Birth of the Navy (1910-1914)
HMCS Niobe

HMCS Niobe, one of the Naval Service of Canada's first two ships, was intended in part to train Canadian sailors. A large, obsolescent cruiser, Niobe required many crew and was expensive to operate. Lengthy repairs after it ran aground in 1911, and subsequent budget cutbacks, limited the ship's activities.

Model, HMCS Niobe

When launched as a British warship in 1897, HMS Niobe was a large and expensive cruiser.

By the time of Niobe's transfer to the Naval Service of Canada 13 years later, newer ships had larger guns and more effective armour. Niobe's original armament included 16 6-inch guns located at the bow and stern and along both sides, a battery of smaller guns, and two submerged torpedo tubes. The four funnels emphasize the many boilers needed to power Niobe's engines. This model depicts the paint scheme of Niobe's early years of British service, before its transfer to Canada.

Model Ship, Cruiser
CWM 19650047-001