The Sturgeon was one of the torpedo-boat destroyers specially commissioned in January 1895, and was attached to the Channel Squadron. Her commander at this time was Lieutenant-Commander PS St John. 

The Sturgeon carried a complement of 50 men and was a 27 knot boat, one of the first batch built in 1894. She displaced 251 tons, measured 190 ft in length by 19 ft in beam and had engines of 4,000 horse-power. Her bunkers could take sixty tons of coal. For armament, to attack hostile Torpedo Boats, she carried one 12 pounder and five 6 pounder quick-firing guns and two torpedo tubes in case she was called on to act against a big ship as a torpedo boat herself.

HMS Sturgeon in 1897

The Sturgeon was one of the torpedo-boat destroyers specially commissioned in January 1895, and was attached to the Channel Squadron. Her commander at this time was Lieutenant-Commander PS St John. The men of the Sturgeon are shown off duty, in various service rigs, as worn for all weathers, and represent all ratings - warrant and petty officers, seamen and stokers. One of the searchlight projectors, which forms so important a part of a "destroyers" equipment, is partially seen on the left. The sturgeon carried six light quick-firing guns, and had a maximum speed of 27 knots.

Bluejackets of the Torpedo Boat Destroyer Sturgeon

Four of the company of the torpedo boat destroyer HMS Sturgeon attached to the Channel Squadron, shown in the rig worn on board in 1896. They are seen on deck in the forward part of the vessel, before the 12 pounder quick-firing gun, mounted above the conning tower as the destroyer's bow chaser. The Sturgeon carried a complement of 50 men and was a 27 knot boat, one of the first batch built in 1894. She displaced 251 tons, measured 190 ft in length by 19 ft in beam and had engines of 4,000 horse-power. Her bunkers could take sixty tons of coal. For armament, to attack hostile Torpedo Boats, she carried one 12 pounder and five 6 pounder quick-firing guns and two torpedo tubes in case she was called on to act against a big ship as a torpedo boat herself.

riginal Photographic image from quality magazine published in 1896 image  size 10" x 8" approx , plus title and specifications. price ?20 plus ?3 post for UK ?10 overseas, recorded airmail  order number ANV12224 order photograph here