View source for HMAS Protector (1884)

{{Short description|Flat-iron gunboat of Royal Australian Navy}}
{{Other ships|HMAS Protector}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2018}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox ship
|section1={{Infobox ship/image
 | image = Protector1-6.jpg
 | image_caption = HMAS ''Protector'' in 1914
 }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career
 | country = Australia
 | flag = {{Shipboxflag|Australia|naval-1913}}
 | builder = [[Armstrong Whitworth|Sir WG Armstrong, Mitchell & Co]], [[Newcastle upon Tyne]]
 | laid_down = 16 November 1882
 | launched = May 1884
 | commissioned = 19 June 1884
 | decommissioned = June 1924 (RAN naval service)
 }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/career
 | hide_header = yes
 | recommissioned = July 1943 (US army service)
 | out_of_service = July 1943
 | motto = Faith for Duty
 | nickname = 
 | honours = *'''Battle honours:'''
*[[Boxer Rebellion|China]] 1900
*Rabaul 1914
 | fate = [[Scuttled]] as a breakwater at [[Heron Island (Queensland)|Heron Island]], 1943.
 | notes = 
 | badge = 
 }}

|section4={{Infobox ship/characteristics
 | type = Armstrong type F1 [[flat-iron gunboat]]
 | displacement = 920&nbsp;tons
 | length = {{Convert|180|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}
 | beam = {{Convert|56|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}
 | draught = {{Convert|12|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}
 | propulsion = 2 compound surface condensing engines
 | speed = {{convert|14|kn}}
 | range = 
 | endurance = 
 | complement = 85 to 96
 | armament = *''As built: ''
*1 × [[BL 8 inch Mk VII naval gun|BL {{convert|8|in|mm|adj=on|sigfig=4}} Mk VII gun]]
*5 × [[BL 6 inch 80 pounder gun|BL {{convert|6|in|mm|adj=on|sigfig=4}} 80-pounder guns]]
*4 × [[QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss|QF 3-pounder guns]]
*5 × [[Gatling gun]]s
*''From 1914:''
*3 × [[QF 4 inch naval gun Mk I – III|QF 4-inch Mk III guns]]
*2 × [[QF 12-pounder 12 cwt naval gun|QF 12-pounder guns]]
*4 × [[QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss|QF 3-pounder guns]]
 | armour = 
 | notes = 
 }}
}}
'''HMCS''' (later '''HMAS''')<ref>His/Her Majesty's Colonial Ship, later [[His Majesty's Australian Ship]]</ref> '''''Protector''''' was a large [[flat-iron gunboat]] commissioned and purchased by the [[South Australia]]n government in 1884, for the purpose of defending the local coastline against possible attacks in the aftermath of the '[[Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)|Russian scare']], of the 1870s.<ref>Cohen, Raymond (1979). ''Threat perception in international crisis''. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press. {{ISBN|0-299-08000-5}}. [http://worldcat.org/oclc/4983577&referer=brief_results OCLC: 4983577].</ref> She arrived in Adelaide in September 1884 and served in the [[Boxer Rebellion]], World War I and World War II.

During July 1943, ''Protector'' was requisitioned for war service by the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]]. On the way to [[New Guinea]] and off [[Gladstone, Queensland|Gladstone]], she was damaged in a collision with a tug and abandoned. The hull was taken to [[Heron Island, Australia|Heron Island]] off the Queensland coast and later sunk for use as a [[Breakwater (structure)|breakwater]]. Her rusting remains are still visible to this day.

==Description and armament==
Built by [[Armstrong Whitworth|Sir WG Armstrong, Mitchell & Co]], [[Newcastle upon Tyne]], England, ''Protector'' was built to a standard type F1 [[flat-iron gunboat]] design, but was one of the largest of its type, and was classified as a light cruiser, with a displacement of 920&nbsp;tons. Her length was {{convert|180|ft|6|in|m}}, with two compound surface-condensing engines that produced {{convert|1500|hp}}. Her top speed was {{convert|14|kn}}. To conserve fuel (coal) she was originally rigged as a topsail schooner.<ref name=seapower>Sea Power Centre Australia (2008). [https://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-protector-i HMAS Protector (I) (HMCS)]. Retrieved 17 February 2021.</ref>

[[File:HMCS Protector Starboard elevation and Deck plan.jpg|thumb|Starboard elevation and deck plan, 1888]]
For her size, ''Protector'' was exceptionally heavily armed. Her largest weapon was the {{convert|8|in|mm|0|adj=on}} [[Elswick Ordnance Company|Armstrong]]-rifled breech-loading gun mounted at the bow. The gun weighed 12&nbsp;tons and could fire a {{convert|180|lb|adj=on}} shell {{convert|7500|yd}} using a charge of {{convert|90|lb|abbr=on}} of black powder.<ref name=SA>State Library of South Australia (2007). [http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfmu=617&c=3754 ''Gunboat The Protector.'']. Retrieved 25 February 2008.</ref><ref>90 lb powder charge, as per [http://cgsc.cdmhost.com/u?/p4013coll11,230 Text Book of Gunnery 1902] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120712182551/http://cgsc.cdmhost.com/u?/p4013coll11,230 |date=12 July 2012 }}, War Office, UK, and as per [http://www.cerberus.com.au/manuals_printing.html Victorian Navy Manuals of 1887 & 1895]</ref>

Other armaments included five {{convert|6|in|mm|0|adj=on}} Woolwich-Armstrong rifled breech-loading guns; four 3-pounder 1.85-calibre [[Hotchkiss gun|Hotchkiss]] QF guns and five {{convert|10|oilbbl|m3|adj=on}} [[Gatling gun|Gatling machine guns]]. Her small arms consisted of 200 0.45 [[Martini-Henry]] rifles Mk IV, 100 breech-loading revolvers, 100 cutlasses and 30 boarding pikes.

At the outbreak of World War I, her armament was increased to include two {{convert|4|in|mm|adj=on}} guns, two 12-pounder guns and four 3-pounder guns.

==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]], Armstrong, Mitchell & Co. of Newcastle upon Tyne were chosen to build the vessel, named ''Protector'', for about 40,000 to 50,000&nbsp;pounds sterling. The builder's estimate was £63,600. The contract authorising construction was signed on 16 November 1882 and the time allotted was fourteen months. The final cost was £65,000.

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. Her average speed was {{convert|14|kn|km/h}}. The guns were then tested in the open sea.<ref name=Gillett>Gillett, Ross (1980). [http://www.navyhistory.org.au/the-story-of-hmcs-protector/2/ ''The Story of HMCS Protector'']. Retrieved 24 February 2008.</ref>

''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 [[Schooner|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]].<ref name=Gillett/>

''Protector''{{'}}s first commanding officer was Commander J.C.P. Walcott RN, who brought her out from England. He served as the commander in charge of the South Australian Naval Forces until August 1893, when he was succeeded by [[William Rooke Creswell|Captain Creswell]]. ''Protector'' remained in South Australian waters for the next fifteen uneventful years. Her only activities comprised regular deployments on station at [[Largs Bay, South Australia|Largs Bay]].

===Boxer Rebellion===
[[File:Protector (AWM A04936).jpg|thumb|''Protector'' circa 1901]]
Around the turn of the 20th century, all Australian colonies were involved in the [[Boer War]] in South Africa, when a call from Britain came to help defeat the Chinese secret society known as the [[Righteous Harmony Society|Boxers]]. South Australia responded by offering ''Protector'' and her crew, which varied in number between 85 and 96.<ref name=Odgers>Odgers, George (1994). [http://homepage.powerup.com.au/~qdeck/boxers_war.htm ''War Against the Boxers.''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911063645/http://homepage.powerup.com.au/~qdeck/boxers_war.htm |date=11 September 2007 }}. Retrieved 24 February 2008</ref>

[[File:Protector crew.jpg|thumb|''Protector''{{'}}s crew in 1900]]
''Protector'' was to join an international force composed of sailors, marines, and soldiers from Britain, France, Italy, the United States, Japan, Russia, Germany, and Austria-Hungary—the so-called [[Eight-Nation Alliance]]—to protect the lives of foreign nationals and to defend their economic interests.<ref name=Gillett/> The British asked that the ship be commanded and manned by British personnel, and although the South Australian government did not agree to the crewing request, commanding officer [[Chapman James Clare]] was temporarily demoted to second in command, with [[William Rooke Creswell]], a British officer and Commandant of the [[Queensland Maritime Defence Force]] installed as the ship's captain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cerberus.com.au/muster_dadabik/index.php?table_name=crew&function=details&where_field=ID&where_value=26 |last=Frogley|first=Geoffrey|year=2011|title=Captain William Rooke Creswell|access-date=7 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=632&c=2485 |title=Chapman James Clare |work=SA Memory |publisher=Government of South Australia |access-date=7 November 2013}}</ref>

''Protector'' sailed from Adelaide, flying the [[White Ensign]], on 6 August 1900. She was temporarily commissioned as HMS ''Protector'' for legal reasons, and arrived at Hong Kong on 11 September 1900. A week later, she departed for Shanghai.<ref name=Gillett/>

In Chinese waters, the expected use of shallow draught vessels such as ''Protector'' was not called for, but she performed useful work as a survey vessel and in carrying despatches in the [[Bohai Sea|Gulf of Pechili]]. By the beginning of November, the Admiralty had decided it could dispense with her services, and she was released to return to Adelaide on 2 November 1900. During her return voyage, ''Protector'' participated in the ceremonies [[Federation of Australia|inaugurating the Australian Commonwealth]] in Sydney on 1 January 1901.

===Australian Commonwealth===
[[File:Protector1-1.jpg|thumb|upright|''Protector'' in 1901]]
In 1901, ''Protector'' was transferred to the [[Government of Australia|Australian Commonwealth Government]] and became a Commonwealth naval vessel primarily based in Sydney, [[New South Wales]]. In the years leading up to the establishment of an Australian Naval Fleet, ''Protector'' was active around the southern and eastern seaboards. Her main role was to train the Naval Militia Forces of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, a duty which she continued on following the foundation of the Royal Australian Navy. From September 1913, she served as a tender to the first steam-powered Australian warship, [[HMVS Cerberus|HMAS ''Cerberus'']] in [[Williamstown, Victoria|Williamstown]], Victoria.<ref name=seapower/><ref name=Gillett/>

===World War I===
When World War I broke out in 1914, ''Protector'' was sent to Sydney and she began service as a parent/depot ship to two Australian submarines, [[HMAS AE1|''AE1'']] and [[HMAS AE2|''AE2'']].<ref name= AE1>AE1 Submarine (2008). [http://www.ae1submarine.com/crew.html ''AE1 Submarine Crew''.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080320230647/http://www.ae1submarine.com/crew.html |date=20 March 2008 }}. Retrieved 24 February 2008.</ref> On 28 August 1914, she sailed from Sydney as escort to the submarines headed for [[German New Guinea]] colonies. After the surrender of these colonies on 17 September, ''Protector'' remained based at [[Rabaul]] as a port guard ship until early October 1914, when she sailed for Sydney in the company of [[HMAS Fantome (1901)|HMAS ''Fantome'']].<ref name=seapower/><ref name=Gillett/>

''Protector'' remained in Australian waters, mainly at Melbourne, until October 1915, when she sailed for the [[Cocos Islands]] in the Indian Ocean to report on the wreck of the [[SMS Emden|German cruiser ''Emden'']]. ''Emden'' had been driven ashore on [[North Keeling|North Keeling Island]] by {{HMAS|Sydney|1912|6}} on 9 November 1914.<ref name=seapower/><ref name=Gillett/>

''Protector'' returned to Australia in December 1915 and thereafter, for the remainder of the war period, was employed again as a tender to HMAS ''Cerberus'' and seagoing duty for a period as a [[Minesweeper (ship)|minesweeper]] in Victorian coastal waters.

===Between the wars===
In the post war period, she continued to serve as a tender to HMAS ''Cerberus'' (the warship) at Williamstown. In May 1920, she carried the advance party to Flinders Naval depot on [[Westernport Bay]] (later renamed HMAS Cerberus Training School) in preparation for the official opening which took place on 1 September 1920.

On 1 April 1921, the ''Protector'' lost her thirty-seven-year-old identity when she was renamed HMAS ''Cerberus''. (In turn, [[HMVS Cerberus|the then HMAS ''Cerberus'']] was renamed ''Platypus II''.)

===Disposal===
In June 1924, ''Protector''{{'}}s 40-year naval career came to a close when she was paid off for disposal and was sold to Mr J. Hill of Melbourne for £677 and 10 shillings. ''Protector'' was dismantled and her armament, engines and all movable parts were sold at auction. Conversion work to a lighter then took place and was completed in November 1929. Her old ammunition magazines served as a [[Bunkering|bunker]] for about 300&nbsp;tons of oil fuel.

In 1931, she was re-sold to the Victorian Lighterage Co and was renamed ''Sidney''. For several years she served as a wool [[Lighter (barge)|lighter]].

===World War II===
During July 1943, ''Protector'' was requisitioned for war service by the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]]. En route to New Guinea and off [[Gladstone, Queensland|Gladstone]], she was damaged in a collision with a tug and abandoned on a beach near Gladstone. In the same year, the hulk was purchased by Christian Poulsen for ten [[Australian pound|pounds]], and was subsequently taken to [[Heron Island (Queensland)|Heron Island]] off the Queensland coast, where the vessel was sunk for use as a [[Breakwater (structure)|breakwater]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.heronisland.com/eco-adventure/history-of-heron-island |title=The History of Heron Island |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=www.heronisland.com |publisher= |access-date=20 July 2024 |quote=}}</ref>

==Present day==
[[File:HMAS Protector Remains S01.JPG|thumb|The remains of ''Protector'' at Heron Island in 2008 at low tide (broadside)]]
As of 2024, only the deteriorated and rusted iron hull of ''Protector'' remains, which is clearly visible from Heron Island as a breakwater in position {{coord|23.4428|S|151.909|E|display=inline,title|type:landmark}}. The wreck can also be reached by walking at low tide. The reef around the wreck provides good diving and snorkelling at high tide.

''Protector''{{'}}s stern [[BL 6 inch 80 pounder gun|{{convert|6|in|mm|adj=on}} breech-loading gun]] mounting was located at [[Semaphore, South Australia|Semaphore]]'s foreshore, a historic seaside suburb of Adelaide, South Australia, for many years.<ref name=Aussie>Aussie Heritage (2007) [http://www.aussieheritage.com.au/listings/sa/Semaphore/SixInchBreech-LoadingGunfromHMCSProtector/11580 ''Six Inch Breech – Loading Gun from HMCS Protector'']. Retrieved 24 February 2008</ref> In 1998, it was relocated a short distance away outside [[Australian Navy Cadets|TS Adelaide]] at the [[Royal Australian Navy Reserve|Birkenhead Naval Depot]] in [[Birkenhead, South Australia]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The 1884 PROTECTOR gun in backstreet Birkenhead|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/5556981543/in/photostream/|publisher=Kookaburra2011 Flickr photostream|access-date=28 August 2011|year=2011}}</ref> In 2018, the gun was returned to the Semaphore foreshore following a joint restoration project by the RAN and [[Le Fevre High School]].<ref>{{Citation|last=Enfield|first=Port Adelaide|title=A piece of the HMAS Protector returns to Semaphore|date=2018-05-10|url=https://www.cityofpae.sa.gov.au/connect/media-hub/latest-news/a-piece-of-the-hmas-protector-returns-to-semaphore|publisher=City of Port Adelaide Enfield|language=en|access-date=17 June 2021}}</ref>

A [[QF 4 inch naval gun Mk I – III|{{convert|4|in|mm|adj=on}} QF gun]] from ''Protector'' is on display at the [[National Military Vehicle Museum]] in [[Edinburgh, South Australia]].

The ship's wheel is on display at the [[Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre]] in Sydney.<ref>{{cite web|title=Heritage Centre – Online Guided Tour|url=http://www.navy.gov.au/Heritage_Centre_-_Online_Guided_Tour|work=Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre|publisher=Royal Australian Navy|access-date=21 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317032229/http://www.navy.gov.au/Heritage_Centre_-_Online_Guided_Tour|archive-date=17 March 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Following an overhaul of the RAN [[battle honour]]s system, completed in March 2010, ''Protector'' was retroactively awarded the honours "China 1900" and "Rabaul 1914".<ref name=newhonours>{{cite news |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/Navy_Marks_109th_Birthday_With_Historic_Changes_To_Battle_Honours |title=Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours |date=1 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613184920/http://www.navy.gov.au/Navy_Marks_109th_Birthday_With_Historic_Changes_To_Battle_Honours |archive-date=13 June 2011 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |access-date=23 December 2012}}</ref><ref name=honourslist>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Units_entitlement_list.pdf |title=Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours |date=1 March 2010 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614064156/http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Units_entitlement_list.pdf |archive-date=14 June 2011 |access-date=23 December 2012}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[John Turner (naval officer)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|HMAS Protector (ship, 1884)}}

{{July 1943 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Protector}}
[[Category:Auxiliary ships of the Royal Australian Navy]]
[[Category:Cruisers of the South Australian Naval Service]]
[[Category:Ships of the United States Army]]
[[Category:1884 ships]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in July 1943]]
[[Category:Ships sunk as breakwaters]]
[[category:Ships built by Armstrong Mitchell]]