Cerberus

Pictured here in the Alfred Graving Dock is the HMVS Cerberus. Of 3340 tons displacement, her crew was 9 officers and 73 men. At economical cruising speed, her endurance was 10 days. Armed with four 10” RML guns mounted in two rotating Coles Turrets, and four Nordenfelt machine guns. Her armour was 10” iron backed with 9” teak. The armoured breastwork upon which they rest was of 9” iron, backed with 11” teak. Her main and breastwork decks were 1.5” iron over 10” teak while her sides were 8” iron with 11” teak.

Today she lies off Sandringham as a breakwater.

Albert

Being cleaned and painted in the Albert Graving Dock is the third class gunboat HMVS Albert. She had a complement of 60 all ranks. Built by the Armstrong company in 1883/4 she was unarmoured and armed with one 8” forward, one 6” aft, two 9pdrs and two 3 pdrs. She was transferred to the Department of Public Works in 1897 and sold out of service as a lighter in 1917.

Lonsdale

Built by Thornycroft and delivered as deck cargo by the steamer Port Darwin the Nepean and Lonsdale were sister vessels – second class torpedo boats armed with a single 14” launch tube in their bows. They were meant to be operated completely closed down and conned from an armoured tower midships.

To War? What if the Russians Came? Defending Melbourne in 1885

Part 2: Topography
Part 2: Fortifications and the Navy
Part 2: The Fleet
Part 2: Arms and Equipment: Guns
Part 2: Arms and Equipment: Ships

Part 1: Defending Melbourne in 1885

Part 3: Defending Melbourne in 1885: Victorian Military Forces