HMS Tourmaline (1875)

Laid down by Raylton Dixon's shipyard in Middlesbrough on 17 July 1874, Tourmaline was launched on 30 August the following year. The vessel cost £95,769 and was the first of the class to enter service.^[11] The warship was commissioned on 25 October 1876 and arrived in Simon's Town, South Africa, on 29 January 1877.^[12][13] The ship required further work before becoming operational and so returned to the UK, arriving in Plymouth on 22 August. Faults included limitations to the use of the engine that meant it was barely usable.^[14] On 31 January 1878, the corvette was ready for service and was dispatched to join the North America and West Indies Station.^[15] Tourmaline returned to the UK, arriving at Sheerness Dockyard on 12 September 1880 for a short refit.^[16]

On 2 November, the warship sailed to join third flying squadron under the command of the Earl of Clanwilliam at Madeira.^[17][18] The ships sailed via St Vincent, Cape Verde, where the corvette took on 120 long tons (120 t) of coal, and arrived at Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands on 9 January. However, the start of the First Boer War meant that the ship was dispatched back to Simon's Town, arriving 22 days later.^[19] The vessel took no part in the conflict but did contribute 21 shots of a 105 gun salute to mark the assassination of Alexander II of Russia. From South Africa, the squadron proceeded to Australia, spending the summer in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. The allure of the colony, and the opportunity that the gold rush then ensuing provided, meant that 30 sailors deserted during the time. From there, the vessels sailed via Fiji and Nauru to Japan, arriving in Yokohama in October.^[20] The ships then sailed through Wusong, Xiamen, Hong Kong and Singapore, returning to Simon's Town and then to Gibraltar, arriving on 1 July 1881.^[21][22] From there, the ship was dispatched to Alexandria to engage in the Anglo-Egyptian War. The vessel was involved in the bombardment and surrender of Abu Qir Bay on 20 August.^[23]

On 10 September 1883, Tourmaline was transferred to serve in the Indian Ocean on patrols to combat the Indian Ocean slave trade from a base in the Sultanate of Zanzibar.^[24][25] The vessel was in attendance when the sultan was invested into the Order of St Michael and St George.^[26] After a refit in Bombay that cost £25,000, the ship sailed to Toamasina, Madagascar, on 13 December 1883 in response to the Franco-Hova Wars.^[27][12] The vessel acted as senior officer's ship to the country, transporting the consul-general on diplomatic missions. Tourmaline returned to Sheerness Dockyard on 31 October 1884 to be broken up.^[28] Instead, a refit costing £39,833 was authorised, including updating the armament with 5 in (130 mm) BL guns, the vessel being recommissioned on 12 August 1886 to rejoin the North America and West Indies Station.^[8][29] On 15 August 1889, the corvette visited New York. Unusually for the time, the crew were given shore leave.^[30] Tourmaline was converted to a coal hulk in 1899, renamed C.115 in December 1904, and eventually sold to be broken up in November 1920.^[31]

• Archibald, Edward H. H. (1968). The Wooden Fighting Ship in the Royal Navy, A.D. 897–1860. London: Blandford. ISBN 978-0-71370-492-1.
• Brassey, Thomas (2010) [1882]. "Tables of Ships: British and Foreign". The British Navy: Its Strength, Resources, and Administration. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 549–605. ISBN 978-1-10802-465-5.
• Colledge, J.J.; Warlow, Ben (2006). Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of All Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy. London: Chatham Press. ISBN 978-1-93514-907-1.
• Friedman, Norman (2012). British Cruisers of the Victorian Era. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-099-4.
• Gibbs, E. W. C. (1896). The Illustrated Guide to the Royal Navy and Foreign Navies: Also Mercantile Marine Steamers Available as Armed Cruisers and Transport, &c. London: Waterlow Bros. & Layton. OCLC 841883694.
• Howell, Raymond (1987). The Royal Navy and the Slave Trade. London: Croom Helm. ISBN 978-0-70994-770-7.
• Humble, Richard (1976). Before the Dreadnought : the Royal Navy from Nelson to Fisher. London: Macdonald and Jane's. OCLC 3107352.
• Roberts, John (1979). "Great Britain". In Gardiner, Robert (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. London: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 1–113. ISBN 978-0-85177-133-5.
• Wall, Henry F. (1879). The State of the Navy, 1878. Unarmoured Ships. London: G. Philip & Son. OCLC 38479026.
• Winfield, R.; Lyon, D. (2004). The Sail and Steam Navy List: All the Ships of the Royal Navy 1815–1889. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-032-6. OCLC 52620555.