HMS Tyne (1878)

HMS Tyne was a Royal Navy store ship. Charles Mitchell of Low Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne built her as yard number 354, and launched her on 19 January 1878 as the merchant ship Mariotis for the Moss Steam Ship Company of Liverpool.^[1] The Admiralty bought her for the Royal Navy on 8 March 1878.^[2][3] She was completed in June 1878.^[1]

HMS Tyne
History
United Kingdom
Name	Mariotis (1878) HMS Tyne (1878–1920)
Builder	Charles Mitchell, Low Walker
Yard number	354
Launched	19 January 1878
Completed	June 1878
Acquired	8 March 1878
Fate	Foundered 16 November 1920
General characteristics
Type	merchant ship, store ship
Length	320.0 ft (97.5 m)
Beam	34.0 ft (10.4 m)
Draught	18 ft 6 in (5.64 m)
Depth	24.6 ft (7.5 m)
Propulsion	1 × screw 1 × compound engine
Armament	Gun deck: 2 guns

A Royal Navy service record showing time served on the Storeship HMS Tyne

Commanded by Commander John Edward Stokes on 12 March 1879.

On 31 August 1880 the Tyne is shown delivering personnel to HMS London in Zanzibar.^{[citation needed]}.

HMS Tyne and Torpedo-Boats among Icebergs in the North Atlantic. Illustrated London News 1890

In October 1886, she ran aground at Sheerness, Kent. She was refloated and found to be undamaged.^[4] In May 1902 she was at Malta, on her way to the China station with a new crew for Hermionee.^[5] In early January 1903 she was back in the Mediterranean, and took part in a three-weeks cruise with other ships of the station in the Greek islands around Corfu.^[6]

In February 1913, Tyne was serving as one of two depot ships for the 8th Patrol Flotilla, based on the Nore, which was equipped with 23 torpedo boats,^[7][8] and remained as depot ship to the 8th Flotilla in July 1914.^[9]

On 16 November 1920 Tyne sprang a leak and sank in the River Medway at Chatham, Kent, while awaiting sale.^[10]