HMS Tourmaline , Emerald class Composite screw Corvettes 

Designed by Nathaniel Barnaby. HMS Tourmaline was built at Wm Roylton and Dixon co and laid down in 1874 and launched  30th October 1875 and completed October 1870.  The frames and keel were made of wrought Iron and the stem and stern posts made of Cast Iron. The cladding was made of double layer of teak with the first layer being secured  directly to the frame. and the second secured to the first layer.  Due to the Admiralty deciding to pout the engine contract out to tender resulting in price cutting all the class received inferior engines.  So bad were the engines that the Chief Engineer of HMS Tourmaline committed suicide.

The Last of the Gems HMS Tourmaline 1896

This shows the last of the Gem cruisers of the 1870's returned from Bermuda flying the pennant of Captain Sir Richard Poore in 1896. The photograph shows the men of the Tourmaline after the order Prepare to Ram being given, in order to avoid injuries from the shock of the collision the men would throw themselves flat down on deck. Tourmaline had 5-in breechloaders and four 6-in breechloader guns as her heaviest armament.

HMS Tourmaline, 1896

The Fife and Drum Band, HMS Tourmaline 1896

HMS Tourmaline at Bermuda, 1896

"Cease Firing".  HMS Tourmaline