HMS ''Mohawk'' was an

torpedo cruiser A torpedo cruiser is a type of warship that is armed primarily with torpedoes. The major navies began building torpedo cruisers shortly after the invention of the locomotive Whitehead torpedo in the 1860s. The development of the torpedo gave rise ...

of the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...

, built by J. & G. Thompson at

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

and launched on 6 February 1886.Bastock, p.108. Her first service was on the Cape Station between 1890 and 1892. In 1893, ''Mohawk'' was serving on the

North America and West Indies Station The North America and West Indies Station was a formation or command of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy stationed in North American waters from 1745 to 1956. The North American Station was separate from the Jamaica Station until 1830 when the ...

when civil disorder broke out on the island of Dominica. A party of Marines and sailors were landed to assist the local police in stopping the rioting. Four rioters were killed and several injured on both sides, including the commanding officer of ''Mohawk'', Commander Edward Henry Bayley, before order was restored. ''Mohawk'' commenced service on the

Australia Station The Australia Station was the British, and later Australian, naval command responsible for the waters around the Australian continent.Dennis et al. 2008, p.53. Australia Station was under the command of the Commander-in-Chief, Australia Station, ...

in December 1897. During the Boxer Rebellion in China, she escorted the New South Wales Naval Brigade to

Peking } Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...

before commencing service on the

China Station The Commander-in-Chief, China was the admiral in command of what was usually known as the China Station, at once both a British Royal Navy naval formation and its admiral in command. It was created in 1865 and deactivated in 1941. From 1831 to 18 ...

. On 24 April 1901 she was

paid off Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to placing a warship in ...

into the Fleet Reserve at

Chatham Chatham may refer to: Places and jurisdictions Canada * Chatham Islands (British Columbia) * Chatham Sound, British Columbia * Chatham, New Brunswick, a former town, now a neighbourhood of Miramichi * Chatham (electoral district), New Brunswic ...

. She was recommissioned in January 1903 to replace the ''Scout'' on the

Mediterranean Station The British Mediterranean Fleet, also known as the Mediterranean Station, was a formation of the Royal Navy. The Fleet was one of the most prestigious commands in the navy for the majority of its history, defending the vital sea link between ...

, with Commander

Ernest Gaunt Admiral Sir Ernest Frederick Augustus Gaunt, (25 March 1865 – 20 April 1940) was an Australian-born Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches. Naval career Gaunt was born in Beechworth, Victoria, Australia, t ...

transferring from that ship to be in command. In April 1904 she saw service during the Somaliland Campaign, including supplying men for the landing party that stormed and captured the forts at Illig."The capture of the forts at Illig from the Mad Mullah, 21 April 1904", Paul G Lane. ''Orders & Medals Research Society Journal'' (Volume 59, number 2) June 2020. pp 152-156. She returned to England in 1905, and on 4 April that year was sold to Garnham for £4,850 for breaking up at Chatham.

Citations

References

*Bastock, John (1988), ''Ships on the Australia Station'', Child & Associates Publishing Pty Ltd; Frenchs Forest, Australia. * 1886 ships Ships built on the River Clyde Archer-class cruisers Victorian-era naval ships of the United Kingdom {{UK-mil-ship-stub