The Harwich Force Leaving for Sea
A view from the stern deck of a Royal Navy warship looking back at a convoy of warships arranged in two parallel lines. Four sailors stand on the deck. The foremost ships visible include light cruisers and a destroyer. The Harwich coastline is visible in the left background.
A view from the stern deck of a Royal Navy warship looking back at a convoy of warships arranged in two parallel lines. Four sailors stand on the deck. The foremost ships visible include light cruisers and a destroyer. The Harwich coastline is visible in the left background.
H.M.S. Shipping in Harwich
H.M.S. Amphion
HMS Amphion was an Active-class scout cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was built at Pembroke Dockyard and launched on 4 December 1911. She became the first ship of the Royal Navy to be sunk in the First World War.
HMS Amphion was an Active-class scout cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was built at Pembroke Dockyard and launched on 4 December 1911. She became the first ship of the Royal Navy to be sunk in the First World War.
- On commissioning, Amphion was assigned as leader of the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla with the Harwich Force, defending the eastern approaches to the English Channel. During her early years she was commanded by Frederic Charles Dreyer, but by the outbreak of the First World War she was under the command of Captain Cecil H Fox.
Royal Navy Walking Party from H.M.S. Boadicea, at Ramsey, Harwich, July 1911.
- HMS Boadicia was completed in June 1909, the first turbine-driven cruiser in the Royal Navy.
- HMS Boadicia was commissioned to wear the broad pennant of the Commodore, commanding the 1st Destroyer Home Fleet, based at Harwich.
- Publisher of the postcard was F.Wallis, Little Oakley (No 4).
H.M.S. Bruce
HMS Bruce was the second of eight Admiralty type flotilla leaders of the Royal Navy. Built by Cammell Laird, Bruce was commissioned on 29 May 1918. During World War I, she served with the 10th Destroyer Flotilla at Harwich. She was sunk as a target ship on 22 November 1939.
HMS Bruce was the second of eight Admiralty type flotilla leaders of the Royal Navy. Built by Cammell Laird, Bruce was commissioned on 29 May 1918. During World War I, she served with the 10th Destroyer Flotilla at Harwich. She was sunk as a target ship on 22 November 1939.
The Battleship HMS Camperdown (built 1885) in Harwich Harbour with Subs.
HMS Camperdown was an Admiral-class battleship of the Royal Navy, named after Adam Duncan, 1st Viscount Duncan of Camperdown. She was commissioned at Portsmouth on 18 July 1889, and initially went into reserve. In December 1889 she was posted to the Mediterranean Fleet as flagship, where she remained until being posted as flagship of the Channel Fleet in May 1890. She was paid off in May 1892 into Fleet reserve, recommissioning in July 1892 into the Mediterranean Fleet. On 22 June 1893, she collided with and sank the battleship Victoria with 358 deaths, including Vice-Admiral Sir George Tryon. In September 1899, she went into Category B reserve, and in May 1900 into Dockyard reserve. In July 1900 she commissioned as a coast guard ship at Lough Swilly until May 1903. During early Summer (April to June) 1902 she visited Portsmouth for repairs to her steam capstan. After paying off in 1903, she was in reserve at Chatham until 1908, and was employed at Harwich as a berthing ship for submarines until she was sold in 1911.
HMS Camperdown was an Admiral-class battleship of the Royal Navy, named after Adam Duncan, 1st Viscount Duncan of Camperdown. She was commissioned at Portsmouth on 18 July 1889, and initially went into reserve. In December 1889 she was posted to the Mediterranean Fleet as flagship, where she remained until being posted as flagship of the Channel Fleet in May 1890. She was paid off in May 1892 into Fleet reserve, recommissioning in July 1892 into the Mediterranean Fleet. On 22 June 1893, she collided with and sank the battleship Victoria with 358 deaths, including Vice-Admiral Sir George Tryon. In September 1899, she went into Category B reserve, and in May 1900 into Dockyard reserve. In July 1900 she commissioned as a coast guard ship at Lough Swilly until May 1903. During early Summer (April to June) 1902 she visited Portsmouth for repairs to her steam capstan. After paying off in 1903, she was in reserve at Chatham until 1908, and was employed at Harwich as a berthing ship for submarines until she was sold in 1911.
Red Cross Flag Day aboard the HMS Canterbury (of the Harwich Force) at Parkeston Quay in 1917.
- Original photographic postcard 1st world war Red cross flag day collectors with sailor of HMS Canterbury.
- Flag Days were the idea of Agnes Morrison, who started the Our Day collections in September 1914. They were organised mainly by the Red Cross and volunteer collectors to raise funds for wounded soldiers, war widows and prisoners of war. Supporters were encouraged to buy pin-flag badges and, on days dedicated to the corresponding funds of the allies, women sold flags wearing appropriate national dress.
- HMS Canterbury was a C-class light cruiser of the British Royal Navy, part of the Cambrian sub-group and unlike the rest of the subclass she was armed with six torpedo tubes instead of the usual four.
- Laid down in October 1914, she was launched on December 21, 1915 and commissioned into the navy in April 1916 before being attached to the Grand Fleet, commanded by Captain Percy M. R. Royds. Her first major action was the Battle of Jutland on 31 May to 1 June, which she survived, she was then assigned to the 5th Light Cruiser Squadron, operating with the Harwich Force to defend the eastern approaches to the English Channel.
- On 5 June 1917, whilst serving with the Harwich force she sank the German torpedo boat S20 off the Belgian coast before being assigned to operate in the Aegean in 1918, where she saw out the rest of the war without incident.
- She was considered obsolete by 1934, and was sold on July 27, 1934 to Metal Industries of Rosyth for breaking up, However her bell survived and is at Canterbury Cathedral.
H.M.S. Conquest
This the third ship to carry the name HMS Conquest was a light cruiser.
Built at Chatham Dockyard, laid down 03-Mar-1914, launched 20-Jan-1915 and completed 01-Jun-1915.
On completion joined the 5th Light Cruiser Squadron at Harwich 1915-17. Struck a mine Jul-1918 and repairs took until Apr-1919 after which she went into reserve 1919-22.
To the Atlantic Fleet 1922-26, then the Mediterranean 1927-28. Returned to the UK and into reserve 1928-30 & Sold in1930.
This the third ship to carry the name HMS Conquest was a light cruiser.
Built at Chatham Dockyard, laid down 03-Mar-1914, launched 20-Jan-1915 and completed 01-Jun-1915.
On completion joined the 5th Light Cruiser Squadron at Harwich 1915-17. Struck a mine Jul-1918 and repairs took until Apr-1919 after which she went into reserve 1919-22.
To the Atlantic Fleet 1922-26, then the Mediterranean 1927-28. Returned to the UK and into reserve 1928-30 & Sold in1930.
HMS Curacoa
- A World War I light cruiser of the "C" class, named after the island in the Caribbean Sea more usually spelled Curaçao. She was part of the Ceres group of the C-class of cruisers. She became one of the major accidental losses of the Royal Navy during World War II. Having 'played' a German battle-cruiser in the 1935 film Brown on Resolution, she served during the early stages of the war with the Home Fleet. She spent four days serving as anti-aircraft protection off Åndalsnes, Norway. During this period, she was seriously damaged by bombs from German aircraft and forced to return to the UK for repairs, that lasted into August. On 2 October 1942 she was engaged in convoy escort duties with the ocean liner RMS Queen Mary. While both ships were zigzagging, the Curacoa crossed the Queen Mary's bow with insufficient clearance. The Queen Mary struck her amidships at a speed of 28 knots, cutting the Curacoa in two. Separated by about 100 yards, she sank instantly with 338 casualties. Due to the risk of U-boats, the Queen Mary could not even slow to assist, and steamed on with a fractured stem.. The following ships in the convoy rescued 99 survivors (including Captain John W. Boutwood, RN) from the water.
H.M.S. Dido
HMS Dido was an Eclipse-class protected cruiser built for the Royal Navy in the mid-1890s.
Captain Philip F. Tillard was appointed in command on 20 January 1900,[1] when the Dido served at the China Station. In October 1901 she left Hong Kong homebound, arriving at Sheerness 14 December. She paid off at Chatham on 11 January 1902 and was placed in the Fleet Reserve as emergency ship. She received a Le Cheminant chonometer from the Royal Observatory on 17 March 1916.
HMS Dido was an Eclipse-class protected cruiser built for the Royal Navy in the mid-1890s.
Captain Philip F. Tillard was appointed in command on 20 January 1900,[1] when the Dido served at the China Station. In October 1901 she left Hong Kong homebound, arriving at Sheerness 14 December. She paid off at Chatham on 11 January 1902 and was placed in the Fleet Reserve as emergency ship. She received a Le Cheminant chonometer from the Royal Observatory on 17 March 1916.
- H.M.S. Forth
- HMS Forth completed as one of four second class protected cruisers of the Mersey class in 1889, but served in the Great War as a submarine depot ship.
- Service
- She completed conversion to a sea-going submarine depot ship in August 1904.
- In July 1914, she was attached to the Third Submarine Flotilla for the Test Mobilisation.[6] In January, 1915, she transferred to the Tenth Submarine Flotilla. She remained there until August 1916 when she went to help the Eighth Submarine Flotilla, but she remained there only about one month. In September, she was with the Ninth Submarine Flotilla where she would remain through the end of the war.
- H.M.S. Forth (1886)
- Builder: Pembroke Royal Dockyard
- Laid down: 1 Dec, 1884
- Launched: 23 Oct, 1886
- Commissioned: 1889
- Sold:
- Captains
- Dates of appointment are provided when known.
- Commander Sydney S. Hall, May, 1905[7] – 12 November, 1906
- Commander Maurice S. FitzMaurice, May, 1906 – 4 October, 1906 (lent)
- Commander Wilfred Tomkinson, 12 January, 1912 – August, 1914
- Commander Nicholas E. Archdale, 31 October, 1914 – 15 November, 1914 (and for duty with Submarines)
- Commander Gilbert H. Kellett, 15 November, 1917
- Commander (S) Brownlow V. Layard, February, 1919
HMS. Forth. (1911)
H.M.S. Mallard
- Laid Down : 12th June 1935
- Launched : 26th March 1936
- Completed : 15th July 1936
- Type : Patrol Vessel
- Class : Kingfisher
- Builder : Stephen
- Country : UK
- Pennants : L42, K42, M42, P34
- Fate : Sold for scrap 21st April 1947.
H.M.S. Murray 1914
HMS "Murray" D33 a steam powered torpedo boat destroyer
HMS "Murray" D33 a steam powered torpedo boat destroyer
- HMS Murray was an Admiralty M-class destroyer launched in 1914 and sold in 1921.
#60211 H.M.S. Severn (1903)
H.M.S. Severn was one of four 2nd Class protected Mersey class cruisers completed between 1887 & 1889.
Builder : Chatham Royal Dockyard
Laid down : 1 Jan, 1884
Launched : 29 Sep, 1885
Commissioned : 1888
Sold : 1905
In 1887-88, Severn tested a new submerged broadside tube designed by William H. May. The tube was mounted on the starboard broadside and angled 12 degrees before the beam; its primary distinction over existing designs was that the bar was not extended before firing the torpedo, but emerged into the water with the torpedo as it was fired. This pattern was found to work fairly well after modifications to the original design overcame damage to the propellers of the torpedo as it left and a great number of wild shots. It was retained in hopes that remaining defects could be made good. HMS Severn was commissioned at Portsmouth on 19 February, 1889, by Captain William H. Hall, to relieve H.M.S. Constance on the Pacific Station. Her complement was reported as 243 officers and men, but a further 23 men from the Accountant Branch, Chaplaincy, Domestics and Miscellaneous services brought this to 272 men plus 54 Royal Marines. Whilst serving as Coast Guard ship at Sheerness, Severn was grounded when trying to come into Harwich on 13 December, 1901. It was recorded in the service record of the Captain, Frederick F. Fegen: "My Lords consider that in skirting the shore so close, due care was exercised in the navigation of the ship & further that … the C.O. should not have risked going into Harwich on a falling tide".
H.M.S. Severn was one of four 2nd Class protected Mersey class cruisers completed between 1887 & 1889.
Builder : Chatham Royal Dockyard
Laid down : 1 Jan, 1884
Launched : 29 Sep, 1885
Commissioned : 1888
Sold : 1905
In 1887-88, Severn tested a new submerged broadside tube designed by William H. May. The tube was mounted on the starboard broadside and angled 12 degrees before the beam; its primary distinction over existing designs was that the bar was not extended before firing the torpedo, but emerged into the water with the torpedo as it was fired. This pattern was found to work fairly well after modifications to the original design overcame damage to the propellers of the torpedo as it left and a great number of wild shots. It was retained in hopes that remaining defects could be made good. HMS Severn was commissioned at Portsmouth on 19 February, 1889, by Captain William H. Hall, to relieve H.M.S. Constance on the Pacific Station. Her complement was reported as 243 officers and men, but a further 23 men from the Accountant Branch, Chaplaincy, Domestics and Miscellaneous services brought this to 272 men plus 54 Royal Marines. Whilst serving as Coast Guard ship at Sheerness, Severn was grounded when trying to come into Harwich on 13 December, 1901. It was recorded in the service record of the Captain, Frederick F. Fegen: "My Lords consider that in skirting the shore so close, due care was exercised in the navigation of the ship & further that … the C.O. should not have risked going into Harwich on a falling tide".
H.M.S. Seymour
H.M.S. Seymour was one of six flotilla leaders of the Parker class.
H.M.S. Seymour was one of six flotilla leaders of the Parker class.
- HMS Seymour, built by Cammell Laird, laid down 23 November 1915, launched 31 August 1916 and completed 30 November 1916. Converted to mine-layer after completion.
- She reduced to Reserve at Portsmouth on 17 October, 1919
- Converted to a mine layer after completion.
- Sold for scrapping in January 1930.
- H.M.S. Sorceress
- HMS Sorceress was laid down by Swan Hunter shipyard in 1915 and launched in December 1916 when she joined the Fifteenth Destroyer flotilla of the Grand Fleet, bearing the pennant number ‘G93’. This number was changed to ‘G94’ in January 1918 so our postcard must date to after that point.
- She was re-commissioned on 19th November 1919 but was not to remain in Royal Naval service long, being sold on 29th April 1927. We have a partial list of her commanding officers:
- Lieutenant Commander Henry R James (28th November 1916)
- Lieutenant Commander Henry P Boxer (May 1919)
- Commander Charles T A Bunbury (1st October 1919)
- Future Admiral of the Fleet Sir Phillip Vian also served aboard HMS Sorceress as First Lieutenant in December 1917. HMS Sorceress was one of 62 R type destroyers that were built as part of the War Emergency Programme between 1916 and 1917. HMS Sorceress had an armament of three 4-in Quick Firing Mark IV guns:
- She also had two double revolving 21 inch torpedo tubes on her centre line. She had a fuel capacity of 300 tons which gave her an endurance of 2380 nautical miles at 14 knots, and the class was the last ordered by the RN with three funnels:As can be seen she had an open bridge, typical of destroyers of the period:I have not been able to find a picture of the ship’s badge, but an intriguing description of an example on the IWM website describes it as ‘Circular metal ships badge depicting a seated female figure working over a steaming cauldron’. The R class destroyers were not destined for long service lives, with large quantities of far better V and W Class destroyers, most of the R Class were sold and scrapped in the 1920s and 1930s, indeed only one survived long enough to serve in the Second World War.
H.M.S. St George
- HMS St George was a first class cruiser of the Edgar class. She was launched on 23 June 1892.
- St George took part in the 40 minute long Anglo-Zanzibar War in 1896. The obsolete armed yacht HHS Glasgow of Zanzibar fired upon a British flotilla led by St George, also comprising Philomel, Racoon, Sparrow and Thrush. The response sank Glasgow with a hole below the waterline. With a Union Jack flying over the sinking yacht in surrender, the flotilla launched lifeboats to rescue the crew of Glasgow which would lie at the bottom of Zanzibar Town Harbour until 1912.
- In 1901, she was one of two escort ships for the royal yacht Ophir, which carried the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (later King George V and Queen Mary) during their tour of the British Empire.
- Following the end of this tour, the captain of Ophir, Commodore Alfred Winsloe, reverted to his position as Commodore commanding the Cruiser squadron, and was in late 1901 posted to St George, which thus became the lead ship of the squadron and carried his broad pennant. In May 1902 she was taken into Portsmouth for a refit, and later that year she served in the 1902 Coronation review.
- She was the flagship of the Cape & West Africa Station (Rear-Admiral Harry Rawson) based at Simon's Town, and served in the First World War.
- She was designated as a depot ship in 1909, and sold for breaking up at Plymouth on July 1, 1920.
H.M.S. Sutton
- HMS SUTTON (N 78) - Old Hunt-class Minesweeper
- Later HUNT- Class coal burning minesweeper ordered from MacMillan of Dunbarton in May 1917 and laid down on 6th July 1917. Machinery was supplied by Yarrow of Scotstoun. The ship was launched on 8th May 1918 as the first RN ship to carry this name. Her build was completed on 23rd August 1918. After WW1 this ship was deployed for mine clearance work but later was placed in Reserve at Alexandria. Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign March 1942 this ship was adopted by the civil civil community of Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire.
- B a t t l e H o n o u r s
- DUNKIRK 1940 - NORMANDY 1944
- C r e s t
- Field: Gold with blue border
- Badge: A Lion passant, Black
- M o t t o
- Cavendo Tutus: Safe by being cautious.
- Postcard of the week (20.10.2014) : On Board HMS Sutton, Harwich, Essex, in 1940
Mine Sweeping Crew aboard HMS Sutton by J A Saunders of Dovercourt.
HMS Sutton (J 78) - was a Old Hunt-class Minesweeper, she was a Class coal burning minesweeper ordered from MacMillan of Dunbarton in May 1917 and laid down on 6th July 1917
B a t t l e H o n o u r s : Dunkirk 1940 - Normandy 1944.
In December 1939, she was deployed at Harwich for mine-sweeping activities, off the East Coast to ensure convoy routes were kept clear of mines, part of the 4th Mine-sweeping Flotillas. In April 1941, she was transferred to Granton, near Edinburgh for mine-sweeping off Scottish East Coast.
HMS SUTTON remained in Reserve until 1946 when she was placed on the Disposal List. The ship was sold to Dohmen and Habets of Ghent in July 1947 and towed to Belgium for Demolition.
H.M.S. Tetrach
HMS Tetrarch, after the Greek term meaning "ruler of a quarter":
H.M.S. Tetrarch was one of sixty-two destroyers of the "R" class
Built by Harland and Wolff, Govan; launched 20 April 1917; sold for breaking up 28 July 1934
HMS Tetrarch, after the Greek term meaning "ruler of a quarter":
H.M.S. Tetrarch was one of sixty-two destroyers of the "R" class
Built by Harland and Wolff, Govan; launched 20 April 1917; sold for breaking up 28 July 1934
- HMS Teviot (1913)
- Was a Yarrow type River Class Destroyer ordered by the Royal Navy under the 1902 – 1903 Naval Estimates. Named after the River Teviot in southern Scotland near the border with England, she was the first ship to carry this name in the Royal Navy. She served during World War 1, primarily on anti-submarine duty in the Channel, and was sold for breaking up in 1919
- Name: HMS Teviot
- Ordered: 1902 – 1903 Naval Estimates
- Builder: Yarrows, Poplar
- Laid down: 18 August 1902
- Launched: 7 November 1903
- Commissioned: April 1904
- Out of service: 1919 laid up in reserve awaiting disposal
- Fate: 23 June 1919 sold to Thomas W. Ward of Sheffield for breaking at Morecambe, Lancashire.
- General characteristics
- Class & type: Yarrow Type River Class destroyer[1][2]
- Displacement: 590 t (581 long tons) standard
- 660 t (650 long tons) full load
- 231 ft 4 in (70.51 m) o/a
- 23 ft 6 in (7.16 m) Beam
- 7 ft 2.5 in (2.197 m) Draught
- Propulsion: 4 × Yarrow type water tube boiler
- 2 × Vertical Triple Expansion (VTE) steam engines driving 2 shafts producing 7,000 shp (5,200 kW) (average)
- Speed: 25.5 kn (47.2 km/h)
- Range: 130 tons coal
- 1,620 nmi (3,000 km) at 11 kn (20 km/h)
- Complement: 70 officers and men
- Armament: 1 × QF 12-pounder 12 cwt Mark I, mounting P Mark I
- 3 × QF 12-pounder 8 cwt, mounting G Mark I (Added in 1906)
- 5 × QF 6-pdr naval gun (removed in 1906)
- 2 × single tubes for 18-inch (450mm) torpedoes
- Service record
- Part of: East Coast Destroyer Flotilla - 1904
- 3rd Destroyer Flotilla - April 1909
- 5th Destroyer Flotilla - 1912
- Assigned E Class - Aug 1912 - Oct 1913
- 9th Destroyer Flotilla - 1914
- 1st Destryer Flotilla - November 1916
- Operations: World War I 1914 - 1918
HMS Thames as a submarine depot ship in Harwich (1917).
A Mersey 2nd Class Cruiser.
These Mersey Class ships established the pattern for future British second class cruisers and followed closely from the Leander class, but incorporated for the first time a full length protective deck. They were the first vessels to abandon any form of sailing rig. HMS Thames and HMS Forth were converted to depot ships in 1903/4, and HMS Thames was sold in 1920 to become the Training Ship General Botha, reverting to HMS Thames in 1942, employed as an accommodation ship.
Displacement : 4050 tons. Length : 315 ft. Beam : 46 ft. Depth : 19 ft 6 ins. I.H.P. : 4500. Speed : 17knts. Armament 2 - 8in BLR, 10 6 in BLR, 3 - 6 pdr QF, 3 - 3pdr QF, 0 MGs, 2 TT sub, 2 TC. Complement : 300.
Service History
Laid down: 14 April 1884
Launched: 3 December 1885
Completed: July 1888
Reclassified: Submarine depot ship, 1903
Fate: Sold, 13 November 1920
HMS Thames was a Mersey-class protected cruiser built for the Royal Navy (RN) in the 1880s. The ship was placed in reserve upon her completion in 1888 and was converted into a submarine depot ship in 1903. When HMS Thames completed conversion to a depot ship in July, 1903. During the Test Mobilisation, HMS Thames supported the Fifth Submarine Flotilla, which was then comprised of six "C" class submarines. It remained with the Flotilla when it was made part of the Nore Local Defence Flotilla at the start of the war. In July, 1917, she moved over to support three "C" boats from the Ninth Submarine Flotilla, operating as part of the Harwich Force. In November, 1917, Thames moved to join the Sixth Submarine Flotilla, operating as part of the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla.
In October, 1918, Thames moved to the Clyde to support the new Periscope School at Campbeltown under the command of Henry Dale Gill, who'd commanded her previously. She paid off at the Nore on 23 December, 1919.
She was sold out of the navy in 1920 and was purchased by a South African businessman to serve as a training ship for naval cadets under the name SATS General Botha. The ship arrived in South Africa in 1921 and began training her first class of cadets in Simon's Town the following year. General Botha continued to train cadets for the first several years of World War II, but the RN took over the ship in 1942 for use as an accommodation ship under her original name.
She was scuttled by gunfire in 1947 and is now a diveable wreck.
These Mersey Class ships established the pattern for future British second class cruisers and followed closely from the Leander class, but incorporated for the first time a full length protective deck. They were the first vessels to abandon any form of sailing rig. HMS Thames and HMS Forth were converted to depot ships in 1903/4, and HMS Thames was sold in 1920 to become the Training Ship General Botha, reverting to HMS Thames in 1942, employed as an accommodation ship.
Displacement : 4050 tons. Length : 315 ft. Beam : 46 ft. Depth : 19 ft 6 ins. I.H.P. : 4500. Speed : 17knts. Armament 2 - 8in BLR, 10 6 in BLR, 3 - 6 pdr QF, 3 - 3pdr QF, 0 MGs, 2 TT sub, 2 TC. Complement : 300.
Service History
Laid down: 14 April 1884
Launched: 3 December 1885
Completed: July 1888
Reclassified: Submarine depot ship, 1903
Fate: Sold, 13 November 1920
HMS Thames was a Mersey-class protected cruiser built for the Royal Navy (RN) in the 1880s. The ship was placed in reserve upon her completion in 1888 and was converted into a submarine depot ship in 1903. When HMS Thames completed conversion to a depot ship in July, 1903. During the Test Mobilisation, HMS Thames supported the Fifth Submarine Flotilla, which was then comprised of six "C" class submarines. It remained with the Flotilla when it was made part of the Nore Local Defence Flotilla at the start of the war. In July, 1917, she moved over to support three "C" boats from the Ninth Submarine Flotilla, operating as part of the Harwich Force. In November, 1917, Thames moved to join the Sixth Submarine Flotilla, operating as part of the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla.
In October, 1918, Thames moved to the Clyde to support the new Periscope School at Campbeltown under the command of Henry Dale Gill, who'd commanded her previously. She paid off at the Nore on 23 December, 1919.
She was sold out of the navy in 1920 and was purchased by a South African businessman to serve as a training ship for naval cadets under the name SATS General Botha. The ship arrived in South Africa in 1921 and began training her first class of cadets in Simon's Town the following year. General Botha continued to train cadets for the first several years of World War II, but the RN took over the ship in 1942 for use as an accommodation ship under her original name.
She was scuttled by gunfire in 1947 and is now a diveable wreck.
H.M.S. Tirade
H.M.S. Tirade was one of sixty-two destroyers of the "R" class.
Upon joining the fleet on 21 July 1917, she joined the Fifteenth Destroyer Flotilla to help escort convoys out of Lough Swilly, despite a minor fault in a 4-in gun and a steering defect that would not be rectified before September.
In early August, she and Rapid were tasked to search for the culprit in torpedoing and sinking a vessel. They found only flotsam and a swimming horse, whom they destroyed. While returning to their convoy, a gunner aboard Tirade sighted the conning tower of a distant submarine, which dived. Tirade dropped two depth charges to no appreciable immediate effect.
Later in the same month, Tirade was among three destroyers escorting three empty oilers when one was torpedoed at sunrise. A second torpedo attack the next midnight failed to hit Tirade and a remaining oiler.
After taking twelve days to address her steering problem, she proceeded to Scapa Flow to work with the Fifteenth. She lost several torpedoes in practice firings and then commenced escorting excruciatingly slow and disorderly convoys from Norway. On 29 September at 2.15 p.m., Moravia pointed her toward UC 55, visible on the surface and in distress due to a diving mishap. Charging in and firing from a range of 3,400 yards, Tirade's third shell struck near the conning tower of the fleeing sub, and her fifth on the aft casing below the waterline. Tirade approached to ram and drop depth charges on her hapless foe, and Sylvia charged in, firing her forward 12-pdr.. Moravia and Rowena attempted to pile on, but the kill was Tirade's. She recovered two of the nineteen Germans rescued from the water.
Stanistreet was awarded a bounty of 145 pounds in February, 1920.
On 21 October, 1917, Tirade accidentally rammed Marmion while they were shepherding another convoy. Tirade suffered little damage, but her victim foundered before she could be towed to safety.
Reduced to C. & M. Party at the Nore on 28 November, 1919.
H.M.S. Tirade was one of sixty-two destroyers of the "R" class.
Upon joining the fleet on 21 July 1917, she joined the Fifteenth Destroyer Flotilla to help escort convoys out of Lough Swilly, despite a minor fault in a 4-in gun and a steering defect that would not be rectified before September.
In early August, she and Rapid were tasked to search for the culprit in torpedoing and sinking a vessel. They found only flotsam and a swimming horse, whom they destroyed. While returning to their convoy, a gunner aboard Tirade sighted the conning tower of a distant submarine, which dived. Tirade dropped two depth charges to no appreciable immediate effect.
Later in the same month, Tirade was among three destroyers escorting three empty oilers when one was torpedoed at sunrise. A second torpedo attack the next midnight failed to hit Tirade and a remaining oiler.
After taking twelve days to address her steering problem, she proceeded to Scapa Flow to work with the Fifteenth. She lost several torpedoes in practice firings and then commenced escorting excruciatingly slow and disorderly convoys from Norway. On 29 September at 2.15 p.m., Moravia pointed her toward UC 55, visible on the surface and in distress due to a diving mishap. Charging in and firing from a range of 3,400 yards, Tirade's third shell struck near the conning tower of the fleeing sub, and her fifth on the aft casing below the waterline. Tirade approached to ram and drop depth charges on her hapless foe, and Sylvia charged in, firing her forward 12-pdr.. Moravia and Rowena attempted to pile on, but the kill was Tirade's. She recovered two of the nineteen Germans rescued from the water.
Stanistreet was awarded a bounty of 145 pounds in February, 1920.
On 21 October, 1917, Tirade accidentally rammed Marmion while they were shepherding another convoy. Tirade suffered little damage, but her victim foundered before she could be towed to safety.
Reduced to C. & M. Party at the Nore on 28 November, 1919.
H.M.S. Tiverton
HMS Tiverton built by William Simons & Co Renfrew was a Hunt class minesweeper of the Royal Navy from World War I.
Launched 1918
Sold in 1938.
HMS Tiverton built by William Simons & Co Renfrew was a Hunt class minesweeper of the Royal Navy from World War I.
Launched 1918
Sold in 1938.
H.M.S. Tring
- Built by William Simons & Co Renfrew,
- Yard No 613
- Previous Names: TEIGNMOUTH
- Propulsion: Steam TE
- Launched: Friday, 23/08/1918
- Built: 1918
- Ship Type: Minesweeper
- Ship's Role: Aberdare class
- Tonnage: 800t normal
- Length: 231ft
- Breadth: 28ft 6in
- Draught: 7ft 6in
- Owner History:
- Royal Navy
- Status: Sold for Scrapping - 07/10/1927
- Remarks:
- Laid down as Teignmouth but the name was in changed in June 1918 before launch. Arrived Charlestown 17/11/1927 for scrapping.