Arethusa was built at Napier, Glasgow, and completed in financial year 1886–87.[1]
She lay in ordinary at Chatham after completion.
Arethusa was commissioned for the 1887 annual manoeuvres on 8 July 1887, and paid off on 1 September 1887.
Arethusa was commissioned for the 1888 annual manoeuvres on 4 July 1888, and paid off on 31 August 1888.[2] Arethusa was part of Vice Admiral John K.E. Baird's fleet. In the manoeuvres, hostilities broke out at noon on 24 July 1888, and ended at noon on 20 August. Baird's force represented the British fleet, and England, Scotland and Wales were considered friendly to the British fleet and hostile to the enemy. Opposing Baird was the 'Achil' fleet, led by Rear Admiral George Tryon, and based in Berehaven on the south-west coast of Ireland and Lough Swilly on the north coast. All Irish territory was considered hostile to the British fleet and friendly to the enemy. At the outset Baird's fleet was concentrated on keeping Tryon's fleet shut up in their base ports. They failed. Both Tryon and his second in command broke the blockade on 4 August, and swooping round the extremities of Ireland, made a descent on British commerce and British ports.[3] In the manoeuvres, the Arethusa was assessed as lost on 5 August.[4]
The committee appointed to inquire into all circumstances connected with the 1888 British naval manoeuvres reported as follows:
In the 1888 manoeuvres, "the proportion of untrained (2nd Class) stokers which were draughted to several of the ships appears to have been too large."[5] The opinion of the captain of Arethusa was that the "engine room complement [was] insufficient by 2 engine room artificers, 2 leading stokers, and 23 stokers."[6]
"...the Committee think it right to call special attention to certain remarks contained in the report of the captain who lately commanded this ship.
He considers the Arethusa a good sea-boat, and that she steams well against a moderate head sea and strong wind, but that she rolls heavily when the sea is abeam or abaft; she is therefore unsteady as a gun-platform under these conditions, and, on account of her quick and heavy rolling, 'accurate shooting would be an impossibility, and machine guns in the tops would be useless.'
Among the many suggestions made for improving her efficiency, the following refer especially to the reduction of top weight:-
The captain does not himself suggest that the armament should be lightened; but Admiral Baird's opinion, that all cruisers appear to be too heavily armed, applies to this vessel as well as to the Mersey class, and in this opinion the Committee concur.
Three other suggestions from the same officer are noted as specially worthy of consideration, viz.:-
The First Naval Lord, Admiral Sir Arthur Hood commented on this as follows:
"The proposal to remove the square rig on the foremast, and the fighting tops, in order to reduce top weight I do not concur in; the square rig on the foremast is a decided advantage to vessels of this class, and would enable them to save coal when cruising on a foreign station; the value of the guns mounted in the fighting tops would be considerable when engaged with cruisers, and therefore I would retain them."'[8]
Arethusa was commissioned for the 1889 annual manoeuvres on 18 July 1889, and paid off on 14 September 1889.[9]
Arethusa was commissioned for the 1890 annual manoeuvres on 22 July 1890, and paid off on 11 September 1890.[10]
Arethusa was commissioned for the 1892 annual manoeuvres on 21 July 1892, and paid off on 8 September 1892.[11] During the manoeuvres she suffered engine problems, with a burst steam pipe delaying departure from Queenstown on 3 August and on 10 August she had a failure of the low pressure on her port engine, with Arethusa continuing on the power of one engine. On the night of 10/11 August, a small second-class torpedo boat which had just been lowered from Arethusas davits, was struck by the cruiser's propeller and badly damaged, with the hull being split almost to the keel. Arethusa rescued the torpedo boat's crew and recovered the torpedo boat.[12]
Arethusa was commissioned at Chatham, 16 May 1893, and the served in the Mediterranean.[13] She paid off at Chatham on 22 July 1896.[14]
Arethusa laid in ordinary at Chatham from 23 July 1896 to 10 July 1899.[15]
Arethusa was commissioned at Chatham on 11 July 1899 for the annual manoeuvres, and paid off on 13 August.[16] [17]
Arethusa was commissioned at Chatham on 14 November 1899 by Captain James Startin.[18] [19] Initially she served on the Pacific Station,[20] where she visited Callao in March 1900.[21] The following year she was sent out as a reinforcement to the China Station for the protection of the lives and property of British subjects during the Boxer Rebellion.[22] Arethusa remained on the China Station until she was relieved by,[23] then she returned to England and paid off for the last time on 3 April 1903.[19] This commission was the subject of a book in the 'Log' series, entitled: HMS Arethusa, went Round the World, 1899–1903.
The British fleet on the China Station in March 1901 was commanded by Vice-Admiral Sir Edward H. Seymour, G.C.B. in Centurion, with Rear-Admiral Sir James A.T. Bruce, K.C.M.G. second in command,[24] and consisted of:[25]
** Ordered home.
‡ Temporarily attached to China Station.
Arethusa was sold on 4 April 1905.[27]
| Catalogue Number | Start | End | |||
| ADM 53/12513 | 8 July 1887 | 1 September 1887 | |||
| ADM 53/12514 | 4 July 1888 | 31 August 1888 | |||
| ADM 53/12515 | 18 July 1889 | 14 September 1889 | |||
| ADM 53/12516 | 22 July 1890 | 11 September 1890 | |||
| ADM 53/12517 | 21 July 1892 | 8 September 1892 | |||
| ADM 53/12518 | 16 May 1893 | 11 May 1894 | |||
| ADM 53/12519 | 12 May 1894 | 14 August 1895 | |||
| ADM 53/12520 | 15 August 1895 | 22 July 1896 | |||
| ADM 53/17281 A | 11 July 1899 | 13 August 1899 | |||
| ADM 53/12521 | 14 November 1899 | 15 April 1901 | |||
| ADM 53/12522 | 16 April 1901 | 27 November 1902 | |||
| ADM 53/17281 B | 28 November 1902 | 3 April 1903 | |||