H.M.S. Janus (1895)

H.M.S. Janus (1895)
Builder:	Palmer Shipbuilding and Iron Company
Ordered:	1893-94
Laid down:	28 Mar, 1894
Launched:	12 Mar, 1895
Commissioned:	Nov, 1895
Broken up:	1914

H.M.S. Janus was one of thirty-six 27 Knotters, early Torpedo Boat Destroyers built for the Royal Navy in the 1890s.

In August, 1912, she and the other extant 27 knotters were redesignated as "A" Class Destroyers. She did not last much longer however, as she was scrapped in 1914.

Service

Janus ran into a caisson at Chatham Dockyard Extension Works on 22 February, 1897, sustaining bow damage above the waterline. An inquest was to follow. Her crew went over to Spitfire as she underwent a refit at Sheerness that was completed on 31 March, 1897.

After an instructional cruise to Scotland, Janus was again sent to Sheerness for repairs and alterations in mid-September, 1897. On the 18th, the crew again was sent to Spitfire. Janus completed these repairs on 12 November and resumed her place in the Medway Instructional Flotlla, her crew returning from Spitfire.

Janus was commissioned at Chatham on 9 May 1899 to take the place of Ariel in the Medway Instructional Flotilla, as the latter ship had had defects in its machinery..

In July, 1904, complaints from Vice-Admiral Noel of the China Station about the condition of his T.B.s and T.B.D.s prompted a review of his assets by First Lord of the Admiralty Selborne. Within, it was noted that Janus's boilers had been re-tubed in 1902 and had recently had a slight refit and her tail shafts withdrawn.

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

• Lieutenant & Commander George A. Ballard, 12 December, 1895 – 27 May, 1896
• Lieutenant & Commander John C. Soady, 27 May, 1896 – 1 July, 1896^[Inference]
• Lieutenant & Commander Raymond A. Nugent, 1 July, 1896 – 11 March, 1897  (for Annual Manoeuvres of 1896, then left to Spitfire while Janus undergoes refit)
• Lieutenant & Commander Raymond A. Nugent, 1 April, 1897 – 18 September, 1897  (returned after refit, went back to Spitfire when Janus sent in for repairs; participated in the Jubilee Naval Review and the Annual Manoeuvres of 1897)
• Lieutenant & Commander Marcus R. Hill, 1 January, 1898 – mid July, 1898
• Lieutenant & Commander Charles J. T. Dormer, 10 May, 1899 – 22 August, 1899
• Lieutenant Charles F. Corbett, 25 August, 1899 – 1 January, 1900
• Lieutenant & Commander Guy de L. O. Johnson, 1 January, 1900 – 11 January, 1900
• Lieutenant Robert G. Corbett, 27 March, 1900 – 1900  (not indicated in his service record)
• Lieutenant & Commander Cyril Asser, 1 January, 1903 – 17 November, 1903
• Lieutenant & Commander John A. Gregory, 4 April, 1904 – 9 January, 1905
• Lieutenant & Commander William H. Darwall, 15 May, 1905 – 13 March, 1907
• Lieutenant & Commander Charles A. Fremantle, 23 March, 1907 – 26 February, 1909
• Lieutenant-Commander John Kiddle, 26 February, 1909 – c. mid 1909  (also in command of Handy)
• Lieutenant & Commander Gilbert C. Heathcote, 1 January, 1910 – 1911
• Lieutenant & Commander Maurice B. R. Blackwood, April, 1911 – 21 August, 1911
• Lieutenant in Command Wellwood G. C. Maxwell, February, 1912 – 21 October, 1912
• Lieutenant in Command Edye K. Boddam-Whetham, 21 October, 1912 – 20 February, 1913^[Inference]  (this may be incorrect, as his service record indicates Handy)

See Also

• Wikipedia