Print. The 'Blake' Class armoured cruiser HMS 'Blenheim' was launched at Thames Ironworks on 26 May 1890. Her main guns were in armoured casemates, a leading characteristic of nearly all Sir William White's ships. HMS 'Blenheim' weighed 9,150 tons, was 375 feet in length and had a beam of 65 feet. Her armament consisted of two 9.2-inch guns, ten 6-inch guns and eighteen 3-pounders. Her designed speed was 22 knots. After service HMS 'Blenheim' was used as a depot ship from May 1908 and finally sold to the breakers in 1926.