HMAS Protector (1884) - Operational History

Operational History

In July 1882, motions were brought forward in both houses of the Parliament of South Australia to establish a naval force with the creation of a cruiser-type warship, capable of defending the local coastline and harbours. At the suggestion of Sir William Jervois, William Armstrong & Co. of Newcastle upon Tyne were chosen to build the vessel, named Protector, for approximately £40,000 to £50,000 pounds sterling. The builder’s estimate was £63,600 pounds. The contract authorising construction was signed on 16 November 1882 and the time allotted was fourteen months. The final cost was £65,000 pounds sterling.

A number of alterations were incorporated during the vessel’s time on the builder’s slip, delaying completion until May 1884. On 19 June, the Protector was ready for sea. She was officially commissioned and during the day undertook her initial speed trial run over a four hour period with the average speed attained being 14 knots (26 km/h). The guns were then tested in the open sea.

Protector sailed from Newcastle upon Tyne on 27 June 1884, en route to Australia and arrived in Gibraltar on 5 July. Sailing via Malta and Port Said, the Protector anchored at Suez on 25 July. Rigged as a topsail schooner the gunboat sailed on to Colombo (Sri Lanka), leaving there on 25 August. During her voyage to Adelaide Protector flew the blue ensign. She left King George’s Sound in late September and on 30 September, arrived at Port Adelaide.

Protector’s first commanding officer was Commander J.C.P. Walcott RN, who brought her out from England and served as Commander in Charge of the South Australian Naval Forces until August 1893, when he was succeeded by Captain Creswell. Protector remained in South Australian waters for the next 15 uneventful years. Her only activities comprised regular deployments on station at Largs Bay.