Barham-class cruiser
Bellona in 1890 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Barham class |
| Builders | |
| Operators | Royal Navy |
| Built | 1888–1891 |
| In commission | 1890–1914 |
| Completed | 2 |
| Retired | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Third class cruiser |
| Displacement | 1,800 long tons (1,830 t) |
| Length | 280 ft 0 in (85.34 m) lbp |
| Beam | 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) |
| Draught | 4.04 m (13 ft 3 in) |
| Propulsion |
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| Speed | |
| Complement | 170 |
| Armament |
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| Armour |
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The Barham-class cruiser was a series of two third-class cruisers operated by the Royal Navy between 1890 and 1914. Designed as a high-speed variant of the Barracouta-class cruiser for service in the Mediterranean and British waters, flaws in their boiler design led to frequent breakdowns and the abandonment of their original purpose. Instead, the two ships were reclassified as dispatch vessels and were eventually broken up after two decades of service.