1889 annual manoeuvres

Arethusa was commissioned for the 1889 annual manoeuvres on 18 July 1889, and paid off on 14 September 1889.

1890 annual manoeuvres

Arethusa was commissioned for the 1890 annual manoeuvres on 22 July 1890, and paid off on 11 September 1890.

1892 annual manoeuvres

Arethusa was commissioned for the 1892 annual manoeuvres on 21 July 1892, and paid off on 8 September 1892. During the manoeuvres she suffered engine problems, with a burst steam pipe delaying departure from Queenstown on 3 August and on 10 August she had a failure of the low pressure on her port engine, with Arethusa continuing on the power of one engine. On the night of 10/11 August, a small second-class torpedo boat which had just been lowered from Arethusa's davits, was struck by the cruiser's propeller and badly damaged, with the hull being split almost to the keel. Arethusa rescued the torpedo boat's crew and recovered the torpedo boat.

1893-1896

Arethusa was commissioned at Chatham, 16 May 1893, and the served in the Mediterranean. She paid off at Chatham on 22 July 1896.

1896-1899

Arethusa laid in ordinary at Chatham from 23 July 1896 to 10 July 1899.

1899 annual manoeuvres

Arethusa was commissioned at Chatham on 11 July 1899 for the annual manoeuvres, and paid off on 13 August.

1899-1903

Arethusa was commissioned at Chatham on 14 November 1899 by Captain James Startin. Initially she served on the Pacific Station, where she visited Callao in March 1900. The following year she was sent out as a reinforcement to the China Station for the protection of the lives and property of British subjects during the Boxer Rebellion. Arethusa remained on the China Station until she was relieved by HMS Thetis (1890), then she returned to England and paid off for the last time on 3 April 1903. This commission was the subject of a book in the 'Log' series, entitled: HMS Arethusa, went Round the World, 1899–1903. The British fleet on the China Station in March 1901 was commanded by Vice-Admiral Sir Edward H. Seymour, G.C.B. in Centurion, with Rear-Admiral Sir James A.T. Bruce, K.C.M.G. second in command, and consisted of: ** Ordered home. ‡ Temporarily attached to China Station.

Disposal

Arethusa was sold on 4 April 1905.

Footnotes

Arethusa Logbooks in the UK National Archives