HMS Mersey was a second class protected cruiser. She was launched in 1885, but had a relatively mundane career and was sold for breaking in 1905.
Design
The Mersey-class cruisers were relatively modern, in that they were the first cruisers that had discarded their sailing rigs in the design, that was synonymous with the old wooden warships, and were now solely steam powered warships.
Construction and career
Mersey was built at Chatham Dockyard and launched on 31 March 1885.
In February 1903, she took the crew of the HMS Severn and succeeded that ship as coastguard ship at Harwich.