Unique Royal Navy RP Postcard Mock up. HMS "Andromeda" Cruiser. Perkins. 1903

  HMS Andromeda  was one of eight  Diadem-class   protected cruisers  built for the  Royal Navy  in the 1890s. Upon completion in 1899, the ship was assigned to the  Mediterranean Fleet  where she helped to escort a  royal yacht  during its cruise through the  Mediterranean Sea . After a refit, she was assigned to the  China Station  in 1904 and returned home three years later to be reduced to  reserve .

  Andromeda  was converted into a  training ship  in 1913 and remained in that role under various names until 1956. That year she was sold for  scrap  and broken up in  Belgium , the last  Pembroke -built ship still afloat.   Andromeda  returned home later that year and began a lengthy refit. She was assigned to the China Station in 1904 and returned home three years later. The ship was reduced to reserve at  Chatham Dockyard  upon her return, but transferred to  Devonport Dockyard  shortly afterwards.  Andromeda  was assigned to the  9th Cruiser Squadron  of the new reserve  Third Fleet  in 1912. The following year the ship was converted to a  boys'  training ship  and renamed  Powerful II   on 23 September 1913.  She was later renamed  Impregnable II  in November 1919 and finally, HMS  Defiance  on 20 January 1931,  when she became part of the  torpedo school .  The ship was sold for scrap in 1956 and arrived at  Burgt , Belgium, on 14 August to begin demolition.