HMS Opal (1875)
Encyclopedia
HMS Opal was an Emerald class corvette of the Royal Navy
, laid down as HMS Magicienne and built by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland and launched on 9 March 1875.
She was completed with an armament of 14 64-pounder MLR guns (2 on bow and stern chasers, mounted on centre-line swivelling slides, and 12 on broadside slide mountings) and initially commenced service on the Pacific Station
, and while on passage in 1876 hit a rock in the Strait of Magellan
. She was damaged and repairs were undertaken at Esquimalt. She returned to England in 1880 for refit, in which her broadside armament was reduced by 2 guns and she was re-rigged as a barque. She sailed for service on the Cape of Good Hope and West Africa Station
in 1883, before commencing service on the Australia Station
in 1885. She returned to England in 1890 and was placed into reserve. She was sold for breaking up at Sheerness in August 1892.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, laid down as HMS Magicienne and built by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland and launched on 9 March 1875.
She was completed with an armament of 14 64-pounder MLR guns (2 on bow and stern chasers, mounted on centre-line swivelling slides, and 12 on broadside slide mountings) and initially commenced service on the Pacific Station
Pacific Station
The Pacific Station, often referred to as the Pacific Squadron, was one of the geographical divisions into which the Royal Navy divided its worldwide responsibilities...
, and while on passage in 1876 hit a rock in the Strait of Magellan
Strait of Magellan
The Strait of Magellan comprises a navigable sea route immediately south of mainland South America and north of Tierra del Fuego...
. She was damaged and repairs were undertaken at Esquimalt. She returned to England in 1880 for refit, in which her broadside armament was reduced by 2 guns and she was re-rigged as a barque. She sailed for service on the Cape of Good Hope and West Africa Station
Cape of Good Hope Station
The Cape of Good Hope Station was one of the geographical divisions into which the British Royal Navy divided its worldwide responsibilities. It was formally the units and establishments responsible to the Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope....
in 1883, before commencing service on the Australia Station
Australia Station
The Australia Station was the British—and later Australian—naval command responsible for the waters around the Australian continent.-History:In the early years following the establishment of the colony of New South Wales, ships based in Australian waters came under the control of the East Indies...
in 1885. She returned to England in 1890 and was placed into reserve. She was sold for breaking up at Sheerness in August 1892.