HMVS Gordon
Encyclopedia
HMVS Gordon was a torpedo boat
operated by the Victorian Naval Forces, the Commonwealth Naval Forces, and the Royal Australian Navy
. She was launched in 1884 and lost in an accident in 1914.
, Gordon was ordered on 5 February 1885. She was launched at the Cowes yard of J. Samuel White
in 1884. She was 56 feet (17 m) long and displaced about 12 tons. The compound surface-condensing steam engine by G. E. Bayliss & Co. provided 150 ihp, sufficient for about 15 knots (29.4 km/h).
Gordon was armed with three 1-inch Nordenfelt gun
s and carried two sets of dropping gear for Whitehead torpedoes. She was manned by 11 men.
during from 1901 to 1914.
When the colonies of Australia
were federated in 1901
, Gordon became part of the Commonwealth Naval Forces. The Royal Australian Navy was formed in 1911 and from this time she was referred to as HMAS
Gordon.
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
operated by the Victorian Naval Forces, the Commonwealth Naval Forces, and the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
. She was launched in 1884 and lost in an accident in 1914.
Construction
Designed for the defence of the British colony of VictoriaVictoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Gordon was ordered on 5 February 1885. She was launched at the Cowes yard of J. Samuel White
J. Samuel White
J. Samuel White was a British shipbuilding firm based in Cowes, taking its name from John Samuel White . It came to prominence during the Victorian era...
in 1884. She was 56 feet (17 m) long and displaced about 12 tons. The compound surface-condensing steam engine by G. E. Bayliss & Co. provided 150 ihp, sufficient for about 15 knots (29.4 km/h).
Gordon was armed with three 1-inch Nordenfelt gun
1-inch Nordenfelt gun
The 1-inch Nordenfelt gun was an early rapid-firing light gun intended to defend larger warships against the new small fast-moving torpedo boats in the late 1870s to the early 1880s.-Description:...
s and carried two sets of dropping gear for Whitehead torpedoes. She was manned by 11 men.
Service
Gordon served as a depot tender to Williamstown DockyardWilliamstown Dockyard
Williamstown Dockyard was one of Australia's principal ship building yards at Williamstown, Victoria, Australia.The Colony of Victoria decided to construct a large slipway at Williamstown to provide ship repair facilities in 1856 and the Government Patent Slip was opened in 1858. Slip Pier was...
during from 1901 to 1914.
When the colonies of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
were federated in 1901
Federation of Australia
The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia formed one nation...
, Gordon became part of the Commonwealth Naval Forces. The Royal Australian Navy was formed in 1911 and from this time she was referred to as HMAS
Her Majesty's Australian Ship
Her or His Majesty's Australian Ship is a ship prefix used for commissioned units of the Royal Australian Navy. This prefix is derived from HMS , the prefix used by the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, and can be equally applied to warships and shore bases Her or His Majesty's Australian Ship...
Gordon.