HMS Royal Sovereign (1891) - Operational History

Operational History

Royal Sovereign was christened by Queen Victoria, attended by her sons the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh, and the Duke of Connaught, on 26 February 1891. She completed trials in May 1892 and was commissioned on 31 May 1892, relieving HMS Camperdown as Flagship, Channel Squadron. From then until 13 August 1892, she served as Flagship, "Red Fleet," in annual mauevers off the coast of Ireland. She reprised her role as Flagship, Red Fleet, from 27 July 1892 to 6 August 1892 in annual maneuvers in the Irish Sea and the Western Approaches.

In June 1895 Royal Sovereign was part of a British naval squadron that attended the opening of the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal in Germany.

During the third week of July 1896, Royal Sovereign took part in annual maneuvers in the Irish Sea and off the southwest coast of England as part of 'Fleet A."

On 7 June 1897, Royal Sovereign paid off and her crew transferred to battleship HMS Mars, which relieved her in the Channel Squadron. The next day, she recommissioned to relieve the battleship HMS Trafalgar in the Mediterranean Sea. Before departing for the Mediterranean, she took part in the Fleet Review for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria at Spithead on 26 June 1897, and from 7 July 1897 to 11 July 1897 took part in annual manoeuvres off the coast of Ireland. She finally departed England for the Mediterranean in September 1897.

Upon arrival, Royal Sovereign joined the Mediterranean Fleet. On 13 May 1899, she recommissioned for further duty with that fleet.

On 9 November 1901, off Greece, one of her 6-inch (152-mm) guns exploded, killing one officer and five Royal Marines and injuring one officer (Sir Robert Keith Arbuthnot, 4th Bt) and 19 seamen.

After being relieved in the Mediterranean by battleship HMS London, Royal Sovereign departed Gibraltar on 9 July 1902, arriving at Portsmouth, England, on 14 July 1902. On 30 August 1902, she commissioned as Port Guard Ship there for service in the Home Squadron. From 5 August 1903 to 9 August 1903, she participated in manoeuvres off the coast of Portugal. From 1903 to 1904, she underwent an extensive refit at Portsmouth.

On 9 February 1907, Royal Sovereign commissioned as a Special Service Vessel in Reserve. As such, she was incorporated into the 4th Division of the Home Fleet with other such vessels in April 1909.

In September 1909, Royal Sovereign paid off at Devonport into Material Reserve. She was sold for scrap on 7 October 1913.