---

He* - The main loss information has been checked with Hepper, but additional details have not been incorporated.

1. AUGUST 1914  to DECEMBER 1915

numerical

33, motor boat, 1 November 1915, SE England - Motor Patrol Boat Number 33 reported as destroyed by accidental fire whilst lying in Brightlingsea Creek. Caught fire at 12.15pm and scuttled one hour later when the fire got out of control. Identity of craft is uncertain. Dittmer & Colledge record the name Weenie for Motor Boat 33, but that vessel was carried on the Navy List until 1919 [He/D; ADM.137/168]

263, steam pinnace – see PRINCESS IRENE, minelayer, 27 May 1915, SE England

A

ABOUKIR, cruiser – see 22 September 1914, Sinking of Cruisers Aboukir, Hogue, Cressy by U.9, North Sea. Built 1900, Pendant No. N.00, Capt John Drummond. Violent explosion starboard side just before 0630, believed mined, Capt Drummond signalled other two ships to close but keep ahead, took 20° list, steadied but then began to go over rapidly, abandon ship ordered, but only one cutter could be launched, so most of crew had to go over the side, turned over just 25min after the explosion, floated bottom up and sank; 528 lives lost - 25 officers, 502 ratings and 1 canteen staff, made up of 214 regular RN, 49 RNR, 183 RFR, 2 RN Pensioners, 18 RMA, 22 RMLI, 38 RMA & RMLI Reserves and 1 Admiralty Civilian. See also HOGUE, CRESSY [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/dk/dx/ge/ke/ty; ADM.137/47, ADM.137/2232, ADM137/2081, ADM.1/8396/356]

ACASTA, destroyer - see German Raid on Hartlepool, Scarborough and Whitby, 16 December 1914

ACHERON, destroyer – see ARIEL, destroyer, 10 March 1915, North Sea

ACHILLES, cruiser, 20 November 1914, Northern British waters - Warrior-class, 13,550t, 6-9.2in/4-7.5in/26-3pdr, 2nd CS Grand Fleet, at gun practice. Lyddite shell detonated in 9.2in gun, 11 gun crew injured, all survived [Rn/Cn/D/dk/gf]

ACTAEON, Sheerness Torpedo School – see AGAMEMNON II, hired trawler, 15 July 1915, North Sea

ADAMANT, submarine depot ship - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

ADJUTANT [01], patrol vessel – see FOX, light cruiser 12 January 1915, German East Africa Campaign.

ADJUTANT [02], patrol vessel, German East Africa , 6 February 1915 - ex-German tug, 231grt, built 1905, captured 10 October 1914 in East Africa by light cruiser Dartmouth, armed with 1-3pdr, took part in capture of Mafia Island 12 January, now with force blockading light cruiser Königsberg in Rufiji delta, Sub Lt Wilfred Price in command, carrying out reconnaissance of one of the entrances. Heavily shelled from the shore by German forces protecting approaches to Königsberg, steam-pipe cut, drifted ashore and recaptured; 1 ratings lost, rest of crew taken prisoner. Salvaged by the Germans, got through British naval blockade, steamed to Dar-es-Salaam, taken to pieces by railway engineers and carried by train to Kigoma, reassembled for operations on Lake Tanganyika. Hepper, possibly in error, reports that “light cruiser Pyramus later closed and destroyed her where she lay” [Rn/C/Cn/D/ap/dk/kp]

AE.1 [01] [RAN], submarine – see AUSTRALIA [RAN], battlecruiser, 14 September 1914, German Pacific Possessions

AE.1 [02] [RAN], submarine, 14 September 1914, South West Pacific - E-class, 650/796t, 1913, 1-12pdr/4-18in tt with 8 torpedoes, 15/9kts, Lt-Cdr Thomas Besant, taking part in Australian occupation of German New Guinea including Rabaul on Blanche Bay, New Britain. Destroyer Parramatta and AE.1 sent from Rabaul on the morning of the 14th to patrol E of Cape Gazelle in St George’s Channel separating New Britain from New Ireland for German ships including possibly Geier [1], Parramatta returned that evening as ordered having last seen AE.1 at 1530. [H/He/bw/dk/ke - 19th, date declared lost] – AE.1 failed to reappear at 2000, never seen again, lost cause unknown off New Britain, Bismarck Archipelago, possibly hit coral reef as she returned to Blanche Bay submerged, a prolonged search found no trace; all Australian and British crew lost, 3 officers and 32 ratings [Rn - 2 officers, 32 ratings; He – 2 officers, 16 ratings] [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/bw/dk/ke]

AE.2 [01] [RAN], submarine – see AUSTRALIA [RAN], battlecruiser, 14 September 1914, German Pacific Possessions

AE.2 [02] [RAN], submarine - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

AE.2 [03] [RAN], submarine, 30 April 1915, Gallipoli Campaign - E-class, 655/796t, 1913, 1-12pdr/4-18in tt with 8 torpedoes, 15/9kts, 30 crew, to Mediterranean 3/15, Lt-Cdr Henry Stoker, first Australian/British submarine to break through the Dardanelles to the Sea of Marmara reaching there on the 26th, now heading for Gulf of Atarki, SW part of Marmara to rendezvous with E.14 which had followed AE.2 in. Sighted Turkish gunboat, lost control and came to the surface only 100yds off, Sultan Hissar [French-built 38m-type torpedo boat Sultanhissar] launched torpedoes which missed, then opened fire making a number of hits, AE.2 surfaced to allow the crew to get off, then scuttled near the island of Marmara [C - hit by shore batteries]; all crew saved, 4 ratings died as POW's in 1916. Wreck believed found in 1999 at 240ft [H/J/C/Cn/D/He/bw/dk/dx/ke/on/www; ADM.137/2077]

AENNE RICKMERS [01], seaplane carrier – see SWIFTSURE, battleship 5 March 1915, Turkish Coastal Operations

AENNE RICKMERS [02], seaplane carrier, 11 March 1915, Smyrna Blockade – ex-German steamship, 7,000t/4,083grt, 1911, 1-12pdr/2 seaplanes, seized at Port Said 8/14, taken over as seaplane carrier in January with minimum of modifications, under Red ensign with mixed naval/civilian crew, French aircraft with French pilots and British observers, operated off Sinai, Syrian & Turkish coasts, taking part in British naval blockade of Smyrna. Torpedoed by German-commanded, Turkish torpedo boat Demir Hisar at 0200, grounded at Mudros for shoring-up by HMS Reliance, refloated 12 May, to Alexandria for repairs, completed 18 June. Recommissioned as HMS Anne with naval crew 5 August, paid off August 1917 [Rn/C/Cn/D/bt/nw]

AFRICAN MONARCH, Admiralty collier, 6 July 1915, Barents Sea - 4,003grt, built 1898, Monarch SS Co, Glasgow-reg, Cardiff for Archangel with coal, general cargo. Mined, laid by Meteor, sank at entrance to White Sea around 1 1/2 m E of Toryaneff Is and 9 miles S of Cape Orloff; two crew killed [H/L/Lr/Rn/Mn]

AGAMEMNON II, hired trawler, 15 July 1915, North Sea - 225grt, built 1907, Consolidated Steam Fishing & Ice, Grimsby-reg GY187 [He – Hull], hired 8/14 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.19, Harwich-based, Skipper Frederick Sibley RNR. With other Harwich sweepers clearing minefield discovered that morning, and in fact laid that morning by UC.1 [Egon von Werner]. Lt-Cdr Hugh Archer of HMS Actaeon, Sheerness Torpedo School, embarked and in command of operation. Recovering sweep when a mine fouling the wire was pulled into the ship and exploded, sank off the Shipwash Sands, off Orford Ness [wi - in 51.57N, 01.36.45E]; 9 ratings lost [H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/sc/un/wi; ADM.1/8427/203]

AGAMEMNON [01], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 19 February 1915, First Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts

AGAMEMNON [02], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 25 February 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts

AGAMEMNON [03], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 6 March 1915, Attack on the Narrows Forts

AGAMEMNON [04], battleship, 11 March 1915, Dardanelles Campaign - six trawler minesweepers again attempted to sweep the Kephez lines; one unknown trawler hit by 6in shell and repaired by Agamemnon's carpenters. Gunfire so heavy the trawlers soon withdrew, next night the French sweepers failed to make any progress sailing against the current, and it was decided to man some of the trawlers with regular navy crews. It was noted that the mines were “not as violent as North Sea mines” [Rn/ap/da]

AGAMEMNON [05], battleship – see DARTMOUTH, light cruiser, 15 March 1915, Dardanelles Campaign.

AGAMEMNON [06], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 18 March 1915, Final Naval Attack on the Narrows

AGAMEMNON [07], battleship - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

AGAMEMNON [08], battleship – see ALBION, battleship, 2 May 1915, Gallipoli Campaign

AGAMEMNON [09], battleship – see TRIUMPH, battleship, 25 May 1915, Gallipoli Campaign

ALARM, destroyer - see NYMPHE, destroyer, 16 October 1914, North Sea

ALBATROSS, destroyer, 27 November 1915, North Sea - boiler explosion, four stokers killed, three of them buried at Immingham. Presumably English east coast area [dk]

ALBEMARLE, battleship, 6/7 November 1915, off northern Scotland - Duncan-class, c15,200t [Cn - heavily loaded with spare ammunition] sailing with King Edward VII-class battleships Hibernia and Zealandia, all 3rd BS Grand Fleet, left Scapa Flow on 6th for southern ports and the Mediterranean, passing westward through Pentland Firth with strong wind over spring tides, very heavy sea running. Night of 6th/7th [gr - 7th; Cn - 11th] - Seas washed away Albemarle's fore bridge and crushed roof of conning tower, returned to Scapa Flow with Hibernia; 1 officer, 4 ratings washed overboard [gf - 1 officer, 1 rating], others injured. According to Kindell, CPO Aiken, OS Arnold and AB Naylor were probably crushed to death as they were buried ashore; Cdr Nixon and AB Stroud went overboard and drowned. After repairs, returned to Scapa in December. Zealandia also had to turn back to repair damaged gunports [Rn/Cn/D/dx/gf/gr]

ALBION [01], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 19 February 1915, First Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts

ALBION [02], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 25 February 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts

ALBION [03], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 26 February 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts, continued

ALBION [04], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 1 March 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts, continued

ALBION [05], battleship – see QUEEN ELIZABETH, dreadnought, 5 March 1915, Dardanelles Campaign

ALBION [06], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 6 March 1915, Attack on the Narrows Forts

ALBION [07], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 18 March 1915, Final Naval Attack on the Narrows

ALBION [08], battleship - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

ALBION [09], battleship, 28 April 1915, Gallipoli Campaign - Canopus-class, 14,300t, 4-12in/12-6in, above Morto Bay on European side off Kereves Dere, providing gunfire support for French forces, shortly after noon, about to be relieved by Lord Nelson. Hit and damaged by Turkish shellfire, leaking and retired to Mudros for three days for repairs [Rn/D/Cn]

ALBION [10], battleship, 2 May 1915, Gallipoli Campaign - Canopus-class, 14,300t, 4-12in/12-6in, just returned from repairing damage sustained on 28 April, providing gunfire support with Agamemnon, Goliath, Prince George and Vengeance off southern beachheads, operating on French right. Hit badly by Turkish gunfire from Asiatic shore in evening, retired to Mudros again to make good the damage; one man DOW on this date, not known if he was wounded at this time. Next day Prince George, Majestic-class, c16,000t, 4-12in/12-6in, was holed on the waterline by a 6in shell from the Asiatic batteries, had to leave for Mudros, and then for Malta to dock [Rn/D/da]

ALBION [11], battleship, 22 May 1915, Gallipoli Campaign - Canopus-class, 14,300t, 4-12in/12-6in, providing gunfire support off the Anzac beachhead just south of Anzac Cove. Ran aground off Gabe Tepe on 22nd, under close-range fire by Turkish shore batteries and frequently hit, towed off by sister-ship Canopus on 23rd, left for Malta for repairs; reportedly one man killed and ten wounded, believed from Albion. Kindell only lists two Albion casualties around this time - two men wounded in a shore party on the 22nd who DOW on the 23rd [Cn/D/da/dk/mf]

ALBYN, paddle minesweeper, 23 August 1915, Belgian Coast - ex-Albion, 363grt, built 1893, hired 26/5/15, 1-6pdr AA, one of the first six hired paddlers to arrive at Dover 14/7/15 as the Dover Paddlers, Lt A Daniels RNR i/c, night before swept ahead of monitors for Zeebrugge shoot, now daylight on 23rd, returning to Dover. [do - 22nd] - Attacked by German seaplane, a reported seven bombs dropped in two groups, avoided by helm and engine changes. During many subsequent operations, the paddle minesweepers with their broad beam often became the focus of German air attacks; it was reported on 10 June 1916 that "The paddle sweepers at Dunkirk... [had their routine work] enlivened on most days by attacks from hostile aircraft" [D/do/sc]

ALCANTARA, armed merchant cruiser, 3 June 1915, North Atlantic area - 15,831grt, built 1914, hired 10/3/15. Collided with and sank trawler Kathleen 198grt [D/gr]

ALEXANDRA, hired screw tug, 28 October 1915, Orkneys - [He – Alexandra II], 168grt, built 1907, Liverpool-reg, Alexandra Towing, hired as unarmed patrol boat in Liverpool area 10-12/14, tug from 9/15, Pendant No. T.7, Mr G Jenkinson, Scapa Flow-based. Wrecked at entrance to Hoxa Sound, S side of Scapa Flow [wi - in 58.49N, 03.04.30W] [H/Lr/C/D/He/wi]

ALLIGATOR, gunboat, Niger Flotilla – see CUMBERLAND, cruiser, 7 September 1914, German West Africa

ALMERIA, Admiralty blockship, 2,418grt, built 1888, 293ft, Almeria SS, Cardiff-reg. Purchased as accommodation ship 1914/15, assigned as blockship for Scapa Flow, scuttled 1915 in No.2 Barrier, Skerry Sound, between Glims Holm & Lamb Holm islands [wi - in 58.52.57N, 02.53.51W] [Lr/D/wi]

AMAZON [01], destroyer – see ATTENTIVE, light cruiser, 18 October 1914, Belgian Coast

AMAZON [02], destroyer, 20 October 1914, Belgian Coast – Amazon and Viking, destroyers, F-class, c1,100t, 2-4in/2-18in tt, in company with other 6th DF destroyers and monitors of Dover Patrol, and five French destroyers, in action against German shore targets. A 4in gun on Viking burst and she retired disabled, Amazon [flag, Adm Hood] badly holed by return fire during bombardment of batteries near Lombartzyde just north of Nieuport, put out of action, sent home for repairs; no lives lost [Rn/D/dk/dp]

AMBROSE [01], armed merchant cruiser, 11 March 1915, North Channel - 4,595grt, built 1903, hired 20/11/14, 10th CS. Heading for Liverpool to coal, approaching North Channel, two torpedoes fired in separate attacks off Oversay Island [ss - Ornsay island] off Islay, possibly by U.20. During third attack, conning tower spotted and fired at [Rn/Mn/D/bi/ss]

AMBROSE [02], armed merchant cruiser – see DIGBY, armed merchant cruiser, 14 March 1915, off NW & W Scotland

AMBUSCADE, destroyer - see GERMAN RAID on HARTLEPOOL, SCARBOROUGH and WHITBY, 16 December 1914. K-class, c1,300t, 3-4in/2-21in tt. Lt-Cdr G Coles. Holed forward, had to leave the line around 0550 with 5ft of water in mess-deck, crippled and called for assistance. After seeing Lynx out of danger, Unity searched for Ambuscade and escorted her into Leith; no lives lost. See also HARDY, LYNX [Rn/D/dk/gf]

AMETHYST [01], light cruiser – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 19 February 1915, First Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts

AMETHYST [02], light cruiser – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 1 March 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts, continued

AMETHYST [03], light cruiser – see MANX HERO, Admiralty trawler, 10 March 1915, Dardanelles Campaign.

AMETHYST [04], light cruiser, 14 March 1915, Dardanelles Campaign - Gem-class, 3,000t, 12-4in/8-3pdr/2-18in tt, supporting minesweepers in final attempt to clear the Kephez mines at night. Trawlers headed for positions above the mines to be swept, heavy fire disabled all the working crews of two trawlers with damage to gear and winches in the rest so great, only two vessels could get out their sweeps, leaving four trawlers and one picket boat out of action. Amethyst was near Kephez Point at this time trying to draw fire from the sweepers. Night of 14th/15th - Two shells exploded in stoker’s bathroom, starboard side forward and on messdeck; 21 killed and 28 severely wounded, of whom 4 DOW in Amethyst. Around 5 killed and 15 wounded in the other vessels [dk – only three others killed on the 14th, one in battleship Ocean and two on trawler Fentonian [Rn/Cn/da/dk/sm/sc]

AMETHYST [05], light cruiser - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

AMPHION [01], light cruiser, 5 August 1914, German Minefields - Southwold minefield laid by auxiliary minelayer Koenigin Luise about 30 miles E of Orford Ness, minelayer sunk by Harwich Force light cruiser Amphion and 3rd DF destroyers. Koenigin Luise was the first German naval loss of the war. Other major surface ship-laid minefields in 1914 were the Tyne, Humber, Tory Island, Yarmouth/Lowestoft and Scarborough/Yorkshire fields. Mines were not laid by U-boats until mid-1915.

AMPHION [02], light cruiser, 6 August 1914, North Sea - Active-class, 4,000t, 1911, 10-4in/4-3pdr/2-21in tt, 25kts, c320 crew, 3rd DF leader, Harwich Force, Capt Cecil Fox. Southern Force, consisting of light cruiser-led 1st & 3rd DF's under Cdre Tyrwhitt and "overseas" submarines under Cdre Keyes left Harwich on 5th to carry out sweep in southern part of the North Sea, supported by 7th CS. The 1st DF went up the Dutch coast followed by Amphion and 3rd DF. Informed by a trawler that a vessel was 'throwing things overboard' 20 miles NE of Outer Gabbard, 3rd DF spread out, destroyers Lance and Landrail went ahead and around 1100, still on the 5th sighted Koenigin Luise. In the chase that followed, Lance 'fired the first naval shots of World War 1', then joined by Amphion, the minelayer was sunk before noon and survivors taken on board Amphion. The sweep continued. Now returning, Amphion changed course in the early hours to avoid the Southwold minefield and by 0630 on the 6th was assumed to be clear, but detonated a mine which wrecked the fore part of the ship, started a fire and broke her back, magazines could not be flooded, and abandon ship ordered. This was followed by another explosion, either the forward magazine exploding or a second mine, and she went down quickly [He - last position in 51.12.N 02.36E; ap - c30 miles E of Orford Ness; dx - 35 miles E of Aldeburgh Napes]; 149 crew lost - 1 officer, 147 ratings including 3 DOW, 1 canteen staff plus 18 of 20 German POW's [Rn/ke - 151 crew, 174 survivors; He - included 18 POW's]. See also LARK, LINNET [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/ap/dk/dx/ke; ADM.137/1002, ADM.137/3107]

ANGLO-CALIFORNIAN, cargo ship, 4 July 1915, Atlantic off S Ireland [Victoria Cross ship] - nitrate carrier converted to horse transport, 7,333grt, built 1912, Lawther Latta & Co/Nitrate Producers SS, not armed, Montreal for Avonmouth with 927 horses for Western Front, 150 crew, master, Lt Frederick Parslow RNR aged 60. U.39 [Walter Forstmann] [dx - U.38; ge - U.20 or U.39] surfaced about 0800 a mile or more away on port beam 90 miles SW of Queenstown [L - in 50.15N, 9W; dx - 50.10N, 09W], ship turned stern on and went to full speed, reached 14kts, submarine opened a steady fire about 0900 frequently hitting, Anglo-Californian continued to manoeuvre in an attempt to escape while transmitting SOS’s. Ordered at 1030 by the U-boat to stop and abandon ship, the master decided to do so, then in response to his signals, destroyers Mentor and Miranda requested him to delay as long as possible. He got under way again, but now U.39 opened a heavy fire wrecking the bridge, all the port-side lifeboats and hitting the superstructure. By the time the U-boat had closed to 50yds, the master was dead and the Germans fired on anything that moved. Throughout the action, the master's eldest son, Fred Parslow was at the wheel or what remained of it. When the destroyers arrived, U.39 dived away and Anglo-Californian was brought into Queenstown on the 5th; 21 lives lost including Lt Frederick Daniel Parslow RNR who was awarded the Victoria Cross. His son and the chief engineer received the DSC and others MID. Sunk 9 June 1918 [H/L/Mn/dx/ge/ms/un/vc] [Casualty list – Lt Parslow only]

ANNE, seaplane carrier – see also AENNE RICKMERS, seaplane carrier.

ANTRIM, cruiser, 9 October 1914, North Sea - Devonshire-class, flagship 3rd CS Grand Fleet, on patrol off Norwegian coast. Attacked by U-boat about 20 miles SW of Skudesnes in the afternoon [gf - 59N, 04.40E], missed by two torpedoes and then attempted to ram [Rn/Mn/D/bi/ge/gf]

AORANGI, Admiralty blockship, August 1915, Orkneys - 4,268grt, built 1883, 389ft, Union SS Co, Dunedin [NZ]-reg, chartered as non-commissioned RAN supply ship 8/14, purchased by Admiralty 1915 for use at Scapa Flow. August - Scuttled as part of No.1 Barrier, Kirk Sound, between island of Lamb Holm & Mainland [wi - in 58.53.26N, 02.51.42W]. Wreck refloated in 1920 [wi - resunk in Holm Kirkyard] [Lr/D/wi]

ARCHER, destroyer, 17 January 1915, North Sea - I-class, c990t, 1st DF, taking part in Harwich Force sweep by three light cruisers and 32 destroyers in to Heligoland Bight, returning in the afternoon. Rammed by trawler and damaged, escorted to Sheerness by sister-ship Ferret [Cn/D/ty]

ARDENT, destroyer, 11 October 1915, North Sea - Ardent and Fortune, K-class, 1,300t, 4th DF, Mandate, Repeat M-class, c1,250t, all Grand Fleet destroyers, sent back to Scapa Flow because of bad weather even through the battle fleet was due to sail for the northern North Sea. Ardent and Fortune in collision, Ardent damaged, Mandate damaged by heavy sea [Cn/D/gf/gr]

ARETHUSA [01], light cruiser - see 28 August 1914, BATTLE OF HELIGOLAND BIGHT. Arethusa-class, 4,400t, 2-6in/6-4in. Heading into the Heligoland Bight at 0800, came under heavy fire from Stettin and Frauenlob, Fearless arrived and Stettin turned away, Arethusa and Frauenlob were left to their own running battle during which time Arethusa was hit possibly 35 times, her guns going out of action one by one. She was also hit in the engine-room. By now Harwich Force was fairly scattered and under fire from the Heligoland guns. Cdre Tyrwhitt ordered the turn to the west but with only one 6in gun left in operation, continued to fight Frauenlob and left the German in a badly damaged condition before turning herself at the end of the first phase of the action. By 1020, with no enemy in sight and speed down to 10kts, Arethusa stopped to make repairs with Fearless and 1st DF standing by, getting all guns except 2-4in back in working order. Then around 1100, the still-partially crippled flagship was engaged probably by Strassburg or else Stralsund, but chased off by Fearless and her destroyers. As other actions continued, Arethusa met Stettin and then probably Strassburg or else Stralsund again [accounts vary] and came under more fire, but the enemy was driven off. It was around this time that Mainz appeared, trying to escape from 1st LCS, and in her own defence inflicted much damage on the destroyers of 4th Div, 3rd DF [following]. Arethusa was the only large British ship damaged in the battle, towed in by cruiser Hogue; 1 officer, 9 ratings killed, 1 rating DOW, also one officer and 16 men wounded. See also GOSHAWK, LAERTES, LAUREL, LIBERTY [Rn/Cn/D/dd/dk/gh/nb/nh/ty]

ARETHUSA [02], light cruiser – see EMPRESS, seaplane carrier, 25 December 1914, Cuxhaven Raid

ARETHUSA [03], light cruiser – see BATTLE of THE DOGGER BANK, 24 January 1915.

ARETHUSA [04], light cruiser – see UNDAUNTED, light cruiser, 24 April 1915, North Sea.

ARETHUSA [05], light cruiser, 2 June 1915, North Sea - Arethusa-class, broad pendant, Harwich Force, on patrol with Undaunted on the lookout out for Zeppelins attacking England, light cruisers each carrying a seaplane. Sighted Zeppelin, seaplane took off but forced to return, opened fire on Zeppelin which made off. Several hours later, German seaplane came out of the clouds and dropped three bombs without hitting Arethusa [Rn/Cn/D/ty]

ARGYLE [may be spelt Argyll], Admiralty blockship, 1,185grt, built 1872, 241ft, T Wilson & Sons, Hull-reg. Purchased 1914 for Scapa Flow, scuttled 1914 in No.2 Barrier, Skerry Sound, between Glims Holm & Lamb Holm islands [wi - in 58.52.53N, 02.54.02W] [Lr/D/wi]

ARGYLL [1], cruiser – see ROXBURGH, cruiser, 20 June 1915, North Sea

ARGYLL [02], cruiser, 28 October 1915, North Sea - Devonshire-class, 10,850t, 1904, 4-7.5in/6-6in/2-12pdr/20-3pdr/2tt, 22kts, 655 crew, Pendant No. N.80, 3rd CS Grand Fleet, Capt James Tancred, making for Rosyth to rejoin squadron after refit in Devonport, weather thick, Bell Rock LH blacked out, presumably overran Firth of Forth. Ran on to Bell Rock off Dundee early in the morning [wi - in 56.26N, 02.23.30W], heavy seas soon reduced her to a wreck; Rosyth-based destroyers took off all her crew "in very difficult conditions"; no lives lost. Salvaged for guns, fittings and stores over the next few months, commercial salvage companies later removed non-ferrous metals and bronze propellers, wreck lies scattered at 50ft, only 400ft W of the lighhouse [+J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He*/dk/ke/wi; ADM.137/3643]

ARIADNE, hired trawler – see C.29, submarine, 29 August 1915, North Sea

ARIEL, destroyer, 10 March 1915, North Sea - I-class, c990t, 2-4in/2-12pdr/2-21in tt, 1st DF, now believed based at Rosyth for service with Grand Fleet, Lt-Cdr Cyril Calaghan. U-boat sighted by trawler off Fife Ness, SE Scotland, three destroyers including Attack and Acheron called up, spotted her on the surface and opened fire, Ariel then rammed the conning tower as she submerged, U.12 came back up, was hit again and scuttled by the crew. Ariel's bow considerably damaged, stern high out of water, docked at Leith for repairs [Rn/Cn/D/ap/gf/ub]

ARIES, Admiralty yacht, 31 October 1915, Dover Straits – one of two naval vessels mined in same field that day, 201grt, built 1880, steam yacht hired as auxiliary patrol vessel 12/9/14, 2-3pdr, Pendant No. 05, Dover Patrol, Lt-Cdr Harry Calder RNR. Mined in field laid by UC.6 [Matthias Graf von Schmettow] the same day off Leathercoat, near Dover; 5 officers including commanding officer, 4 ratings, 14 MN lost. Wreck discovered and lies in 51.00.64N 01.24.41E [He – 22 killed, 9 survivors]. See also OTHELLO II [H/J/L/C/D/He*/dk/dq; ADM.137/3131]

ARK ROYAL [01], seaplane carrier - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

ARK ROYAL [02], seaplane carrier, 19 August 1915, Adriatic - Albert Medal 1st Class, later George Cross was awarded to CPO Michael Sullivan Keogh, HMS Ark Royal. An aircraft taking off from Imbros airfield, crashed and caught fire. CPO Keogh attempted to rescue the fatally injured pilot [dx]

ARLANZA, armed merchant cruiser, November 1915, Barents Sea - 15,044grt, built 1912, hired 3/15, 10th CS Northern Patrol, carried Allied Military Mission to Russia, now returning with Russian Mission. Date uncertain [bi - early 10/15; gf - 29/10; Mn - 14/11] - Mined off Lumbovski near Svyatoi Nos on Murman coast, presumably laid by Meteor, passengers taken off by British SS Novo, towed by a tug and two British minesweeping trawlers into nearby Yukanskie Roads, remained there through the winter, later patched up with help of Russian materials and diving plant, towed home for repairs in June 1916; as repairs impossible through winter of 1915/16, most of crew brought back by an AMC [Mn - Orotova; gf - Orcoma] [Rn/Mn/D/bi/gf]

ASKOLD, Russian cruiser - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

ASTRAEA, light cruiser, 8 August 1914, German East Africa - Astraea bombarded Dar-es-Salaam and destroyed the wireless station

ATTACK [01], destroyer, 11 October 1914, Dutch coast - Cdre Tyrwhitt took Harwich Force First Flotilla to sea at 0400 on the 11th to patrol close inshore and try and prevent German submarines reaching Antwerp and using it as a base. Third Flotilla took over on the 13th. Between these two dates, two 1st DF, I-class destroyers, both presumably taking part, were attacked by U-boats off the Dutch coast: Attack [ge -10th] - off Schouwen Bank [Mn/D/ge/ty]; Goshawk [Mn/D/ge/ty]

ATTACK [02], destroyer – see BATTLE of THE DOGGER BANK, 24 January 1915.

ATTACK [03], destroyer – see ARIEL, destroyer, 10 March 1915, North Sea

ATTENTIVE [01], light cruiser, 27 September 1914, Dover Straits - Adventure-class, 6th DF leader, Dover Patrol. U.18, the first ever U-boat to pass through the Dover Straits, spotted Attentive off Dover and fired a torpedo which was narrowly avoided [Cn/D/ap/dp/ge/kt]

ATTENTIVE [02], light cruiser, 18 October 1914, Belgian Coast - Dover Patrol was only made a separate command under Rear-Adm Hood on the 12th, and in spite of bad weather that prevented sailing any sooner, by the 17th ships were off the Belgian coast, ready to support the Belgian and French armies in their attempt to halt the Germans along the River Yser, west of Ostend and Zeebrugge. That day four light cruisers including Attentive [flag, Adm Hood], 20 destroyers and three monitors sailed, Adm Hood reaching Nieuport about midnight to establish communications. Next day - the 18th, Attentive and the monitors, Foresight and her four destroyers bombarded German positions and played a major role in holding their infantry attacks. Taking part were Attentive, Adventure-class, Foresight, Forward-class, light cruisers and 6th DF Leaders, Humber, Mersey, Severn, Humber-class monitors, Amazon, Mohawk, Nubian, E-class destroyers, 6th DF. Heavily engaged by shore-based artillery, some shrapnel damage; Mersey lost one Royal Marine on the 20th and Severn, one officer ashore on the same day [Rn/D/dk/dp/dq/dx]

ATTENTIVE [03], light cruiser, 7 September 1915, Belgian Coast - Adventure-class, 2,670t, c9-4in/2-14in tt, 6th DF leader, Capt Johnson, in support of Dover Patrol bombardment force preparing to carry out Ostend shoot, forced to wait for haze to clear. Bombed by aircraft, Attentive hit on deck, one 4in gun disabled; two men killed and seven wounded [Rn/Cn/D/dk/dp/dq]

AUDACIOUS, dreadnought, 27 October 1914, off N Ireland - King George V-class, 25,700t, 1912, 10-13.5in/16-4in/3-21in tt, 21kts, c900 crew, Pendant No. 54, 2nd BS Grand Fleet, Capt Cecil Dampier. With most of Grand Fleet now in Lough Swilly, the eight dreadnoughts of 2nd BS sailed from Loch na Keal, Isle of Mull on the 26th for firing practice, rendezvousing at 0500 on 27th with light cruiser Liverpool, tugs Plover and Flying Condor, and towed targets 30 miles N by W of Tory Island [Rn/gf - 55.45N, 08.30W]. Four hours later, steaming in line ahead, the squadron was just turning to port in fairly heavy seas, Audacious at number three. Explosion port side aft around 0900, 20 miles N 1/4 E of Tory Island [dx - 18 miles N3ºE of Tory Is; gf - 55.34N, 08.30W], came to a stop with port engine-room flooded and centre engine-room partly flooded, not known if mined or torpedoed, rest of squadron steamed away and called for assistance. Damage comparatively light but progressive flooding made her increasingly difficult to manage as the weather worsened. Liverpool circled and the tugs closed in as she began to settle by the stern, then stopped going down and moved ahead slowly under own power. Around 1300, White Star liner Olympic arrived in response to the SOS and tried to take her in tow, but she was now badly down by stern, hard to manage in the seas and the towline parted. Fleet collier Thornhill tried and also failed. Until 1600 it was hoped she could be saved, but by the time battleship Exmouth arrived to tow her in, Audacious' stern was awash and the remaining crew taken off by 1915. At 2045 she capsized and floated upside down for 15min before an immense ammunition explosion sank her at 2100 [in believed loss position: ke/wi - 17 miles N 1/4 E of Tory Island in 55.33.34N, 08.12.30W, although there may some discrepency between the explosion position and distance made before going down], mining confirmed by the sinking of SS Manchester Commerce the previous afternoon, field laid by Berlin on 22/23 October; no lives lost, remaining survivors rescued by Olympic using her lifeboats. Audacious was a major loss to Adm Jellicoe and the Grand Fleet. The Admiralty tried to hide her loss and withheld information from the British press, but a photograph taken by an American on board Olympic soon appeared around the world. Wreck lies capsized in general depth of 200ft. See also LIVERPOOL [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/dk/dx/gf/ke/wi]

AURORA [01], light cruiser – see BATTLE of THE DOGGER BANK, 24 January 1915.

AURORA [02], light cruiser - see UNDAUNTED, light cruiser, 24 April 1915, North Sea.

AUSTRALIA [01] [RAN], battlecruiser, 30 August 1914, German Pacific Possessions - German Samoa captured by New Zealand troops supported by Australian, British, New Zealand and French warships; Australian battlecruiser Australia, light cruiser Melbourne plus old light cruisers Philomel [NZ], Psyche [NZ], Pyramus [RN] took part.

AUSTRALIA [02] [RAN], battlecruiser, 14 September 1914, German Pacific Possessions - following Australian landings near Rabaul, the German governor surrendered all German New Guinea on 15th, i.e. Kaiser Wilhelm Land in NE New Guinea, New Pommern now New Britain, New Mecklenburg now New Ireland, and Bougainville, northern Solomon Islands, all to Australian forces around this date. Australian battlecruiser Australia, light cruisers Melbourne and Sydney, old light cruiser Encounter, destroyers Parramatta, Warrego and Yarra, submarines AE.1 and AE.2 [lost], and armed transport Berrima took part

B

B.3, submarine, 2 October 1914 - Dover Straits. B-class, Dover Patrol 4th Flotilla. Attacked by U-boat S of Goodwins, torpedo missed, may have been U.18 [Rn/Mn/D/ge]

B.6 [01], submarine - see E.15, submarine, 17 April 1915, Dardanelles Campaign

B.6 [02], submarine, 16 August 1915, Eastern Mediterranean - B.6, [Lt C MacArthur] and B.11 [Lt N Holbrook], submarines, B-class, 287/316t, 2-18in tt, Mudros-based, from Alexandria with ABS Heroic for patrol off the Libyan/Egyptian border, information received that Turkish arms would be smuggled to Senussi tribesmen by German U-boats. Lt Holbrook attempted to land in a small boat under a flag of truce near Sollum, became suspicious and pulled back to B.11, shore group opened fire and riddled casings and bridge screens of both submarines with bullets; Lt Holbrook hit in the face by a ricochet, on B.6, ERA killed and fell overboard, CERA badly wounded, Coxswain slightly [Cn/dk/md]

B.11 [01], submarine, 13 December 1914, Dardanelles - Lt Norman Douglas Holbrook [CO, HM S/M B.11] awarded Victoria Cross for sinking Turkish guardship/old battleship Messudiyeh

B.11 [02], submarine - see E.15, submarine, 17 April 1915, Dardanelles Campaign

B.11 [03], submarine – see B.6, submarine, 16 August 1915, Eastern Mediterranean

B.11 [04], submarine, 11 December 1915, Adriatic Sea - B-class, 287/316t, 2-18in tt, on patrol off Punta Salvore. Attacked by Austrian flying boat whose engine failed, came down 500yds off, submarine's maxim gun brought up but jammed, B.11 then tried to ram but the flying boat crew got the engine going and took off [Cn/md]

BACCHANTE, cruiser - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

BADGER, destroyer - see ENGADINE, seaplane carrier, 25 October 1914, North Sea.

BALAKANI, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 9 September 1915, North Sea - 3,696grt, built 1899, Petroleum SS Co, London-reg, Mr F White, Port Arthur for London with oil fuel. Mined, laid by UC.1 [Egon von Werner], sank 1/2 m SW of South Longsand Buoy, off Clacton [L/te - 51.31.15N, 01.20E; wi - 1/2 m SW by S of, in 51.31.11N, 01.20.57E]; six crew lost [H/L/Lr/te/un/wi]

BALBUS [01], gunboat, Niger Flotilla – see CUMBERLAND, cruiser, 7 September 1914, German West Africa

BALBUS [02], gunboat, Niger Flotilla, 8 October 1914, Cameroons Campaign - Nigerian Government tug, taken into service 9/14, 3-37mm, taking part in combined naval and military operation from Duala against German forces further inland, towing lighter armed with 6in gun. Force had to retreat later in the day, Balbus went aground so hard she had to be abandoned. Note: Dittmar does not list her as lost, possibly salvaged [Rn/D]

BALMEDIE, hired trawler, 27 April 1915, Gallipoli Campaign - 205grt, built 1906, Balgownie Steam Trawl Fishing Co, Aberdeen-reg A113, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.350, Skipper George Reynolds RNR. In collision, sank in the Dardanelles [C - off]; no lives lost [H/Lr/C/D/He/dk]

BANYERS, hired trawler, 6 January 1915, North Sea - or The Banyers, 448grt, built 1914, South Western Steam Fishing, Grimsby-reg GY128, hired 12/14 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.450, Lt Hubert Boothby RNR, sweeping. Mined in Scarborough field laid by German cruiser Kolberg between Fiely and Scarborough, sank “very quickly” off Cayton Bay, S of Scarborough [wi - in 54.15.07N, 00.15.24W]; 2 ratings lost [He/wi - 6 crew], Skipper escaped through wheel-house window, 11 survivors rescued by other ships. Lt Boothby lost HMS Orianda less than a month before, was awarded the DSC and later wrote about his experiences in “Spunyarn”, published 1935 [H/L/Lr/C/D/He/ap/dk/wi; ADM.137/84]

BARALONG [01], Q-ship, 19 August 1915, "The Baralong Incident" – an Admiralty collier [and a second British vessel] was sunk by U.27 [Bernd Wegener], then an attack on a third vessel led to U.27 being sunk by HMS Baralong:

BEN VRACKIE, Admiralty collier, 3,908grt, built 1905, Watson Brothers Shipping Co, Glasgow-reg, sailing Cardiff for Malta with coal and stores. [te/un - 18th] - Captured by U.27, sunk by gunfire 55 miles NW by N of Scillies [L - in 50.24N, 07.55W; te/un - 50.30N, 07.30W] [H/L/Lr/te/un];

NICOSIAN, cargo steamship, 6,369grt, built 1912, Leyland Line, Liverpool, sailing New Orleans for Liverpool, carrying mules. [L - 20th] - stopped at 1500 by U.27 [Wegener], 73 miles S by W of Old Head of Kinsale [L - in 50.22N, 08.12W; dx - 50.43N, 07.22W; ge - c100 miles S of Queenstown], Q-ship Baralong was nearby, sighted Nicosian and received signals she had been captured by one or two U-boats. Baralong, headed as if to pick up Nicosian's crew from their boats, the U-boat passed behind the stopped ship to intercept the new arrival and when she appeared again, Baralong had the White Ensign hoisted and opened a heavy fire from 600yds which soon sank U.27. As Baralong picked up Nicosian's crew, Germans were seen swimming for the stopped ship and fearing they would board and scuttle her, opened fire on them in the water. Four Germans managed to reach her and disappeared below. With guns and ammunition onboard, Baralong sent her small Royal Marine contingent across to hunt them down, no doubt on a "shoot-on-sight" basis, before they could do any damage. All four were killed. Nicosian's crew returned and brought her into Bristol holed by U-boat shells. On the bases of reports by some of the American muleteers carried by Nicosian, the Germans described the incident as an atrocity and demanded the crew of Baralong be tried for murder and punished. Britain agreed to an impartial tribunal as long as the enquiry included the sinkings of liner Arabic, firing on the boats of collier Ruel and the attack on E.13 in neutral waters. The Germans dropped their demands although still threatened reprisals [H/L/Rn/Mn/dx/ge/ms]

BARALONG [02], Q-ship, 24 September 1915, Atlantic - U.41 sunk by steamer Baralong 90 miles W of Ushant. She was not damaged in the action, her second success in five weeks [dx]

BARBADOS, hired trawler – see NORTH SEA ACTION, 1 May 1915

BARHAM, dreadnought – see WARSPITE, dreadnought, 3 December 1915, North Sea

BARON ERSKINE, Admiralty collier, 19 August 1915, Atlantic off SW England - 5,585grt, built 1911, Hogarth Shipping Co, Ardrossan-reg, 114 crew, on Admiralty charter for this voyage, Avonmouth for New Orleans in ballast. After U.38 [Max Valentiner] had shelled Restormel, the U-boat headed for the expectant Baron Erskine and fired a warning shot, she headed at full speed for Land’s End sending SOS, continued to be chased and shelled. At 0840 shrapnel brought down the radio aerial, she stopped and after the crew had taken to the boats, torpedo hit port side in the engine-room. Six more shells were fired into the hull, she went down at 0920, 25 miles NNW of Bishop Rock [wi - in 50.12N, 06.50W]; ship’s boats headed for St Ives, picked up by Rovenska and landed at Penzance. One of three colliers sunk by U.38 at this time – see also RESTORMEL, SAMARA [H/L/te/un/wi]

BARRY, fleet messenger, 18 August 1915, Aegean Sea - also store carrier, ex-excursion paddle steamer, 398grt, built 1907, hired 29/6/15 [C - as minesweeper], Pendant No. Y4.28, based at Mudros, serving as supply ship off Dardanelles, carrying supplies to Suvla Bay. In collision with hired screw minesweeper Whitby Abbey [do - ABS] in Mudros Bay, island of Lemnos, stern badly damaged and had to unload cargo, repaired by repair ship Reliance. Believed returned to duties in September carrying men, ammunition, mail and supplies to Anzac Cove and Suvla Bay, often under shellfire but never hit [C/Cn/D/da/do]

BASILISK [01], destroyer – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 26 February 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts, continued

BASILISK [02], destroyer – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 1 March 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts, continued

BATTLE OF CORONEL, 1 November 1914, South East Pacific – [I] Aware that Adm von Spee's East Asiatic Cruiser Squadron was heading across the Pacific for South American waters, the Admiralty ordered Adm Cradock who had been working his way down the east coast of South America searching for German raiders and merchantmen, to concentrate a strong-enough squadron off the southern coast of Chile. His main force, two old cruisers Good Hope [Flag] and Monmouth, newly-commissioned with large numbers of reservists, were no match for the worked-up 8.2in-armed Scharnhorst and Gneisenau with their crack gunnery, neither were light cruiser Glasgow and armed merchant cruiser Otranto for German light cruisers Leipzig, Dresden, later joined by Nurnberg. Old 12in-gunned battleship Canopus was some 300 miles behind convoying British colliers.

[II] The four British ships were now heading in a northerly direction, 15 miles apart but only searching for the expected Leipzig, Glasgow nearest the Chilean coast some 50 miles W of Coronel. Smoke was sighted at 1620, Glasgow confirmed it was not one German light cruiser but two cruisers, and shortly fell back on Good Hope, Cradock tried to force the action while the setting sun was behind him blinding the Germans, but they declined. Instead von Spee waited for the sun to set leaving the British ships silhouetted and his own ships lost in the dusk before opening fire around 1900, strong winds and heavy seas meant the British lower casemate guns could not be worked.

[III] In a short time both Good Hope and Monmouth had been overwhelmed and sunk, and Glasgow damaged but along with Otranto managed to escape. Two days later Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Nurnberg entered Valparaiso for 24 hours, and on 8 December, the whole squadron appeared off the Falklands Islands. See also GOOD HOPE, MONMOUTH, GLASGOW [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/dk/ke/nb/nh; ADM.116/1354, ADM.116/1355, ADM.137/3851].

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BATTLE OF HELIGOLAND BIGHT, 28 August 1914 – [I] Harwich Force [Cdre Tyrwhitt] sailed to attack German destroyer patrols in the Heligoland Bight in cooperation with submarines of Harwich-based 8th Flotilla, supported by two destroyers [Cdre Keyes]. Surface units taking part originally consisted of [1] Harwich Force light cruisers Arethusa [broad pendant, but commissioned only a matter of days] with 3rd DF, 16 destroyers and Fearless with 1st DF, 15 destroyers, [2] Humber-based battlecruisers Invincible and New Zealand in support, and [3] Southern Force cruisers in reserve off Terschelling. The Harwich Flotillas headed south from Horn Reef LV in the early morning of 28th towards the west of Heligoland, coming into action with destroyer patrols on the way and reaching there around 0800 to sweep west.

[II] The Admiralty ordered additional support by [4] the three remaining battlecruisers of 1st BCS [Adm Beatty] and [5] six light cruisers of 1st LCS [Cdre Goodenough] but the wireless message confirming these additional forces failed to reach either Tyrwhitt or Keyes and contributed to a confusing and complex series of actions in scattered misty conditions. Added to this was the danger to and from the British submarines of not having this information. German destroyers of 1st and 5th TBF's were out in force, joined in ones and twos by old German light cruisers Stettin, Frauenlob, Mainz, Strassburg, Koeln, Stralsund, Ariadne, Kolberg and Danzig, some of which had to raise steam before coming out; the state of tide also prevented German battlecruisers joining them before it was too late.

[III] By the time the British forces retired just after 1300, Harwich Force had sunk destroyer V.187 and disabled cruisers Frauenlob and Mainz, 1st LCS finished off Mainz, and 1st BCS ships steaming down from the north at midday sank Koeln and Ariadne and were only prevented by mist from destroying others; damage was also inflicted on Strassburg, Stettin, destroyer V.1, and torpedo boats D.8, T.33. German losses totalled over 1,000 killed. Harwich Force Arethusa and destroyers Goshawk, Laurel, Liberty and Laertes were damaged. Royal Navy Battle Honour - HELIGOLAND 1914. See also ARETHUSA, GOSHAWK, LAERTES, LAUREL, LIBERTY [Rn/Cn/D/dd/dk/gh/nb/nh/ty]

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BATTLE OF THE DOGGER BANK, 24 January 1915 – [I] German 1st Scouting Group consisting of battlecruisers Seydlitz [flag, Adm Hipper], Moltke [both 11in-armed], Derfflinger [12in], armoured cruiser Blücher [8.2in], 2nd SG light cruisers Graudenz, Stralsund, Rostock, Kolberg, and destroyers sailed to attack British fishing vessels and patrols on the Dogger Bank. Warned by Room 40, Grand Fleet including the 1st LCS [Cdre Goodenough] and 1st BCS [Lion, flag, Adm Beatty] together with Harwich Force [Cdre Tyrwhitt] put to sea to rendezvous in the NE part of the Bank.

[II] Delays due to fog meant that Harwich Force light cruiser Arethusa was heading north half an hour ahead of light cruiser leaders Aurora, Undaunted and their destroyers. Shortly after 0700 Aurora, sighted a cruiser in the SE Dogger Bank area, believed her to be Arethusa and challenged, then opened fire on the German Kolberg at 0715 from 8,000yds: AURORA, Arethusa-class, 4,400t, 2-6in/6-4in/4-21in tt, leader 1st DF Harwich Force. Hit three times and slightly damaged, Kolberg damaged more severely and turned away [Rn/Cn/D/ty]

[III] As the British ships continued towards the rendezvous, the Germans sighted 1st LCS, shortly turned for home and by 0750 could be seen by Adm Beatty’s 1st LCS. In the ensuing stern chase, the battlecruisers headed approximately south east, with Indomitable lagging behind. Lion opened fire on Blücher at 0852, started hitting at 0907, then moved up to Derfflinger while Tiger and Princess Royal concentrated on Blücher, both Germans being hit. Lion received her first damage around 0928, and at 0935 Beatty ordered 1st BCS to engage their opposite numbers - New Zealand on Blücher, Princess Royal on Derfflinger, Tiger on Moltke, Lion on Seydlitz. Unfortunately Tiger fired at Seydlitz, leaving Moltke free to concentrate on Lion, and although the German ships were being hit, Lion was again hurt at 0954 and 1001. Blücher now pulled out of line while the other three German ships continued on their course, and by 1048 was circling out of control.

[IV] Lion was damaged again at 1018 and between 1035 and 1050. At 1100 her damaged was so severe she dropped astern, then due to signalling errors, the other three British battlecruisers concentrated on Blücher. Adm Beatty crossed to destroyer Attack and by 1150 was getting ready to transfer his flag to Princess Royal and continue after the Germans. Then at noon the battlecruisers returned from sinking Blücher. Although Seydlitz and Derfflinger were badly damaged [their experiences led to far better flash protection that served them well at Jutland], Adm Beatty was deeply disappointed he had failed to destroy all four big ships. Tiger was also hit but the other three battlecruisers were untouched. Royal Navy Battle Honour - DOGGER BANK 1915. See also LION, METEOR, TIGER [Rn/Cn/D/ti/ty]

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BATTLE OF THE FALKLANDS, 8 December 1914 – [I] With news of the British defeat off Coronel, battlecruisers Invincible [flag, Vice-Adm Sturdee] and Inflexible, 2nd BCS Grand Fleet were ordered to the South Atlantic sailing from Devonport on 11 November. At this time it was not known if von Spee would head round Cape Horn, go north to Panama Canal, or even turn back into the Pacific. Of the ships in the South Atlantic, old battleship Canopus reached the Falklands on the 12 November and remained at Port Stanley as guardship, berthed on the mud, while cruisers Carnarvon [flag, Rear-Adm Stoddart], Cornwall, Kent, and light cruisers Bristol, Glasgow sailed for a rendezvous at Abrolhos Rocks which Adm Sturdee reached on the 26th. On this same day Adm von Spee, after coaling off the southern Chile coast, sailed to attack the Falkland Islands and destroy the facilities there. Fortunately for the British, they were so delayed rounding Cape Horn that Adm Sturdee was able to reach there first, arriving the morning of 7 December, by which time armed merchant cruiser Macedonia had joined. His plan was to coal, allow Bristol to repair her engines, then sail by the 9th for Cape Horn before von Spee came east.

[II] The first German ships were sighted from Sapper Hill at 0750. At this time Macedonia was on patrol off Port Stanley and had not coaled, Invincible and Inflexible were coaling, only Carnarvon and Glasgow had finished refuelling, and Cornwall, Kent and Bristol were still waiting, Cornwall also had an engine opened up at 6 hours notice and Bristol was still repairing hers with fires drawn. As Gneisenau and Nurnberg approached to shell the wireless station, Canopus fired four shells at extreme range around 0915, fragments of one or perhaps a ricochet possibly hit Gneisenau, they turned away to join the German flagship and the squadron headed SE away from the Falklands at full speed. Kent had left the harbour by 0915, Glasgow weighed to join her, Inflexible, Invincible and Cornwall sailed out at 1000, followed by Carnarvon and then around 1100 by Bristol which with Macedonia was diverted to search for the German colliers, sinking two out of three southeast of the Falklands.

[III] Invincible and Inflexible in the lead opened fire on the lagging Leipzig at 1251, then realising there was no escape, von Spee ordered his three light cruisers to scatter south at 1320 while the two cruisers headed NE to cover their retreat. At this time, the two British battlecruisers joined by the slower Carnarvon engaged cruisers Scharnhorst [flag, sunk 1617] and Gneisenau [sunk around 1800]. cruiser Kent went after light cruiser Nurnberg [action started 1615, sunk 1927], sister ship Cornwall after Leipzig, and light cruiser Glasgow after Dresden [which escaped]. Because Glasgow could only gain on Dresden slowly, she transferred her attention to Leipzig to give Cornwall time to catch up, Glasgow opening fire at 1453, Cornwall coming into action around 1615. After Leipzig was sunk [at 2123], Glasgow went after Dresden again but with her speed reduced lost the German in the mist and rain. Royal Navy Battle Honour - FALKLANDS 1914. See also CARNARVON, CORNWALL, GLASGOW, INVINCIBLE, INFLEXIBLE, KENT [Rn/D/dk/nb/nh]

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BAYANO [01], armed merchant cruiser, 11 March 1915, North Channel - ex-passenger ship, 5,948grt, built 1913, 14kts, Elders & Fyffes, Liverpool, hired 8/14 [C/wi - 21/11/14], 2-6in, Pendant No. M.78, 10th CS Northern Patrol, Cdr Henry Carr i/c, master, Lt Bernard Dunphy RNR. After coaling in the Clyde, left night of 10th to return to patrol line [Rn/wd - for Liverpool to coal], sailing without lights at 13kts, very calm dark night. Torpedoed by U.27 [Bernd Wegener] amidships under boiler room around 0515, magazines exploded and she sank within 4min in Firth of Clyde, 10 miles SE by E of Corsewall Point, Galloway [ke - 10 miles WNW of; wi - in 55.03.03N, 05.26.03W]; 196 lives lost - 14 officers, 124 ratings and 59 merchant seamen [ke - 195 lost], 26 survivors - 2nd i/c, 7 officers and men picked up by ABS Tara, 18 PO's and men on two liferafts by SS Balmerino and landed at Ayr. Wreck believed to lie at 330ft [H/J/L/Rn/Mn/C/Cn/D/He/bi/dk/gf/ke/ss/te/un/wd/wi; ADM.137/185]

BAYANO [02], armed merchant cruiser – see DIGBY, armed merchant cruiser, 14 March 1915, off NW & W Scotland

BEAGLE [01], destroyer - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

BEAGLE [02], destroyer – see GOLIATH, battleship, 13 May 1915, Gallipoli Campaign

BEDOUIN, hired trawler, 13 February 1915, Atlantic off N Ireland - 188grt, built 1902, GN80, T L Devlin, Granton-reg hired 8/14 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.353, Skipper George Hollins RNR [wi - W Forbes up to 1914]. Sailed from Sheephaven, northern Ireland to clear mines in the Berlin's Tory Island field with other trawlers, recovering her gear around 1555 and at least one mine seen to be snagged, orders given to veer away, but one exploded blowing away her starboard quarter, sank stern first off Tory Is, off Co Donegal; no lives lost [H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.137/3116]

BELLEROPHON, dreadnought, 27 August 1914, off Orkneys - Bellerophon-class, 22,100t, 4th BS Grand Fleet. In collision with SS St Clair passing through the Fleet, not seriously damaged [D/Cn/gf/gr]

BELLONA, light cruiser, 17 December 1914, North Sea - Bellona, light cruiser, Boadicea-class, 3,800t and Broke, flotilla leader, Faulknor-class, 2,000t, both Grand Fleet, following Scarborough Raid and before returning to Scapa Flow, Grand Fleet carried out battle practice with Harwich Force. Both in collision and "seriously damaged", escorted to Rosyth by cruiser Devonshire; no lives lost [Cn/D/dk/gf]

BEN ARDNA, hired trawler, 8 August 1915, North Sea - 187grt, built 1912, R Irvin, Aberdeen-reg A517, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.289, Dover Patrol. Engaged in sweeping, mined at 1330, mine laid by UC.1 [Egon von Werner] three days before, sank quickly about 3/4 mile E of Elbow Buoy, off North Foreland/Broadstairs, Kent; 2 ratings lost. Note: Lloyds lists her as fishing when sunk, not in Admiralty service [H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/dq/sc/un; ADM.1/8429/224]

BEN CRUACHAN, Admiralty collier, 30 January 1915, Irish Sea - 3,092grt, built 1902, Morrison Shipping Co, North Shields-reg, Mr W Harley, sailing Scapa Flow for Liverpool [te/wi - Cardiff for Scapa Flow with coal]. Captured by U.21 [Otto Hersing] in Liverpool Bay, torpedoed but failed to sink, U-boat went alongside, boarding party laid explosive scuttling charges, ship sank at 1030, 15 miles NW of Morecambe LV [L/te/un/wi - in 53.36N, 03.51W]; crew in two boats directed to steer for sailing trawler Margaret, landed at Fleetwood [H/L/Lr/Mn/ap/ge/te/un/wi]

BEN VRACKIE, Admiralty collier – see BARALONG, Q-ship, 19 August 1915, "The Baralong Incident"

BEN-MY-CHREE, seaplane carrier 12 August 1915, Gallipoli – during the British offensive at Suvla, Short Type 184 seaplanes from Ben-my-Chree carried out first ever aerial torpedo attacks, launching 14in torpedoes in the Dardanelles area against Turkish ships on the 12th and 17th. The results in ships sunk or damaged is uncertain [dx]

BENGROVE, Admiralty collier, 7 March 1915, Bristol Channel - 3,840grt, built 1910, Steam Transport Co [Joseph Hoult & Co], Liverpool-reg, 33 crew, Mr W Barber, Barry for France with 5,850t coal, steaming at 9kts. Torpedoed abaft engine room by U.20 Walther Schweiger], settled with list to starboard, boats ordered away, sank stern first about 30min later, 5 miles NNE of Ilfracombe, Devon [L - 5 miles N of; wi - in 51.17.52N 04.07.28W]; crew rowed to SS Paignton, transferred to Ilfracombe lifeboat, landed there soon after 1500 [H/L/Lr/te/un/wi]

BERKSHIRE, Admiralty blockship, 2,285grt, built 1894, 285ft, Berkshire SS Co, Newcastle-reg. Purchased 1914/15 for Sunderland, Durham - final scuttling location not known [Lr/D]

BERKSHIRE, Admiralty trawler, 15 May 1915, North Channel - 133grt, built 1897, North Lincolnshire Steam Fishing, Grimsby-reg GY398, hired 1915 [D - 12/14] as patrol vessel, 1-4in, Admiralty No.995, Skipper Herbert Percy Fleet RNR [wi - A Bland, Captain]. In collision with armed yacht Valiant II [1,885grt], sank at 1900 off Cushendall, Red Bay, Co Antrim [He - 6 miles E of Tor Cor Point, in Red Bay; wi - in 55.05N, 06W]; no lives lost, crew rescued by armed trawler Alsatian [H/Lr/C/D/dk/wi; ADM.137/114, ADM.137/623]

BERRIMA [RAN], armed transport – see AUSTRALIA [RAN], battlecruiser, 14 September 1914, German Pacific Possessions

BIRKENHEAD, light cruiser – see CARIBBEAN, accommodation ship, 27 September 1915, off N Scotland

BIRMINGHAM [01], light cruiser, 9 August 1914, North Sea - Birmingham-class, 6,040t, 1st LCS, screening battle squadrons. Sighted submarine on surface in thick fog 120 miles ESE of Orkneys [dx - in 58.35N, 01.56E], from the hammering, machinery repairs apparently being carried out, rammed and sank U.15 around 0400. Birmingham went into dry dock for bow repairs. First U-boat sunk by Royal Navy [Cn/D/dx/ge/gf/kt/ub/un]

BIRMINGHAM [02], light cruiser, 19 June 1915, North Sea - Birmingham-class, 2nd LCS Grand Fleet, with sister-ship Nottingham, 3rd CS including Argyll and Roxburgh and just four screening destroyers making sweep from Rosyth across North Sea between the 18th and 21st. Attacked by U.32 without success, one of a series of attacks by four U-boats - see ROXBURGH, cruiser, 20 June 1915, North Sea [Rn/Cn/D/gf]

BLAKEDOWN, Admiralty trawler, 19 January 1915, North Sea - 207grt, built 1900, Grimsby-reg GY1162, hired 1/15, Admiralty No.1044. [Other sources – 19 February] - Stranded and total wreck at Crudensgeir or Cruden Skares, near Peterhead, Aberdeenshire [wi - Bay of Cruden, near Newburgh, in 57.24.30N, 01.51.15W]; no lives lost [H/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.137/86]

BLANCHE, light cruiser – see CONQUEROR, dreadnought, 15 December 1914, Orkneys.

BLENHEIM, destroyer depot ship – see SCORPION, destroyer, 27 April 1915, Gallipoli Campaign

BOADICEA, light cruiser – see CONQUEROR, dreadnought, 15 December 1914, Orkneys.

BONAR LAW, hired trawler, 27 October 1915, Dover Straits - 284grt, built 1912, Hull-reg H437, Pickering & Haldane's Steam Trawling, hired 2/15 as minesweeper [He – employed as patrol vessel], 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.1223, Dover Patrol, Lt Alfred Stableford RNR. [wi - 28th] - In collision with SS Dwina [756grt], 1/2 mile W of South Goodwin light vessel, off Deal and sank [wi - in 51.07.38N, 01.24.39E]; no lives lost [H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/dq/hw/wi; ADM.137/167]

BOY EDDIE, hired drifter – see SILVERY WAVE, hired drifter, 13 November 1915, Atlantic off SW England

BRANKSOME CHINE, Admiralty chartered collier, 23 February 1915, English Channel - one of two colliers sunk by U.8. 2,026grt, built 1899, Branksome Chine SS Co [H G Harper & Co], Cardiff-reg, Mr F Anstey, Grimsby Roads for Portsmouth with coal. Torpedoed and sunk by U.8 [Alfred Stoss] 6 miles E by S 3/4 S of Beachy Head, near Eastbourne [L - about 6 miles ESE of; wi - in 50.41.06N, 00.20.30E]. See also OAKBY [H/L/Lr/Mn/te/un/wi]

BRAZEN, destroyer – see NORTH SEA ACTION, 1 May 1915

BRIGHTON QUEEN [01], paddle minesweeper – see PASSING, hired trawler, 19 December 1914, North Sea.

BRIGHTON QUEEN [02], paddle minesweeper, 6 October 1915, Belgian Coast - 553grt, built 1897, ex-excursion steamer, Shoreham-reg, P & A Campbell, first paddler taken up, hired 16/9/14 for conversion at Devonport, Admiralty No.181, with Grimsby unit of 6 sweepers, Lt Eric Rees RNR in command, operations area between Humber & Belgian coast, attached to Dover Patrol, based at Dunkirk, sweeping at night [according to “Swept Channels”] in the West Deep, off Nieuport with Devonia, Glen Avon, Westward Ho. About to turn and head for Dunkirk at 0145, mine exploded under paddle box, laid by UC.5 [Herbert Pustkuchen], ship broke in two and sank within minutes [He – at 1430], 4 miles off Nieuport pier, near Ostend in West Deep; 6 ratings and 1 MN killed, 1 rating died of wounds, other ships lowered boats and rescued 34 of crew of 41, four survivors taken to hospital in Dunkirk, rest to Dover on board destroyer Viking. First Admiralty paddler lost [H/J/L/Lr/C/Cn/D/He/ap/dk/do/ge/sc/te/un; ADM.1/8435/298]

BRILLIANT, light cruiser - see VENERABLE, battleship, 28 October 1914, Belgian Coast

BRISTOL [01], light cruiser. 6 August 1914, West Indies - German light cruiser Karlsruhe in action with Bristol 250 miles NE of Eleuthera Island, Bahamas, Karlsruhe escaped

BRISTOL [02], light cruiser – see CARMANIA, armed merchant cruiser, 14 September 1914, Central Atlantic.

BRISTOL [03], light cruiser– see BATTLE OF THE FALKLANDS, 8 December 1914.

BRITANNIA, battleship, 26 January 1915, North Sea - King Edward VII-class, c17,290t, 3rd BS Grand Fleet. Ran aground on Inchkeith island, Firth of Forth in fog, ashore for 36hr and considerably damaged, refloated, needed dockyard repairs [Cn/D/gf]

BRITON, hired trawler, 21 July 1915, North Sea - 196grt, built 1906, John Lewis, Aberdeen-reg A101, hired 2/15, armed, Admiralty No.1170, patrol vessel, 13 crew, Skipper Peter Christie RNR, probably Harwich-based, guardship for outer group of unarmed minesweepers ordered to sweep area around Longsand LV where HMS Rhiannon was lost the day before, most of the crew below having their evening meal. Mined at 1715, mine laid by UC.3 [Erwin Weisbach] on 5 July, “stern broke off, the bow went up into the air and was then hidden by a column of water and smoke. When this cleared away there remained of the ship nothing”, sank 13 cables SW of Longsand LV, off Clacton [wi - in 51.40N, 01.29E]; Skipper and 10 ratings lost [wi - all 13 crew lost; He/ap - three crew saved] [H/L/Lr/C/D/He/ap/dk+/sc/un/wi; ADM.1/8427/194, ADM.1/8428/207]

BROKE, flotilla leader – see BELLONA, light cruiser, 17 December 1914, North Sea.

BUDRIE, Admiralty blockship 2,252grt, built 1882, 285ft, Arab Steamers, Bombay-reg. Purchased 1914/15 for Scapa Flow, scuttled 1915 in about 40-60ft, second blockship from north in Burra Sound, between Hoy & Graemsay islands [wi - in 58.55.40N, 03.18.38W]. Wreck dispersed in 1962 to clear shipping channel [Lr/wi/www]

BULLDOG [01], destroyer - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

BULLDOG [02], destroyer – see GOLIATH, battleship, 13 May 1915, Gallipoli Campaign

BULLFINCH, destroyer, 15 August 1914, North Sea - C-class, 390t, with 7th Patrol Flotilla, Grimsby. In collision, location and damage not known; 4 ratings killed, three of them buried at Grimsby [D/dk]

BULWARK, battleship, 26 November 1914, North Sea - London-class, 15,700t, 1899, 4-12in/12-6in/18-12pdr/4-18in tt, 18kts, c750 crew, Pendant No. 95, 5th BS Channel Fleet, originally Portland-based, transferred to Sheerness on 15th, Capt Guy Sclater, believed returned from patrol, moored at No.17 Buoy, in Kethole Reach off Sheerness in the River Medway, loading ammunition from lighters alongside. Suddenly blew up at 0753 with "an appalling explosion... when the smoke cleared she had entirely disappeared" [wi - in 51.25.21N, 00.39.16E], sabotage was originally suspected but in mid-December the court of enquiry established that ammunition had accidentally ignited, probably caused by careless handling of black powder charges on upper deck; 792 lives lost - 50 officers, 738 ratings and 4 canteen staff [Rn/He/wi - 738 lives lost, 12 survivors; dx - 746 lost]. Wreck lies in 30ft marked by two buoys. Bulwark was only the first of five large British warships destroyed by internal explosions, probably due to cordite problems, followed by minelayer Princess Irene and cruiser Natal in 1915, dreadnought Vanguard in 1917, and monitor Glatton in 1918 [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/dx/ke/tr/wi; ADM.116/1370]

BURESK, Admiralty collier, 27 September 1914, Indian Ocean - 4,337grt, built 1914, Buresk SS Co, London-reg, Mr Frederick Taylor, Port Said for Hong Kong with 6,000t high-grade Welsh coal. Captured by Emden 180 miles W by N 3/4 N true from Colombo [L - in 07.55N, 76.50E; kp - 07.24N, 76.41E], retained as prison ship and collier under command of Lt-Cdr R Kloepper, coaled Emden in Nicobar Islands on 26 October, approached Keeling Island to coal her again, chased by HMAS Sydney after Emden was destroyed on 9 November and overhauled, but German prize crew were already scuttling her, boarding party found inlet valves opened and damaged [L - sunk by HMAS Sydney at Keeling Island] [H/L/Lr/Rn/Mn/D/kp]

BURMA, oiler – see XERXES, hired trawler, 16 November 1915, North Sea

BURRSFIELD, Admiralty collier, 5 October 1915, Central Mediterranean - may be spelt Bursfield, 4,037grt, built 1902, London-reg, Burrsfield SS, Mr A Hunt, Barry/Malta for Salonica/Dardanelles with government and general stores. Overhauled and stopped by U.33 [Konrad Gansser], sunk by gunfire 70 miles W of Cape Matapan; master, 4th engineer, messroom steward and a fireman killed by gunfire during the chase [H/L/Lr/Mn/te/un]

BUSH, hired trawler, 23 June 1915, Atlantic off NW Scotland - 221grt, built 1908, Milford-reg, hired 5/15, 1-12pdr, Skipper G King, on patrol off Hebrides about 8 miles NNW of Butt of Lewis, two drifters fishing nearby, wind blowing hard, "considerable sea". Shell landed nearby and submarine sighted, returned fire, third shot fell near the U-boat which submerged, Bush slightly damaged by the six shells fired at her; Admiralty awarded £60 to the crew [D/Mn]

BUSTARD [01], gunboat – see VENERABLE, battleship, 28 October 1914, Belgian Coast

BUSTARD [02], gunboat, 4 November 1914, Belgian Coast Operations - Bombardment of Lombartzyde near Nieuport by old gunboats Bustard and Excellent

BUSTARD [03], gunboat, 6 November 1914, Belgian Coast Operations - Bombardment of Westend and Lombartzyde by monitor Humber and old gunboat Bustard

C

C.9, submarine - see German Raid on Hartlepool, Scarborough and Whitby, 16 December 1914.

C.24 [01], submarine, 23 June 1915, North Sea - U.40 sunk by decoy combination trawler Taranaki/submarine C.24 off Aberdeen, first success by decoy ship against a U-boat [dx]

C.24 [02], submarine – see C.33, submarine, 4 August 1915, North Sea

C.27 [01], submarine – see PRINCESS LOUISE, hired trawler, 20 July 1915, off Fair Isle - U.23 sunk by combination decoy trawler Princess Louise/submarine C.27

C.27 [02], submarine – see C.33, submarine, 4 August 1915, North Sea

C.29, submarine, 29 August 1915, North Sea - C-class, c290/320t, 1909, 218in tt with 4 torpedoes, 13/7.5kts, 16 crew, Pendant No. I.59, Rosyth-based 7th Flotilla, Lt William Schofield, on anti-U-boat patrol with decoy trawler Ariadne, submerged, in tow and in telephone contact with Ariadne. Underwater explosion and tow rope went slack, mined off the Humber near Outer Dowsing LV [bw - 53.59N, 01.25E], accidentally towed into British minefield laid in January; 2 officers and 15 ratings lost [He – all 16 crew lost], no survivors [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/bw/dk/dx/go/ke/on]

C.31, submarine, 4 January 1915, North Sea - C-class, c290/320t, 1909, 218in tt with 4 torpedoes, 13/7.5kts, c16 crew, Pendant No. I.61, 4th Submarine Flotilla, Dover Patrol, Lt George Pilkington, sailed Dover 4th to investigate German naval activity off Zeebrugge, then report to Harwich on 7th, never heard from again, “overdue, presumed lost”. On or after 4th [ke - possiby 4th] - Lost off Belgium coast, cause unknown, possibly mined in German field off Zeebrugge or by accident, RNAS aircraft failed to observe any salvage operations off Zeebrugge that may have been connected with her loss, Cdre Keyes went out night of the 9th/10th with destroyers Lurcher and Firedrake in the forelorn hope of finding her. Declared lost on the 7th; 3 officers and 14 ratings lost, no survivors [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/bs/bw/dk/dq/dx/ke/on]

C.33, submarine, 4 August 1915, North Sea - C-class, 290/320t, 1910, 218in tt with 4 torpedoes, 13/7.5kts, c16 crew, Pendant No. I.63, Rosyth-based 7th Flotilla, Lt Gerald Carter. Trawler Weelsby, renamed Malta for decoy purposes, left Harwich on 31 July to meet up with C.33 for anti-U-boat patrol off the Norfolk coast, but failed to repeat the earlier successes of C.24 and C.27. At 2015 on the 4th, C.33 slipped her tow to return to harbour independently, last signal at 2150 - "have nothing to communicate", then failed to arrive, “overdue, presumed lost”. [Declared lost on the 5th] - Lost, cause unknown, no wreckage found, probably mined in British field near Smith’s Knoll, alternatively an accident as no German claims were made for her sinking; 3 officers and 14 ratings lost, no survivors. Destroyer Firedrake sailed at dawn on the 5th but failed to find any trace of her, declared lost [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/bw/dk/ke/on]

CAMBRIDGE, paddle minesweeper – see LADY ISMAY, paddle minesweeper, 21 December 1915, North Sea

CAMEO, hired trawler, July 1915, North Sea - 172grt, built 1898, Hull-reg, hired 2/15, 1-12pdr [ap - 3pdr], Skipper Albert Sayers, on patrol with trawlers Sea Ranger and Eastward Ho!, all Peterhead-based. July - Cameo sighted U-boat, headed in its direction and was fired at, returned fire and hit three times, Eastward Ho! came up and submarine headed away on the surface; skipper wounded and awarded DSC, gunner the DSM [D/ap]

CANOPUS [01], battleship – see BATTLE OF CORONEL, 1 November 1914, South East Pacific.

CANOPUS [02], battleship – see BATTLE OF THE FALKLANDS, 8 December 1914.

CANOPUS [03], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 2 March 1915, Third Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts

CANOPUS [04], battleship – see MANX HERO, Admiralty trawler, 10 March 1915, Dardanelles Campaign.

CANOPUS [05], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 18 March 1915, Final Naval Attack on the Narrows

CANOPUS [06], battleship - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

CANOPUS [07], battleship – see ALBION, battleship, 22 May 1915, Gallipoli Campaign

CANOPUS [08], battleship – see TRIUMPH, battleship, 25 May 1915, Gallipoli Campaign

CAPE ANTIBES, Admiralty collier, 21 October 1915, Barents Sea - 2,549grt, built 1903, Greenock-reg, Cape Antibes SS Lyle, Barry/Greenock for Archangel with coal. Mined, presumably laid by German Meteor, sank at entrance to White Sea [L - in 67.35N, 41.16E]; 6 crew lost [H/L/Lr]

CARIBBEAN [01], armed merchant cruiser, North Atlantic, February 1915 - one of two armed merchant cruisers of 10th CS on Northern Patrol damaged in the winter gales, dates not known, possibly February. 5,824grt, built 1890, hired 19/11/14, 8-4.7in/2-6pdr, normally on line B, north of Shetlands, proving unsuitable, old and slow. Rolled in heavy weather up to 50º with gunwhale submerged, reported dynamo disabled and funnel shifted. See also TEUTONIC [Mn/D/bi]

CARIBBEAN [02], armed merchant cruiser, possibly March 1915, off NW & W Scotland - Caribbean, 5,824grt, built 1890 and Colombella, 8,292grt, built 1902, hired c19/11/14, 10th CS Northern Patrol. Dates not known - Attacked by U-boat[s] around the time of the attacks on Ambrose and Digby, escaped. See DIGBY [D/ss]

CARIBBEAN [03], accommodation ship, 27 September 1915, off N Scotland - ex-passenger ship, 5,820grt, built 1890, Royal Mail Steam Packet Co, London-reg, hired 19/11/14 as armed merchant cruiser, accommodation ship 6/15, now fitted out as receiving ship for dockyard workmen, Cdr Henry Bethune in command, sailed from Liverpool on passage for Scapa Flow in “extremely heavy weather”. Shipped a lot of water and got into difficulties off Cape Wrath, sent out SOS in the afternoon of the 26th, light cruiser Birkenhead and tugs came out from Scapa and tried to tow her to safety, foundered around 0730 on the 27th [He - in 58.14N 05.42W]; most of crew taken off early hours of 27th, but 15 lives lost - 6 ratings, 7 MN and 2 canteen staff [Lr/C/Cn/D/He/bi/wd/dk; ADM.156/16]

CARILON, hired trawler, 24 December 1915, North Sea - 226grt, built 1915, Grimsby-reg GY692, hired 11/15 as minesweeper, 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.21, Dover Patrol, Skipper William Reuben Francis RNR. Sweeping near Elbow buoy off North Foreland, mined in field laid by UC.1 [Egon von Werner] off Kent the day before and badly damaged [He – vessel Actaeon, type not identified, closed to take her in tow], foundered near Margate [He – last noted position 51.24.25N, 01.30.12E; wi - 51.23.26N, 01.31.18E]; no lives lost [H/L/C/D/He/dk/dq/un/wi; ADM.137/189]

CARMANIA, armed merchant cruiser, 14 September 1914, Central Atlantic, Carmania V Cap Trafalgar - ex-passenger ship, 19,524grt, built 1905, Cunard SS Co, Liverpool, hired 8/8/14, 8-4.7in, Capt N Grant, South American Station, taking part in southerly sweep for German raiders, coming down from NE at 16kts to examine Trinidada Island. Discovered Cap Trafalgar [2-4in/6 pom-poms] coaling from two colliers. German made off southwards while colliers dispersed, but then turned west and began to close at 18kts, range down to 8,500yds by 1210, Carmania fired a shot across the bows, Cap Trafalgar replied, and when only 7,500yds apart both ships opened rapid accurate fire. Range continued to shorten until Cap Trafalgar could use short-range pom-poms, Carmania turned away full circle until she was chasing, by which time her bridge was on fire, but the German was also on fire forward with a slight list. As a stern chase developed Cap Trafalgar slowly pulled away and by 1330 was out of range, but the fire was gaining and list increasing. Fifteen minutes later she capsized and sank in 20.10S, 29.51W. Carmania was badly damaged with five holes on the water line and fore-bridges destroyed, fires came under control, made for Abrolhos Rocks, met next afternoon in response to her SOS by light cruiser Bristol which stood by until arrival of cruiser Cornwall; 6 men killed, 3 DOW, 26 wounded. Royal Navy Single Ship Action - Carmania v CAP TRAFALGAR 1914 [Rn/Cn/D/dk/kp].

CARNARVON [01], cruiser – see BATTLE OF THE FALKLANDS, 8 December 1914. Devonshire-class, 10,850t, 4-7.5in/6-6in/2-18in tt. Engaged in action with Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, no reported hits; no killed or wounded. See also CORNWALL, GLASGOW, INFLEXIBLE, INVINCIBLE, KENT [Rn/D/dk/nb/nh]

CARNARVON [02], cruiser, 22 February 1915, Central Atlantic - Devonshire-class, 10,850t, flag, Rear-Adm Stoddart, searching South American waters for light cruiser Karlsruhe and raider Kronprinz Wilhelm. Left Abrolhos Rock anchorage, shortly after weighing she hit uncharted shoal and ripped 95ft of bottom plating, beached and out of action, patched and sent into Rio de Janeiro where repairs were allowed because she had "suffered peril of the sea". Flag transferred to cruiser Vindictive [Rn/Cn/D/gr]

CARRIGAN HEAD, mercantile fleet auxiliary – see TB.046, torpedo boat, 21 December 1915, Aegean Sea

CAUCASIAN, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 1 July 1915, Atlantic off SW England – one of two auxiliaries captured and sunk by U.39 [Walter Forstmann] off Cornwall. 4,656grt, built 1899, Petroleum SS Co [Lane & Macandrew], London-reg, Mr F Robinson, London for New Orleans with creosote. Sunk by gunfire 80 miles S of Lizard Point [L - 60 miles SW of]. See also INGLEMOOR [H/L/Lr/Mn/te/un]

CHALLENGER [01], light cruiser – see CUMBERLAND, cruiser, 7 September 1914, German West Africa

CHALLENGER [02], light cruiser 27 September 1914, West African Campaign - Allied forces captured Duala, Cameroons; light cruiser Challenger, gunboat Dwarf, Niger Flotilla gunboats Ivy, Porpoise, Remus took part.

CHALLENGER [03], light cruiser – see MERSEY, monitor, 11 July 1915, German East Africa

CHAR, Admiralty screw tug, 16 January 1915, Dover Straits - 149grt, built 1899, North Eastern Railway Co, West Hartlepool-reg, hired 17/11/14 as ABS, patrol and inspection tug in The Downs, Lt John Whale RNR, failed to answer radio signals from 16th, went missing. Run down at 0100 “in very rough conditions” by SS Erivan, sank between Deal and Goodwin Sands [wi - near North Goodwin buoy in 51.17.15N, 01.29.45E], wreck found with masts above water; 3 officers, 8 ratings and 7 MMR lost, no survivors [H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/gs/wi; ADM.1/8409/18]

CHARITY, hired drifter, 24 October 1915, off English coast - 102grt, built 1901, Inverness-reg INS40, hired 1914 [D - 10/15; He - 1915] as net drifter, Skipper John Bruce RNR, sailed from Great Yarmouth that day for Poole to be fitted out for duties. Disappeared on passage, possibly mined; 1 officer and 7 ratings lost, all on board [H/C/D/He/dk; ADM.1/8441/347]

CHARYBDIS, light cruiser, 9 January 1915, North Atlantic - Astraea-class, 4,360t, 12th CS, operating in South Western Approaches in 1914. Damaged in collision presumably in Atlantic. Laid up at Bermuda, commissioned for harbour service in 1917, converted to cargo carrier March 1918 for mercantile operation [Rn/Cn/D]

CHATHAM [01], light cruiser, October 1914, Indian Ocean - Chatham-class, 6,000t, 2nd LCS in Mediterranean prewar, later to East African waters. October - Ran aground on Leven Rocks, near Kilindini, Kenya, towed off by SS Clan MacRae [Cn/D/gr/www]

CHATHAM [02], light cruiser, 31 October 1914, German East Africa Campaign – German light cruiser Koenigsberg located in Rufuji River delta by HMS Chatham.

CHATHAM [03], light cruiser – see MERSEY, monitor, 11 July 1915, German East Africa

CHEERFUL, destroyer, 26 September 1914, North Sea - C-class, with patrol or local defence flotilla. Two torpedoes fired at her 3 miles W of Fidra island, in Firth of Forth [Mn/D/gf]

CHELMER [01], destroyer – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 18 March 1915, Final Naval Attack on the Narrows; also OCEAN, battleship.

CHELMER [02], destroyer - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

CHELMER [03], destroyer – see TRIUMPH, battleship, 25 May 1915, Gallipoli Campaign

CHERBURY, Admiralty collier, 29 April 1915, Atlantic off W Ireland - Another Grand Fleet supply ship, this time lost off the Irish coast. 3,220grt, built 1911, Cherbury SS Co [T L Duff & Co], Glasgow-reg, 25 crew, Mr James Davidson, Barry south-about Ireland for Cromarty with 5,100t coal. Submarine sighted 4 miles off at 1900, 10min later as Cherbury continued to zig-zag three shells fired, after another 10 to 12 miles a torpedo was fired and missed, then U.30 [Kurt Wippern] came up to within 150yd and signalled abandon ship, Cherbury hove to and complied. A party of Germans boarded, took the ship’s papers and navigational equipment, placed three scuttling charges below, sinking her around 2025, 27 miles WNW of Eagle Is, off Co Mayo [L - 13 miles NNW of; wi - in 54.21N, 10.18W]; crew rowed to Eagle Is LH, next morning proceeded to Scotsport and Belmullet. Note: “Wreck Index” describes the first sighting of the U-boat as 27 miles WNW of Eagle Is, followed by a 10 to 12 miles chase [H/L/Lr/Mn/Rn/te/un/wi]

CHICKLADE, Admiralty blockship, 2,410grt, built 1888, 299ft, W Coupland, West Hartlepool-reg . Purchased 1914/15 for Sunderland, Durham - final scuttling location not known [Lr/D]

CHILDERS, whaler – see MERSEY, monitor, 6 July 1915, German East Africa

CHIRSIT, hired trawler – see NORTH SEA ACTION, 1 May 1915

CHRISTOPHER, destroyer, 23 September 1915, North Sea - K-class, 1,300t, 4th DF Grand Fleet. In collision with armed boarding vessel King Orry 1,877grt in fog, Christopher damaged [D/Cn/gf/gr]

CHURSTON, Admiralty collier, 3 September 1915, North Sea - 2,470grt, built 1914, Wilton SS Co, Dartmouth-reg, Mr W Martin, from Cardiff with 2,310t Welsh coal. Mined at 0850, laid by UC.7 [Franz Wäger], tugs attempted to take her in tow but weather too bad, finally sank at 1300, 2 1/2 m S of Orford Ness [W/te - in 52.01N, 01.38E]; four crew lost, survivors picked up by naval patrol vessel [H/L/Lr/sc/te/un/wi]

CITY OF DUNDEE, hired trawler, 14 September 1915, Dover Straits - 269grt, built 1914, Fleetwood-reg FD4, T F Kelsall, hired 11/14 as auxiliary patrol vessel, Admiralty No.678, Lt Albert Coles DSC RNR, Dover Patrol. In collision with Dutch steamship Patroclus, nearly cut in two and began to sink at once, going down off Folkestone, Kent at 1900; Warrant Officer and 6 ratings lost, Lt Coles was on the upper bridge at the time, became entangled in signal halliards and nearly pulled down, reached the surface, swam to a raft and pulled on board three other men, survivors picked up after hour and a half in the water [H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/dq/ft/sc; ADM.137/151]

CLACTON BELLE, paddle minesweeper – see DUCHESS OF HAMILTON, paddle minesweeper, 29 November 1915, North Sea

CLAN MACNAUGHTON, armed merchant cruiser, 3 February 1915, Atlantic off NW Scotland - ex-passenger ship, 4,985grt, built 1911, 14kts, Cayzer, Irvine/Clan Line, Glasgow-reg, hired 19/11/14, 8-4.7in, Pendant No. M.81, 10th CS Grand Fleet, 261 crew, Cdr Robert Jeffreys i/c, master, Lt George Weldrick RNR, sailed from Liverpool on 23 January. On Northern Patrol line D to NNW of St Kilda, heavy SW gale on 2nd, "one of the worst the Tenth Cruiser Squadron experienced during the whole war", 10th CS ships lying to with heavy seas sweeping over them, all ships except Clan Macnaughton answered signals on morning of 3rd, went missing. Night of 2nd/3rd [usually listed as 3rd] - Believed foundered off Hebrides [Mn/C/Cn/D/ke - presumed mined; Mn - in 58.47N, 09.27W], Digby, Hildebrand, Patuca spent a week searching but only found some wreckage [He - in the area of 60.25N 09.37W], ship considered stable and seaworthy but floating mines, probably Berlin's, reported in the area, possibly hit one during the gale; 277 lives lost – 20 officers, 190 ratings and 67 MN [bi – 284 lives, ke - 261]. Contrary to other sources, Hepper reports there were concerns about her stability [H/J/Rn/Mn/C/Cn/D/He/bi/dk/gf/ke/ss; ADM.116/1441]

CLEMENTINA, Admiralty yacht, 5 August 1915, Atlantic off W Ireland - 469grt, built 1887, hired 22/9/14, 2-6pdr, Pendant No. 025, Examination Service, Capt Thomas Walker [retired Vice Admiral]. Closing the SS Adam Smith [299grt] for examination off Tor Cor Point [C/D - off Tor Point] in the early morning, in collision, holed, and flooded from the stokehold aft. To prevent her sinking, run aground and beached nearby. Salvage was abandoned, sold for breaking-up where she lay; no lives lost at this time, but an Assistant Engineer RNR died on 20 September 1915 possibly from injuries sustained. Note: location is confirmed as South Tor Cor or Torcor Point, Co Galway [H/J/C/D/He/dk; ADM.137/143]

CLEON, hired trawler, 10 August 1915, Dover Straits - Cleon, 266grt, built 1907, hired 5/15 and Equinox, 198grt, built 1899, hired 6/15 both Grimsby-reg Admiralty hired trawlers, at anchor close together in Dover Harbour. Zeppelin dropped bombs just after midnight, Cleon damaged, one landed near Equinox, exploded in water, funnel and sides riddled with shrapnel; three Equinox crew asleep in their bunks below were wounded; one rating died of wounds [dp - four asleep, two ratings killed outright, one dangerously wounded but recovered] [Mn/D/dp]

CLIO, Admiralty blockship, 2,733grt, built 1889, 300ft, T Wilson & Sons, Hull-reg. Purchased 1914 for Scapa Flow, scuttled 1914 in No.4 Barrier, in middle of Water Sound, between South Ronaldshay & Burray islands [wi - in 58.50.15N, 02.54.15W] [Lr/D/wi]

CLIO [01], sloop – see SWIFTSURE, battleship, 3 February 1915, Suez Canal.

CLIO [02], sloop, 3 June 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign - British-Indian forces advancing up the River Tigris from Kurnah/Al Qurnah captured Amara [note: not Kut al Imara/Amara or just Kut], sloops Clio, Espiegle, and Odin, troopship Lawrence [RIM], armed tug Comet, armed launches Lewis Pelly, Miner, Shaitan, Sumana and stern wheelers Muzaffari/Mozaffir, Shushan took part [dx]

CLIO [03], sloop – see COMET, armed paddle launch-tug, 28 September 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

COCKATRICE, destroyer, 11 December 1914, northern British waters - K-class, c1,300t, 4th DF Grand Fleet, on patrol in "very bad" weather. Unable to maintain station, with other destroyers forced to run for shelter, "suffered some"/"badly" damaged [D/gf/gr]

COLNE [01], destroyer – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 18 March 1915, Final Naval Attack on the Narrows; also OCEAN, battleship.

COLNE [02], destroyer - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

COLUMBELLA [01], armed merchant cruiser – see CARIBBEAN, armed merchant cruiser, possibly March 1915, off NW & W Scotland

COLUMBELLA [02], armed merchant cruiser, 22 July 1915, Atlantic off NW Scotland - 10th CS. Attacked by U.36 [Ernst Graeff], off Hoy Head, SW Orkneys [Mn - in 60.26N, 04.42W] [Rn/Mn/ge]

COLUMBIA, hired trawler – see NORTH SEA ACTION, 1 May 1915

COMBE, Admiralty ammunition carrier, 14 October 1915, Northern European Waters - 2,030grt, built 1912, London-reg, Stephenson Clarke, hired 1915, sailed Liverpool 12th for Archangel with Admiralty cargo, parted from escort 14th, went missing, posted by Lloyds 29/12/15. After 14th - Lost in northern British, Norwegian or Russian waters [H/L/Lr/C]

COMET [01], armed paddle launch-tug – see ESPIEGLE, sloop, 21 November 1914, Mesopotamian Campaign

COMET [02], armed paddle launch-tug – see CLIO, sloop, 3 June 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

COMET [03], armed paddle launch-tug, 27 September 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign - First Battle of Kut/Kut al Imara/Amara on the River Tigris by British/Indian forces advancing from Amara, taken on 28th. Armed paddle launch-tug Comet, and armed launches Shaitan, Sumana took part [dx]

COMET [04], armed paddle launch-tug, 28 September 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign [Victoria Cross ship] - 144t. Only a boom which included a dhow and two iron barges at the centre appeared to prevent the final capture of Kut. Comet [Lt-Cdr Cookson, on the books of sloop Clio], Shaitan and Sumana steamed up under heavy rifle and machine gun fire, Comet went ahead to ram the dhow, failed to break through, gunfire also failed, Lt-Cdr Cookson jumped onto the dhow with an axe to try to cut the wire hawsers securing her, was riddled with bullets from close-range and killed, no other lives lost. The gunboats sank the dhow with gunfire and all retired. Early next day, the Turks had gone, the boom was dismantled and Kut occupied. Lt-Cdr Edgar Christopher Cookson DSO was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross [Rn/D/dk/vc]

COMET [05], armed paddle launch-tug, 30 September 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign - Shaitan and Sumana, launches, both armed with 3pdrs, with Comet continued to chase the retreating Turks north from Kut up the increasingly shoaling River Tigris. By the 30th Shaitan was fast aground near Kut and Sumana had broken both rudders by grounding, only Comet remained in action [D/Rn]

COMET [06], armed paddle launch-tug – see FIREFLY, river gunboat, 22 November 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

COMET [07], armed paddle launch-tug – see SHAITAN, armed launch, 28 November 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

COMET [08], armed paddle launch-tug – see FIREFLY, river gunboat, 1 December 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

COMET [01], destroyer, 23 August 1914, probably North Sea - H-class, 970t, 2nd DF Grand Fleet. In collision in fog with sister-ship Rifleman, Comet "considerably damaged"; no lives lost [D/df/dk/gr]

COMET [02], destroyer, 6 May 1915, North Sea - Two sorties towards the German coast were thwarted by dense fog and resultant collisions involving three destroyers: Comet and Nemesis, H-class, 970t, 2nd DF Grand Fleet, two of eight destroyers escorting minelayer Orvieto from Scapa into Heligoland Bight. In collision, Nemesis "seriously damaged"; no casualties [D/gf/gr]; Lennox, L-class, c1,300t, 3rd DF, with Harwich Force of light cruisers and destroyers escorting seaplane carriers for attempted raid, fog so thick twice had to anchor. Lennox rammed by one of the carriers and Force recalled; no casualties [D/ty]

CONDOR, hired trawler, 22 November 1914, North Sea - [C - Condor II] 227grt, built 1905, Thos Baskcomb, Grimsby-reg GY85, hired 11/14, 1-6pdr. Wrecked off Lowestoft, Suffolk [wi - in 52.29N, 01.48E; D - mined or foundered off Lowestoft; C - in Firth of Forth]; no lives lost. Note: “Wreck Index” states that the original source for the Forth loss position “is incorrect”. Hepper identifies her as taken up for service as a patrol vessel, but had not been fitted out [hence no 6pdr gun presumably]. Stranded off Lowestoft on Newcome Sands at 1050 in strong easterly gale, crew taken off by local lifeboat an hour later, and vessel abandoned as wreck. Note: she was probably lost in the same situation and around the same time as HMT Spider above [H/Lr/C/D/bm/dk/wi; ADM.137/76]

CONFLICT, destroyer – see VELOX, destroyer, 25 October 1915, English Channel

CONQUEROR [01], dreadnought – see MONARCH, dreadnought, 27 December 1914, North Sea.

CONQUEROR [02], dreadnought, 15 December 1914, Orkneys - expecting a German raid somewhere along the East coast of England through the intelligence work of Room 40 [the Yorkshire Raid next day], the Admiralty ordered 2nd BS and 1st LCS from Scapa Flow, Adm Beatty's 1st BCS and available destroyers from Cromarty, and 3rd CS from Rosyth to rendezvous and sweep south, heavy seas were encountered: Conqueror, dreadnought, 2nd BS. Lost 3 ratings, swept overboard [dk/gf]; Boadicea and Blanche, light cruisers, Boadicea-class, 3,800t, attached to Grand Fleet battle squadrons, sailed with 2nd BS early in the day. Boadicea's bridge carried away by the seas in Pentland Firth, reportedly several men swept overboard and drowned, forced to return and sent to Clyde for repairs, Blanche less seriously damaged and repaired at Scapa; no lives listed as lost [Rn/Cn/D/dk/gf/gr]

CORCYRA, hired trawler, 20 February 1915, North Sea - 225grt, built 1914, Grimsby-reg GY63, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.278, Skipper Leonard Shenton RNR. Stranded [H - wrecked] near Bacton, Norfolk; no lives lost. Later salved, but not taken back into Naval service, in Fishery Reserve, listed until 1919, served again in WW2 [H/C/D/He/dk]

CORNWALL [01], cruiser - CARMANIA, armed merchant cruiser, 14 September 1914, Central Atlantic,

CORNWALL [02], cruiser – see BATTLE OF THE FALKLANDS, 8 December 1914. Kent-class, 9,800t, 14-6in/10-12pdr/2-18in tt, Capt Ellerton. In action with Leipzig, hit 18 times, two bunkers flooded, listed to port; no killed or wounded. See also CARNARVON, GLASGOW, INFLEXIBLE, INVINCIBLE, KENT [Rn/D/dk/nb/nh]

CORNWALLIS [01], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 19 February 1915, First Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts

CORNWALLIS [02], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 25 February 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts

CORNWALLIS [03], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 26 February 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts, continued

CORNWALLIS [04], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 2 March 1915, Third Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts

CORNWALLIS [05], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 18 March 1915, Final Naval Attack on the Narrows

CORNWALLIS [06], battleship - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

CORNWALLIS [07], battleship – see GOLIATH, battleship, 13 May 1915, Gallipoli Campaign

CRAIGSTON, Admiralty collier, 4 October 1915, Central Mediterranean - 2,617grt, built 1911, Cardiff-reg, Seville & United Kingdom, Cardiff for Mudros with coal. Captured by U.33 [Konrad Gansser], sunk by gunfire 35 miles W of Ovo Is, N of Cape St John, NE Crete [H/L/Lr/te/un]

CRATHIE , hired trawler, 27 August 1914, North Sea - [C - Craithie], one of two hired trawlers mined in Tyne field laid by German Albatros. 210grt, built 1911, Caledonian Steam Trawling, Aberdeen-reg A350, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, unarmed, Admiralty No.106, Skipper Herbert Henry Cook RNR, with same minesweeping force. Two mines snagged in her sweep wires in the afternoon without incident, but at 1706 a third mine exploded under her. Sank rapidly [wi - in 55.01N, 01.22W]; 2 ratings lost in explosion. See also German Minelaying Raid on English East Coast - 25th/26th August 1914, and THOMAS W IRVIN [H/L/C/D/He/ap/dk/sc/wi; ADM.137/1002]

CRESCENT [01], light cruiser – see HAWKE, light cruiser, 15 October 1914, North Sea

CRESCENT [02], light cruiser, 11 November 1914, North Atlantic off Northern Scotland - Crescent [flag, Adm de Chair] and Edgar, old 1st-class light cruisers, Edgar-class, 7,350t, 10th CS on Northern Patrol, steaming to SW of Foula Island to watch Fair Isle Channel for two reported minelayers, encountered full westerly gale with high and breaking seas, ordered to return to Scapa Flow but impossible to turn ship without risk of capsizing. Crescent lost boats and deck fittings, deck and sides began to give and open up, fires in foremost boiler put out by rising water, bridge smashed and Admirals sea cabin swept overboard, big gun broke loose in after turret and only stopped by filling the turret with hammocks. Edgar similarly damaged. Adm de Chair described it as "quite the most appalling gale I ever experienced in all my years at sea" and did not expect to survive; Edgar lost one man overboard. Half of the 10th CS sent to Clyde for refits, but inspections were so unfavourable all seven "Edgar's" of the 10th old Training Squadron paid off on 20th to be replaced by converted liners - armed merchant cruisers [Cn/D/dk/ss]

CRESSINGTON COURT, collier [not known if Admiralty chartered] – see PRINCESS VICTORIA, hired trawler, 7 November 1915, Atlantic off NW France

CRESSY, cruiser – see 22 September 1914, Sinking of Cruisers Aboukir, Hogue, Cressy by U.9, North Sea. Built 1899, Pendant No. N.40, Capt Robert Johnson. Although now aware that one or more submarines were in the area, Cressy stopped to rescue the men from Aboukir and Hogue, boats now returning to her, sent off warning signals to Admiralty at 0717, periscope sighted, ordered full speed ahead but one torpedo hit abreast after funnel and a second just before the after bridge, ship also turned over on her beam ends, lay awash for 15min and went down; 563 lives lost - 25 officers including CO, 535 ratings and 3 canteen staff. See also ABOUKIR, HOGUE [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/dk/dx/ge/ke/ty; ADM.137/47]

CROCODILE, locally converted to gunboat, Niger Flotilla – see CUMBERLAND, cruiser, 7 September 1914, German West Africa

CRUSADER, destroyer - see MAORI, destroyer, 7 May 1915, Belgian Coast

CUMBERLAND [01], cruiser, 28 August 1914, West African Campaign - Cumberland and gunboat Dwarf arrived off Lome, German Togoland at start of naval operations.

CUMBERLAND [02], cruiser, 7 September 1914, German West Africa - naval operations started against Duala, Cameroons, with cruiser Cumberland, old light cruiser Challenger, gunboat Dwarf, local converted gunboats of the Niger Flotilla - Alligator, Balbus, Crocodile, Ivy, Moseley [believed Mole], Porpoise, Remus, Vampire, Vigilant, Walrus taking part. Royal Navy Battle Honour - CAMEROONS 1914

CYMBELINE, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 4 September 1915, Atlantic off SW Ireland - 4,505grt, built 1902, Bear Creek Oil & Shipping Co [C T Bowring & Co], Liverpool-reg, Port Arthur for Dartmouth with oil. Captured by U.33 [Konrad Gansser], then on passage for the Dardanelles, and sunk by torpedo 96 miles W by S of Fastnet Rock [H/te/un - also 29 miles W by S of; un – in 51.16N, 12.04W]; six crew lost [H/L/Mn/Lr/te/un]

CYNTHIA, destroyer – see TB.12, torpedo boat, 10 June 1915, North Sea

D

D.2, submarine, 25 November 1914, North Sea - D class, 489/603t, 1910, 112pdr/318in tt with 6 torpedoes, 14/9kts, c25 crew, Pendant No. I.72, Harwich-based 8th Flotilla, two days earlier on 23rd running on the surface in heavy seas, her commanding officer Lt-Cdr Jameson was washed overboard. Next day with replacement Lt-Cdr Clement Head in command, D.2 sailed for patrol off Borkum island, Ems estuary, nothing more heard from her, “overdue, presumed lost”. On or around 25th [ke - possibly 25th; J - 1 December] - Lost, cause unknown, perhaps mined or accident [C/Cn/D/bw/dx - may have been sunk by gunfire of German torpedo boat or patrol craft off Western Ems on 25th]; 4 officers and 22 ratings lost [H/J/C/Cn/D/He/bs/bw/dk/dx/ke/on]

D.5, submarine – see FIRST BOMBARDMENT OF BRITISH COAST, RAID ON GORLESTON, 3 November 1914

D.6, submarine – see EMPRESS, seaplane carrier, 25 December 1914, Cuxhaven Raid

DAHLIA, fleet sweeping sloop, 4 September 1915, North Sea - Acacia-class, 1,200t, 2-12pdr/2-3pdr, Grand Fleet minesweeping flotilla, Lt G Parsons, sweeping Meteor-laid field in Cromarty Firth. [Rn - 2nd] - Mined and very badly damaged, bows blown off but ship saved and repaired; 3 ratings killed, one missing and one died of wounds, Lt Parsons severely injured [Rn/Cn/D/dk/gf/sc]

DANE, hired trawler, 28 August 1915, North Sea - 265grt, built 1913, 'D' Line Steam Fishing, Grimsby-reg GY947, hired 4/15 as auxiliary patrol vessel, Admiralty No.1446, believed Harwich-based, Lt Parker RNR. Mined at 0750, laid by UC.6 [Matthias Graf von Schmettow], sank about 1 mile NW of North Aldeburgh Napes buoy, off Suffolk [wi - 2 1/2 m ESE of Thorpe Ness, in 52.10.08N, 01.41.06E]; 4 ratings lost and 1 more DOW [wi - 8 killed] [H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/sc/un/wi; ADM.1/8431/251]

DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN [01], 19 February 1915, First Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts – In January 1915, the Russians asked the Allies to take Turkish pressure off their forces in the Caucasus. First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill gained support of the War Council for a naval attack on the Dardanelles. By the end of January [28th - British Government agreed to naval attack], Admiralty directed to bombard and take Gallipoli with Constantinople as its objective, but no troops were to be made available.

VENGEANCE, battleship, Canopus-class, 14,300t, 4-12in/12-6in/12-12pdr/4-18in tt, 8th BS Channel Fleet 8/14, later to Mediterranean. The bombardment of the defences around Cape Helles on the European side and Kum Kale/Orkanie on the Asiatic was initially carried out by battlecruiser Inflexible [flag, Adm Carden, C-in-C], battleships Albion, Cornwallis, Triumph, the French Suffren [French flag] and Bouvet, supported by French Suffren and light cruiser Amethyst. Vengeance [division flag, Adm de Robeck] observed for her division, and the force was later joined by dreadnought Queen Elizabeth and battleship Agamemnon. Vengeance fired at and was fired on by Orkanie batteries on Asiatic side, not hit but spars and rigging damaged by four near misses, CORNWALLIS was slightly less damaged. A second planned bombardment on the 20th to complete the destruction of the outer forts was cancelled because of gale-force conditions, accurate gunlaying was not possible and spotting aircraft could not fly. The bad weather continued until the 25th. Royal Navy Battle Honour - DARDANELLES 1915-16, to 8 January 1916 [Rn/Cn/D]

DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN [02], 25 February 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts – the second bombardment resumed after delays due to bad weather. Runs were made by battleships Vengeance and Cornwallis, French Suffren and Charlemagne, supported by anchored dreadnought Queen Elizabeth, battleships Agamemnon, Irresistible and French Gaulois. Fired was opened around around 1015, but within a short time, Agamemnon was hit:

AGAMEMNON, battleship, Lord Nelson-class, 17,680t, 4-12in/10-9.2in/24-12pdr/5-18in tt, 5th BS Channel Fleet 8/14, later to Mediterranean, anchored about 2 1/2 m WSW of Cape Yeni Shehr on Asiatic side. Cape Helles batteries opened fire at 1017 at 10,000yds and straddled her after 15min, ordered to weigh but within 10min hit by seven armour piercing shells, most of which broke up, but holed above waterline, hydraulic engine and main derrick damaged; 3 ratings killed, one DOW and four seriously injured. Cleared up wreckage, continued in action and repaired damage off Tenedos next day [Rn/Cn/D/da/dk].

By 1500 the outer batteries had been practically silenced by the Anglo-French ships. Minesweeping trawlers escorted by destroyers and covered by battleships Vengeance, Albion and Triumph then started sweeping the entrance. At 1600 the rest of the fleet retired to Tenedos. By 2000 the sweepers had penetrated four miles without finding any mines.

DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN [03], 26 February 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts, continued - Battleships Albion, Triumph and Majestic entered the Straits at 0800 to complete the destruction of the entrance forts and to attack the defences further inside, Albion along the European or north shore, Majestic along the Asiatic or south. Both soon came under fire which they returned, but as the day progressed the fixed shore guns were joined by concealed and mobile howitzer and field gun batteries and only by constantly shifting their positions could the two battleships avoid serious damage, that is until Majestic was hit. They were recalled at 1600:

MAJESTIC, battleship, Majestic-class, c16,000t, 4-12in/12-6in/18-12pdr/5-18in tt, 7th BS Channel Fleet 8/14, later to Mediterranean, now with howitzer mounted on each of her turrets. Holed below waterline and leaking [Rn/Cn/D/da/vc]. Before then, at 1430, Royal Marine covering and Royal Navy demolition parties were landed near the entrance forts to complete their destruction, men from Irresistible on the European side, and from Vengeance on the Asiatic side covered by battleship Cornwallis, light cruiser Dublin and destroyers Racoon and Basilisk. The missions were successfully carried out with some casualties; Lt-Cdr Eric Gascoigne Robinson who led the Vengeance demolition party was awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry under fire. He later took part in the successful destruction of stranded submarine E.15.

DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN [04], 1 March 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts, continued - battleships ALBION and OCEAN, Canopus-class, 14,300t, 4-12in/12-6in, TRIUMPH, Swiftsure-class, 11,985t, 4-10in/14-7.5in, and MAJESTIC, Majestic-class, c16,060t, 4-12in/12-6in, taking part in the second attack within the Dardanelles after more delays due to the weather. Albion and Triumph to engage Fort Dardanos, Ocean and Majestic to search for mobile guns. All ships engaged by concealed guns, continually hit sometimes by 4in howitzers but not seriously; 1 officer and 4 men in Albion injured by splinters [Rn/Cn/D/da]

That night the trawlers started sweeping towards Kephez Point, escorted by destroyers Basilisk, Grasshopper, Racoon and Mosquito supported by light cruiser Amethyst. Just short of the first line of mines at 2300 they were illuminated by searchlights, subjected to heavy fire by the minefield protection guns, and forced to withdraw under cover of the supporting ships.

DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN [05], 2 March 1915, Third Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts - battleships CANOPUS, Canopus-class, 14,300t, 4-12in/12-6in, CORNWALLIS, Duncan-class, c15,000t, 4-12in/12-6in and SWIFTSURE, Swiftsure-class, 11,800, 4-10in/14-7.5in, taking part in third attack within the Straits. Opened fire on Fort Dardanos at 1420 which did not reply until 1615 but immediately straddled the ships. Canopus hit on quarter-deck wrecking wardroom, another shell carried away main topmast, and a third went through after funnel and wrecked two boats, all ships received minor damage; one man slightly wounded. Weather remained bad making aerial reconnaissance impossible, and again that night the minesweeping trawlers were driven back. However further landings were made by beach and demolition parties around Cape Helles and Kum Kale on the 3rd and 4th [Rn/Cn/D/da]

DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN [06], 4 March 1915, Beach Party landings around Kum Kale - landings by beach and demolition parties around Kum Kale resulted in a number of Royal Navy and Royal Marine casualties, including two ratings killed from battleship Lord Nelson, one from battleship Ocean, and 23 Marines from the Plymouth Battalion of the Royal Naval Division. Others died of wounds [dk]. As of the 5th, Phase 1 of the campaign had been successful with the outer defences destroyed, beach and demolition parties landed, little damage to the bombarding ships, and few casualties. Now Adm Carden was ready for Phase 2 - sweeping the minefields, believed to consist of ten lines of mines starting 8 miles inside the entrance and reducing the gun and other defences right up to the Narrows. For the latter, naval forces included 14 British and 4 French capital ships and four British light cruisers, but the only minesweepers were eight slow trawlers.

DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN [07], 6 March 1915, Attack on the Narrows Forts - Queen Elizabeth continued indirect fire across the peninsula with Albion spotting, while Agamemnon and Lord Nelson entered the straits to carry out their attacks on the Narrows forts:

MAJESTIC, battleship, Majestic-class, covering Albion while she spotted. Hit by a heavy shell from Messudieh Fort [Rn/Cn/D];

AGAMEMNON and LORD NELSON, battleships, Lord Nelson-class, c17,700t, 4-12in/10-9.2in, nicknamed "Aggie" and "Nellie", covered by the French battleship division, opened fire about 1230 on the powerful Chanak forts. Agamemnon soon hit on armour by 6in shell, at 1300 on quarterdeck apparently by 14in shell which blew a great hole, wrecked the wardroom and gunroom and drove splinters through the foretop, followed by two more heavy shells. As both ships continued to come under intense fire from many batteries, both were hit several times from 1400 on, rigging and upper works damaged. Agamemnon hit by a total of 8 heavy shells, Lord Nelson by 7 including one which hit her armour below the waterline, flooded two bunkers and also sent splinters into her conning tower; Capt McClintock and two crew wounded by the splinters. Both ships returned to Tenedos, and next day Lord Nelson left for Mudros and the repair ships there [Rn/Cn/D/da]

DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN [08], 18 March 1915, Final Naval Attack on the Narrows – [I] With Adm de Robeck now in command, an all out attack was launched against the Narrows defences by most of the 14 British and 4 French capital ships in three main groups. Ranging from the European side to the Asiatic in line abreast, these were:

Line A, 1st Division - Queen Elizabeth, Agamemnon, Lord Nelson, Inflexible to go in first to bombard and dominate the Narrows forts.

Line B, 3rd Division - French ships Gaulois, Charlemagne, Bouvet, Suffren to pass through Line A and engage the forts more closely, covered by Prince George on the European side and Triumph on the Asiatic.

2nd Division ships Vengeance, Irresistible, Albion, Ocean to relieve the French Line, and Majestic/Swiftsure to take over from Prince George/Triumph.

Canopus and Cornwallis were reserved for minesweeping cover that night.

[II] Line A was in action about 1130, came under fire from concealed guns and howitzers but not badly hit until Agamemnon and Inflexible began to suffer:

AGAMEMNON, battleship, Lord Nelson-class, 17,680t, 4-12in/10-9.2in. Between 1245 and 1310 hit at least 12 times by 6in howitzers from Eren Keui, five times on the armour without damage, seven times above it, with much structural damage, continued in operation [Rn/Cn/D/da/sm/tg];

INFLEXIBLE, battlecruiser, Invincible-class, 20,080t, 8-12in/16-4in. Also under fire from Eren Keui howitzers, hit on the bridge and wireless put out of action about 1220, hit three more times in the next 10min and picket boat alongside sunk, forebridge on fire and hit twice more, stayed on station to support the French; some men wounded [Rn/Cn/D];

QUEEN ELIZABETH, dreadnought, Queen Elizabeth-class, 31,500t, 8-15in/16-6in. Hit frequently on superstructure, not seriously damaged, continued in operation; few if any casualties [Rn/Cn/D/tg]

[III] French Line B with Prince George and Triumph passed through Line A at 1220, Suffren was badly damaged, Gaulois badly holed and had to be beached on Rabbit Island, then as Bouvet passed back through British Line A she blew up near the Asiatic shore around 1345, presumed at the time to have been hit in a magazine by a Turkish shell or possibly by shore torpedo.

[IV] The British 2nd Division ships proceeded to take the place of the retiring French, opening fire at 1439. At 1514 there was a heavy explosion alongside Irresistible from a heavy shell. Between 1530 and 1600 mines were reported where Bouvet went down. Shortly after and in an area far short of the Kephez lines of mines, Inflexible exploded one, then Irresistible and, after trying to tow Irresistible clear, Ocean detonated yet another nearly two hours later. Before then the general recall for all ships had been hoisted.

[V] MOSQUITO, RACOON, G-class, c1,100t and CHELMER, JED, KENNET, WEAR, E-class, c630t, destroyers taking part in rescue operations, all subjected to "terrific" enemy gunfire. Racoon damaged by the concussion of a large shell bursting under water, also by shrapnel bullets; all destroyers "sustained comparatively few casualties” [D/dd]

[VI] The loss of Bouvet, Irresistible, Ocean and near-fatal damage to Inflexible were all due to a line of just 20 mines laid in Eren Keui Bay parallel to the Asiatic shore by 365t auxiliary minelayer Nousret or Nusret. The final Allied attempt to break through to Constantinople by naval power alone was over in just one day, with three capital ships sunk and three out of action out of the 16 taking part. See also INFLEXIBLE, IRRESISTIBLE, OCEAN [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/da/dk/ke/mf]

---

DARTMOUTH [01], light cruiser – see ADJUTANT, patrol vessel, German East Africa , 6 February 1915

DARTMOUTH [02], light cruiser, 15 March 1915, Dardanelles Campaign - Weymouth-class, 5,800t, believed within Dardanelles. Boiler explosion [1 of 12 Yarrow-manufactured] totally wrecking a boiler room, moved and anchored astern of battleship Agamemnon off Tenedos at 1100; 4 killed, seven died of injuries. Back in action within Dardanelles by 17th/18th [Rn/D/da/dk]

DARTMOUTH [03], light cruiser - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

DARTMOUTH [04], light cruiser – see MERSEY, monitor, 11 July 1915, German East Africa

DARTMOUTH [05], light cruiser, 29 December 1915, Adriatic Sea - Durazzo, Albania raided by Austrian naval forces to interfer with Serbian evacuation, brought to action by British-Italian force but escaped, British light cruisers Dartmouth, Weymouth took part, French submarine Monge and two Austrians destroyers sunk [dx]

DESABLA, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 12 June 1915, North Sea - 6,047grt, built 1913, Bank Line, Glasgow-reg [wi - Admiralty oiler transport No 63, presumably Y7.63], Mr F Cowley, Port Arthur for Hull with linseed/oil [wi - crude oil]. U.17 [Hans Walther] sighted astern overtaking rapidly, started shelling continuously from 0720, engines stopped and crew abandoned ship by 0820 during which time the U-boat stood-by. Torpedo fired at 0830, but as she refused to sink, a boarding party placed explosive scuttling charges, by 1230 the submarine had submerged and Desabla was sinking fast 12 miles E of Todhead Point, S of Stonehaven, Kincardine [L - 38 miles ENE of May Is, Firth of Forth; te - 15 miles E of; wi - 13.5 miles ESE of Stonehaven, in 56.54.54N, 01.47.18W]; survivors picked up by armed trawlers at 1530 [H/L/Lr/D/te/un/wi]

DEVONIA, paddle minesweeper – see BRIGHTON QUEEN, paddle minesweeper, 6 October 1915, Belgian Coast

DEVONSHIRE, cruiser – see BELLONA, light cruiser, 17 December 1914, North Sea

DEWSLAND, hired trawler – see SAMARA, Admiralty collier, 19 August 1915, Atlantic off SW England

DIAMOND, light cruiser – see FORMIDABLE, battleship, 1 January 1915, English Channel.

DIGBY [01], armed merchant cruiser – see CLAN MACNAUGHTON, armed merchant cruiser, 3 February 1915, Atlantic off NW Scotland

DIGBY [02], armed merchant cruiser, 14 March 1915, off NW & W Scotland - 3,966grt, built 1913, hired 22/11/14 [later French Artois], 10th CS. [bi - 15th] - Held up in the Clyde because of attacks on Ambrose and Bayano, now heading for patrol area. Cleared North Channel, chased by U-boat off Skerryvore, took refuge in Tobermory Harbour, following day escorted out by destroyer and headed for patrol line. See CARIBBEAN [Mn/D/bi/ss]

DIGBY [03], armed merchant cruiser – see PATUCA, armed merchant cruiser, 1 July 1915, Atlantic off NW Scotland

DOLORES, naval motor boat, 28 August 1915, Irish Sea - ex-high speed pleasure motor boat, 12grt, hired 1914, serving with Motor Boat Reserve as HM Motor Boat No.55 [number also used by motor boat Arabian], armed with rifles/small arms, manned by RNVR crew, SubLt Harold Bishop Mylchreest RNR in command. Caught fire, burnt to the waterline and sank alongside the quay in Douglas Harbour, Isle of Man [wi - in 54.08.45N, 04.28.05W]; no lives lost [H/D/He/dk/wi]

DOMINION, battleship, 10 May 1915, North Sea - King Edward VII-class, returning to Rosyth after cruise in northern North Sea with rest of 3rd BS, also 3rd CS, all Grand Fleet, divisions in line ahead, zigzagging at 15kts, had not yet met screening destroyers. [ge - 8th; Cn - May 1916] - unsuccessfully attacked by U.39 about 100 miles ENE of Firth of Forth, two torpedoes missed [Cn/D/gf/ge]

DON, Admiralty collier, 8 May 1915, North Sea - 939grt, built 1892, Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Co, Goole-reg, Mr W Adron, sailing Cromarty for Blyth in ballast. Captured by U.9 [Johannes Spiess], torpedoed and sank around 0440, 7 miles E of Coquet Isle, off Amble [wi - in 55.21N, 01.20W] [H/L/Lr/te/un/wi]

DONALDA, hired trawler – see PRINCESS VICTORIA, hired trawler, 7 November 1915, Atlantic off NW France

DOON, destroyer - see GERMAN RAID on HARTLEPOOL, SCARBOROUGH and WHITBY, 16 December 1914. E-class, 615t, 4-12pdr/2-18in tt, Lt-Cdr H Fraser. One rating killed and one DOW [Rn - 3 killed, 6 wounded]. See also PATROL [Rn/D/dk]

DORIS [01], light cruiser, 19 December 1914, Turkish Coastal Operations - independent harassing action near Alexandretta by Doris.

DORIS [02], light cruiser – see T.B. 064, torpedo boat, 21 March 1915, Dardanelles Campaign

DORIS [03], light cruiser - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

DORIS [04], light cruiser – see THESEUS, cruiser, 21 October 1915, Aegean Sea

DOROTHEA, naval motor boat, 21 July 1915, Eastern Mediterranean - ex-high speed pleasure motor boat, 33grt, 60ft, 11kts, hired 1914, serving with Motor Boat Reserve as HM Motor Boat No 203, 2-3pdrs, also rifles/small arms, manned by RNVR crew, reached Mudros around now as deck cargo, due to serve with flotilla of six motor boats carrying out local patrol duties off Turkish coast including Smyrna [Izmir] area, Lt Henry Holloway RNVR in command. Probably destroyed before she went into action, taking on fuel, spillage and explosion, burnt out; no lives lost [H/D/He/ap/dk; ADM.137/775]

DOROTHY GREY or GRAY, hired trawler – see GARRY, destroyer, 23 November 1914, North Sea.

DREADNOUGHT, dreadnought battleship, 18 March 1915, North Sea - Neptune, dreadnought, 1st BS, and Dreadnought, the first dreadnought battleship, 21,840t, 10-12in/27-12pdr, flagship 4th BS, both Grand Fleet, battle fleet and cruisers carried out "strategical exercise" in the early morning, then returned to their bases because of submarine warnings, 1st BS to Scapa, and 4th BS detached to Cromarty. Marlborough, flagship 1st BS reported sighting a periscope east of the Pentland Firth at 1218 and that a torpedo had passed just astern of Neptune. Around 1230 as 4th BS crossed under the stern of the rest of the battle fleet to head for Cromarty, Dreadnought sighted the periscope, altered course and rammed, sinking U.29 commanded by Lt-Cdr Otto Weddigen [dx - in 58.21N, 01.12E] who had sunk the three Cressy's and Hawke in U.9 [Cn/D/dx/gf]

DRUMOAK, hired trawler, 5 October 1914, North Sea - 208grt, built 1902, North of Scotland Steam Fishing, Aberdeen-reg A516, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, unarmed, Admiralty No.342, Skipper Robert Smith Ellington RNR. Believed mined and sunk [H/D/He - off Belgian coast; L/C/wi - off River Tyne estuary, in 55.01N, 01.22.45W]; Skipper and 9 ratings lost. Note: “Wreck Index“ refers to discrepencies in WW1 records which place her loss off the Tyne as well as the Belgian coast. [Hepper – one of two Admiralty minesweeping trawlers sweeping in company near the North Hinder lightship, off the Belgian coast, disappeared with all hands, believed mined and sunk. Neither vessel was seen to sink, but other ships in the area reported an explosion at 1930, followed 15 minutes by another, perhaps when the surviving sweeper went to the assistance of the first.] [H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.137/3109]

DUBLIN [01], light cruiser – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 26 February 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts, continued

DUBLIN [02], light cruiser, 7 March 1915, Dardanelles Campaign - Chatham-class, 6,000t, 8-6in/4-3pdr/2-21in tt, in Gulf of Xeros/Saros, keeping watch off Bulair at the neck of Gallipoli peninsula. Hidden battery opened fire, hit four times, damage not serious [Rn/Cn/D]

DUBLIN [03], light cruiser - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

DUBLIN [04], light cruiser, 9 June 1915, Adriatic Sea - Chatham-class, 6,000t, 8-6in/4-3pdr/2-21in tt, based at Brindisi from 5/15, Capt Kelly, steaming at high speed with strong escort of French and Italian destroyers off N Albanian coast. Torpedoed by Austrian submarine U.IV [Rudolph Singule] near San Giovanni di Medua, soon worked up to 17kts, got back to Brindisi, but out of action for some time; 13 ratings lost [Rn/Cn/D/dk/ge/md/nw/un]

DUCHESS OF HAMILTON, paddle minesweeper, 29 November 1915, North Sea - ex-Clyde excursion steamer, 553grt, built 1890, Glasgow-reg, Caledonian Steam Packet, hired 3/15 [D - 11th], Pendant No. 933, Lt-Cdr Hugh Archer, sweeping with HMS Westward Ho, 19 miles SE of Harwich at N end of Black Deep. Mined at 1315, laid [He – possibly] by UC.3 [Erwin Wassner], sank near Galloper LV [J/dx/wi - off the Longsand, in 51.46.46N, 01.37.18E; He – 1 1/2 miles SW of Sunk Head buoy in Black Deep; te - in 51.47N, 01.40E]; 8 ratings, 1 MN lost, survivors picked up by paddle minesweeper Clacton Belle [H/J/L/Lr/C/Cn/D/do/dk/dx/ge/te/un/wi; ADM.1/8441/348; ADM.137/140]

DUFFERIN [RIM], armed troopship – see SWIFTSURE, battleship, 3 February 1915, Suez Canal.

DUKE OF ALBANY, armed boarding vessel, 7 June 1915, Orkneys - 1,997grt, built 1907, hired 30/10/14, returning to Scapa in thick fog. Grounded on Lother Rock in the Pentland Firth at 0400, refloated with considerable damage seven days later [D/gf/gr]

DUKE OF CORNWALL, armed boarding vessel, 18 January 1915, North Sea - 1,528grt, built 1898, hired 31/10/14. Collided with and sank trawler Earl Marischal 206grt, 30 miles NE by N of Buchan Ness, one of the trawler crew was lost [D/gr]

DUKE OF EDINBURGH, cruiser 10 November 1914, Arabian Coastal Operations - British-Indian forces bombarded and stormed Sheikh Sa'id, southern Arabia and destroyed defences, Duke of Edinburgh & troops of 29th Indian Infantry Brigade took part. [dx]

DUPLEX [01], gunboat – see GOLIATH, battleship 28 November 1914, German East Africa Campaign

DUPLEX [02], gunboat – see FOX, light cruiser 12 January 1915, German East Africa Campaign.

DWARF [01], gunboat, 28 August 1914, West African Campaign - cruiser Cumberland and gunboat Dwarf arrived off Lome, German Togoland at start of naval operations. [dx_

DWARF [02], gunboat – see CUMBERLAND, cruiser, 7 September 1914, German West Africa

DWARF [03], gunboat, 11 September 1914, Cameroons Campaign - Bramble-class, 710t, 2-4in/4-12pdr, West Africa Station, taking part in operations against Duala, Cdr F Strong. Opened fire on German launch towing a lighter on the Duala River estuary, shelled by two field guns at Yoss Point, returned fire and gained hits, but badly hit on the bridge; one rating died of wounds [Rn/D/dk]

DWARF [04], gunboat, 15 September 1914, Cameroons Campaign - Bramble-class, 710t, 2-4in/4-12pdr. Spotted attack by German launch armed with bow torpedo in Duala estuary, opened fire, man in charge lashed wheel in the wrong position, crashed into bank and exploded [Rn/D]

DWARF [05], gunboat, 16 September 1914, Cameroons Campaign - Bramble-class, 710t, 2-4in/4-12pdr, at anchor at night. Attacked by German armed steamer Nachtigal in Bimbia River, Dwarf fired at point-blank range but was rammed, as the vessels separated Nachtigal was in flames and sank. Dwarf badly holed, but soon repaired and back in service [Rn/D/dx]

DWARF [06], gunboat – see CHALLENGER, light cruiser 27 September 1914, West African Campaign.

DYLE, Admiralty blockship, 1,510grt, built 1879, 260ft, Schaldis SS of Belgium, Antwerp-reg. Purchased 1914/15 for Scapa Flow, final location not known, possibly not Scapa Flow. Note: Internet diving sites only list World War 2 blockship Doyle, 1,761grt, built 1907 that was scuttled in Burra Sound between Hoy & Graemsay islands [Lr/D]

E

E.1 [01], submarine, 17 October 1914, Baltic Operations - submarines E.1 [17th, Laurence] and E.9 [18th, Horton] broke through into the Baltic in October 1914, although E.11 [Nasmith] failed to make it on the 20th. They were followed in August and September 1915 by E.8, E.18, E.19, but E.13 was lost in the attempt. Known as the Baltic Flotilla.

E.1 [02], submarine – see E.13, submarine, 18 August 1915, Kattegat

E.1 [03], submarine, 19 August 1915, Baltic Sea - German battlecruiser Moltke torpedoed and damaged by E.1 off Gulf of Riga [dx]

E.3 [01], submarine, 18 October 1914, North Sea - E-class, 655/796t, 1912,1-12pdr/4-18in tt with 8 torpedoes, 15/9kts, 30 crew, Pendant No. I.83, Harwich-based 8th Overseas Flotilla, Lt-Cdr George Cholmley, sailed with E.8 from Harwich on 16th for patrol of Borkum at mouth of River Ems, on surface in daytime, 6 men in conning tower. Sighted at 1025 by U.27 [Bernd Wegener], torpedoed once from 300yds, blown in two and sank off Borkum Riff or Reef [H - cause unknown; J - German cruiser Strassburg in Heligoland Bight]; 3 officers and 25 ratings lost, 4 men were seen in water but no immediate attempt was made to rescue them because of more possible British submarines in the area, U.27 surfaced 30min later but found nobody. E.3 was the first RN submarine sunk in action. Wreck located near Schiermonnikoog in 1997 [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/bw/dk/dx/ge/ke/on/un]

E.5 [01], submarine – see E.10, submarine, 18 January 1915, North Sea

E.6 [01], submarine, 26 December 1915, North Sea - one of two naval vessels mined on same day in field laid by UC.5 [Herbert Putkuchen] ten days earlier. E.6, E-class, 655/796t, 1912, 1-12pdr/4-18in tt with 8 torpedoes, 15k/9kts, c30 crew, Pendant No. I.86, Harwich-based 8th Flotilla, Lt-Cdr William Foster, sailing from Harwich for anti-U-boat patrol off the Horns Reef, left harbour and warned by torpedo boat she was heading into danger - a known minefield that sank HM Trawler Resono earlier in the day [He – saw Resono mined and sink, and closed to rescue survivors], signal acknowledged but E.6 held her course. Mined and sunk quickly near Sunk LV; 3 officers, 29 ratings lost, no survivors [ke - 38 crew]. See also RESONO [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/bw/dk/dx/ke/un]

E.7 [01], submarine, 4 September 1915, Dardanelles - E-class, 655/796t, 1913, 1-12pdr/4-18in tt with 8 torpedoes, 15/9kts, 30 crew, Pendant No. I.87, fitted with 6pdr in 1915, Lt-Cdr Archibald Cochrane, attempting to break through Dardanelles defences to Sea of Marmara to relieve E.11 and partner E.7, set out from Kephalo Bay at 0200 on 4th. Reached Nagara Point at 0700, starboard propeller fouled anti-submarine net, struggled for 12 hours to get free, blowing and flooding tanks and manouevring, which only alerted the defences. Lt Heino von Hemburg, commander of UB.14 [ke - U.14] was rowed out to the approximate position, reportedly by the boat's cook, with one or more small mines which were lowered and detonated near the trapped submarine. According to Hepper, the first mine exploded at 1030 shaking the boat, and a second at 1840 which broke lights and other equipment. Lt Cochrane accepted E.7 would be destroyed, burnt the confidential papers, prepared for scuttling, came to the surface and blew her up [C/Cn - on 5th]; no lives lost, all 38 crew saved, taken to Constantinople as POW's [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/bw/dk/go/ke]

E.8 [01], submarine - see E.1, 17 October 1914, Baltic Operations.

E.8 [02], submarine – see E.13, submarine, 18 August 1915, Kattegat

E.8 [03], submarine, 23 October 1915, Baltic Sea - German armoured cruiser Prinz Adalbert sunk by E.8 off Libau, Latvia. German heavy warships withdrawn from Baltic [dx]

E.9 [01], submarine, 13 September 1914, North Sea - E.9 [Lt-Cdr Max Horton of WW2 Battle of the Atlantic fame] sank German old light cruiser Hela off Heligoland - the first British submarine success.

E.9 [02], submarine, 6 October 1914, North Sea - German torpedo boat S.116 sunk by E.9 off Western Ems. [dx]

E.9 [03], submarine - see E.1, 17 October 1914, Baltic Operations.

E.9 [04], submarine – see E.13, submarine, 18 August 1915, Kattegat

E.9 [05], submarine, 17 December 1915, Baltic Sea - German light cruiser Bremen and destroyer V.191 were sunk by Russian mines, NOT, as wrongly attributed, by submarine E.9 [dx]

E.10 [01], submarine, 18 January 1915, North Sea - E-class, c667/807t, 1913, 1-12pdr/5-18in tt with 10 torpedoes, 15/9kts, c30 crew, Pendant No. I.90, Harwich-based 8th Flotilla, Lt-Cdr William Fraser, sailed from Harwich on 18th in company with E.5 and E.15 for Heligoland patrol, E.10 to the NNW of the island, never seen or heard from again, “overdue, presumed lost”. On or after 18th [ke - possibly 18th] - Lost, cause unknown, possibly mined off Heligoland in unknown field laid by Germans on 22 December; 3 officers and 28 ratings lost, no survivors. Wreck discovered in 130ft of water near Heligoland in 2003, damage to starboard ballast tanks and open hatches suggest a mine explosion while running on the surface, presumably at night [H/J/C/Cn/D/He/bw/dk/ke/on]

E.11 [01], submarine - see E.1, 17 October 1914, Baltic Operations.

E.11 [02], submarine – see EMPRESS, seaplane carrier, 25 December 1914, Cuxhaven Raid

E.11 [03], submarine, North Sea, February 1915 - E-class, 667/807t, Harwich-based 8th Flotilla. February - Ran ashore on Scroby Sands, Great Yarmouth, got off [Cn/gr]

E.11 [04], submarine, 19 May 1915, Gallipoli - Lt-Cdr Martin Eric Nasmith [CO, HM S/M E.11] ordered to 'Go and run amuck in the Marmara', reached the Sea of Marmara on the 19th at the start of successful patrol through to early June, followed by two more. Awarded Victoria Cross for his exploits [dx]

E.11 [05], submarine, 1 August 1915, Gallipoli - E.11 [Cdr Nasmith RN], operating in the Sea of Marmara, raided Constantinople Harbour [dx]

E.11 [06], submarine, 8 August 1915, Gallipoli - Turkish old battleship Hayreddin Barbarossa sunk by E.11 [Lt-Cdr Nasmith] in Sea of Marmara [dx]

E.12 [01], submarine, 25 June 1915, Gallipoli Campaign - E-class, 667/807t, 5/9/14, 1-6pdr/5-18in with 10 torpedoes, Lt-Cdr Bruce, penetrated Dardanelles and now operating in eastern part of Sea of Marmara after spending two days repairing main engines, entered Gulf of Mudania and came across two small steamers towing five sailing vessels, turned out to be decoy vessels. Only 10yds from first steamer when a bomb was thrown which failed to explode, fired on with rifles and small masked gun, two towed vessels joined in and tried to foul E.12's propellers. E.12 returned fire, got clear and sank the two steamers and two of the towed sailing vessels. Engine problems now returned; one rating slightly wounded [Rn/Cn/md]

E.12 [02], submarine, 25 October 1915, Gallipoli Campaign – E-class, 667/807t, 5/9/14, Lt-Cdr Kenneth Bruce, operating with H.1 in Sea of Marmara, joined by E.20 and French Turquoise, E.12 now due to leave, headed down on 25th. Passed net and appeared to have carried away part of it, boat forced down to 245ft, then came up near the surface dragging the net behind her, seen and attacked by patrol vessels, plunged down again near Kilid Bahr, missed by two shore-based torpedoes next time she came up, fired at and hit several times by small shells, no serious damage done, dived again and got away [Rn/Cn]

E.13 [01], submarine - see E.1, 17 October 1914, Baltic Operations.

E.13 [02], submarine, 18 August 1915, Kattegat - E-class, 667/807t, 22/9/14, 1-12pdr/5-18in tt with 10 torpedoes, 15kts/9kts, c30 crew, Pendant No. I.93, served at Harwich, Lt-Cdr Geoffrey Layton. Ordered with E.8 to join E.1 and E.9 in the Baltic, sailed Harwich 14th, now approaching the Sound separating Denmark from Sweden late on the 18th, and E.13 dived. [C - 3 September] - Compass failed shortly before 2300, surfaced and ran hard aground on the SE of Saltholm island between Copenhagen and Malmo in neutral waters, tried all night to get clear and at 0500 on the 19th, Danish torpedo boat Narhvalen arrived to inform the captain that there was a 24 hour limit for getting off, no assistance could be given and a guardship would anchor nearby. German destroyer came up but left when two more Danish TB's arrived, by this time it was accepted that E.13 could not be refloated and the crew were waiting to be taken off. About 0900 [or 0930] two German destroyers approached from the south flying the signal "abandon ship immediately", the leading G.132 fired one or two torpedoes which hit the bottom and failed to damage E.13, then both opened fire with machine guns, crew jumped into the water and swam for the shore or the Danish vessels but the Germans apparently fired on them until torpedo boat Soulven interposed herself, destroyers left and surviving men picked up by the Danes; 15 ratings lost by gunfire or drowning, 23 survivors landed in Copenhagen that evening and interned, Lt-Cdr Layton and 1st Lt Paul Eddis later withdrew their parole and escaped back home. The wrecked boat was interned [Cn - 18th; J - 3 September], sold to Danish shipbreakers Petersen & Albeck December 1921 [J - 1919], BU at Copenhagen. E.8 safely reached Revel [Tallinn] [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/bw/dk/ke; ADM.137/146] [Casualty list, for the 19th]

E.14 [01], submarine, 27 April 1915, Gallipoli - Lt-Cdr Edward Courtney Boyle [CO, HM S/M E.14] arrived in the Sea of Marmara on the 27th at the start of a successful patrol, returning on 18 May in time to brief Lt-Cdr Nasmith of E.11. Lt-Cdr Boyle was awarded the Victoria Cross for this and two further patrols [dx]

E.15 [01], submarine – see E.10, submarine, 18 January 1915, North Sea

E.15 [02], submarine – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 26 February 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts, continued

E.15 [03], submarine, 17 April 1915, Dardanelles Campaign - E-class, 667/807t, 23/4/14, 1-12pdr/5-18in tt with 10 torpedoes, 15kts/9kts, 30 crew, Pendant No. I.95, Harwich until 1915, then to Mediterranean, Lt-Cdr Theodore Brodie.

[I] The first Allied attempt to break through Dardanelles to reach Sea of Marmara since failure of French Saphir on 15 January. Departed Mudros night of 16th carrying former British Vice-Consul at Chanak, now Lt Palmer RNVR. The submerged submarine was swept by a strong current into shoal water and grounded, undamaged S of Kephez Point light at around 0600 on the 17th [Cn/D/He – 15th] only a few hundred yards from Fort Dardanos, fired on by the Fort's guns before they realised she was aground, one shell killed Lt Brodie as he climbed out of the conning tower, another burst in an ammonia tank or battery compartment and asphyxiated and killed five crew; with the captain lost, survivors took to water and taken prisoner. Turkish attempts to salvage her started with a torpedo boat trying to pull her off, this was thwarted by bombing attacks, and the decision taken to destroy E.15 where she lay. Submarine B.6 went in but because of heavy fire, failed to hit her with two torpedoes.

[II] That night - the 17th still - destroyers Scorpion and Grampus could not find her because of screening searchlights. Next morning, B.11 failed in its search because of fog, and that afternoon battleships Majestic and Triumph tried to hit her with big guns from within the Dardanelles, but as the shore defences prevented them getting any nearer than 12,000yds, they had to give up. That night - the 18th [Cn - 16th] - a picket boat each from Majestic and Triumph fitted with 14in torpedo dropping gear were sent in under the command of Lt-Cdr Robinson of Vengeance, the officer who had already displayed much gallantry destroying guns on shore in February. Creeping forward in pitch darkness, the boats aproached Kephez Point, when searchlights caught them and heavy gunfire followed. Neither was hit, a searchlight accidentally illuminated E.15 and Majestic's boat launched her torpedo which may have found the target; shortly hit by a shell, she began to sink. Triumph also fired hers, rescued Majestic's crew and with only one man lost, returned safely. Next morning, the 19th, E.15 was reported destroyed [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/bw/dk/dx/ke/md; ADM.1/8418/90]

E.16 [01], submarine, 25 July 1915, North Sea - E-class, 667/807t, 1-12pdr/5-18in tt, Cdr C Talbot, sailed Yarmouth 24th for Ems, next morning kept under by air patrols. Apparently trapped in anti-submarine net near Borkum Riff LV, struggled to surface to find Zeppelin overhead, bombs dropped as she struggled clear, got free an hour after first entanglement. Sank V.188 off Terschelling next day [Rn/Cn/D]

E.16 [02], submarine, 26 July 1915, North Sea – German destroyer V.188 torpedoed and sunk by E.16, 50 miles N of Terschelling [dx]

E.16 [03], submarine, 15 September 1915, off Norway - U.6 sunk by E.16 off Stavanger [dx]

E.18 [01], submarine - see E.1, 17 October 1914, Baltic Operations.

E.19 [01], submarine, 3 October 1915, Baltic Sea - E.19 sank SS Svionia, first German merchant ship war loss in the Baltic [dx]

E.19 [02], submarine - see E.1, 17 October 1914, Baltic Operations.

E.19 [03], submarine, 7 November 1915, Baltic Sea - German light cruiser Undine sunk by E.19 off Trelleberg, Sweden [dx]

E.20 [01], submarine – see E.12, submarine, 25 October 1915, Gallipoli Campaign

E.20 [02], submarine, 6 November 1915, Gallipoli Campaign - E-class, 667/807t, 12/6/15, 1-6in howitzer for shore bombardment/5-18in tt with 10 torpedoes, 15/9kts, 30 crew, Pendant No. I.69, Lt-Cdr Clyfford Warren, successfuly reached Sea of Marmara. Due to rendezvous with French submarine Turquoise near Rodosto, NE part of Sea of Marmara on 6th, but Turquoise had been captured on 30/10/15, reportedly with charts and other documents intact including details of the planned meeting. [C/D - 5th] - UB.14 [Heino von Heimburg] waited submerged at the rendezvous, at 1600 sighted E.20 laying stopped, fired single torpedo at 1710 at the still stationery target from 550yds, hit her amidships and she sank instantly; 21 ratings lost [ke - 27], UB.14 surfaced and rescued the 9 survivors including Cdr Warren who were on the deck at the time. E.20 was the last of four British and four French submarines lost in the Dardanelles in 1915 out of a total of 13 boats that took part. Turkish losses remain uncertain but are quoted as 1 battleship, 1 old battleship/coast defence ship, 1 destroyer, 5 gunboats, 11 transports and around 200 steamers and sailing boats [H/J/C/Cn/D/He/bw/dk/dx/ke/un]

EASTWARD HO!, hired trawler – see CAMEO, Admiralty trawler, July 1915, North Sea

EBRO, armed merchant cruiser – see PATIA, armed merchant cruiser, 11 September 1915, Atlantic W of Scotland

ECHO, whaler – see MERSEY, monitor, 6 July 1915, German East Africa

EDGAR [01], light cruiser – see HAWKE, light cruiser, 15 October 1914, North Sea

EDGAR [02], light cruiser – see CRESCENT, light cruiser, 11 November 1914, North Atlantic off Northern Scotland

EDISON, Admiralty trawler, 6 July 1915, off NW Scotland - 196/c1896, Hull-reg H430, F & T Ross, hired 1915 as minesweeper [D - 12/14; wi - as armed patrol trawler], Admiralty No.395, SubLt Frederick Townend RNR who had only joined ship that day, now night-time, heading along NW shore of Isle of Lewis, bound for Carloway. Ran aground on Port Arnol, Lewis, may have steered wrong course or compass affected by new gun installation, but apparently not keeping sufficient look-out. Trawler wrecked [wi - exact position unknown, “somewhere on the Isle of Lewis”, around 58N, 06W]; no lives lost [H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.1/8427/198]

EL ZORRO, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 28 December 1915, Atlantic off S Ireland - 5,989grt, built 1914, London-reg, Lobitos Oilfields, 35 crew, Mr Tamlin, Port Arthur for Dartmouth with oil, steaming at 9kts. U.24 [Rudolf Schneider] opened fire at 0530, Master turned stern-on, went to full speed and sent out SOS, U-boat came up on starboard side at which point engines were stopped and ship abandoned, as the crew were leaving a torpedo hit starboard-side amidships at 0630, followed shortly by a second one port-side. The attack probably took place 10 miles S of Old Head of Kinsale, Co Cork [L - 10 miles SE of], “Wreck Index” goes on to report that the crew reboarded when assistance arrived, taken in tow next day but the tow parted and she went ashore - in Man o' War Cove, near Cork, in 51.45N 08.18W - broke in two and totally wrecked; 3rd engineer killed by shrapnel and a crew member fell overboard and drowned, survivors picked up by patrol boat and landed ashore. A Liverpool company used Chinese laboureres to salvage non-ferrous metal [H/L/Lr/Mn/te/un/wi]

ELTON, Admiralty blockship, 2,461grt, built 1888, 300ft, R Ropner, West Hartlepool-reg. [wi - in 58.52.58N, 02.53.52W]. Purchased 1914/15 for Scapa Flow, scuttled 1915 in No.2 Barrier, Skerry Sound, between Glims Holm & Lamb Holm islands. Parts of ship were visible at low tide [Lr/D/wi]

EMPRESS [01], seaplane carrier, 25 December 1914, Cuxhaven Raid - two months after their first unsuccessful attempt, the RNAS was able to launch an attack on the Zeppelin sheds at Cuxhaven, but without causing any damage. Light cruisers Arethusa, Fearless, Undaunted, seaplane carriers Empress, Engadine, Riviera, destroyers including Lurcher, submarines D.6, E.11, seaplanes Nos.119, 120, 135, 136, 811, 814, 815 were amongst those taking part. Attempts were made by U.20, U.22 and U.30 to attack the ships. U.20 fired a torpedo at one of the light cruisers but missed, and the other two were prevented from attacking by the destroyer screen. Zeppelins and seaplanes also dropped bombs without success [Rn/ge]

EMPRESS [02], seaplane carrier – see UNDAUNTED, light cruiser, 24 April 1915, North Sea.

ENCOUNTER [RAN], light cruiser – see AUSTRALIA [RAN], battlecruiser, 14 September 1914, German Pacific Possessions

ENDYMION, light cruiser – see HAWKE, light cruiser, 15 October 1914, North Sea

ENGADINE [01], seaplane carrier, 25 October 1914, North Sea - only 11 years after the Wright brother's first successful powered flight, the Royal Navy attempted to attack Zeppelin sheds at Cuxhaven using "aircraft carriers", but the seaplanes were unable to take off from the water. Seaplane carriers Engadine and Riviera took part escorted by Harwich Force. During the attempted Cuxhaven Raid, two Harwich Force ships encountered U-boats: Fearless, light cruiser, Active-class, leader 1st DF [broad pendant, Cdre Tyrhwitt]. Believed attacked by submarine, possibly off Ems River, two torpedoes reported [Cn/D/ty] and Badger, destroyer, I-class, c990t, 1st DF, Lt-Cdr G Freemantle. Ran down U.19 in pitch dark and believed to have sunk her off the Dutch coast. Although badly damaged the submarine reached port; Badger’s own bows “bent up” [Cn/D/ge/gf/ty]

ENGADINE [02], seaplane carrier – see EMPRESS, seaplane carrier, 25 December 1914, Cuxhaven Raid

ENOSIS, Admiralty collier, 18 November 1915, Central Mediterranean - 3,409grt, built 1906, London-reg, Eftikhia SS, Mr Alfred Bowling, from Barry/Malta with coal [te - Barry for Malta]. Captured by U.33 [Konrad Gansser], sunk by torpedo 150 miles ESE of Malta [L - 240 miles E by S of]; master mortally wounded on bridge by shell-fire [H/L/Lr/Mn/te/un]

EQUINOX, hired trawler – see CLEON, hired trawler, 10 August 1915, Dover Straits

ERIN II, hired trawler, 19 October 1915, English Channel - 181grt, built 1903, Hull-reg H757, Great Northern SS Fishing, hired 9/14 as minesweeper, 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.381, Portmsouth-based, Lt Edward Rule RNR. Returning to harbour late morning, mined, laid by UC.5 [Herbert Pustkuchen] earlier that day, stern lifted out of water and after end wrecked, sank rapidly 3 cables SE of off Nab Light [wi - SE of Nab LV, in 50.35N, 00.51.12W]; 6 ratings lost and 1 DOW. Lt Rule reached the boat which had floated clear, then a second explosion, presumably a second mine, blew him over the other side, but he was rescued [H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.1/8436/309, ADM.137/543]

ERNE, destroyer North Sea, 6 February 1915 - E-class, 620t, 1903, 412pdr/218in tt, 25kts, 70 crew, Pendant No. N.58, Scapa Flow Patrol Flotilla, Lt-Cdr John Landon. Grounded on the beach about 800yds S of Rattray Head lighthouse on the Aberdeen coast in severe easterly gale, failed to be refloated and abandoned as a wreck in October; no lives lost. A survey in November found her back was broken, wreck sold for £405 in January 1916 to Forth shipbreaking, Bo’ness for BU [H/J/C/Cn/D/He/dk/gf/ke; ADM.156/2471, ADM.116/1422]

ESPIEGLE [01], sloop – see OCEAN, battleship 6 November 1914, Mesopotamian Campaign

ESPIEGLE [02], sloop, 21 November 1914, Mesopotamian Campaign - British-Indian forces occupied Basra by 23rd; sloops Espiegle, Odin, troopship Lawrence [RIM], and gunboats including Comet, Lewis Pelly took part.

ESPIEGLE [03], sloop, 4 December 1914, Mesopotamian Campaign - attacks mounted up the Shatt-el-Arab to take the strategic town of Kurnah/Al Qurnah 46 miles N of Basra at the confluence of the Euphrates and Tigris, surrendered on the 9th. Amphibious landing and fire support provided by sloops Espiegle, Odin, troopship Lawrence [RIM], armed launches Lewis Pelly, Miner, Shaitan and two river steamers mounting 18pdr field guns.

ESPIEGLE [04], sloop – see CLIO, sloop, 3 June 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

ESPIEGLE [05], sloop, 24 July 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign - British-Indian forces forces advancing from Kurnah/Al Qurnah along the increasingly shallow River Euphrates drove the Turks out of Nasiriya, which was occupied next day. Old stern-wheelers Shushan, Muzaffri and Messudieh [all manned and armed respectively by deeper-draught sloops Espiegle, Odin and launch tug Miner] and armed launch Sumana took part [dx]

ETOILE POLAIRE, hired trawler, 3 December 1915, Dover Straits - 278grt, built 1915, transferred directly into naval service, hired 3/15 [He – as minesweeper], 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.1402, Dover Patrol, blowing hard from SW with heavy seas. Mined at 1130, laid by UC.1 [Egon von Werner], sank off South Goodwin Sands, off Deal [D/sc/wi - off South Goodwin LV, in 51.12N, 01.29E; He – 1 mile ESE of LV]; 3 ratings lost [He – all ten crew saved], survivors got away, carried towards breakers on Goodwin Sands, tide turned and drifted them down-Channel, by pulling hard they managed to reach the South Goodwin LV and safety [H/L/Lr/C/D/he/dk/dq/sc/un/wi; ADM.1/8441/351]

EURYALUS [01], cruiser – see SWIFTSURE, battleship 5 March 1915, Turkish Coastal Operations

EURYALUS [02], cruiser – see TRIUMPH, battleship, 6 March 1915, Smyrna Blockade

EURYALUS [03], cruiser - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

EURYALUS [04], cruiser – see FANNY, tug, 9 May 1915, Suez Canal area

EXCELLENT, gunboat, 4 November 1914, Belgian Coast Operations - Bombardment of Lombartzyde near Nieuport by old gunboats Bustard and Excellent

EXFORD, collier [kp - Admiralty chartered], 19 October 1914, Indian Ocean - 4,542grt, built 1911, Tatem Steam Navigation Co, Cardiff-reg, sailing UK for India with 5,500t Welsh coal. Sighted by German light cruiser Emden at 0030 [L - in 08.27N, 74.49E; kp 8.39N, 75.07E], stopped about 0100 using siren and signal lamp, retained as collier. Emden currently in company with British steamships Buresk, Troilus and St Egbert, later that day at 1900, released St Egbert with prisoners. Exford recaptured by armed merchant cruiser Empress of Asia, arrived Singapore 11 December [H/L/Mn/kp]

EXMOUTH [01], battleship – see AUDACIOUS, dreadnought, 27 October 1914, off N Ireland.

EXMOUTH [02], battleship, 23 November 1914, Belgian Coast Operations - Old Duncan-class battleships Russell and Exmouth, 6th BS bombarded Zeebrugge, but inflicted little damage.

EYRIE, Admiralty drifter, 2 September 1914, North Sea - 84grt, built 1911, Lowestoft-reg LT1121, hired 9/14 as minesweeper, unarmed, Admiralty No.214, Skipper Thomas Scarll RNR. In company with two trawlers and gunboat Speedy [lost next day with another trawler], sweeping Humber field laid by German Nautilus, off the Outer Dowsing shoal. Snagged a mine at 0920 off Cley next the Sea which exploded, blowing apart her stern, sank rapidly off Outer Dowsing LV [wi - in 53.30N, 01.05E, He - last noted position 53.40.5N 01.01.5E]; skipper and 5 ratings lost [H/L/C/D/He/ap/dk/wi; ADM.137/1002]

F

FAIR ISLE, hired trawler, 26 December 1914, North Sea – one of two hired trawlers lost in gales. 192grt, built 1909, R H Charlton, Granton-reg GN70, hired 1914 as minesweeper [wi - patrol trawler], 1-6pdr, Admiralty No.263, [wi - A Wilson, Capt]. Ran aground at 1815 in heavy weather in Sinclair Bay, N of Wick, Caithness [wi - in 58.30N, 03.07.30W], abandoned as wreck; no lives lost. Salved and refloated 1917, repaired as Grimsby GY820, rehired April 1917 by Admiralty as minesweeper, in service to 1920. See also TOM TIT [H/Lr/C/D/dk/wi; ADM.137/82]

FALCON, destroyer, 28 October 1914, Belgian Coast - C-class, 420t, 1-12pdr/5-6pdr/2-18in tt, 6th DF Dover Patrol, Lt Hubert Wauton, on anti-submarine patrol with destroyer Syren off Westende in NE Channel. Came under heavy, accurate shore-fire from Westende battery at c1230, returned fire and stayed on station, at 1400 between Nieuport and Ostend hit by 8in shell on port forward 6pdr muzzle, ship completely out of action and brought into Dunkirk by Acting Sub-Lt du Boulay; captain and 7 ratings killed, 2 ratings DOW, gunner and about 12 more ratings wounded [Rn/dk/dp/dq]

FALMOUTH III, hired trawler, 19 November 1915, Dover Straits - 198grt, built 1909, Bristol-reg BL12, Western Steam Trawling, hired 1915 [D - 8/14] as minesweeper, Admiralty No.152, Lt H Beadle DSC RNR, Dover Patrol, sweeping area where hospital ship Anglia sank. [dq - 17th] - Mined, laid by UC.5 [Herbert Pustkuchen], blown in half, sank off Dover [D - off Deal; dq - around No.8 buoy; sc - on top of wreck of Anglia until dislodged by gale some days later; wi - in 51.02.38N, 01.19.01E]; 1 officer, 6 ratings lost, Lt Beedle went down with the ship but came to the surface and rescued. Note: mine presumably laid by UC.5 [H/L/Lr/C/D/He*/dk/dq/sc/un/wi; ADM.1/8440/340]

FANE, hired trawler – see HELPER, paddle minesweeper, June 1915, English Channel

FANNY, tug, 9 May 1915, Suez Canal area - no further information, probably civilian vessel but crew included at least three ratings from armoured cruiser HMS Euryalus. Lost in accidental sinking; three ratings drowned, two of them buried at Ismailia, near Suez [dk]

FEARLESS [01], light cruiser - see 28 August 1914, BATTLE OF HELIGOLAND BIGHT.

FEARLESS [02], light cruiser - see ENGADINE, seaplane carrier, 25 October 1914, North Sea.

FEARLESS [03], light cruiser – see EMPRESS, seaplane carrier, 25 December 1914, Cuxhaven Raid

FEARLESS [04], light cruiser, 10 September 1915, North Sea - Active-class, 4,000t, 1st DF leader, Harwich Force, sailing with battlecruiser force supporting minelaying operation in the Heligoland Bight on the night of 10th/11th. Collided with unidentified destroyer during mining, Fearless sustained "considerable damage"; but apparently no deaths. Kindell confirms that Fearless was in collision with destroyer Hydra, also 1st DF and that the the cruiser lost two men killed with two more dying of injuries, and Hydra, one man killed [Cn/dk/gf/gr]

FEARLESS, hired drifter – see SANDA, hired yacht, 25 September 1915, Belgian Coast

FENTONIAN, hired trawler, 14 March 1915, Dardanelles Campaign - 221grt, built 1913, Grimsby-reg GY804, hired 3/15 as minesweeper, 1-6pdr, Admiralty No.448; 2 crew killed. See also AMETHYST [D/dk]

FERNDALE, hired drifter, 27 December 1915, St George's Channel – one of two hired drifters employed as net tenders lost off Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire in winter storm. Both attempting to enter the Haven and return to Pembroke Dock:

FERNDALE, 75grt, built 1910, Inverness-reg INS171, owned by Janes Garden, hired 2/15 as net drifter, Admiralty No.2269, Skipper James Garden RNR in command. Wrecked on St. Ann's Head [wi - in 51.40.45N, 05.10.15W], observed by Coastguard station turning into the Haven in heavy seas, member of crew washed overboard, attempt made to rescue him, drifted close inshore, struck rocks below the Head and quickly broke up. Winds too strong for rocket apparatus to reach the stricken ship with rescue lines; Skipper, 8 ratings lost [H/C/D/He/dk/ps/wi; ADM.137/190];

LADYSMITH [1], 89grt, built 1904, Banff-reg BF1528, hired 6/15 as net drifter, Admiralty No.2180, Skipper John Wood RNR. Last seen that afternoon being driven by gale towards Skokholm island, disappeared off Milford Haven, believed foundered [wi - blt 1906, Grimsby-reg, lost in 51.40.45N, 05.10.15W]; Skipper, 8 ratings lost [He – all 11 hands] [H/C/D/He/dk/ps/wi; ADM.137/897]

FERNLANDS, Admiralty blockship, 2,042grt, built 1885, 276ft, R Hardy, West Hartlepool-reg. Purchased 1914/15 for Sunderland, Durham - final scuttling location not known [Lr/D]

FIERAMOSCA, Admiralty blockship, 18 December 1915, Gallipoli Campaign – one of three vessels scuttled at Suvla Beach, W Gallipoli peninsula by the 18th for the final evacuation:

FIERAMOSCA, Admiralty blockship, 578grt, built 1873, 170ft, Bari, Italy-reg, Puglia SS, purchased 1914/15 originally for use at Malta. Scuttled as pier and breakwater [Lr/Rn/D];

PINA, steamship, presumably Admiralty blockship. Scuttled as breakwater [ms – lists a Pina, cargo steamship, 1,986grt, built 1883, but believed lost March 1917. This is the only pre-WW1 Pina not definitely accounted for] [Rn/ms];

Dredger [name unknown], already wrecked, possibly Admiralty blockship. Sunk as boat pier [Rn]

FIREDRAKE [01], destroyer – see C.31, submarine, 4 January 1915, North Sea.

FIREDRAKE [02], destroyer – see C.33, submarine, 4 August 1915, North Sea

FIREFLY [01], river gunboat, 22 November 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign - Battle of Ctesiphon south of Baghdad until 25th/26th, British/Indian forces then forced to retreat down the River Tigris towards Kut. New Yarrow river gunboat Firefly, armed tug Comet, armed launches Shaitan, Sumana, stern-wheelers Messoudieh, Shushan towing horse-boats carrying 4-4.7in naval guns took part [dx]

FIREFLY [02], river gunboat – see SHAITAN, armed launch, 28 November 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

FIREFLY [03], river gunboat, 1 December 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign - reaching Umm-at-Tubal on the 30 November, British/Indian forces discovered the Turks next morning camped barely a mile away, attacks launched to cover the continued withdrawal from Ctesiphon back to Kut supported by River Flotilla vessels Firefly, Comet, Messoudieh, Shushan, Sumana, all of which were fired on:

FIREFLY, river gunboat, Fly-class, 98t, built Yarrow in sections, re-erected at Abadan starting 8/15, entered service 11/15, 9.5kts, c1-4in/1-12pdr/1-6pdr, 22 crew, Lt Christopher Eddis. Hit in the boiler by a shell, entirely disabled; 1 rating lost. Comet managed to take her in tow but both went hard aground, Turks closing in, Sumana took off both crews and both vessels had to be abandoned. Firefly captured by Turks and put back into service as Suleiman Pak, in action and recaptured 26/2/17 by gunboat Tarantula, near where she was lost. Lt Eddis resumed command [J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/dx/gb/tf; ADM.137/3089];

COMET, armed paddle launch-tug, 144t, ex-RIM, official yacht of British Resident at Baghdad, hired 5/11/14 [C - 1915], 1-3pdr from Espiegle, later 1-6pdr/3-3pdr/2mg, Lt George Harden. When Comet went aground as she was trying to take Firefly in tow, a tug dropped two barges to try to pull her off but failed, tug managed to get away but lost the barges, one full of wounded. Reportedly Comet was set ablaze and the commander dived overboard "when the Turks were already swarming upon [its] abandoned deck"; 1 Indian rating lost [H/Rn/C/D/He/dk/dx/tf; ADM.137/3089]

FIRST BOMBARDMENT OF BRITISH COAST, RAID ON GORLESTON, 3 November 1914 - German 1st Scouting Group of battlecruisers [Adm Hipper] raided Gorleston/Great Yarmouth apparently with the main aim of covering the laying a minefield off Yarmouth. Although an attack was anticipated in the southern North Sea area, the only ships that encountered the Germans were minesweeping gunboat Halcyon and patrol destroyers Lively and Leopard, all of which came under fire from heavy guns around the same time that Yarmouth was shelled. Three submarines headed out of Gorleston for the sound of the guns but one was mined, more destroyers of the Yarmouth Patrol came out too late to take part, and Harwich force failed to intercept:

HALCYON, minesweeper, ex-Dryad-class torpedo gunboat, 1,070t, originally 2-4.7in/3-18in tt, Lowestoft-based, sweeping off Smith’s Knoll, about 20 miles NE of Yarmouth. Sighted large warships about 4 miles S of Cross Sands LV, steamed towards them and made challenge, fired at by 11in and other guns and turned away, made report at 0700, escaped with minimum damage by frequent course changes and under cover of smokescreen laid by Lively; one rating DOW [Rn/Cn/D/dk/dk/dx/nb/nh/ty];

LIVELY, B-class, 435t and Leopard, C-class, 400t, both destroyers armed with 1-12pdr/5-6pdr/2-18in tt, patrol or local defence flotillas, probably Yarmouth Patrol, Lively 2 miles SW of Halcyon, Leopard astern of Lively near Scroby Buoy. Spotting Halcyon's plight, Lively laid a smokescreen between her and the enemy, all three ships came under heavy fire and were chased by the Germans until fearful of possible British minefields they turned east [Rn/Cn/D/dx/nb];

D.5, submarine, D class, 495/620t, 1911, 112pdr/318in tt with 6 torpedoes [Cn - contrary to other sources, only D.4 was fitted with a gun], 14/9kts, 25 crew, Pendant No. I.75, Harwich-based 8th Flotilla, Lt-Cdr Godfrey Herbert, moored off Gorleston with D.3 and E.10, all under orders, D.5 for Terschelling. Put to sea at 0815 to intercept the German warships [H/C - 3 October], at 1030, mined aft off Great Yarmouth [He - about two miles SE of South Cross lightship; dx - 2 miles S of South Cross Sand buoy], and sank in less than a minute. As this was away from the scene of German minelaying, it was probably a drifting British mine; 1 officer and 20 ratings lost, 5 survived including the bridge party, CO and three crew picked up by local fishing drifter Faithful and a fifth by drifter Homeland. Crew of Faithful awarded £75 for saving life in dangerous waters [H/J/Rn/Rn/C/Cn/D/bw/dk/dx/ke/nh/on; ADM.1/8401/405, ADM.137/72].

Light cruiser Kolberg laid a line of mines 5 miles long in Smith's Knoll passage, probably as the German force left the area, but the laying was spotted by a Lowestoft fisherman and reported by 1100. As they returned to base, cruiser Yorck was mined and sunk in a defensive field in Jade Bay. A number of British vessels were lost in the Yarmouth minefield, including three fishing vessels the same day.

---

FISGARD, harbour repair hulk – see ROEDEAN, auxiliary screw minesweeper, 13 January 1915, Orkneys.

FISGARD II, repair ship, 17 September 1914, English Channel - was central battery ironclad Invincible, 6,010t, 1869, 10-9in/4-6in, relegated to harbour service, boy artificers training ship, renamed Erebus in 1904, Fisgard II in 1906, based at Portsmouth with engines, steering gear and armament removed. She was one of two old Fisgard's scheduled to become repair workshops at Scapa Flow, 64 passage crew, being towed west-about by tugs Danube and Southampton, accompanied by Fisgard I, departed Portsmouth on 16th. Next day, off Portland in very heavy weather, water shipped through hawse pipes, machinery shifted to try to correct trim, both tug captains aware she was in distress but could not get her into Portland, finally heeled over on beam ends and foundered 5 miles off Portland Bill around 1620 [wi - 50.25N, 02.30W]; one of four boats smashed during launching, 6 ratings and 11 dockyard personnel lost plus non-naval dockyard civilians – various contracted labourers from Portsmouth Dockyard [Rn - total of 23; He – 6 ratings, 11 dockyard labourers; dx/wi - 21]. Fisgard I got into Plymouth. As Scapa Flow needed to be converted from an anchorage into a well-equipped fleet base, Fisgard II was a real loss to the Grand Fleet [J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/dk/se/wi; ADM.1/8394/322]

FLY, whaler – see MERSEY, monitor, 6 July 1915, German East Africa

FLYING CONDOR, tug – see AUDACIOUS, dreadnought, 27 October 1914, off N Ireland,

FORESIGHT, light cruiser – see ATTENTIVE, light cruiser, 18 October 1914, Belgian Coast

FORMIDABLE, battleship, 1 January 1915, English Channel - Formidable-class, 15,800t, 1898, 4-12in/12-6in/18-12pdr/4-18in tt, 18kts, c800 crew, Pendant No. 50, 5th BS, Capt Arthur Loxley, flagship Vice-Adm Sir Lewis Bayly, Commander-inChief, Channel Fleet, Squadron based at Sheerness but now less HMS Bulwark.

[I] Sailed 30 December for firing practice off Portland, escorted by six Harwich Force destroyers as far as Folkestone where they turned back as the Channel was believed free of U-boats, now only accompanied by attached light cruiser Topaze of 5th BS and Diamond of 6th. Reaching Portland at daybreak on New Year's Day, 6th BS did not enter harbour but exercised 25 miles from Portland Bill for most of the day, Adm Bayly decided to stay at sea and to be ready for further exercises next day, headed for a position south of the Isle of Wight. Abreast of the Needles at 1900, and in accordance with Fleet Orders that if there was any possibilty of a submarine attack a course change should be made just after dark, the squadron turned back with the two cruisers following, sailing a straight course for Start Point, Devon ready to turn again, Formidable now at rear, sea rough, night cloudy with visibility two miles.

[II] Torpedoed by U.24 [Rudolph Schneider] starboard side abreast foremost funnel at 0220 [He - 0230], engine-room flooded and ship listed 20° to starboard, at 0230 Formidable was seen to fall out of line, Topaze came up to find her lowering launch, pinnace and two barges, one of which capsized in the now violent seas. About 0305 a second torpedo hit port-side abreast after funnel, rising sea and wind and intense darkness made rescue difficult for Topaze and Diamond. With bows now awash, Formidable began to heel rapidly to starboard around 0445, settling by the bow, abandon ship was ordered and she sank [dx - 21 mile E of Start Point; ke - 25 miles off Portland; wi - off Start Point, in 50.13.12N, 03.03.58W]; 547 men drowned or died of exposure - 34 officers including Capt Loxley, 511 ratings and 2 canteen staff [He - 35 officers and 512 men died, and 233 survived; ke - 233 survivors], Topaze took off 43 men from the barge, Diamond rescued 37, the launch got clear, picked up more men, then was found at noon near Berry Head by Brixham trawler Provident and her crew of 4 who took off all 71 in gale-force winds before the launch sank. Another boat drifted ashore near Lyme Regis with 46 men [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/dk/dx/ke/un; ADM.116/1437A]

FORTUNE, destroyer – see ARDENT, destroyer, 11 October 1915, North Sea

FORWARD, light cruiser - see German Raid on Hartlepool, Scarborough and Whitby, 16 December 1914.

FOX [01], light cruiser – see GOLIATH, battleship 28 November 1914, German East Africa Campaign

FOX [02], light cruiser 12 January 1915, German East Africa Campaign - Mafia Is, S of Zanzibar and off Rufuji River captured by troops of King's African Rifles. Light cruiser Fox, armed merchant cruiser Kinfauns Castle took part, supported to seaward by light cruiser Weymouth, gunboat Duplex and ex-German tug Adjutant [dx]

FOXHOUND, destroyer - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

FRONS OLIVIAE hired drifter, 12 October 1915, North Sea - [C - Frons Olive; D/dk/dq - Frons Olivae], 98grt, built 1912, Yarmouth-reg YH.217, hired 12/14 as patrol boat, 1-3pdr, Admiralty identification letter Q, Dover Patrol, Lt Thomas Rogers RNR in command, Skipper George Meale. Patrol duties in the Downs, mined, laid by UC.5 [Herbert Pustkuchen], sank at 0450, 1/4 mile SE of Elbow Buoy, off North Foreland, Kent; Lt Rogers, the Skipper and 9 ratings lost. Note: correct spelling appears to be Frons Olivae [H/L/C/D/Hedk/dq/un; ADM.1/8435/303]

FULGENT, Admiralty collier, 30 April 1915, Atlantic off SW Ireland - 2,008grt, built 1910, Westoll Line/James Westoll, Sunderland-reg, collier No.151, presumably Pendant No. Y3.151, 20 crew, Mr C Brown, from Cardiff south-about Ireland for Scapa Flow with 2,750t coal. U.30 [Kurt Wippern] [L/Mn - U.7 but sunk 21 January 1915; ge - U.23] surfaced close astern at 0900 and fired one shot, collier went to full speed, attempted to keep the U-boat astern, but quickly overhauled on the port quarter, second shell hit bridge, engines stopped and ship abandoned. U.30 used the port-side boat to put a scuttling crew on board, charges sank her at 0945, 20 miles WNW from Blasket islands, N entrance to Dingle Bay [L/te/un - 45 miles NW of Skellig Rocks; wi - in 52.10.10N, 11.10W]; man at the wheel killed and master badly wounded by second shell, 14 men took to the starboard boat with the master while the rest took the port, the boats stayed together all through the 30th and into the 31st then became separated during the night. The survivors, excluding the master who died two hours after being taken off, were picked up the SS’s Tosto and Angle, and landed at Galway and Kilrush on 1 May [H/L/Lr/Mn/ge/te/un/wi]

FURY, destroyer – see PATUCA, armed merchant cruiser, 1 July 1915, Atlantic off NW Scotland

G

G.M.V., hired drifter, 13 March 1915, North Channel - 94grt, built 1907, Lowestoft-reg LT.1062, hired 2/15 as net drifter, 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.1109, Skipper William Woodgate RNR. In collision with minesweeping trawler Hungarian [186grt] off Mull of Kintyre/Larne, Co Antrim in North Channel [wi - blt 1909, Inverness-reg, Skipper G McLeod, lost in 54.53N, 05.33W]; no lives lost [H/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.137/100]

GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings – [I] The Gallipoli "military" as distinct from the Dardanelles "naval" campaign started with Allied landings around the southern Gallipoli Peninsula. From south round to the west, French troops landed near Kum Kale as a diversion, British 29th Division landed at "S"-Morto Bay, "V"-Sedd el Bahr or Cape Helles, "W"-Tekke Burnu, "X"-a mile north of Tekke Burnu and Y-beaches, and the two ANZAC divisions further north still at Z-beach north of Gaba Tepe, all, except the French on the European shore. A diversionary demonstration was made off Bulair at the neck of the Peninsular, and follow-up troops landing in the south included a Royal Marine brigade, the Royal Naval Division and an Indian brigade.

[II] The landings required about 200 transports, supported by a fleet of 16 British battleships, 9 cruisers, 24 destroyers, 8 submarines including Australian AE.2, 2 French battleships, 3 cruisers, 5 destroyers, 4 submarines, Russian cruiser Askold, auxiliaries and minesweepers all under the command of Vice-Adm de Robeck, with Cdre Keyes as Chief of Staff.

[III] Ships taking part included:

Fleet Flagship – dreadnought Queen Elizabeth;

First Squadron [Main British landings, S to Y beaches] – battleships Swiftsure [2nd flag], Albion, Lord Nelson, Implacable, Vengeance, Prince George [attached to French landings], Goliath, Cornwallis, cruisers Minerva, Euryalus [flag], Talbot, Dublin, and six fleet minesweepers;

Second Squadron [Anzac Cove landings] – battleships Queen [flag], London, Prince of Wales, Triumph, Majestic, cruiser Bacchante, submarine depot ship Adamant, seaplane carrier Ark Royal, balloon ship Manica, destroyers Beagle, Bulldog, Foxhound, Scourge, Chelmer, Colne, Ribble, Usk, and four trawlers;

Third Squadron [feint attack on Bulair] – battleship Canopus, cruisers Dartmouth, Doris, and two destroyers;

Fourth Squadron [cruisers and trawlers attached to First] – cruisers Sapphire, Amethyst, and 12 trawlers;

Fifth Squadron [including minesweepers and netlayers] – battleship Agamemnon, 10 destroyers, three French minesweepers, two netlaying trawlers;

Sixth Squadron [French landings] – two French battleships, three French cruisers, seven destroyers and five torpedo boats;

Seventh Squadron [Smyrna blockade] – four destroyers and armed yacht Triad.

[IV] Many of the troops were landed ashore in ship's boats from battleships and by destroyers, the only specialist assault ship was SS River Clyde:

RIVER CLYDE, landing assault ship, ex-collier, 3,913grt, built 1905, Ormond Cook & Co, Glasgow, purchased 12/4/15, converted by Cdr Unwin of minesweeping gunboat Hussar to land 2,500 troops directly ashore. Ports were cut in River Clyde's side, she towed a steam hopper port side and four lighters alongside, two on either bow, material was carried for a permanent pier and armoured machine-gun positions mounted on the forecastle. In operation, River Clyde was to be grounded, the hopper steam past, ground itself and drop down a gangway, troops would leave through the ports on each side, enter one lighter, cross to the second to reach the hopper and then ashore. Beached just before 0700 under "murderous fire" at the Seddul Bahr end of V-beach [the other end was Cape Helles], the hopper grounded too far from the shore for the gangway to reach and the front lighter swung away, only 200 troops reached the land in the first three hours, leaving many others dead and wounded. Even this small success was only made possible by Cdr Unwin and members of the crew who in full view of the Turks, secured and held the lighters and hopper as the troops passed over. Cdr Unwin stood in the water holding lines and although wounded, later rescued other wounded from the shore by boat, Midshipman Drewry in command of the hopper was also wounded but carried on until Midshipman Malleson took over, AB William stayed in the water holding the pontoon fast until he was killed and Seaman Samson worked on the lighters all day before being badly wounded. The main body of troops only landed that night. Mid George Leslie Drewry RNR [from Hussar], Mid Wilfred St Aubyn Malleson [battleship Cornwallis], Seaman George McKenzie Samson RNR [Hussar], Cdr Edward Unwin [Hussar], AB William Charles William RFR [Hussar] posthumously, were all awarded the Victoria Cross. River Clyde was later salvaged, sold 1920, renamed Angela, not broken up until 1966 [Rn/C/dx/mf/ms/vc];

[V] BEAGLE, BULLDOG, FOXHOUND, SCOURGE, G-class, c1,100t, 1-4in/3-12pdr/2-18in tt and CHELMER, COLNE, RIBBLE, USK, E-class, c630t, 4-12pdr, 2-18in tt, destroyers taking part in landings on Z-beach, later known as Anzac Cove, with 2nd Squadron [Rear-Adm Thursby]. Four thousand men of 3rd Australian Brigade carried as an advanced guard by battleships Queen [flag], Prince of Wales, London and six of the destroyers, rest of the Anzac Corps in transports anchored offshore, cover provided by battleships Triumph, Majestic and cruiser Bacchante. Sixteen laden ship's lifeboats were towed in by picket boats, followed by equally-laden destroyers towing more lifeboats for their troops to disembark in; landing started around 0430, destroyers came under heavy machine gun and rifle fire. Many troops killed on the decks, crews suffered casualties. By 1400, 12,000 troops of 1st Australian Division were ashore with two batteries of Indian artillery, and within 24 hours, the 2nd Australian Division including a New Zealand Brigade had joined them [Rn/Cn/D/dd]; [VII] Two more G-class destroyers, 5th DF Mediterranean Fleet, temporarily equipped as minesweepers, also hit by Turkish shore fire, probably other destroyers damaged as well at other times:

MOSQUITO, heavy casualties including First Lt killed [dk – only man killed] [Cn/D/dd/dk];

RACOON, Lt-Cdr A Muller. Date uncertain, sometime after 25 April - hit in one her boilers off Seddul Bahr [Rn/Cn/D/mf];

[VI] Note: Kindell lists the following warship casualties on the 25th. It is not known if all those who died of wounds were wounded on this day or previously: Dreadnought QUEEN ELIZABETH [1 kia]; battleships AGAMEMNON [3 dow], ALBION [2 dow], CANOPUS [3 kia], CORNWALLIS [15 kia], IMPLACABLE [2 kia], LORD NELSON [4 kia], PRINCE GEORGE [1 kia], PRINCE OF WALES [1 dow], QUEEN [1 kia], SWIFTSURE [1 dow], TRIUMPH [1 dow], VENGEANCE [1 kia]; armoured cruisers BACCHANTE [1 kia, 1 dow], EURYALUS [6 kia]; destroyers CHELMER [1 kia], MOSQUITO [1 kia]; assault ship RIVER CLYDE [1 kia]; despatch boat OSIRIS [1 kia, 1 dow]; and submarine depot ship ADAMANT [1 kia].

More men from some of these ships died of wounds over the succeeding days, but again, it is not known how many of them were wounded on the 25th. It is assumed all these warships may have been damaged to some, mainly small, extent, although some of the casualties may have occurred ashore, during ship-to-shore operations or while serving in other ships e.g. AB William Williams of HMS Hussar awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously in action with River Clyde. Royal Navy Division losses on the day were 13, with many more sadly to come [dk].

[VII] On the 26th, the British Y-beach was evacuated and the French withdrew from the Asiatic shore to reinforce the British right inland of De Totts battery.

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GANGES, shore establishment – see JAPAN, hired trawler, 16 August 1915, North Sea

GARGANO, Admiralty blockship, 1915, Central Mediterranean – one of two blockships, 180ft long, Puglia SS Co, Bari, Italy-reg, purchased 1914/15, for use at Malta; location and date of scuttling not known: GARGANO, 700grt, built 1884 [Lr/D]; LUCANO, 709grt, built 1884 [Lr/D]

GARMO, hired trawler, 20 December 1914, North Sea - One of two hired auxiliaries mined in the Kolberg-laid Scarborough field. 203grt, built 1900, Ocean Steam Fishing, Grimsby-reg GY1165, hired 11/14, believed as patrol vessel [He – minesweeper], armed, Admiralty No.810, Skipper Thaddeus Gilbert RNR, on patrol rather than minesweeping [He – minesweeping]. Mined about an hour after Valiant, turned right over and sank off Scarborough [wi - 3.5 miles SE of Scarborough Castle, in 54.15.12N, 00.17.06W]; skipper died of injuries from the explosion and five ratings lost, survivors saved by HM Drifter Principal. Wreck lies at 80ft. See also VALIANT [H/L/Lr/Rn/Mn/C/D/He/ap/dk/sc/wi; ADM.1/8407/478]

GARMSIR, launch-tug – see OCEAN, battleship 6 November 1914, Mesopotamian Campaign

GARRY, destroyer, 23 November 1914, North Sea - E-class, 660t, Scapa Flow Local Defence Flotilla, Cdr W Wilson. U.18 rammed and damaged by trawler Dorothy Grey off Scapa Flow in Pentland Firth, then rammed and sunk by Garry [un – in 58.41N, 02.55W] [Cn/D/gf/ub/un]

GARTMORE, Admiralty blockship 1,774grt, built 1879, 270ft, Gart SS Co, Glasgow-reg. Purchased 1914/15 for Scapa Flow, final location not known, possibly not Scapa Flow [Lr/D]

GARTSHORE, Admiralty blockship, 1,564grt, built 1880, 255ft, Gart SS Co, South Shields-reg [D - for use at Portland]. Purchased 1914/15 for Scapa Flow, scuttled 1915 in No.3 Barrier, East Weddel Sound, between Burray & Glims Holm islands [wi - in 58.52.17N, 02.54.47W] [Lr/D/wi]

GENERAL CRAUFORD , monitor – see SANDA, hired yacht, 25 September 1915, Belgian Coast

GERMAN MINELAYING RAID ON ENGLISH EAST COAST, 25th/26th August 1914 – [I] Two German minelaying forces sailed early on 25th to lay mines off English East coast - minelayer Albatros, escorted by light cruiser Stuttgart and 1/2 TBF from Heligoland headed for the Tyne, and minelayer Nautilus, escorted by Mainz and another 1/2 TBF from the Ems for Humber. Minelayers carried c200 moored contact mines each and laid them in "thick weather".

[II] Laying the Tyne field started around 0030 on the 26th, apparently should have been about 5 miles off the estuary, but was nearer 30 miles offshore; the first indications were the sinking of a Danish/Icelandic fishing vessel that evening.

[III] The Humber field was laid earlier, starting at 2300 on the 25th, stretched from Flamborough Head down to Outer Dowsing about 30 miles offshore, completed around 0150 on the 26th when the force turned for home; the first indication came when a mine exploded in the nets of trawler City of Bristol later on the 26th. Both German forces sank trawlers on the fishing grounds - the Tyne force a total of six, and the Humber force variously seven or ten. According to Corbett, a total of 16 were sunk by the destroyers using bombs 70 miles E of the Humber [probably only an indication of the location] after first taking the crews prisoner and as the minelayers carried on with their mission.

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GERMAN RAID ON HARTLEPOOL, SCARBOROUGH AND WHITBY, 16 December 1914. [I] Fleet encounter - German 1st SG battlecruisers and 2nd SG light cruisers escorted by destroyers sailed to attack the Yorkshire coast. Battlecruisers Seydlitz, Moltke and cruiser Blucher were to bombard Hartlepool, battlecruisers Derfflinger and Von der Tann to bombard Scarborough, and light cruiser Kolberg to lay up to 100 mines off Flamborough Head. Both the German and British battlefleets were out in support of their forces. Coming south in anticipation of this attack the seven 4th DF destroyers screening Adm Beatty's battlecruisers - Lynx, Ambuscade, Unity, Hardy of 1st Div and Shark, Acasta, Spitfire of 2nd Div, met destroyers from the German light cruiser screen in the Dogger Bank area, in c54.10N, 03.00E at 0515. When challenged, they opened fire damaging Lynx and Ambuscade, the remaining destroyers then sighted cruiser Hamburg close by at 0553. This time Hardy and Shark opened fire and it was Hardy's turn to be damaged. See also AMBUSCADE, HARDY, LYNX.

[II] Attack on Hartlepool - As Seydlitz, Moltke and Blucher approached at dawn, they were spotted by patrol destroyers Doon, Waveney, Test and Moy, a division of the 9th DF already at sea about 5 miles NE of the port; light cruisers Patrol and Forward and submarine C.9 were unable to leave harbour because of the low state of tide. The destroyers came under 11in fire around 0800, three of them being hit by shell fragments with Doon suffering casualties, then the Germans opened fire on the Hartlepool defences consisting of 3-6in guns. Both C.9 and Patrol came out at this time, followed by Forward, but Patrol was badly hit. In return, the shore batteries hit Moltke and Blucher several times. Two merchantmen were damaged and two fishing vessels sunk in the docks during the Hartlepool bombardment. See also DOON, PATROL.

[III] Attacks on Scarborough and Whitby - Three German ships appeared off the defenceless town of Scarborough just before 0800, battlecruisers Derfflinger and Von der Tann opened fire, while light cruiser Kolberg went to lay mines off Flamborough Head. The two battlecruisers then headed north for Whitby, and opened fire on this equally defenceless port just after 0900, departing after 10min and ignoring two tramp steamers passing to the south. Four fishing vessels were damaged in Scarborough during the bombardment.

[IV] Although the retreating German ships were sighted by ships of the Grand Fleet's 1st LCS and 2nd BS in the low visibility, they could not be brought to action [Rn/D/ap/dk/gf]

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GHURKA, destroyer, 4 March 1915 - U.8 was detected by indicator nets in their first success, and then sunk by destroyers Ghurka and Maori in Strait of Dover [dx]

GLASGOW [01], light cruiser – see BATTLE OF CORONEL, 1 November 1914, South East Pacific, Bristol-class, 5,300t, 2-6in/10-4in, South America station, Capt John Luce. Initially engaged by Leipzig, then by Dresden, hit total of five times, about 1919 by unexploded 4.1in shell from Leipzig on conning tower support, then badly damaged by a 4.1in shell port aft on the waterline. Glasgow found the mortally damaged Monmouth but had to leave her around 2020 to locate and warn Canopus; no lives lost. However, Glasgow did lose about 50 parrots, pets of the crew that were released prior to the battle but refused to leave the ship, only ten survived. See also GOOD HOPE, MONMOUTH [Rn/D/dk/nb]

GLASGOW [02], light cruiser – see BATTLE OF THE FALKLANDS, 8 December 1914. Bristol-class, 5,300t, 2-6in/10-4in/2-18in tt, Capt Luce. In action with Leipzig, hit twice, one boiler damaged; one rating lost, 1 DOW, 4 wounded. See also CARNARVON, CORNWALL, INFLEXIBLE, INVINCIBLE, KENT [Rn/D/dk/nb/nh]

GLASGOW [03], light cruiser – see KENT, cruiser, 14 March 1915, SE Pacific

GLEN AVON [01], paddle minesweeper – see BRIGHTON QUEEN, paddle minesweeper, 6 October 1915, Belgian Coast

GLEN AVON [02], paddle minesweeper – see LADY ISMAY, paddle minesweeper, 21 December 1915, North Sea

GLENBY, Admiralty collier, 17 August 1915, St George's Channel/Atlantic off SW England - 2,196grt, built 1900, Sir R Ropner & Co, West Hartlepool-reg, Mr W Crighton, Cardiff for Archangel with coal. Captured by U.38 [Max Valentiner] and sunk by gunfire, 30 miles N of The Smalls [L - 30 miles W of; wi - in 52.13N, 05.45W]; two crew lost. One of three Admiralty colliers sunk at the time – see also KIRKBY, THE QUEEN [H/L/Lr/te/un/wi]

GLOUCESTER [01], light cruiser, 5 August 1914, Escape of German Battlecruiser Goeben - Gloucester detected Goeben in Messina, Sicily in first wartime use of wireless interception by Royal Navy

GLOUCESTER [02], light cruiser, 7 August 1914, Escape of Goeben - Gloucester shadowed Goeben & Breslau off Cape Matapan, Greece

GOBERNADOR BORIES, Admiralty blockship 2,332grt, built 1882, 285ft, Ballenera de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile-reg. Purchased 1914/15 for Scapa Flow, scuttled 1915 in about 40-60ft in Burra Sound, between Hoy & Graemsay islands [wi - in 58.55.25N, 03.18.33W]. Wreck lies in 50ft, and is described as one of the favourite dives of Scapa [Lr/D/wi/www]

GOLDFINCH, destroyer, 18 February 1915, Orkneys - H-class, 970t, 1910, 2-4in/2-12pdr/2-21in tt, 27kts, 72 crew, Pendant No. H.44, 2nd DF Grand Fleet, Lt-Cdr Reginald Stone. Night of 18th/19th - Ran aground in dense fog on Start Point, Sanday Is [wi - in 59.17N, 02.25W], abandoned as a wreck; no lives lost. Sold for BU 4/19, possibly to Metal Industries. See also SPARROWHAWK [H/J/C/Cn/D/He/dx/gf/ke/wi]

GOLIATH [01], battleship, 28 November 1914, German East Africa Campaign - German shipping and harbour installations destroyed at Dar-es-Salaam; old battleship Goliath, old light cruiser Fox, gunboat Duplex, ex-German tug Helmuth took part, bombardment continued on the 30th. For his part in the operations at Dar-es-Salaam, Cdr Henry Peel Ritchie of HMS Goliath was awarded the Victoria Cross, the first naval one of World War 1 [DX]

GOLIATH [02], battleship - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

GOLIATH [03], battleship – see ALBION, battleship, 2 May 1915, Gallipoli Campaign

GOLIATH [04], battleship, 13 May 1915, Gallipoli Campaign - Canopus-class, 14,300t, 1898, 4-12in/12-6in/12-12pdr/4-18in tt, 18 kts, c750 crew, Pendant No. N.54, 8th BS Channel Fleet 8/14, later to Mediterranean, Capt Thomas Shelford. French forces under heavy attack inland of S-Beach, night of 12th/13th, Goliath and Cornwallis providing gunfire support, both anchored in exposed position in Morto Bay off Seddul Bahr village, Cornwallis astern of Goliath, destroyers Beagle, Bulldog, Pincher, Scorpion, Wolverine on patrol, night very dark, foggy around midnight, attacks were suspected. Turkish destroyer Muavenet-i-Miliet, partly German-manned and commanded by Lt-Cdr Rudoph Firle came down the Dardanelles, avoided Bulldog and Beagle around 0100, spotted the battleships and came round Eski Hissarlik Point under De Totts battery, challenged by Goliath at 0115 but steamed ahead and fired all three torpedo tubes as Goliath opened fire, one torpedo hit abreast fore turret, a second by the foremost funnel, and the third near after turret, ship immediately began listing badly to port and soon on beam ends, turned turtle, floated for a few minutes, then went down bow first; 505 lives lost - 20 officers including her Captain, 479 ratings and 4 canteen staff, 2 ratings DOW [Cn/He/ke - 570 men lost, 180 survivors]. Wolverine and Scorpion tried to cut off the torpedo boat as it headed back up the Straits but failed [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/dk/dx/ke/mf; ADM.116/1446]

GOOD HOPE, cruiser – see BATTLE OF CORONEL, 1 November 1914, South East Pacific. Drake-class, 14,150t, 1901, 2-9.2in/16-6in/12-12pdr/2-18in tt, 23kts, c900 crew, Pendant No. P.16, joined 6th CS Grand Fleet 8/14, to South Atlantic, Capt Philip Franklin, flagship Rear-Adm Sir Christopher Cradock. Engaged by Scharnhorst - 8-8.2in guns versus 2-9.2in, third salvo put forward 9.2in out of action followed by serious hits to the forepart, upper bridge and foretop, repeatedly hit amidships setting her on fire, after turret hit twice, large explosion between mainmast and after funnel at 1950, flames reaching 200ft, ship left silent and dead in the water. Von Spee lost contact around 2000 and ordered his light cruisers to search for the two large British ship that were presumably damaged and finish them with torpedoes, Good Hope was not found but went down around this time, her end not seen in the darkness and the driving rain; 926 lives lost - 52 officers, 871 ratings and 3 canteen staff, no survivors. See also MONMOUTH, GLASGOW [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/dk/ke/nb/nh]

GOSHAWK [01], destroyer - see 28 August 1914, BATTLE OF HELIGOLAND BIGHT. I-class, 990t, 2-4in/2-12pdr/2-21in tt, leader 5th Div, 1st DF, Cdr Herbert Meade, closing the sinking German V.187 at 0850, boats away to rescue the crew. Only 200yds off when the Germans, fearing capture, fired a single shot hitting her in the ward-room, fire re-opened on V.187 which sank at 0910. See also ARETHUSA, LAERTES, LAUREL, LIBERTY [Rn/D/dd/ty]

GOSHAWK [02], destroyer – see ATTACK, destroyer, 11 October 1914, Dutch coast

GOSSAMER, minesweeper– see SKIPJACK, minesweeper, 19 December 1914, North Sea.

GOTHLAND, Admiralty blockship 1,485grt, built 1871, 251ft, Liverpool & Hamburg SS, Liverpool-reg. Purchased 1914/15 for Portland, Dorset - final scuttling location not known [Lr/D]

GRAFTON [1], light cruiser – see HAWKE, light cruiser, 15 October 1914, North Sea

GRAFTON [2], light cruiser – see SWIFTSURE, battleship, 12 August 1915, Gallipoli Campaign

GRAMPUS, destroyer - see E.15, submarine, 17 April 1915, Dardanelles Campaign

GRASSHOPPER, destroyer – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 1 March 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts, continued

GREAT HEART hired drifter, 24 September 1915, Belgian Coast - may be spelt Greatheart or Great Hart, 78grt, built 1911, Inverness-reg INS233, hired 6/15 as net drifter, Admiralty No.1395, Dover Patrol, Skipper William Davidson RNR. Sailed with other drifters to screen monitors that were due to carry out a bombardment of Ostend and Zeebrugge - apparently streaming her buoyed nets as protection against submarine attack. Just off Dover, sunk by explosion [He - about 2 miles off harbour entrance; wi - in 51N, 01.20E], cause unknown at the time, and probably considered due to one of her own net mines. Now confirmed mined, laid by UC.6 [Matthias Graf von Schmettow], two days earlier; Skipper and 7 ratings lost. Admiralty yacht Sanda was lost next day as part of the bombardment force [H/L/Rn/C/D/He/dk/dq/un/wi; ADM.1/8434/284]

H

H.1, submarine – see E.12, submarine, 25 October 1915, Gallipoli Campaign

H. C. HENRY, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 28 September 1915, Central Mediterranean - 4,219grt, built 1909, Steamer "H C Henry" Co, Vancouver [BC]-reg, sailing London/Alexandria for Mudros with tar oil. Captured by U.39 [Walter Forstmann], sunk by gunfire 59 miles S 1/2 E of Cape Matapan, Greece [L - 30 miles SW of Cerigotto Is/Anti-Kythera] [H/L/Lr/te/un]

HALCYON, minesweeper – see FIRST BOMBARDMENT OF BRITISH COAST, RAID ON GORLESTON, 3 November 1914

HALLAMSHIRE, Admiralty collier, 19 November 1915, Central Mediterranean - 4,420grt, built 1907, Glasgow-reg, Helmsdale SS, Mr A Clark, armed, Cardiff for Malta/Milo with 5,600t coal. Torpedoed at 1420 by U.34 [Claus Rücker] but did not sink fast enough, shelled and sank by 1700, 20 miles SW by S from Cerigotto Is/Anti-Kythera, between Greece and Crete [L - in 35.38N, 23.01E]; survivors picked up by French destroyer [H/L/Lr/Mn/te/un]

HAMPSHIRE, armoured cruiser, 1 July 1915, North Sea - Devonshire-class, 7th CS Grand Fleet. Reported a torpedo fired at her in Moray Firth, confirmed as attacked by U.25. Twelve destroyers and local patrol vessels sent to hunt for the attacker, but without success [Cn/ge/gf]

HARDINGE [01] [RIM], armed troopship – see SWIFTSURE, battleship, 3 February 1915, Suez Canal.

HARDINGE [02] [RIM], armed troopship, 3 February 1915, Suez Canal - 7,457tons, built 1900, c8-4in/8-3pdr, Cdr T Linberry, taking part in defence of Suez Canal, providing naval support for British-Indian counter-attack 3 miles S of Tussum. Under fire from 4in and heavier guns from 0700, could not locate them, so concentrated firing on infantry. About 0825 both funnels damaged and ship so badly hit, had to slip and move out of channel into Lake Timsah to avoid sinking in the channel; no one killed [Rn/D]

HARDY, destroyer- see GERMAN RAID on HARTLEPOOL, SCARBOROUGH and WHITBY, 16 December 1914. K-class, c1,300t, 3-4in/2-21in tt. Lt-Cdr L Crabbe. Wireless shot away, holed on waterline, bridge wrecked, severely damaged by 0600 with steering gear disabled and had to turn out of line, managed to proceed at 0620 and limped into port escorted by Spitfire; 2 ratings killed, 1 officer and 14 men wounded. See also AMBUSCADE, LYNX [Rn/D/ap/dk/gf]

HAWKE, light cruiser, 15 October 1914, North Sea - Edgar-class light cruisers Crescent [flag, Adm de Chair], Edgar, Endymion, Theseus, Hawke and possibly Grafton of 10th CS, detached from Northern Patrol and patrolling a line between Peterhead and the Naze. HMS Crescent left for Cromarty for engine repairs and to coal, weather too bad to transfer flag and command passed to Edgar. Around 1320 on the 15th, Theseus, 80 miles offshore and zigzagging at 13kts sighted a torpedo passing 200yds astern in 57.50N, 00.33E, believed fired by U.9 although U.17 was in the area. Edgar wirelessed all ships to steam northwest at full speed, but no reply received from Hawke. Adm Jellicoe, C-in-C ordered out flotilla leader Swift and a division of destroyers for Hawke's last reported position in 57.47N, 00.12E. By this time Hawke had been lost:

HAWKE, 7,350t, 1891, 2-9.2in/10-6in/12-6pdr/4-18in tt, 20kts, c544 crew, Pendant No. A9, Capt Hugh Williams, five cruisers spread line abreast at 10 miles intervals, Endymion to starboard and Hawke next. At 0930 Hawke signalled Endymion to close so mails could be collected from her, both stopped and Hawke sent a boat. Endymion then passed under Hawke's stern to close the other ships, Hawke rehoisted her boat and got up to 12 knots to regain station. About 1030, there was an explosion starboard side abreast foremost funnel, torpedoed once by U.9 [Otto Weddigen], engine stopped, and started to list to starboard, only time for two boats to be lowered, turned over after 15min, floated bottom up for a few minutes then went down bow first in 57.40N, 00.13E [dx - 60 miles E of Kinnaird Head]; 527 lives lost - 26 officers, 498 ratings, 1 DOW and 2 canteen staff [Cn - 524 lost; bi - 525; He/ke - 500]. Of the 70 survivors, 21 were rescued from a life-raft by Swift and taken into Scapa Flow on the 17th, and one boat, which drifted away with 3 officers and 46 men [ss - gunner and 49 men], was picked up five hours later by Norwegian SS Modesta, landed at Aberdeen [ss - Peterhead] also on the 17th. The second boat was crushed by the overturning ship [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/bi/dk/dx/ge/gf/ke/ss; ADM.1/8398/374, ADM.1/8398/377, ADM.137/997]

HELMUTH [01], armed tug – see PEGASUS, 3rd class cruiser, 20 September 1914, German East Africa

HELMUTH [02], armed tug – see GOLIATH, battleship 28 November 1914, German East Africa Campaign

HELPER, paddle minesweeper, June 1915, English Channel - ex-tug, 173grt, built 1873, hired 1/4/15. June - In collision with armed trawler Fane 269grt off Portland [D/gr]

HERMES, light cruiser, 31 October 1914, Dover Straits - sometimes classed as seaplane carrier, Highflyer-class, 5,650t, 1898, 11-6in/9-12pdr/2-18in tt, 20kts, 450 crew, converted at Chatham in 1913 to depot ship for Naval Wing of Royal Flying Corps, subsequently Royal Naval Air Service with launching platform forward & stowage platform aft for 3 seaplanes, although only 2 carried, commissioned 5/13, after trials and manoeuvres, paid off 12/13. Equipment reinstalled 8/14, recommissioned as RNAS transport and supply ship 31/8, serving with Nore Command, Capt Charles Lambe. Arrived at Dunkirk from Portsmouth the previous evening to unload seaplanes, departed morning of 31st, but at 0930 ordered to return because of submarine alarm. Ten minutes later, destroyer Liberty reported Hermes had been torpedoed twice by U.27 [Bernd Wegener], sank two hours later near Outer Ruytingen Bank, 8 miles WNW of Calais [wi - in 51N, 01.20E]; 1 officer and 20 ratings lost [Cn/ge - 22 lost; He/ke - 44 casualties, 400 survivors]. Short Folder seaplane No.82 sank with her, but others were taken off by ferry Invicta [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/bt/dk/dx/ge/ke/wi; ADM.1/8401/402]

HEROIC [01], armed boarding steamer, 25 June 1915, Aegean Sea - 1,869grt, built 1906, hired 18/11/14, 2-12pdr, believed blockading Turkish coast, lowered two boats under command of Lt Macdonald and Sub-Lt William to examine five schooners at 1350. Maxim fire opened up from shore on the boats at 1400, boats recalled and covering fire given, men picked up and boats hoisted in around 1430, no doctor aboard, headed back and anchored by HMS Vengeance to transfer wounded; 3 ratings DOW [pg - 12 wounded, AB Wilson died]. "Dardanelles: A Midshipman's Diary" reports for 26 June that "several Greek schooners have been seized and brought in [to Mudros] recently by our cruisers and boarding steamers in charge of a midshipman" [D/da/dk/pg]

HEROIC [02], armed boarding steamer – see B.6, submarine, 16 August 1915, Eastern Mediterranean

HIBERNIA, battleship – see ALBEMARLE, battleship, 6/7 November 1915, off northern Scotland

HIGHFLYER, light cruiser, 26 August 1914, Atlantic off NW Africa - Highflyer-class, 5,650t, 11-6in/9-12pdr/2-18in tt, 9th CS, Capt Buller, German auxiliary cruiser Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse reported at anchor off Spanish Saharan colony of Rio de Oro, Highflyer arrived to find the raider coaling from two colliers in Spanish waters, gave her time to surrender or put to sea. Fired shell at 1510 to which Kaiser Wilhelm replied, then opened fire, the German ceased action by 1645, boats sent off with the crew, shortly sank in shallow water [kp - off Durnford Point in 23.34N, 16.02W], Highflyer lightly damaged and continued in operation; one man killed, five slightly wounded [Rn/D/dk/kp]

HILDEBRAND, armed merchant cruiser – see CLAN MACNAUGHTON, armed merchant cruiser, 3 February 1915, Atlantic off NW Scotland

HIMALAYA, armed merchant cruiser – see SWIFTSURE, battleship, 3 February 1915, Suez Canal.

HOGUE, cruiser – see 22 September 1914, Sinking of Cruisers Aboukir, Hogue, Cressy by U.9, North Sea. Built 1900, Pendant No. N.59, Capt Wilmot Nicholson. Ordered Cressy to look out for submarines, stopped and sent off boats to rescue Aboukir survivors, almost immediately hit portside by two torpedoes, started to sink by stern, quarterdeck awash in 5min, submarine broached to and fired on, Hogue rolled over on her side within 10min, abandon ship ordered and sank, her boats now headed for Cressy with Aboukir's survivors; 376 lives lost - 11 officers, 1 more DOW, and 361 ratings, and 1 canteen staff. . See also ABOUKIR, CRESSY [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/dk/dx/ge/ke/ty; ADM.137/47]

HOLLYHOCK, fleet sweeping sloop – see LILAC, fleet sweeping sloop, 18 August 1915, North Sea

HOOD, Admiralty blockship, 4 November 1914, Admiralty blockships - Admiralty accounts refer to 49 merchantmen bought during the war for use as blockships for a total sum of £424,249. Dittmarr lists 41, nine of which were not expended for this purpose. An additional one is listed in Colledge, three more in “Wreck Index”, four have been located at Gallipoli, two ex-dummy battleships were expended as blockships and a possible one more gives a total of 43 merchant ships. Apart from ex-battleship Hood, six old cruisers were expended during the Zeebrugge/Ostend raids. HOOD, Admiralty blockship, 4 November 1914, English Channel - ex-turret battleship, 14,150t, 1891, 380ft, removed from effective list 1911, fitted with first experimental anti-torpedo bulges 1913, on sale list 8/14. Scuttled in South Ship Channel, Portland Harbour, Dorset to fill gap in the defences [wi - in 50.34.08N, 02.25.12W]. Wreck lies upside down in around 50ft, with keel only a few feet below the water at low tide [C/Cn/pt/wi]

HOPE, destroyer – see MONARCH, dreadnought, 27 December 1914, North Sea.

HORNET, destroyer – see ARGYLL, cruiser, 28 October 1915, North Sea

HUMBER [01], monitor, 13 October 1914, Dover Straits - Humber and Severn, river monitors, Humber-class, Dover Patrol, ordered to escort transports back from Ostend, evacuation had already taken place and turned back for Dover. Attacked at close range by U-boat half way across, but missed [Rn/Mn/ge]

HUMBER [02], monitor – see ATTENTIVE, light cruiser, 18 October 1914, Belgian Coast

HUMBER [03], monitor, 6 November 1914, Belgian Coast Operations - Bombardment of Westend and Lombartzyde by monitor Humber and old gunboat Bustard

HUNGARIAN, hired trawler – see G.M.V., Admiralty drifter, 13 March 1915, North Channel

HUSSAR, minesweeper, ex-gunboat - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

HYACINTH [01], light cruiser, 14 April 1915, German East Africa Campaign - German supply ship Kronburg, ex-British SS Rubens detained at Hamburg 8/14, now carrying supplies for light cruiser Königsberg still lying in the Rufuji River delta, sunk by Hyacinth in the Indian Ocean

HYACINTH [02], light cruiser – see MERSEY, monitor, 11 July 1915, German East Africa

HYDRA, destroyer – see FEARLESS, scout cruiser, 10 September 1915, North Sea

HYTHE, auxiliary screw minesweeper,  28 October 1915, Gallipoli Campaign - [J - paddle], ex-railway packet, 509/1905, London-reg, South Eastern & Chatham Railway Companies Managing Committee, hired 18/10/14, 1 or 2-12pdr, Pendant No. T.10, Lt-Cdr Arthur Bird RNR. Probably night of 28/29th - In collision with armed boarding steamer Sarnia, 1,498grt, sank near Cape Helles, Dardanelles; 9 ratings, 2 MN lost [He – 10 crew and 145 troops lost] [+J/Lr/C/Cn/D/He*/dk/dx; ADM.137/3136]

I

IMMINGHAM, store carrier, 6 June 1915, Aegean Sea - ex-passenger steamer, 2,083grt, built 1906, Great Central Railway, Grimsby-reg, hired as accommodation ship 10/14, RFA store carrier from 4/15, Pendant No. Y8.50, described as "errand boy" between Imbros island and Mudros during Gallipoli campaign. In collision with hired screw minesweeper Reindeer 1,101grt, sank off Mudros, Lemnos island. Owners claimed £100,000 compensation but only awarded £45,000 by the Admiralty [H/Lr/C/Cn/D/ns]

IMPLACABLE, battleship - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

INAWILLIAM, hired trawler, 5 June 1915, Atlantic off SW Ireland - or Ina Williams, 337grt, built 1913, hired 4/15, 1-12pdr, Sub-Lt Nettleingham RNR, steaming towards Cahirmore Signal Station, few miles west of Berehaven. Large submarine came to the surface 1 or 2 miles away on port beam, Inawilliam, now 11 miles W of Mizen Head, headed for the U-boat which fired 4 or 5 rounds, then a torpedo which just missed, trawler fired back, hit her once or twice as she submerged and escaped [D/Mn]

INDEFATIGABLE, battlecruiser, 3 November 1914, Dardanelles - In advance of a declaration of war, an Anglo-French Squadron bombarded the Turkish outer forts, British battlecruisers Indefatigable, Indomitable and French battleships Suffren, Vérité took part.

INDIA [01], armed merchant cruiser, 14 June 1915, Atlantic off NW Scotland - 10th CS, heading for Clyde to coal. Torpedo fired at her in 59.20N, 07.52W, missed [D/Mn]

INDIA [02], armed merchant cruiser, 8 August 1915, Norwegian Sea - ex-passenger ship, 7,940grt, built 1896, 18 kts, Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co, Greenock-reg, hired 13/3/15, Pendant No. M.81, 10th CS, Northern Patrol, c300 crew, Cdr William Kennedy i/c, master, Lt Richard Groundwater RNR. On patrol off Norwegian coast to intercept iron ore carriers sailing from Narvik for Germany via Rotterdam, with attached hired trawlers Saxon and Newland also 10th CS for inshore duties. Swedish SS Gloria sighted at 0830, India intercepted, boarded and searched her, details of Gloria wirelessed in. Other ships were sighted and followed, at noon ordered to send Gloria into Kirkwall, and proceeded to search for her. Now 1740, alarm gong sounded, and torpedo track seen approaching, could not be avoided and struck starboard side aft near No.3 gun, fired by U.22 [Bruno Hoppe], ship immediately started to settle by stern. Of the four starboard and three port boats kept lowered for such an emergency, six were successfully manned but with ship's way still on, a port boat capsized and on the starboard side the boats were fouled or stove in, ship sank in five minutes, 6-7 miles NNW of Heligver Light near Bodo [te - in 67.30N, 13.20E; ke - mined off Helligvaer/Hellevoer island]; 121 lives lost - 11 officers, 53 ratings including some Royal Marines and 57 MMR, number of crew buried ashore in Norway [Mn - 9 officers and 107 men lost, with 189 men saved including the captain; of the latter, 19 officers and 138 men either went down with the ship and came up again or had to dive over the side before rescue; He – 166 lives lost; ke/wd - 10 officers and 150 ratings lost, 141 survivors including Cdr Kennedy], survivors picked up by Swedish SS Gotaland and HM Trawler Saxon [believed Saxon II], and landed in Norway where they were interned [H/J/Mn/C/Cn/D/He/bi/dk/gf/ke/po/te/un/wd; ADM.137/185, ADM.1/8429/229, ADM.1/116/1440]

INDOMITABLE [01], battlecruiser – see INDEFATIGABLE, battlecruiser, 3 November 1914, Dardanelles.

INDOMITABLE [02], battlecruiser - see BATTLE of THE DOGGER BANK, 24 January 1915.

INDOMITABLE [03], battlecruiser, 10 March 1915, North Sea - Invincible-class, Rosyth-based 3rd BCS, sailing Scapa Flow for Rosyth. Sighted submarine getting into position to fire off Montrose at dusk, turned and forced the U-boat to dive [Rn/Cn]

INDRANI, squadron supply ship, 27 June 1915, St George's Channel - 3,640grt, built 1888, Donaldson Line [Donaldson Bros, managers], Glasgow-reg, hired 4/8/14 as RFA, probably not commissioned, Pendant No. Y9.7, sailing Glasgow for Montreal with general cargo. Captured by U.24 [Rudolf Schneider], sunk by torpedo 40 miles W of The Smalls, E of Milford Haven [L/te/un/wi - 36 miles SW of Tuskar Rock, off Rosslare; L/te/wi - also in 51.45N, 06.50W] [H/L/Lr/C/D/te/un/wi]

INDUSTRY, store carrier, 5 August 1915, North Sea - 1,460 tons/497grt, 1901, Admiralty-owned. In collision with Dutch SS Zeeland off Wold LV. Sunk c19 October 1918 [D/gr/ms]

INFLEXIBLE [01], battlecruiser – see BATTLE OF THE FALKLANDS, 8 December 1914. Invincible-class, 20,080, 8-12in/16-4in/4-18in tt, Capt Phillimore. Initially ranged on Scharnhorst, hit three times, little damage; 1 rating lost, 2 slightly wounded. See also CARNARVON, CORNWALL, GLASGOW, INVINCIBLE, KENT [Rn/D/dk/nb/nh]

INFLEXIBLE [02], battlecruiser – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 19 February 1915, First Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts

INFLEXIBLE [03], battlecruiser – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 18 March 1915, Final Naval Attack on the Narrows. Capt Phillimore, on station in Line A since 1430. Mined on starboard bow by the forward submerged flat around 1611, immediately flooded, ship began to list and settle by the head, made for Tenedos and water continued to rise, reached there with difficulty an hour and a half after the explosion, anchored on north side of island; 3 officers, 31 ratings and 1 civilian contractor lost including every man in the forward flat killed, wounded taken off in a cutter during the journey to Tenedos. Towed to Malta and repaired by May. See also IRRESISTIBLE, OCEAN [Rn/Cn/dk]

INGLEMOOR, Admiralty collier, 1 July 1915, Atlantic off SW England - one of two auxiliaries captured and sunk by U.39 [Walter Forstmann] off Cornwall. 4,331grt, built 1912, Moor Line [W Runciman & Co], London-reg, Mr A Stonehouse, Barry for Malta with coal and general cargo. Sunk by torpedo 75 miles SW by W of Lizard Point [L - 60 miles SW of]. See also CAUCASIAN [H/L/Lr/Mn/te/un]

INVERGYLE, Admiralty collier, 12 March 1915, North Sea - 1,794grt, built 1907, Invergyle SS Co [Stewart & Gray], Glasgow-reg, Mr D Minto, Scapa Flow for Hartlepool in ballast. [te/un - 13th] - Torpedoed by U.23 [Hans Schulthess], sank 12 miles NNE of Tyne estuary [L/wi - 15 miles NNE of, in 55.18.40N, 01.25.44W] [H/L/Mn/Lr/te/un/wi]

INVERLYON, Q-ship, 15 August 1915, North Sea - UB.4 sunk by Q-ship fishing smack lnverlyon off Yarmouth; Inverlyon was not believed damaged in the action [dx]

INVINCIBLE [01], battlecruiser - see 28 August 1914, BATTLE OF HELIGOLAND BIGHT.

INVINCIBLE [02], battlecruiser – see BATTLE OF THE FALKLANDS, 8 December 1914. Invincible-class, 20,080, 8-12in/16-4in/4-18in tt, initially ranged on Gneisenau, hit by about 20 mainly 8.2in shells, foremast strut carried away, one 4in gun out of action and one bunker flooded; no killed or wounded. See also CARNARVON, CORNWALL, GLASGOW, INFLEXIBLE, KENT [Rn/D/dk/nb/nh]

IRENE, Trinity House tender, 9 November 1915, North Sea - [J - Admiralty armed yacht], 543grt, built 1890, Corporation of Trinity House, London-reg, on loan to Dover Patrol for anchor work connected with net and mine barrages, Harwich for London in ballast. Mined, laid by UC.1 [Egon von Werner], sank 1 1/2m ESE of Tongue LV, off North Foreland [L/wi - 2 1/2m SE by E of, in 51.29.35N, 01.27.20E]; 21 crew lost including master. Note: only Janes list her as a naval auxiliary, but included her as on naval service [H/J/L/ge/sc/te/un/wi]

IRRESISTIBLE [01], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 25 February 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts

IRRESISTIBLE [02], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 18 March 1915, Final Naval Attack on the Narrows. Formidable-class, 15,800t, 1898, 4-12in/12-6in/18-12pdr/4-18in tt, 18kts, c780 crew, Pendant No. 64, 5th BS Channel Fleet 8/14, then to Mediterranean, Capt Douglas Dent, with 2nd Division, hit alongside at 1514 by heavy shell from Fort Hamadieh and by 1532 had taken a slight list, drifting with engines stopped about 1615. Mined near Eren Keui Bay [J/C - shore torpedo from White Cliffs battery], exploded under starboard engine-room near centre-line, engine-room quickly flooded, midship bulkhead buckled and port engine-room flooded leaving both engines disabled. Took 7° list to starboard, down by the stern and Turks concentrated fire on her, destroyer Wear and a picket boat came to assist and Ocean was ordered to stand by to tow. As Irresistible could not be saved, abandon ship was ordered under heavy fire causing casualties on deck, but 10 volunteers stayed to get a wire across to Ocean, list increased and ship lay bows on to the Asiatic shore leaving Ocean subjected to cross-fire. The two ship's captains decided to take off the volunteers, Irresistible abandoned at 1750, and Ocean withdrew, the intention being for destroyers and minesweepers to try to save her after dark. According to the Turks, she drifted back towards the Narrows Forts, was fired on and sank about 1930 [He – about 2000; da - now partly salvaged, lays in 40.04N, 26.20E]; 4 officers killed and one DOW, 7 ratings killed and one more DOW, only three men got out of the rapidly flooded engine room, 28 surviving officers and 582 men taken off by Wear [ke - 200 casualties, 610 survivors]. See also INFLEXIBLE, OCEAN [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/da/dk/ke/mf; ADM.116/1443]

IVANHOE, hired trawler, 3 November 1914, North Sea - 190grt, built 1898, Grimsby-reg GY902, United Steam Fishing, hired 10/14 as auxiliary patrol vessel [wi - minesweeper], Admiralty No.664, Skipper J Freer. Wrecked in Firth of Forth [He - patrol vessel, stranded four cables from Martello tower, Black Rock, off Leith, Firth of Forth in poor weather; wi - from Lowestoft for minesweeping and return, wrecked near Black Rock, Leith, in 55.59.30N, 03.10W]; no lives lost [H/Lr/C/D/dk/wi; ADM.137/72]

IVY [01], gunboat, Niger Flotilla – see CUMBERLAND, cruiser, 7 September 1914, German West Africa

IVY [02], gunboat, Niger Flotilla – see CHALLENGER, light cruiser 27 September 1914, West African Campaign.

J

JACKAL, destroyer – see ARGYLL, cruiser, 28 October 1915, North Sea

JAPAN, hired trawler, 16 August 1915, North Sea - 205grt, built 1904, H L Taylor, Grimsby-reg GY28, hired 1915 [D - 8/14; He - 1914] as minesweeper, Admiralty No.42, Lt Richard Harcourt RNR i/c, Skipper Arthur Barber RNR, believed Harwich-based, sailed from Lowestoft or Harwich, sweeping with HMT Touchstone for UC-laid mines, both vessels clearing sweeps at 1915. Winch boat Japan heaved in sweep wire and saw it was fouled by a mine [laid by UC.6, Matthias Graf von Schmettow] only 30yd away, by the time the winch-man’s warning had been heard and acted on, the mine was only 3-4yd distant, insufficient headway was kept on using the trawler’s engines, mine blew up port-side between bridge and foremast, sinking her within 30sec off S end of Shipwash shoal, off Harwich [wi - three entries - in 51.53.28N, 01.34.29E, in 51.57N, 01.36.45E and in 51.52.40N, 01.37E]; five ratings killed [He – 4 killed], two of the bodies were picked up by HMT Lord Roberts and Touchstone and landed at HMS Ganges, survivors rescued from the water within 15min [H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/sc/un/wi; ADM.137/3124]

JASON, minesweeper– see SKIPJACK, minesweeper, 19 December 1914, North Sea.

JASPER, Admiralty trawler, 26 August 1915, North Sea - 221grt, built 1912, previously Kingston Steam Trawling, purchased by Admiralty pre-war, 1-6pdr, Admiralty No.164, commissioned as minesweeper, Lt William St Clair Fleming RNR. Taking part in sweeping field laid by German auxiliary minelayer Meteor in Moray Firth, mined at 0935 and sank quickly [He - 58.13N, 02.22W; wi - in 58N, 03W]; 8 ratings killed [He – 7 died; wi - 11] [H/Mn/C/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.1/8431/250]

JAVELIN [01], Admiralty trawler – see LIGHTNING, destroyer, 30 June 1915, North Sea

JAVELIN [02], Admiralty trawler, 17 October 1915, North Sea - 205grt, built 1913, Aberdeen-registered, purchased pre-war as minesweeper, 1-6pdr, Admiralty No.21, believed Harwich-based, Skipper Frederick Banks RNR. Sweeping about 3 miles S of Longsand light vessel, mined at 1615, laid by UC.3 [Erwin Wassner] [He – probably UC.6], sank off the Longsand, off Clacton [wi - 3.75 miles SE of, in 51.44.30N, 01.42W]; one rating lost [H/C/D/Mn/He/dk/sc/un/wi; ADM.137/165]

JED, destroyer – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 18 March 1915, Final Naval Attack on the Narrows; also OCEAN, battleship.

JOHN G WATSON, hired trawler, 31 October 1915, off NW Scotland - 196grt, built 1910, Aberdeen-reg A.327, R Irvin & Sons, hired 1915 [D - 11/1914] as minesweeper, 1-6pdr, Pendant No. 427, [wi - E Baker, Capt]. Escorting oil tanker Rosalind from Stornoway, collided with her and sank at Stornoway, Isle of Lewis [wi - in 58N, 06W]; no lives lost; crew rescued by escort trawler Invicta [H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.137/168]

JOHN SHERBURN, Admiralty trawler, Dover Straits, 6 February 1915 - 244grt, built 1902 [wi - 1915], Humber Steam Trawling, Hull-reg H644, hired 1915 [D - 12/14] as auxiliary patrol vessel, Admiralty No.815, Dover Patrol, Lt Walter Smith RNR [wi - S Carnassa, Captain]. [Other sources – 6 March] - Stranded in poor weather in St Margaret's Bay, near Dover, wrecked [wi - in 51.07N, 01.27E]; no lives lost [H/Lr/C/D/He/dq/dk/hw/wi; ADM.137/90]

JUNO, light cruiser, 13 August 1915, Persian Gulf - ex-2nd-class cruiser, Eclipse-class, 5,600t, 5-6in/6-4.7in, was 11th CS, arrived Persian Gulf in July, Capt D Wake. Shore party casualties were recorded for August. Apparently German-inspired trouble led to decision to occupy the whole of the island of Bushire on the Persian side of the Gulf, carried out by a small joint naval/army force commanded by Capt Wake on 13th/14th; 4 ratings killed on 13th, 1 officer DOW on 14th, 1 rating on 16th, ship presumably not damaged [Rn/Cn/dk]

K

KASSALA, collier – see T.B. 064, torpedo boat, 21 March 1915, Dardanelles Campaign

KAVIRONDO, lake steamer - see WINIFRED, lake steamer, 7 March 1915, German East Africa Campaign

KENNET [01], destroyer, 23 August 1914, Yellow Sea - E-class, 615t, 4-12pdr/2-18in tt, China Squadron, present at Japanese siege of Tsingtau. Tried to cut off German destroyer S.90 off Tsingtau at sunset, hit, one gun put out of action; 3 men killed, one DOW, believed four more wounded [Rn/Cn/D/dk/dx]

KENNET [02], destroyer – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 18 March 1915, Final Naval Attack on the Narrows

KENT [01], cruiser – see BATTLE OF THE FALKLANDS, 8 December 1914. Kent-class, 9,800t, 14-6in/10-12pdr/2-18in tt, Capt Allen. In action with Nurnberg, hit 38 times, wireless room wrecked but little structural damage because of armour; 5 ratings lost, three more DOW [nb - 4 killed, 12 wounded]. See also CARNARVON, CORNWALL, GLASGOW, INFLEXIBLE, INVINCIBLE [Rn/D/dk/nb/nh]

KENT [02], cruiser, 14 March 1915, SE Pacific – German light cruiser Dresden discovered at Chilean island of Mas a Fuera, Juan Fernandez group by armoured cruiser Kent, light cruiser Glasgow & armed merchant cruiser Orama, shelled, then scuttled [dx]

KINFAUNS CASTLE, armed merchant cruiser – see FOX, light cruiser 12 January 1915, German East Africa Campaign.

KING ORRY [01], armed boarding vessel, June 1915, off W Scotland - 1,877grt, built 1913, hired 29/10/14. June - Ran aground in the Sound of Islay, refloated [D/gr]

KING ORRY [02], armed boarding vessel – see CHRISTOPHER, destroyer, 23 September 1915, North Sea

KIRKBY, Admiralty collier, 17 August 1915, St George's Channel/Atlantic off SW England - 3,034grt, built 1891, Sir R Ropner & Co, West Hartlepool-reg, Mr W Hewison, Barry for Manchester with coal. Captured by U.38 [Max Valentiner] and torpedoed 23 miles W by S of Bardsey Isle [L/wi - 20 miles WSW of, in 52.30N, 05.10W]. One of three Admiralty colliers sunk at the time – see also GLENBY, THE QUEEN [H/L/Lr/te/un/wi]

KNARSDALE, Admiralty collier, 21 December 1915, North Sea - 1,641grt, built 1896, Glasgow-reg, Scandinavian Shipping, 20 crew, Mr J Tinmouth, Blyth for Sheerness with coal. Mined at 1700, laid by UC.7 [Georg Haag], sank at once 2 3/4m E by S of Orford Ness, Suffolk [L - 3 miles E by S of; wi - in 52.05.14N, 01.38.50E]; one crew drowned, three injured, survivors landed at Yarmouth [H/L/Lr/te/un/wi]

KOORAH, hired trawler – see MANX HERO, Admiralty trawler, 10 March 1915, Dardanelles Campaign.

L

LACONIA, armed merchant cruiser – see MERSEY, monitor, 11 July 1915, German East Africa

LADY CRUNDALL, tug – see LEVEN, destroyer, 8 September 1915, Dover Straits

LADY ISMAY, paddle minesweeper, 21 December 1915, North Sea - ex-excursion steamer, 495grt, built 1911, Cardiff-reg, P & A Campbell, hired 4/11/14, 2-6pdr, Admiralty No.186, with Grimsby paddle minesweeper unit, operations area between Humber & Belgian coast, Sub-Lt Bernard Hawken RNR i/c, Skipper J W Knight, sailed Harwich in the morning with 6 other paddle minesweepers to sweep area to the SW. Visibility poor around noon, three of the vessels separated and left for Harwich, wireless signal to the other four including Lady Ismay not received, they slipped sweeps at 1500 and in order Westward Ho, Cambridge, Lady Ismay, Glen Avon headed for Longsand LV, off Clacton, Essex. [J/dx - 21/12/17] - First two paddlers passed the LV on the starboard hand but tide forced Lady Ismay to pass on port hand, set course for the LV, at around 1540 mined amidships beneath forward bunker and sank within a minute [J/dx - near the Galloper; He – 1 mile NW of LV; un - LV S40°E 5 cables; wi - between Longsand Head and the Galloper, in 51.45N 01.49E;]. Mine laid some days earlier by UC.3 [Erwin Wassner]; 17 ratings, 2 MN lost, only those on deck survived including the mate, she went down so quickly survivors stepped into the lifeboats, Glen Avon just astern stopped and rescued some of the men with her boats, the other two turned back, Cambridge also lowered her boats, picked up survivors and destroyed confidential papers floating on the water [H/J/L/Lr/Cn/D/He/dk/do/dx/ge/sc/un/wi; ADM.137/3128]

LADY IVEAGH, Admiralty collier, 24 December 1915, English Channel - 2,286grt, built 1892, Dublin-reg, Lady Iveagh SS. Wrecked at entrance to St Valery of Cayaux, probably the rocks off St Valery-en-Caux between Dieppe and Fecamp. Note: St Valery-sur-Somme is on the S bank of the Somme estuary, Cayeux or Cayeux-sur-Mer just S of the estuary [H/Lr]

LADYSMITH, hired drifter – see FERNDALE, hired drifter, 27 December 1915, St George's Channel

LAERTES, destroyer - see 28 August 1914, BATTLE OF HELIGOLAND BIGHT. Lt-Cdr Malcolm Goldsmith. One of four L-class destroyers of 4th Div, 3rd DF, c1,200t, 3-4in/1-2pdr/4-21in tt, three out of four of which were were badly hit by well-aimed fire from Mainz around 1210. Last destroyer in the division, hit by all four shells from Mainz' salvo, boilers severely damaged, lost all water and came to a complete standstill, eventually got under way; 2 ratings killed, 6 wounded. See also ARETHUSA, GOSHAWK, LAUREL, LIBERTY [Rn/D/dd/dk/ty]

LAFOREY, destroyer – see NORTH SEA ACTION, 1 May 1915

LAMA, armed boarding steamer, 16 October 1915, Red Sea - on patrol against contraband smuggling, in action. Able Seaman John Corlett died [dk]

LANCE, destroyer – see UNDAUNTED, light cruiser, 17 October 1914, Action off the Texel.

LANDRAIL [01], destroyer – see UNDAUNTED, light cruiser, 24 March 1915, North Sea.

LANDRAIL [02], destroyer – see UNDAUNTED, light cruiser, 24 April 1915, North Sea.

LAPLAND, Admiralty blockship, 1,234grt, built 1890, 256ft, Liverpool & Hamburg SS Co, Liverpool-reg. Purchased 1914/15 for Scapa Flow, scuttled 1915 in No.3 Barrier, East Weddel Sound, between Burray & Glims Holm islands [wi - in 58.52.17N, 02.54.47W]. Now incorporated in Churchill Barrier [Lr/D/wi]

LARK [01], destroyer, 6 August 1914, North Sea - L-class, c965t. Damaged when Amphion blew up, 4in shell exploded on her, killing her sole German prisoner and wounding two of her seamen [He - both seamen were killed]. See also AMPHION, LINNET [He/dk]

LARK [02], destroyer – see NORTH SEA ACTION, 1 May 1915

LAUREL,destroyer - see 28 August 1914, BATTLE OF HELIGOLAND BIGHT. Cdr Frank Rose. One of four L-class destroyers of 4th Div, 3rd DF, c1,200t, 3-4in/1-2pdr/4-21in tt, three out of four of which were were badly hit by well-aimed fire from Mainz around 1210. Fired two torpedoes, turned away and very badly hit by a salvo, one shell in the engine-room killed 4 men and did much damage, another struck near foremost gun and killed 3 more, third hit aft, detonated lyddite shells in the ready racks, put after gun out of action and damaged the after funnel so much the ship was hidden in a dense cloud of smoke. Although under fire, the ship continued to fight and then with damaged engines, boilers and funnel limped off to be towed home; 1 officer, 10 ratings killed, CO continued to fight the ship although seriously wounded in his leg by the third shell. See also ARETHUSA, GOSHAWK, LAERTES, LIBERTY [Rn/D/dd/dk/ty]

LAWFORD, destroyer – see NORTH SEA ACTION, 1 May 1915

LAWRENCE [01] [RIM], troopship – see ESPIEGLE, sloop, 21 November 1914, Mesopotamian Campaign

LAWRENCE [02] [RIM], troopship – see ESPIEGLE sloop, 4 December 1914, Mesopotamian Campaign

LAWRENCE [03] [RIM], troopship – see CLIO, sloop, 3 June 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

LEANDROS, hired trawler, 6 August 1915, North Sea - [L/Lr/D/dq - Leander; D - but renamed Leandros], 276grt, built 1907, Lindsey Steam Fishing, Grimsby-reg GY.260, hired 8/14 as Leander, minesweeper, Admiralty No.18, Dover Patrol, Skipper Walter Richmond RNR. Mined, laid by UC.5 [Herbert Pustkuchen] three days earlier, sank off North Knock Sand Buoy, off Thames Estuary [wi - in 51.43N, 01.38E]; 7 ratings lost [He – 5 died] [H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/dq/sc/un/wi; ADM.1/8429/223]

LEDA, minesweeper, 17 October 1914, off Orkneys - ex-Alarm-class torpedo gunboat. Entering Scapa Flow and reported torpedoes fired at her, subsequently found to have been a destroyers' accidental discharge [Mn/gf]

LEGION, destroyer – see UNDAUNTED, light cruiser, 17 October 1914, Action off the Texel.

LEMNOS, Admiralty collier, 16 December 1915, North Sea - 1,530grt, built 1880, Dundee-reg, Lawside Shipping, 19 crew, Mr G Hadden, Leith for Rouen with coal. Wrecked off Teesmouth [wi - stranded 1 1/2m SE of South Gare entrance, in 54.38N, 01.06W] [H/Lr/wi]

LENNOX [01], destroyer – see UNDAUNTED, light cruiser, 17 October 1914, Action off the Texel.

LENNOX [02], destroyer – see COMET, destroyer, 6 May 1915, North Sea

LEONADIS, destroyer – see NORTH SEA ACTION, 1 May 1915

LEOPARD, destroyer – see FIRST BOMBARDMENT OF BRITISH COAST, RAID ON GORLESTON, 3 November 1914

LEVEN, destroyer, 8 September 1915, Dover Straits - C-class, 420t, Dover Patrol, dark night. In collision with transport carrying 2,000 troops, bow flattened, found drifting broadside in heavy swell in the direction of Boulogne by destroyer Viking, taken in tow stern-first into Dover assisted by destroyer Tartar and tug Lady Crundall [Cn/D/dp/gr]

LEVIATHAN, armoured cruiser, 9 March 1915, North Sea - Drake-class, was 6th CS Grand Fleet, now ordered to Rosyth prior to becoming flagship North American Station, zig-zagging near Bell Rock around 1730. Torpedo fired by U.12, missed [Rn/Cn/D/gf]

LEWIS PELLY [01], armed launch – see OCEAN, battleship 6 November 1914, Mesopotamian Campaign

LEWIS PELLY [02], armed launch – see ESPIEGLE, sloop, 21 November 1914, Mesopotamian Campaign

LEWIS PELLY [03], armed launch - see ESPIEGLE sloop, 4 December 1914, Mesopotamian Campaign

LEWIS PELLY [04], armed launch – see CLIO, sloop, 3 June 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

LIBERTY [01], destroyer - see 28 August 1914, BATTLE OF HELIGOLAND BIGHT. Lt-Cdr Nigel Barttelot. One of four L-class destroyers of 4th Div, 3rd DF, c1,200t, 3-4in/1-2pdr/4-21in tt, three out of four of which were were badly hit by well-aimed fire from Mainz around 1210. Next astern of Laurel and partly hidden by Laurel's smoke, fired her torpedoes, turned away and hit on the bridge by a shell which brought down the mast, smashed the searchlight and killed the CO and a signalman, first lieutenant took over and continued firing on Mainz until she disappeared in the mist; commanding officer and 7 ratings killed. Next in line was Lysander, salvo missed, fired her torpedoes at Mainz, then turned away to attack another German cruiser, either Stettin or Strassburg. See also ARETHUSA, GOSHAWK, LAERTES, LAUREL [Rn/D/dd/dk/ty]

LIBERTY [02], destroyer – see METEOR, destroyer, BATTLE of THE DOGGER BANK, 24 January 1915

LIBERTY [03], destroyer, 19 June 1915, North Sea - L-class, 3rd DF, with Harwich Force on patrol for Zeppelins attacking England. Liberty stopped to pick up a dog that had fallen overboard, bombed and nearly hit by a German seaplane [Cn/ty]

LIBRA, hired trawler – see LIGHTNING, destroyer, 30 June 1915, North Sea

LIGHTNING, destroyer, 30 June 1915, North Sea - A-class, 320t, 1895, 112pdr/56pdr/218in tt, 27kts, Pendant No. N.23, Nore Local Defence Flotilla, Lt James Cavendish. Floating mine spotted by destroyer Vulture in the morning near Kentish Knock LV in Thames estuary, and more reported in the afternoon by the light vessel. Vulture and Lightning ordered out to sink them, three were exploded around 2000, and as the destroyers searched for more, Lightning suffered a large explosion which lifted her out of the water and broke her back. Mined, laid by UC.1 [Egon von Werner] that morning, forepart sank off Kentish Knock LV [wi - in 51.04.22N, 01.19.02E; dx - off Wielingen LV, Zeebrugge]; 15 ratings lost [He – 14 died]. After part remained afloat, secured between trawlers Javelin and Libra, and taken back to Sheerness, but not worth repairing and broken up. Note: the first submarine mines were laid by UC.1, 2, 3, 11 in the Harwich and Dover areas [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/dk/dx/ge/ke/un/wi; ADM.1/8426/185, ADM.1/8426/191]

LILAC, fleet sweeping sloop, 18 August 1915, North Sea - Acacia-class, 1,200t, 2-12pdr/2-3pdr, recently joined Grand Fleet minesweeping flotilla, Lt-Cdr Leslie Fisher, sweeping Meteor-laid field in Cromarty Firth, bad weather with heavy sea running. [sc - 8th] - Stem hit mine, bows blown off nearly as far as bridge, remains hung down from keel, now drew nearly 30-40ft of water, towed by sister-ship Hollyhock into Peterhead, received new bow and rejoined flotilla some months later; 16 ratings lost [Rn/Cn/D/dk/gf/sc]

LIMEWOLD, hired trawler, 8 May 1915, North Sea - 189grt, built 1898, Grimsby-reg, hired 12/14, 1-6pdr, CO on shore sick, Acting Skipper C Bond i/c, on patrol. Shell burst close to the bows at 0430, 20 miles E of Peterhead, submarine spotted one and half miles away right astern and closing fast, turned and returned fire, claimed hit on waterline abreast of conning tower with fifth shot when range down to 600yds, submarine submerged [Mn/D]

LINDSELL, may be spelt Linsdell, Admiralty drifter, 3 September 1914, North Sea - one of two small warships lost in Humber minefield laid by German Nautilus, near Outer Dowsing LV. 88grt, built 1914, Lowestoft-reg LT322, hired 9/14 as minesweeper, unarmed, Admiralty No.224, Skipper Charles Woodgate RNR, from Lowestoft with minesweeping gunboat Speedy, and drifters Wishful and Achievable to sweep Humber minefield. Mined at 1100, stern blown off, bows up-ended and disappeared in a few minutes [wi - armed patrol vessel, lost in 53.30N 01.05E]; skipper, mate, engineer and two deckhands lost, HMS Speedy lowered boats to pick up survivors. See also SPEEDY [H/L/D/ap/dk/wi; ADM.137/3108]

LINKMOOR, Admiralty collier, 20 September 1915, Central Mediterranean - 4,306grt, built 1914, Moor Line, London-reg, sailing Lemnos for Malta with coal. Captured by U.35 [Waldermar Kophamel], sunk by gunfire 50 miles W of Cape Matapan [L/te - in 36.16N, 21.18E] [H/L/Lr/te/un]

LINNET, destroyer, 6 August 1914, North Sea - L-class, c965t. Damaged when Amphion blew up, narrowly missed by a 4in gun thrown in the air, showered with splinters, and struck amidships by one of Amphion's bunker lids, which pierced a boiler room. See also AMPHION, LINNET [dk]

LION, battlecruiser - see BATTLE of THE DOGGER BANK, 24 January 1915. Lion-class, 29,680t, 8-13.5in/16-4in/2-21in tt. Hit and damaged a number of times: [1] three German ships firing at her by 0928, shell hit on waterline penetrated the bunkers but damage made good, [2] when Moltke was not engaged, A-turret smashed at 0954 and one gun out of action, [3] 11in shell from Seydlitz pierced the armour at 1001, flooding started and listed to port, [4] hit hard at 1018 - one shell struck the armour below the waterline, drove in several plates and flooded foremost port bunker, and a second pierced armour on waterline, burst in torpedo body room and flooded all adjacent compartments, [5] when Blücher pulled out of line, the other three German ships again concentrated on Lion, hit by numerous shells between 1035 and 1050, armour pierced and more flooding, shell burst in A-turret lobby and started fire, [6] at 1100, shell drove in armour on the waterline abreast one of the boiler rooms, seriously damaged, port engine had to be stopped, light and power failed, list to port increased to 10°, speed dropped to 15kts and Lion dropped astern. She continued for home without Adm Beatty at 12kts, around 1430 speed dropped to 8kts, Indomitable took her in tow and she reached the Firth of Forth at dawn on the 26th; 11 men wounded. Fired a total of 243 heavy shells, hit Blücher once, Derfflinger once, Seydlitz twice, in turn hit by 16-11in and 12in shells, also 1-8.2in. Temporarily repaired at Rosyth, repairs completed by Palmers, returned to service as flagship of new Battle Cruiser force. See also METEOR, TIGER [Rn/Cn/D]

LIVELY, destroyer – see FIRST BOMBARDMENT OF BRITISH COAST, RAID ON GORLESTON, 3 November 1914

LIVERPOOL, light cruiser – see AUDACIOUS, dreadnought, 27 October 1914, off N Ireland. Bristol-class, 1st LCS Grand Fleet, standing by. When Audacious finally blew up, debris landed on Liverpool's deck; one petty officer killed [D/dk/gf]

LIVONIAN, Admiralty blockship, 20 December 1914, Dover Straits - One of two blockships purchased for scuttling in the gap between Admiralty Pier and Southern Breakwater at Dover. 4,017grt, built 1881, 420ft, Glasgow-reg, Allan Line SS, purchased 1914. Shortly after loss of Montrose - Scuttled on west side of entrance. See also MONTROSE [Lr/D/dq]

LOCHWOOD, Admiralty collier, 2 April 1915, English Channel - 2,042grt, built 1900, Constantine & Pickering SS Co, Middlesbrough-reg, 21 crew, Mr T Scott, from Barry with 3,200t coal, steaming at 8kts in misty weather with sea rough, strong WSW wind. U.24 [Rudolf Schneider] sighted on reverse course on port beam about 1 1/4m distant, turned away, hoisted Norwegian ensign and went to full speed. U-boat followed, fired a first torpedo at 1745 and a second at 1815, then approached within hailing distance, ordered Lochwood to stop and gave the crew 10min to abandon ship, while doing so a third torpedo hit port-side abaft the engine-room. U.24 made off at 1900 and Lochwood sank at 1930, 25 miles SW of Start Point, Devon [wi - in 49.54.30N, 04.04W] [H/L/Lr/te/un/wi]

LONDON, battleship - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

LORD AIREDALE, hired trawler, 18 March 1915, North Sea - 215grt, built 1911, Grimsby-reg, hired 2/15 as minesweeper, Skipper J R Dawson, believed at anchor in "hurricane-force winds". Sank 150yds off the beach at Bridlington, Yorkshire probably after dragging her anchor; Skipper and 11 ratings lost. Salvaged and returned to service [D/dk]

LORD DENMAN, hired trawler, 22 October 1915, Barents Sea - 309grt, built 1914, Hull-reg H118, Yorkshire Steam Fishing, hired 6/15 as minesweeper, 112pdr, Admiralty No.1525, Skipper William Lowrey RNR, one of six Lowestoft-based trawler minesweepers sent to sweep Meteor-laid mines, arrived Alexandrovsk, Murman coast in early July. In collision [He – mined], sank in Barents Sea at 68.04N, 39.34E, half way between Murmansk and Archangel, near Bezimyanni Island, Murmansk Oblask. AMC Arlanza took part in salvaging the wreck on 1st November; no lives lost [H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/hw/sc; ADM.1/8441/345]

LORD NELSON [01], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 4 March 1915, Beach Party landings around Kum Kale.

LORD NELSON [02], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 6 March 1915, Attack on the Narrows Forts

LORD NELSON [03], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 18 March 1915, Final Naval Attack on the Narrows

LORD NELSON [04], battleship - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

LORD NELSON [05], battleship – see ALBION, battleship, 28 April 1915, Gallipoli Campaign

LORD ROBERTS, hired trawler – see JAPAN, hired trawler, 16 August 1915, North Sea

LORENZO, hired trawler, 17 December 1914, Orkneys - 173grt, built 1906, Hellyers Steam Fishing, Hull-reg H865, hired 9/14 as auxiliary patrol vessel, 1 x 6pdr, Admiralty No.603. Wrecked on Kirk rocks in Hoy Sound, W entrance to Scapa Flow between Mainland & Hoy islands; no lives lost [H/Lr/C/D/He/dk]

LORNE, Admiralty blockship, 1,186grt, built 1873, 241ft, T Wilson & Sons, Hull-reg [D - for use at Portland]. Purchased 1914/15 for Scapa Flow, scuttled 1915 in No.4 Barrier, in middle of Water Sound, between South Ronaldshay & Burray islands [wi - in 58.50.30N, 02.54.04W]. Wreck dispersed with explosives but much still dries out at low tide [Lr/D/wi]

LOTTIE LEASK, hired drifter, 18 December 1915, Adriatic Sea – in December, the Serbian Army retreating through Albania, were evacuated to the island of Corfu through until 2/16, survivors concentrated there before being sent to Salonika. During much of this time, the Adriatic drifters, now armed with small guns, assisted in the evacuation of the Serbian army and refugees, landing Italian troops at Valona, protecting ships carrying food and supplies for Serbian and Montenegrin troops, and rescuing sinking ships often under fire. Lottie Leask, 94grt, built 1907, North Shields-reg SN184, hired 1/15 as net drifter or tender, Admiralty No.1072, Skipper Robert Aaron George RNR, taking part of evacuation of Durazzo, sailed Brindisi forenoon, now getting dark. Attacked by two submarines [un – U.39, Walter Forstmann] 20 miles WNW of Sasseno Is, off Valona/Vlore, Albania, hit five times, returned fire but abandoned in sinking condition; no lives lost, crew rowed all night, landed on Austrian-held coast, reached Italian lines on 22nd, then marched with Serbians to Valona before going back afloat [H/L/Mn/C/D/He*/ap/dk/un; ADM.137/3605]

LOUIS, destroyer, 31 October 1915, Gallipoli Campaign - L-class, c1,300t, 1913, 34in/1-Maxim mg/421in tt, 29kts, c73 crew, Pendant No. H.07, 3rd DF Harwich on completion, to Mediterranean early 1915, Lt-Cdr Harold Adair- Hall, Gallipoli evacuation plans now being made but likely to be endangered by winter storms, SW storm now blowing, at anchor. Anchors dragged and driven ashore early hours of 31st in Suvla Bay, had to be abandoned, strong SW winds blew for three weeks preventing salvage, reduced to a wreck over the weeks by Turkish artillery; no lives lost [ke - all 102 crew saved] [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He*/dk/dx/ke; ADM.137/191, ADM.53/47327]

LOYAL, destroyer – see UNDAUNTED, light cruiser, 17 October 1914, Action off the Texel.

LUCANO, Admiralty blockship – see GARGANO, Admiralty blockship, 1915, Central Mediterranean.

LUMINA, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 6 November 1915, Central Mediterranean - 5,950grt, built 1915, Liverpool-reg, H E Moss, armed, Tarakan for Malta with fuel oil. Captured by U.35 [Waldemar Kophamel], sunk by gunfire 120 miles S by E of Cape Martello, S Crete [L - 33.04N, 25.56E; te - in 33.40N, 25.06E] [H/L/Lr/te/un]

LUNDY, hired trawler, 16 August 1915, Gallipoli Campaign - 188grt, built 1908, Hull Steam Fishing & Ice Co, Hull-reg H993, hired 5/15, 13pdr, Admiralty No.1791, patrol vessel, Skipper Henry Charles Taylor RNR, in Suvla Bay, alongside SS Kalyan, taking on ammunition. Anchorage came under fire and master of the Kalyan decided to move position, slowly, with Lundy still secured. As more shells landed, one of them nearby, Kalyan increased speed and turned slightly, Lundy failed to hear the shouted warnings, her stern was dragged under the stern of the larger ship, the hull holed by the propeller, and she flooded and sank; one ratings lost [He - the engineer dying 'of shock' in the process]; crew got away in their boat[s] [H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/hw; ADM.137/3135]

LURCHER [01], destroyer – see EMPRESS, seaplane carrier, 25 December 1914, Cuxhaven Raid

LURCHER [02], destroyer – see C.31, submarine, 4 January 1915, North Sea.

LYDIAN, hired trawler, 18 September 1915, Dover Straits - 244grt, built 1908, S A Laycock, Milford Haven-reg M232, hired 1915 [D - 8/14] as auxiliary patrol vessel, Admiralty No.162, Dover Patrol, Skipper James Charles Phillips. Mined, believed laid by UC.6 [Matthias Graf von Schmettow] three days before. Sank at 1100 off South Foreland, near Dover, Kent [He - off Leathercoat Point, St Margaret's Bay; wi - in 51.08N, 01.27E]; Skipper and 7 ratings lost, 2 survivors [H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/dq/sc/un/wi; ADM.1/8434/279, ADM.137/152]

LYNX [01], destroyer - see GERMAN RAID on HARTLEPOOL, SCARBOROUGH and WHITBY, 16 December 1914. K-class, c1,300t, 3-4in/2-21in tt. Cdr R Parry. Hit several times, not too badly damaged. Unity initially stood by, before she made for Leith for repairs; no lives lost, 1 man wounded. See also AMBUSCADE, HARDY [Rn/D/dk/gf]

LYNX [02], destroyer, 9 August 1915, North Sea - K-class, c1300t, 1913, 3-4in/2-21in tt with 4 torpedoes, 29kts, 73 crew, Pendant No. H.71, 4th DF Grand Fleet, Cdr John Cole, on patrol with two other destroyers in Moray Firth, SE of Helmsdale. Around 0600 or 0630, explosion under No.1 boiler room, bridge area destroyed and back broken, fore part sank almost straightaway and stern half ten minutes later. Mined, laid by Meteor off Moray Firth [He - in 58.07N, 02.38W; wi - in 58N, 03W], "position stated to be 2 miles to the northward of the mine-field as then located"; Cdr Cole, 1 officer and 61 ratings lost [Rn/gf - 3 officers and 21 men survived; He/ke/wi - 70 lost including captain, 26 survivors], survivors picked up by SS Vocana later that morning [H/J/C/Cn/D/He/dk/dx/ke/sc/wi; ADM.1/8429/230, ADM.137/3603]

LYRA, destroyer - see NYMPHE, destroyer, 16 October 1914, North Sea

M

M.15, monitor – see THESEUS, cruiser, 21 October 1915, Aegean Sea

M.16, monitor – see THESEUS, cruiser, 21 October 1915, Aegean Sea

M.19, monitor – see THESEUS, cruiser, 21 October 1915, Aegean Sea

M.28, monitor – see THESEUS, cruiser, 21 October 1915, Aegean Sea

M.29, monitor – see THESEUS, cruiser, 21 October 1915, Aegean Sea

MACEDONIA, armed merchant cruiser – see BATTLE OF THE FALKLANDS, 8 December 1914.

MAJESTIC [01], battleship – see REVENGE, battleship, 15 December 1914, Belgian Coast.

MAJESTIC [02], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 26 February 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts, continued

MAJESTIC [03], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 1 March 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts, continued

MAJESTIC [04], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 6 March 1915, Attack on the Narrows Forts

MAJESTIC [05], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 18 March 1915, Final Naval Attack on the Narrows

MAJESTIC [06], battleship - see E.15, submarine, 17 April 1915, Dardanelles Campaign

MAJESTIC [07], battleship - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

MAJESTIC [08], battleship, 27 May 1915. Gallipoli Campaign - Majestic-class, 16,060t, 1895, 4-12in/12-6in/16-12pdr/12-3pdr/5-18in tt, 17kts, c757 crew, Pendant No. D.04, Capt Henry Talbot, flagship of Rear-Adm Nicholson from 26th, providing gunfire support in Cape Helles area [J/He/ke - off W-beach], at anchor among unloading transports with torpedo nets out, as close inshore as possible, destroyers patrolling off shore. Periscope of U.21 [Otto Hersing] [J - U.23] spotted at 0645, 400 yds away on port beam, opened fire immediately but torpedo had already been fired, went right through the nets and hit amidships, second soon followed, ship capsized in 7min off Cape Helles [da - could be seen from V-beach; ke - W shore of Cape Helles; mf - W of Sedd-el-Bahr village; Cn - off Gaba Tepe near Anzac Cove]; 42 ratings and 2 canteen staff lost, killed by the explosion or entangled in nets [Rn/Cn/He/ke - 40 casualties; 737 survivors]. Sank in only 54ft of water, rested on foremast with fore-end of keel and bottom awash before disappearing under during the November storms. The withdrawal of bombarding battleships following the sinking of Goliath, Triumph and Majestic was a major victory for the Turks [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/da/dk/ke/mf/un; ADM.1/8422/144, ADM.116/1443]

MALTA [01], hired trawler – see C.33, submarine, 4 August 1915, North Sea

MALTA [02], hired trawler, 1 September 1915, North Sea - 138grt, built 1897, W Grant, Grimsby-reg GY325, hired 11/14 as auxiliary patrol vessel, Pendant No. 700, had operated with submarine C.33 as trawler-submarine decoy. Harwich-based, Skipper Frank McPherson RNR. Mined in field laid by UC.7 [Franz Wäger] the day before, sank 2 cables NW of North Shipwash Buoy, off Orford Ness [wi - in 52.01.18N, 01.37.35E]; 7 ratings lost [H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/qs/sc/un/wi; ADM.1/8432/259]

MANDATE, destroyer – see ARDENT, destroyer, 11 October 1915, North Sea

MANICA [01], balloon ship - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

MANICA [02], kite balloon ship, 12 August 1915, Gallipoli Campaign - 4,120grt, built 1900, hired 12/5/15, supporting Suvla landings. [da - 14th] - Torpedo fired by UB.8 from 500yds passed under her shallow draught [da - submarine sighted outside net, two torpedoes fired and missed Manica, hit net at acute angle and burst]. Attack two days later on a similar vessels also unsuccessful [D/da/md]

MANX HERO, hired trawler, 10 March 1915, Dardanelles Campaign - 221grt, built 1910, W H Beeley, Grimsby-reg GY585, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, 1-6pdr, Admiralty No.339, Skipper Edward Bray RNR, one of seven trawlers with 3rd Minesweeping Group accompanied by two picket boats, four escorting destroyers and supported by battleship Canopus and light cruiser Amethyst, taking part in attempt to sweep Kephez minefields in the dark. Instead of sweeping against the strong 3-4kt current, the intention was to get above the first line of mines and sweep down. Trawlers reached their position, passed sweeps in pairs and started back. Night of 10th/11th - Two mines exploded, one of them possibly so close to Manx Hero she sank, otherwise she hit a third, Turks opened fire, two trawlers hit and damaged by 6in shells, all then retired under destroyer cover; no lives lost in Manx Hero, crew picked up by HM Trawler Koorah [H/L/Lr/Rn/C/D/He/ap/dk/sc; ADM.137/1089]

MAORI [01], destroyer, 4 March 1915 - U.8 was detected by indicator nets in their first success, and then sunk by destroyers Ghurka and Maori in Strait of Dover.

MAORI [02], destroyer, 7 May 1915, Belgian Coast - F-class, 1,030t, 1909, 24in/218in tt, 33kts, 68 crew, Pendant No. H.16, 6th DF Dover Patrol, Lt-Cdr or Cdr Benjamin Barrow, with sister ship Crusader [Lt-Cdr Maxwell] reconnoitring Belgian coast, between Hayst and Blankenberge, to lay marks in preparation for shoot by battleship Venerable. Conditions misty and did not clear until mid-afternoon. Around 1515, steering SE at 18 knots. Mined at low water under her starboard quarter, spotted and hit by German shell-fire, sank 2 miles NW of Weilingen LV, near Zeebrugge [He - around 51.21.1N, 03.06.9E], crew got away in their boats, Crusader lowered a boat but her commander decided to retire because of the intense shore fire, and left the boat behind; no lives lost in Maori, 7 officers and 87 ratings reached shore to become POW's, Crusader's boat crew also taken prisoner [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/dk/dp/dq/ge/ke; ADM.156/145, ADM.1/8420/124]

MARGARET, Admiralty drifter, 115grt [ms – possibly 1886], purchased November 1914. Possibly sunk as blockship, no other details [C only]

MARIE DELLE VITTORIE, Admiralty blockship, 29 December 1915, Gallipoli Campaign - two Admiralty blockships were scuttled at "W" -Tekke Burnu beach, S tip of Gallipoli peninsula by 29th as breakwaters for final evacuation. Note: French old battleship Massena & French steamer Saghalien, 4,058grt, built 1881 were sunk as breakwaters at "V"- Sedd el Bahr or Cape Helles beach, in November [H/ms]: MARIE DELLE VITTORIE [ms – Maria …..], cargo steamship, ex-Clan liner Clan Graham, 2,926grt, built 1882, T Astarita [Rn/ms]; VINCENZO FLORIO, 2,752grt [ms – 2,840], built 1880 was Genoa, Italy-reg, I & V Florio & Co, Palermo/Servizi Marittimo [Lr/Rn/ms]

MARLBOROUGH, dreadnought – see DREADNOUGHT, dreadnought battleship, 18 March 1915, North Sea

MARSDEN, Admiralty hired iron paddle tug, 1 November 1915, Gallipoli Campaign - 131grt, 1906, Newcastle-reg, France, Fenwick Tyne & Wear, hired 24/6/15, serving off Gallipoli, SubLt Albert Trick. [C/D - 31 October] - Driven ashore by gale at Suvla Bay, W Gallipoli peninsula, stranded, later destroyed by Turkish gunfire. Owners received £6,500 compensation; no lives lost [H/C/D/He/dk/mc/tu]

MARY, hired trawler, 5 November 1914, North Sea - 256grt, built 1906, J Marr & Son, Fleetwood-reg FD84, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.361, Skipper William Stephen Greenaway RNR, sweeping Yarmouth field laid near Smith’s Knoll Buoy by German Kolberg with trawlers Columbia and Driver. [He – 3rd; all other sources, including casualties – 5th]. Mined just after 1000, after part destroyed, fore part settled and sank with two minutes [wi - in 52.35N, 01.54E]; Skipper and 7 ratings lost, 6 survivors rescued by Columbia and Driver [H/L/Lr/C/D/He/ap/dk/fd/wi; ADM.137/3110]

MASHONA, launch-tug – see OCEAN, battleship 6 November 1914, Mesopotamian Campaign

MATCHLESS, destroyer, 13 November 1915, North Sea - M-class, c1,100t, Cdr George Gibbs, one of five Harwich Force destroyers, believed 10th Flotilla, finding their way back into Harwich after being out for two days and nights, trying to make for Orford Ness LH, dark winter evening. A Saturday in November, not necessarily the 13th - Matchless mined at 0551 in German field, stern complete with rudder and screws blown off, badly down by the stern and rolling heavily, taken in tow by sister-ship Murray [CO was the naval author Taffrail] by 0715, with great difficulty headed for Harwich. Just short of there, tow parted, taken in rest of way by light cruiser; no casualties. Patched up and taken to Chatham for new stern [Cn/dd/ty]

MAYFAIR, naval motor boat No.1, 19 April 1915, North Sea - hired 1914, Lt Edward Martin RNVR. Darkened and on patrol in Firth of Forth, W of Inchkeith in approaches to Rosyth, spotted at 2033 by also darkened and patrolling torpedo boat TB.32 which put engines full astern and helm hard a starboard, but hit Mayfair the starboard side, sinking her; no lives lost, all crew picked up by TB.32’s boat[s]. Mayfair continued to be listed until 1919, either a clerical error or she was possibly salvaged [He/D only; ADM.137/107, ADM.53/64641]

MELBOURNE [01] [RAN], light cruiser - see AUSTRALIA [RAN], battlecruiser, 30 August 1914, German Pacific Possessions.

MELBOURNE [02] [RAN], light cruiser – see AUSTRALIA [RAN], battlecruiser, 14 September 1914, German Pacific Possessions

MENTOR [01], destroyer – see UNDAUNTED, light cruiser, 24 April 1915, North Sea.

MENTOR [02], destroyer – see ANGLO-CALIFORNIAN, cargo ship, 4 July 1915, Atlantic off S Ireland

MENTOR [03], destroyer – see PRINCESS MARGARET, minelayer, 17 August 1915, North Sea

MERION, dummy capital ship No 14, battlecruiser “Tiger”, 30 May 1915, Aegean Sea - ex-transatlantic liner, 11,621grt, built 1902, International Navigation, Liverpool-reg, conversion ordered 21/10/14, hired 1/12/14, converted at Harland & Wolff, Belfast with wood & canvas superstructure and guns, heavily ballasted to approximate proportions of a battlecruiser, armed with 1-3pdr, ready early 1915, based in Aegean from February 1915, heading for Mudros. [un – 29th] - Torpedoed by UB.8 [Ernst von Voight], sank off Mudros, island of Lemnos [D/dx - off Strati Is, S of Lemnos]; 2 RNR officers and 2 MMR ratings killed. Note - C/D list her as purchased 30/5/15, the date of her loss; md - Lt von Voight reported attacking a large three funnelled ship at dusk, hit her with one torpedo abreast the forward funnel, but did not see her sink, nor did he identify her as a possible “battlecruiser”. Presumably torpedoed on the 29th, sank on the 30th [Lr/C/Cn/D/dk/dx/md/un/wd]

MERSEY [01], monitor – see ATTENTIVE, light cruiser, 18 October 1914, Belgian Coast

MERSEY [02], monitor, 6 July 1915, German East Africa - Mersey [Cdr R Wilson] and Severn, river monitors, Humber-class, 1,520t, 2-6in/2-4.7in/4-3pdr, 140 crew, after operations off Belgian coast, both ships were due for service in the Dardanelles in March 1915. Sailed 28 April from Malta with fleet messenger Trent, four tugs and a collier, reached Aden 15 May and Mafia Island 3 June, made good defects, fitted with extra protection and exercised with spotting aircraft. German light cruiser Königsberg moored down the Kikunja channel, northernmost tributary of Rufuji delta and 10 miles from the sea. Mersey and Severn entered the channel at 0520 on 6th, immediately came under 3pdr, pom-pom and machine gun fire from shore defences, both hit, but undamaged, whalers Echo, Fly, Childers swept and sounded ahead, light cruisers Weymouth and Pyramus followed in support. By 0630, 6 miles or 11,000yds from Königsberg, anchored, waited for spotting aircraft and opened fire, Königsberg also had spotting station nearby and replied with salvoes. Neither monitor hit for an hour until at 0740, shell struck Mersey's foremost 6in gun shield and put gun out of action, shortly holed near the waterline and pulled back 1,000yds. Severn continued for half an hour, then both ships waited until a second spotting aircraft arrived at 1330, returned to original position and fired until 1530, Königsberg hit around 6 times. Withdrew to prepare for next attempt five days later; Mersey’s casualties were 4 ratings killed, 2 DOW and 2 wounded [Rn/Cn/dk]

MERSEY [03], monitor, 11 July 1915, German East Africa - Mersey and Severn, river monitors, Humber-class, some damage and badly worn by shoot on the 6th, only now ready to resume attempt to destroy the Königsberg assisted by aircraft spotting. [dx - 15th] - Again fired on when entering the Rufuji River, both hit but little damage, starting at 1230 they took turns to fire although Königsberg fired back, at 1252 there was a large explosion, Königsberg was then apparently blown up and scuttled at 1346, firing continued until 1420 to complete her destruction, monitors recalled at 1430; two men slightly wounded on Mersey. Other ships taking part included light cruisers Chatham, Dartmouth, Challenger, Hyacinth, Pioneer [RAN], Pyramus, Weymouth, and armed merchant cruiser Laconia; Royal Navy Single Ship Action - Mersey and Severn v KÕNIGSBERG 1915 [Cn/Rn/dx]

MESSOUDIEH [01], stern-wheeler – see ESPIEGLE, sloop, 24 July 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

MESSOUDIEH [02], stern-wheeler – see FIREFLY, river gunboat, 22 November 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

MESSOUDIEH [03], stern-wheeler – see SHAITAN, armed launch, 28 November 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

MESSOUDIEH [04], stern-wheeler – see FIREFLY, river gunboat, 1 December 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

METEOR, destroyer – see BATTLE of THE DOGGER BANK, 24 January 1915. M-class, 980t, 3-4in/1-2pdr/4-21in tt, 1st DF Harwich Force, Captain D’s ship, Capt H Meade. Came up on the battered Blücher, manoeuvred to fire a torpedo and hit forward by heavy shell at 1120, exploded in foremost boiler room, almost putting her out of action; 3 stokers killed, 1 DOW and 2 crew wounded. Towed into Humber by destroyer Liberty. See also LION, TIGER [Rn/Cn/D/ty]

MICHIGAN, Admiralty blockship, December 1915, Aegean Sea – one of two Admiralty blockships, ex-passenger liners, both converted to dummy capital ships, ordered 21/10/14, purchased 28/10/14, converted at Harland & Wolff, Belfast with wood & canvas superstructure and guns, heavily ballasted to approximate the proportions of a battleship, ready by 4/12/14, based at Scapa Flow 1-10/15, transfered to Aegean as blockships 12/15:

MICHIGAN, 4,935grt, built 1887, Liverpool-reg, White Diamond SS, ex-dummy capital ship No.2 “Collingwood”. [C - 12/15] - Expended as blockship at Mudros, Lemnos island, salvaged after war [Lr/C/Cn/D];

ORUBA, 5,971grt, built 1889, Liverpool-reg, Royal Mail Steam Packet, ex-dummy capital ship No.6 “Orion”. [C - 1915] - Scuttled as "a much needed" breakwater in Kephalo Bay, Imbros island [Cn - Mudros] [Lr/C/Cn/D/da]

MIMI [01], gunboat, 23 December 1915, German East Africa Campaign - Gunboats Mimi and Toutou ready to start operations on Lake Tanganyika [dx]

MIMI [02], gunboat, 26 December 1915, German East Africa Campaign - Gunboats Mimi and Toutou captured German steamer Kingani on Lake Tanganyika [dx]

MINER [01], armed launch-tug – see OCEAN, battleship 6 November 1914, Mesopotamian Campaign

MINER [02], armed launch-tug – see also ESPIEGLE sloop, 4 December 1914, Mesopotamian Campaign

MINER [03], armed launch-tug, 4 December 1914, Mesopotamian Campaign - 50grt, built 1880, in service from 11/14, 1-12pdr/1-3pdr/1mg. Came under heavy fire from the shore off Kurnah, holed, returned downsteam and beached; no lives believed lost [Rn/D/dk]

MINER [04], armed launch-tug – see CLIO, sloop, 3 June 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

MINERVA [01], light cruiser – see SWIFTSURE, battleship, 3 February 1915, Suez Canal.

MINERVA [02], light cruiser - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

MINOTAUR, cruiser, 12 August 1914, German Pacific Islands - Minotaur and light cruiser Newcastle bombarded German wireless installation on Yap island, western Caroline Islands

MIRANDA destroyer – see ANGLO-CALIFORNIAN, cargo ship, 4 July 1915, Atlantic off S Ireland

MIURA [01], hired trawler – see NORTH SEA ACTION, 1 May 1915

MIURA [02], hired trawler, 23 August 1915, North Sea - 257grt, built 1911, Neale & West, Cardiff-reg CF36, hired 1914 [D - 2/15; He - 1915] as auxiliary patrol vessel, 1-3pdr or 6pdr, Admiralty No.979, Lt Leslie Kersey RNR. On patrol off Great Yarmouth, explosion on starboard quarter at 1245, heeled over, righted, then slowly settled by the stern, sank off Yarmouth, Norfolk [wi - in 52.36.16N, 01.54.20E]. Not known if she had been mined or torpedoed although survivors gave evidence that a U-boat was involved. Most sources list her as mined, Hepper as torpedoed. In either case, the submarine involved was UB.2 [Werner Fürbringer]; 11 ratings lost [H/L/Lr/C/D/He/ap/dk/sc/un/wi; ADM.137/3125]

ML.1 [01], motor launch, 9 April 1915, Auxiliary Patrol - British order for 50 American-built motor launches [ML.1-50] placed with Elco of Bayonne, NY through Canadian Vickers; further orders reached ML.580 [dx]

ML.1 [02], motor launch, 1 September 1915, S England - first 6 Elco-built ML's due to join the Auxiliary Patrol reached Portsmouth, were overhauled and carried out trials. ML's 1, 2, 3 commissioned at Portsmouth on 14 October [dx]

ML.2, motor launch - see ML.1, motor launch, 1 September 1915, S England

ML.3, motor launch - see ML.1, motor launch, 1 September 1915, S England

ML.52, motor launch, 29 November 1917, English Channel ML.51 series. Lieutenant William Forbes PrestonCobb RNVR. Based at Fort Blockhouse submarine depot to support submarine exercises, lying in Sandown Bay, Isle of Wight. Caught fire, burnt out completely and sank in the Bay; no lives lost (H/J/C/Cn/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.137/596)

ML.285, motor launch – see ML.289, motor launch, 29 December 1917, Caribbean Sea

ML.289, motor launch, 29 December 1917, Caribbean Sea - ML.50 series, at Trinidad, moored or lying alongside. Cotton waste caught fire in magazine, Deckhand Stanners went below and brought up the burning waste, probably saving ML.289 and the accompanying ML.285. Deckhand John Stanners from ML.289 awarded the Albert Medal in Gold (later George Cross) and Leading Deckhand Rupert Bugg RNR from ML.285 who went below to extinguish the remaining waste, the Albert Medal (ex-2nd-class). ML.289 presumably damaged but not destroyed (Cn/D/gc/lg)

ML.357, motor launch, 12 December 1917, English Channel - ML.50 series, Lt J Kitson RNVR, screening French Coal Trade Convoy. Came through fogbank about 1930 and saw U-boat submerging only 75yds off, guns would not bear so rammed at 18kts, going clean across from starboard to port, impact stopped engines but guns could now fire and U-boat driven off. ML badly damaged aft, making water fast and settling by stern, towed in by HMT Hercules IV, beached off Penzance in sinking condition; Lt Kitson awarded DSC (Mn/Cn/ap)

MOBILE, Admiralty collier, 28 April 1915, Atlantic off NW Scotland - many supply ships especially colliers were needed for Admiral Jellicoe's Grand Fleet; some were lost as they passed up the western British Isles including Mobile, 1,950grt, built 1914, Furness, Withy & Co, West Hartlepool-reg, Mr W Fortune, Barry for Scapa Flow with coal. Captured by U.30 [Erich von Rosenberg-Grusczyski], sunk with bombs 25 miles NW of Butt of Lewis, Outer Hebrides [wi - by gunfire, in 58.48N, 06.50W] [H/L/Mn/Rn/te/un/wi]

MOHAWK [01], destroyer – see ATTENTIVE, light cruiser, 18 October 1914, Belgian Coast

MOHAWK [02], destroyer, 1 June 1915, Dover Straits - first U-boat mines laid off English coast by Flanders-based UC-boats, then more discovered off Harwich & Dover on 18th. First victim was Mohawk, F-class, 864t, 6th DF Dover Patrol, on patrol off North Foreland near NW end of net area. Saw mines close to her, could not get clear because of strong east-going tide, damaged in field laid by UC.11 [Walter Gottfried Schmidt] in south entrance to Downs, towed into Dover with upper deck almost level with the water; 5 ratings lost [Rn/Cn/dk/dp/ge/un]

MONARCH [01], dreadnought, 8 August 1914, North Sea - Orion-class, 2nd BS Grand Fleet, based at Scapa Flow, detached with Ajax and Orion for target practise S of Fair Isle. Attacked by U.15 late on the 8th, torpedoes missed, report of attack dismissed on grounds that U-boats could not operate so far from Germany. First submerged submarine attack of World War 1 [Cn/D/ge/gf/kt/nh]

MONARCH [02], dreadnought, 27 December 1914, North Sea - five ships of the Grand Fleet damaged in collision or by heavy weather: Monarch and Conqueror, dreadnoughts, Orion-class, 25,870t, 1911, 2nd BS, returning to Scapa Flow with the Fleet, entering narrow entrance of the Pentland Firth in the dark and a whole gale. Monarch stopped to avoid a patrol trawler, and Conqueror rammed her. Monarch's stern stove in, reached Scapa, left on 29th for repairs at Devonport, returned 20 February 1915; no lives lost. Conqueror fractured stempiece and badly damaged starboard forepart, extensive underwater injuries, brought into Scapa, special salvage plant sent up from Liverpool, patched up by around 18 January, arrived Invergordon 24th for further work, headed south for full repairs, not back in action for a considerable time; no lives lost. With the loss of Audacious, 2nd BS Grand Fleet was down from 8 to 5 ships [Rn/D/Cn/dk/gf/gr] Hope, Redpole, Ruby, destroyers, H-class, 970t, 2nd DF. All damaged by the gale force conditions, sent to dockyards for repairs; HMS Hope lost one man drowned [D/dk/gf/gr]

MONARCH [03], battleship – see STRATHGARRY, Admiralty trawler, 6 July 1915, Orkneys

MONITORIA, Admiralty collier, 21 October 1915, North Sea - 1,904grt, built 1909, Newcastle-reg, Ericsson Shipping, Mr G Marlow, Humber for London with coal. Mined, laid by UC.6 [Matthias Graf von Schmettow], sank 1 3/4m N by E 3/4 E of Sunk Head Buoy, off Harwich [L - 1 1/2m N by E 3/4 E of; wi - 1 3/4m N by E of, in 51.47.33N, 01.31.15E] [H/L/Lr/te/un/wi]

MONMOUTH, cruiser – see BATTLE OF CORONEL, 1 November 1914, South East Pacific. Monmouth or County-class, 9,800t, 1901, 146in/912pdr/2-18in tt, 23 kts, c678 crew, Pendant No. D.28, joined 5th CS West Africa station 8/14, then South America station, sent to Pernambuco to join flagship Good Hope, Capt Frank Brandt. Engaged by Gneisenau which stayed out of range of Monmouth's 6in guns, foremost 6in turret blown off and forecastle on fire, hit by between 30 and 40 shells, many amidships, after part on fire and tried to break away to the west, found by 2100 by light cruiser Nurnberg which had just reached the area of battle, Monmouth flooded, down by the bows and listing so far to port the port guns could not bear. Nurnberg stayed on that side and opened fire, then stopped to allow Monmouth to strike, she did not and the German re-opened fire, Monmouth capsized around 2120; 734 lives lost - 42 officers and 692 ratings, no survivors except 4 men previously landed on Albrohos Rocks as lookouts who escaped the action, the seas were too rough for Nurnberg to lower boats. See also GOOD HOPE, GLASGOW [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/dk/ke/nb/nh]

MONTROSE, Admiralty blockship, 20 December 1914, Dover Straits - One of two blockships purchased for scuttling in the gap between Admiralty Pier and Southern Breakwater at Dover. Ex-passenger-cargo liner, 7,207grt, built 1897, 443ft, [D - 4,452grt, 365ft], famous for carrying murderer Dr. Crippen and his mistress across the Atlantic in 1910 only for them to be arrested after the captain had sent a wireless message ahead, Canadian Pacific Railway, London-reg, purchased 28 October, fitted with large gantries for hanging anti-torpedo nets, filled with cement and ready for scuttling. [wi – 28 December 1916] - Broke loose from moorings within the harbour during a gale, drifted through the entrance and on towards Goodwin Sands, grounded near East Goodwin LV on South Sand Head [wi - in 51.14.56N, 01.34.12E], and broke in two. Wreck still lies in very shallow water. SS Spanish Prince was bought as replacement and scuttled in March 1915. See also LIVONIAN [Lr/C/D/dq/wi]

MORNING STAR, destroyer, 23 December 1915, North Sea - Morning Star, Repeat M-class, c1,250t, 11th DF and Porpoise, K-class, c1,300t, 4th DF, both Grand Fleet destroyers, escorting Russian ice-breaker north and forced to heave to near Fair Island Channel in heavy weather on 23rd, 1st CS sent out to search for them without success, returning to Scapa on 26th. Both destroyers damaged by heavy seas off Fair Isle, many compartments flooded and considerably damaged, Porpoise reached Cromarty on 25th, Morning Star on 26th [Cn/gf/gr]

MOSELEY [believed Mole], gunboat, Niger Flotilla – see CUMBERLAND, cruiser, 7 September 1914, German West Africa

MOSQUITO [01], destroyer – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 1 March 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts, continued

MOSQUITO [02], destroyer – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 18 March 1915, Final Naval Attack on the Narrows

MOSQUITO [03], destroyer - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

MURRAY, destroyer – see MATCHLESS, destroyer, 13 November 1915, North Sea

MUZAFFRI/MOZAFFIR [01], stern wheeler – see CLIO, sloop, 3 June 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

MUZAFFRI/MOZAFFIR [02], stern wheeler – see ESPIEGLE, sloop, 24 July 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

MYRMIDON, destroyer, 23 October 1914, Belgian Coast - Myrmidon, B-class, with patrol flotillas and Wildfire, old composite sloop, Nymphe-class, two of the various unsuitable vessels operating as gunboats in support of the Alled armies. U-boat attack failed [Rn/D/dp]

N

NADINE, hired trawler, 1 September 1915, North Sea - 150grt, built 1898, Orient Steam Fishing, Grimsby-reg GY138, hired 11/14 as auxiliary patrol vessel, Pendant No. 693, Harwich-based, tender to HMS Ganges, shore training establishment at Shotley, Suffollk, Skipper Percy Michael Saunders RNR. Mined in field laid by UC.7 [Franz Wäger] the day before, sank off North Shipwash Buoy, off Orford Ness [wi - 52.01.18N, 01.37.35E]; Skipper and 8 ratings lost [He – 3 survivors] [H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/sc/un/wi; ADM.1/8432/257]

NATAL, armoured cruiser, 30 December 1915, North Sea - Warrior-class, 13,550t, 1905, 69.2in/47.5in/24-3pdr/3-18in tt, 22kts, 712 crew, Pendant No. 69, 2nd CS Grand Fleet, Capt Eric Back, lying in Cromarty Firth at anchor S of Nigg Bay, E of Invergordon, advanced New Year’s party being held in wardroom with civilian guests including children. Online photographs of graveyard inscriptions confirm the 30th [H/C/gf/ke - 31st] - Fire started in stern around 1525 and quickly spread, stern magazine exploded, ship blew up at 1530 and sank very quickly [wi - in 57.41N, 04.05W], Court of Enquiry blamed faulty cordite charges; 418 lives lost - 25 officers, 378 ratings, 4 canteen staff, 3 QARNNS, 1 civilian fitter, 7 civilian guests [Cn/ke - 404 lives lost; dx - 404 crew, 7 women, 3 children; wi - 408 crew plus 13 civilians]. Wreck lay on her side with bilge keel just above water at low tide, sold for scrap in 1921. Difficult to break up, much of the hull is still on the seabed [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He*/cw/dk/dx/gf/ke/wi/www; ADM.178/123]

NEMESIS [01], destroyer - see NYMPHE, destroyer, 16 October 1914, North Sea

NEMESIS [02], destroyer, 17 March 1915, North Sea - Nemesis and Nymphe, destroyers, H-class, 970t, 2nd DF, taking part in Grand Fleet movements in northern and central North Sea since 16th, weather now too bad and Flotilla sent back to Scapa. Two ships collided, both needed docking for repairs [D/gf/gr]

NEMESIS [03], destroyer – see COMET, destroyer, 6 May 1915, North Sea

NEPTUNE, dreadnought – see DREADNOUGHT, dreadnought battleship, 18 March 1915, North Sea

NEW ZEALAND [01], battlecruiser - see BATTLE OF HELIGOLAND BIGHT, 28 August 1914,

NEW ZEALAND [02], battlecruiser - see BATTLE of THE DOGGER BANK, 24 January 1915.

NEWBRIDGE, Admiralty blockship, 10 November 1914, German East Africa - ex-collier, 3,737grt, built 1906, 342ft, Temperley SS Co, London-reg, purchased 1914, originally for use at Dover, sent to East Africa, filled with crushed rock and dynamite charges, 14 volunteer crew, Cdr Raymond Fitzmaurice. This was the first operation against the trapped German cruiser Koenigsberg. In the early morning, under fire but under cover of 6in cruiser gunfire, reached scuttling position 8 miles down the Ssuninga channel of the Rufuji river delta where it met the Ssimba-Uranga arm, swung across the river and anchored bow and stern, charges fired at 0550 and settled to the bottom. This still left two navigable channels - the northern Kikunja and the southern Kiomboni - by which Koenigsberg could reach the sea 10 miles away [L/Lr/Rn/D/dx/kp]

NEWCASTLE, light cruiser, 12 August 1914, German Pacific Islands - cruiser Minotaur and light cruiser Newcastle bombarded German wireless installation on Yap island, western Caroline Islands. [dx]

NEWLAND, hired trawler, 30 November 1915, Norwegian Sea - 245grt, built 1903, Hull-reg, hired 1/15, 10th CS, off Norway. Around 30th - badly damaged in a gale, boats smashed and leaking seriously, managed to reach Lerwick [D/bi]

NIGER, minesweeper, 11 November 1914, Dover Straits - ex-Alarm-class torpedo gunboat, 810t, 1892, 2-4.7in/4-3pdr/3-18in tt, 19kts, c90 crew, converted to minesweeper 1909, retained guns, fitted with kite winch & gallows on quarterdeck, now with Downs Boarding Flotilla, Dover Patrol, Lt-Cdr Arthur Muir. At anchor off Deal Pier as supervising vessel for local examination service, with two merchant steamers anchored nearby. Torpedo fired from direction of South Sand Head by U.12 [Walter Forstmann], track spotted at 600-800 yards on port beam, orders given to put port engine astern and helm over, but torpedo passed between the two steamers and hit amidships under the bridge at 1210. Ship settled by the head, slowly capsized to port and at 1230 sank bow first 1 1/2 m from Deal Pier [wi - in 51.13.12N, 01.26.29E]; 15 ratings lost [He – 1 man killed; ke/wi - all 8 officers and 77 ratings saved], survivors rescued by North Deal and Kingsdown lifeboats, 47 landed at Deal, remainder by tugs at Ramsgate [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/dk/dp/dq/ke/un/wi; ADM.137/3111]

NIGHT HAWK, hired trawler, 25 December 1914, North Sea - 287grt, built 1911, Pioneer Steam Fishing, Grimsby-reg GY643, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.57, 13 crew, Sub-Lt or Lt William Senior RNR i/c, Skipper Evans, sweeping Scarborough field laid by cruiser Kolberg, between Flamborough Head and Whitby. On Christmas Eve put into Whitby for the night with her unit, came out on Christmas Day at 0700. “Whole bottom of the ship fell out with her engines and all hands that happened to be below”, disappeared in less than 10sec [He – a minute] off Scarborough [Mn - 5.5 miles E of; sc - off Whitby; wi - in 54.16N 00.15W]; six ratings lost in the explosion, 7 survivors including Lt Senior who rescued most of them from the freezing water using a liferaft which he sculled through the icy water [H/L/Lr/Rn/Mn/C/D/He/ap/dk/sc/wi; ADM.1/8407/488]

NITA PITA, naval motor boat, 2 December 1915, English Channel - ex-high speed pleasure motor boat, 12grt, with Motor Boat Reserve as HM MB No.149, armed with rifles, manned by RNVR crew, incorporated in Yacht Patrol organisation on 1/10/15, SubLt Charles Marten RNVR in command. Destroyed by fire at Poole, Dorset [wi - near Poole Harbour, around 50.42N 02W]; no lives lost [H/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.137/186]

NODZU, hired trawler – see SUSANNA, hired drifter, 14 December 1915, St George's Channel

NORTH SEA ACTION, 1 May 1915 - Old destroyers Recruit and Brazen were on patrol off the Galloper Lightvessel in the Thames Estuary, while Yarmouth trawlers Columbia, Barbados, Miura, Chirsit were searching for a reported U-boat off North Hinder. Recruit was torpedoed and sunk at 1120 by a UB-boat, and about the same time a torpedo was fired at Columbia off the mouth of the Scheldt, probably by another UB. The trawlers continued their search and by 1500 were back at North Hinder when they were attacked by small German TB's A.2 and A.6, a new type based at Zeebrugge and sent overland in sections for assembly at Antwerp. Four torpedoes were fired and Columbia sank, followed by a 20 minute gun action between the TB's and the three surviving trawlers. The Germans then headed back at the sight of Harwich destroyers Laforey, Leonadis, Lawford, Lark coming out in reponse to the loss of Recruit, chased and sank both by gunfire:

RECRUIT [1], destroyer, C-class, 425t, 1896, 1-12pdr/5-6pdr/2-18in tt, 30kts, c63 crew, Pendant No. N.60, Nore Defence Flotilla, Cdr Charles Wrightson. Torpedoed amidships at 1120 by UB.6 [Erich Haecker] [Cn/D - by UB.16], broke in two and sank quickly near Galloper LV [Rn - c30 miles SW of North Hinder LV; ge/un - 30 miles SW of the Galloper], reportedly the first warship sunk by a Flanders Flotilla submarine; 39 ratings lost [He – 34, ke - 43], four officers and 22 men saved by passing Dutch steamer [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/ap/dk/dx/ge/ke/un; ADM1/8420/114, ADM.1/8420/117];

COLUMBIA, Admiralty trawler, 266grt, built 1886, Hellyers Steam Fishing, Hull-reg H42, presented [presumably as a private gift] 9/14 as auxiliary patrol vessel, Admiralty No.200, Canadian Lt-Cdr Walter Hawthorn RNR. Torpedoed shortly after 1500, probably by first torpedo fired by A.6 off North Hinder LV [ap - 4 miles NW of; D - nearby Thornton Ridge; H/L/C - Foreness, near North Foreland, Kent]; total of 3 officers and 13 ratings lost, Barbados searched for survivors without success, later discovered one had been rescued by Miura. According to German reports, Lt Hawthorn and two men were picked up as POW’s, but lost when A.2 and A.6 were sunk [H/L/Lr/C/D/He/ap/dk/ge; ADM.1/8420/116];

BARBADOS, Admiralty trawler, [C - 211grt, built 1905; D - 183grt, built 1907], Hull-reg H.938, hired 10/14 as minesweeper, 1-6pdr AA, Lt Sir James Domville. Second torpedoes fired by A.2 and A.6 missed, then badly damaged by gunfire as Chirsit and Miura came up from some way off; Lt Domville and the skipper wounded. Note: The Colledge tonnage and build date apply to a second trawler named Barbados employed as BDV according to Dittmar & Colledge [C/D/ap]

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NORTH WALES, Admiralty collier, 16 November 1914, South East Pacific, 3,691grt, built 1905, North Wales Shipping Co, Newcastle-reg, Mr George Owens, sailing Cardiff [kp - Tyne]/Juan Fernandez for Falkland Islands with coal. Captured by Dresden, sunk by bombs 360 miles SW 1/4 W true of Valparaiso [L/Mn - in 37.30S, 77W]; crew to tender Rhakotis, landed a month later at Callao [H/L/Lr/Mn/kp]

NORTHWARD, hired trawler – see POONAH, hired trawler, 18 August 1915, Orkneys

NOTTINGHAM [01], light cruiser – see BIRMINGHAM, light cruiser, 19 June 1915, North

NOTTINGHAM [02], light cruiser – see ROXBURGH, cruiser, 20 June 1915, North Sea

NUBIAN, destroyer – see ATTENTIVE, light cruiser, 18 October 1914, Belgian Coast

NUGGET, fleet messenger, 31 July 1915, Atlantic off SW England - One of two Admiralty fleet messengers sailing in company from Glasgow under sealed orders, bound for Dardanelles, heavy seas with SW force 8 gale blowing, sunk by U.28 [Georg-Günther Freiherr von Forstner] off the Scillies. Ex-coaster, 405grt, built 1889, Glasgow-reg, W Robertson, hired around 23/7/15, Pendant No. Y4.38, 15 crew, Lt Charles Amburger RNR. U.28 approached at speed and ordered crew to abandon ship in spite of conditions, when close enough Nugget went to full-speed and tried to ram, U-boat opened fire hitting the hull with 14 shells, sank at 2100, 45 miles SW of [wi - in 49.05N 06.58W]; no lives lost, all crew picked up by Dutch sailing vessel Annetta at 2200, transferred next morning at 0545 to patrol boat, landed at St. Mary's next day at 1030. See also TURQUOISE [H/L/Lr/C/Cn/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.137/1130]

NUMIDIAN, Admiralty blockship, 4,836grt, built 1891, 400ft, Allan Line SS Co, Glasgow-reg. Purchased 1914/15 for Scapa Flow, scuttled 1915 in No.1 Barrier in Kirk Sound, between Lamb Holm island & Mainland [wi - in 58.53.42N, 02.53.53W]. Mostly salvaged in 1924, pile of scattered wreckage left [Lr/D/wi

NUSA [RAN], gunboat, 11 October 1914, German Pacific Possessions - Australian gunboat Nusa [ex-German yacht] captured German armed survey ship Komet near Talassia, north coast of New Britain island, retained by RAN as gunboat Una. [dx]

NYMPHE [01], destroyer, 16 October 1914, North Sea - Nymphe and Alarm, part of a division of four 2nd DF, H-class destroyers, Grand Fleet, with Lyra, Nymphe, Nemesis, Alarm steaming in line abreast on patrol off E entrance to Scapa Flow a few hours after the attack on Swift. U.9 attempted bow and stern shots around 1330, Nymphe sighted a periscope, gave the alarm and attempted to ram, torpedo missed her bow by feet, crossed ahead of Nemesis, and Alarm had to turn rapidly to port to avoid it. See also SWIFT, leader, 16 October 1914, North Sea [Rn/Cn/D/ge/gf/kt]

NYMPHE [02], destroyer – see NEMESIS, 17 March 1915, North Sea

O

OAKBY, Admiralty chartered collier, 23 February 1915, English Channel - one of two colliers sunk by U.8. 1,976grt, built 1897, Sir R Ropner & Co, West Hartlepool-reg, Mr F Bartlett, sailng London for Barry/Cardiff in ballast [would probably be carrying coal in that case; un – London for Barry Roads in ballast]. Torpedoed port side by U.8 [Alfred Stoss], forecastle was level with the water within 5min, 2nd engineer went below to stop engines to allow boats to be lowered, armed trawler Isle of Man came up and tried to tow her to Dover, but sank 4 miles E by N of Royal Sovereign LV [L - yorpedoed 2 miles E of Royal Sovereign LV, sank off Folkestone Pier; Mn - sank near Varne LV; wi - in 50.44N, 00.32E]. See also BRANKSOME CHINE [H/L/Lr/Mn/te/un/wi]

OCEAN [01], battleship, 6 November 1914, Mesopotamian Campaign - British/Indian forces started to land in Mesopotamia from the Persian Gulf supported by old battleship Ocean [Capt Hayes-Sadler], sloops Odin, Espiegle, and including Government yacht Lewis Pelly, launch-tugs Garmsir, Sirdar-I-Naphti, Mashona, Miner, all manned, armed and commissioned by HMS Ocean. Royal Navy Battle Honour - MESOPOTAMIA 1914-17 [dx]

OCEAN [02], battleship – see SWIFTSURE, battleship, 3 February 1915, Suez Canal.

OCEAN [03], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 1 March 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts, continued

OCEAN [04], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 4 March 1915, Beach Party landings around Kum Kale.

OCEAN [05], battleship – see AMETHYST, light cruiser, 14 March 1915, Dardanelles Campaign.

OCEAN [06], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 18 March 1915, Final Naval Attack on the Narrows. Canopus-class, 14,300t, 1898, 4-12in/12-6in/12-12pdr/4-18in tt, c750 crew, Pendant No. N.56, 8th BS Channel Fleet 8/14, later to Mediterranean, Capt Arthur Hayes-Sadler, with 2nd Division, now withdrawing under heavy fire from Dardanos and other forts. Mined around 1805 [J - shore torpedo from White Cliffs battery; C - by shore batteries], detonated starboard side adjacent to coal bunkers, nearby passages flooded and helmed jammed to port, at the same time, hit starboard-side aft by a shell, tiller-room and starboard steering engine-room flooded and repairs not possible, took 15° list. Abandon ship ordered and crew taken off. Ship abandoned, hopefully to drift out of danger if she stayed afloat, Jed lay off with Capt Hayes-Sadler on board until dark, finally left to her fate about 1930. The Turks reported she drifted into Morto Bay and sank there about 2230 [da - now partly salvaged, lays in 40.03N, 26.17E]; 1 rating lost [He/ke - all 683 crew saved], most of crew taken off by destroyers Colne, Jed and Chelmer under cross fire, four men accidently left on board rescued by Jed after dark. See also INFLEXIBLE, IRRESISTIBLE [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/dk/ke/mf; ADM.116/1443]

OCEANIC II, hired trawler, 5 June 1915, North Sea - U.14 sunk by Oceanic II in North Sea off Peterhead

OCEANIC, armed merchant cruiser, 8 September 1914, off Shetlands - ex-passenger ship, 17,274grt, built 1899, first vessel to exceed the length of Brunel’s Great Eastern, 21kts, White Star Line, Liverpool-reg, hired 9/8/14, c6-4.7in, joined 10th CS Northern Patrol 27/8, 400 crew, Capt William Slayter i/c, master, Cdr H Smith RNR, departed Lerwick in the Shetlands on 6th, now steaming in daylight but in dense fog. Ran aground on Hoevdi Grund rocks, 2.5 miles E by S of South Ness, Foula Island [wi - on the Shaalds, Hoevdi Rock, 2.4 miles E of Foula, in 60.07.03N, 01.58.18W], stranded, attempts made to refloat her, declared total loss three days later; no lives lost, crew taken off by fishing trawler Glenogil, then in civilian service, believed transferred to armed merchant cruiser HMS Alsatian, taken to Liverpool. Wreck bought for £200 and broken up on the spot through until 1924 [H/J/Lr/Mn/C/Cn/D/dk/ke/ss/wd/wi; ADM. 53/53135]

ODIN [01], sloop, 6 November 1914, Mesopotamian Campaign - Espiegle-class, 1,070t, 6-4in/4-3pdr, Capt Hayes-Sadler in command and crewed by Espiegle, with convoy carrying Anglo-Indian expeditionary force, entered Shatt-el-Arab and came under Turkish fire. Odin in 40-minute duel silenced a 4-gun battery at Fort Fao or Al Faw guarding the Shatt-el-Arab entrance, hit twice and later fired on by riflemen from trenches. Espiegle hit entrenchments further upstream opposite Abadan. See also OCEAN, battleship 6 November 1914, Mesopotamian Campaign [Rn/D/gb]

ODIN [02], sloop – see ESPIEGLE, sloop, 21 November 1914, Mesopotamian Campaign

ODIN [03], sloop – see ESPIEGLE sloop, 4 December 1914, Mesopotamian Campaign

ODIN [04], sloop – see CLIO, sloop, 3 June 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

ODIN [05], sloop – see ESPIEGLE, sloop, 24 July 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

OKINO [01], hired trawler – see SWIFTSURE, battleship 5 March 1915, Turkish Coastal Operations

OKINO [02], hired trawler, 8 March 1915, Smyrna Blockade - 241grt, built 1914, H L Taylor, Grimsby-reg GY4, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.285, 15 crew, Lt Geoffrey Whitehouse RNR in command, sweeping channel into Smyrna [Izmir] at night to allow battleships to close and bombard the forts, battleships Triumph and Swiftsure firing on the searchlights. Night of 8th/9th - Mined and sunk about 3,000yds from Fort Yeni Kali, S side of Gulf of Smyrna [H/C/D/sc - in the Dardanelles]; 10 crew lost, skipper and four men saved [H/L/Lr/Rn/C/D/He/ap/dk/sc; ADM.1/8413/60, ADM.137/1089]

ORAMA, armed merchant cruiser – see KENT, cruiser, 14 March 1915, SE Pacific

ORCOMA, armed merchant cruiser – see ARLANZA, armed merchant cruiser, November 1915, Barents Sea

ORIANDA [01], hired trawler – see SKIPJACK, minesweeper, 19 December 1914, North Sea. 273grt, built 1914, Grimsby-reg GY291, hired 9/14, Admiralty No.99, Lt Hubert Boothby RNR. Went down within 10min with engines at full ahead, the tip of her masthead the last part to disappear [do - c1 mile SE of Scarborough Castle; wi – wreck lies in 54.15.17N, 00.18.32W]; 1 rating lost. Wreck stands upright and remains in one piece. See also PASSING, START OF BRITAIN [H/L/Rn/C/D/He/ap/dk/do/sc/wi]

ORIANDA [02], hired trawler – see BANYERS, hired trawler, 6 January 1915, North Sea

ORLANDO, hired trawler, 14 March 1915, off NW & W Scotland - 276grt, built 1907, Dolphin Steam Fishing, Grimsby-reg GY248, hired 8/14 as minesweeper [wi – armed patrol trawler], armed, Admiralty No.365, Skipper Frederick Mercer RNR. Ran ashore on Sgeir More [possibly Mhor] rock, Tarskavaig Point, southern Isle of Skye in bad weather and wrecked [H/D - near Stornaway, Hebrides; wi - in 58.12N, 06.22W]; no lives lost [H/Lr/C/D/He/wi; ADM.137/100]

OROPESA [01], armed merchant cruiser – see VIRGINIAN, armed merchant cruiser, 17 April 1915, SW Scotland.

OROPESA [02], armed merchant cruiser – see PATIA, armed merchant cruiser, 11 September 1915, Atlantic W of Scotland

OROTOVA, armed merchant cruiser – see ARLANZA, armed merchant cruiser, November 1915, Barents Sea

ORUBA, Admiralty blockship – see MICHIGAN, Admiralty blockship, December 1915, Aegean Sea

ORVIETO, minelayer – see COMET, destroyer, 6 May 1915, North Sea

OSIRIS, despatch boat or depot ship - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

OTHELLO II, Admiralty trawler, 31 October 1915, Dover Straits – one of two naval vessels mined in same field that day, 206grt, built 1907, Hull-reg H956 [He – Grimsby-reg], Hellyers Steam Fishing, hired 3/15 as minesweeper, 1-6pdr, Pendant No. 1193, Dover Patrol, Skipper Duncan MacLachlan RNR. Mined in field laid by UC.6 [Matthias Graf von Schmettow] the same day, broke in two, wheelhouse windows and door jammed shut, sank immediately off Leathercoat Point; Skipper and 8 ratings lost, only the deck-boy survived, trapped in the wheelhouse with the skipper, 2nd mate and helmsman, he was pushed through a half-open window. The boy went on to survive the sinking of HM Trawler Weigelia four months later on the Goodwins. Sliding wheelhouse doors in trawlers were replaced by light canvas ones. See also yacht ARIES [H/L/Lr/C/D/He*/dk/dq/hw/sc/wi; ADM.137/168; ADM137/3131]

OTRANTO, armed merchant cruiser – see BATTLE OF CORONEL, 1 November 1914, South East Pacific.

P

PARRAMATTA [01] [RAN], destroyer – see AUSTRALIA [RAN], battlecruiser, 14 September 1914, German Pacific Possessions

PARRAMATTA [02] [RAN], destroyer – see AE.1, Australian submarine, 14 September 1914, South West Pacific

PARTHIAN, hired trawler, 15 November 1914, North Sea - Grimsby-reg, 202grt, built 1911, hired 8/14. In collision with and sank SS Vera, 2,391grt off Norfolk coast [wi - 4 miles E of Cley-next-the-Sea, in 52.58.15N 01.09.30E] [gr/wi]

PASSING, hired trawler – see SKIPJACK, minesweeper, 19 December 1914, North Sea. 459grt, built 1913, Grimsby-reg GY877, hired 8/14, 1-12pdr or 1-6pdr, Admiralty No.58, later 1542, Lt G Parsons. Badly holed [ap - first to be mined], down by the bows, badly on fire, steam-pipe severed and blowing off steam. Assisted by sweeping partner, then towed stern-first across Cayton Bay by paddle minesweeper Brighton Queen [SNO], beached on Scarborough Sands; no lives lost. Salvaged and put back into service. See also ORIANDA, START OF BRITAIN [C/D/ap/dk/do/sc]

PATHFINDER, light cruiser, 5 September 1914, North Sea - Pathfinder-class, 2,940t, 1904, 94in/2-14in tt, 25kts, c268 crew, leader, 8th DF [Forth Patrol Flotilla], Capt Francis Martin Leake, afternoon stormy with rough seas [He – returning to Rosyth from patrol in Firth of Forth; ke - on patrol off Firth of Forth; He/wi - because of small coal bunkers, steaming at 5 or 6kts instead of recommended 15kts where U-boats might operate]. Blown up off St. Abb's Head [He/wi – 14 miles ESE of May Island; dx - 10 miles SE of May island; wi - also in 56.07.18N, 02.09.20W], at first thought mined, but later confirmed torpedoed by U.21 [Otto Hersing] from 1,500 yards, hit starboard side under bridge, forward magazine exploded, bows blown off and sank in 4min; 9 officers, 250 ratings and 2 canteen staff lost, total of 261 [Cn/wi - 259 lives lost; He/ke – 256 with 12 survivors; wi - 9 survivors], wounded captain among the few saved. Wreck lies at 190ft. First warship sunk by a U-boat in WW1 [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/dk/dx/ke/un/wi; ADM.116/1356]

PATIA, armed merchant cruiser, 11 September 1915, Atlantic W of Scotland - Patia, 6,103grt, built 1913, hired 21/11/14 and Oropesa, 5,364grt, built 1895, hired 22/11/14 [later French Champagne], armed merchant cruisers, 10th CS, on patrol W of Hebrides at night. In collision about 2200, both sent to Clyde for repairs, Oropesa damaged from waterline to upper deck at point of impact and leaking, Patia's stem badly damaged, escorted in by AMC Ebro and later a destroyer and trawlers, attacked by U-boat on passage [Mn/D/bi/gf/gr]

PATROL, light cruiser- see GERMAN RAID on HARTLEPOOL, SCARBOROUGH and WHITBY, 16 December 1914. Pathfinder-class, 2,940t, 9-4in/2014in tt, leader, 9th DF, Capt Alan Bruce. Worked her way out of the tidal harbour under fire, once clear, hit by two 8.2in shells from Blucher, then straddled by the battlecruisers 11in. Ran hard aground near South Gare breakwater, probably saved from destruction by the shore batteries, badly holed but reached the Tees safely; 4 ratings lost, 7 wounded. See also DOON [Rn/D/dk/gf]

PATUCA [01], armed merchant cruiser – see CLAN MACNAUGHTON, armed merchant cruiser, 3 February 1915, Atlantic off NW Scotland

PATUCA [02], armed merchant cruiser, 1 July 1915, Atlantic off NW Scotland - 6,103grt, built 1913, hired 21/11/14, 10th CS Northern Patrol, on line C to NW of Hebrides on lookout for the blockade-running Swedish SS Oscar II, sighted and stopped early morning. Oscar II hit Patuca crushing her own bows and then crashed alongside, hull-to-hull before Patuca's propeller holed the Swede's engine-room. Patuca's plates bulged and propeller flange bent, made seaworthy with collision mats, shoring and cement infill, made for Clyde as ordered at 14kts. Oscar II taken in tow by AMC Digby and ABS Royal Scot, assisted by destroyers Fury and Staunch, but sank after two days [D/bi/gf/gr]

PEGASUS, light cruiser, 20 September 1914, German East Africa - Pelorus-class, 2,135t, 1897, 84in/8-3pdr QF/2-18in tt, 20kts, c224 crew, Cape of Good Hope Station in August 1914, sent to East Africa, Capt John Alexander Ingles, during searches for Koenigsberg [10-4.1in], Pegasus had developed machinery defects and put into Zanzibar to repair them, also partly to protect the port. Although there was no indication Koenigsberg was in the vicinity, armed tug Helmuth patrolled the South Channel, Pegasus's men slept at their guns at night and steam was kept at two hours notice as she lay off the town. Helmuth saw a vessel approaching at 0525, steamed out to warn her off and received two blank rounds, Koenigsberg opened fire from 9,000yds and straddled the outranged Pegasus, within 8min all engaged guns were disabled but after a five minute pause the shelling continued. Koenigsberg ceased fire at 0555 and withdrew having done little damage to the town itself. Although badly holed on the water line, Pegasus was still afloat with engines untouched, attempts were made to beach her, but she turned over and sank in Zanzibar harbour around 1415; 1 officer and 31 ratings killed, 1 officer and 1 rating DOW the same day, followed by one rating each on 26th, 27th, 6/10, 8/10, a total of 38 [Rn - 2 officers DOW, 24 crew killed, five more DOW, 55 wounded; ke - 31 lost], survivors rescued by boats from collier Banffshire. Koenigsberg returned to the Rufuji River delta and was not discovered there until the end of October [H/J/C/Cn/D/dk/ke/kp; ADM.1/8394/326]

PELHAM, collier [wi - Admiralty collier transport No.604], 13 June 1915, Atlantic off SW England - 3,534grt, built 1906, Thompson SS Co, Sunderland-reg, 26 crew, Malta for Barry Roads in water ballast. U.35 [Waldemar Kophamel] appeared on the surface half a mile away, opened fire, ship turned away and went to full speed but hit repeatedly, engines stopped and ship abandoned. Germans placed bombs which sank her sometime after 1545, 30 miles NW of the Scillies [L - 30 miles N of; wi - in 50.16N, 06.55W;]; survivors picked up by drifter Our Allies, landed in Newlyn on 16th at 0145 [H/L/te/un/wi]

PHILOMEL [NZ], light cruiser - see AUSTRALIA [RAN], battlecruiser, 30 August 1914, German Pacific Possessions.

PINA, believed Admiralty blockship – see FIERAMOSCA, Admiralty blockship, 18 December 1915, Gallipoli Campaign

PINCHER, destroyer – see GOLIATH, battleship, 13 May 1915, Gallipoli Campaign

PIONEER [RAN], light cruiser – see MERSEY, monitor, 11 July 1915, German East Africa

PLOVER, tug – see AUDACIOUS, dreadnought, 27 October 1914, off N Ireland,

PONTOS, Admiralty blockship, 5,703grt, built 1900, 430ft [wi - 2,265grt, built 1891, 305ft], Andros, Greece-reg. Purchased 1914 for Scapa Flow, scuttled 1914 in No.4 Barrier, in middle of Water Sound, between South Ronaldshay & Burray islands [wi - in 58.50.24N, 02.54.05W]. Wreck lies in centre of the Sound, partly visible [Lr/D/wi]

POONAH, hired trawler, 18 August 1915, Orkneys - 171grt, built 1903, Hull Steam Fishing & Ice, Hull-reg H737, hired 11/14 as minesweeper, 13pdr, Admiralty No.550. In collision with hired minesweeping trawler HMT Northward [204grt], foundered off Stromness, Orkneys [hw - in Suvla Bay]; no lives lost [H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/hw; ADM.137/146]

PORPOISE [01], gunboat, Niger Flotilla – see CUMBERLAND, cruiser, 7 September 1914, German West Africa

PORPOISE [02], gunboat, Niger Flotilla – see CHALLENGER, light cruiser 27 September 1914, West African Campaign.

PORPOISE, destroyer – see MORNING STAR, destroyer, 23 December 1915, North Sea

PORTIA, Admiralty fleet messenger, 2 August 1915, Atlantic off SW England - ex-coaster, 494grt, built 1906, Liverpool-reg, South Wales & Liverpool SS, hired c23/7/15, Pendant No. Y4.36, Lt-Cdr Langton Bromwell [Rtd]. Captured by U.28 [Georg-Günther Freiherr von Forstner], sunk by gunfire 70 miles S of Scillies [He – SW of]; no lives lost. The third fleet messenger sunk in three days by U.28. See also NUGGET and TURQUOISE [H/L/Lr/C/Cn/D/He/cs/dk/un; ADM.137/1131]

PRINCE CHARLES, Q-ship, 24 July 1915, Atlantic off N Scotland - U.36 sunk by Prince Charles, first success by submarine decoy ship working alone. Prince Charles was not believed damaged in the action [dx]

PRINCE EUGENE, monitor – see SANDA, hired yacht, 25 September 1915, Belgian Coast

PRINCE GEORGE [01], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 18 March 1915, Final Naval Attack on the Narrows

PRINCE GEORGE [02], battleship - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

PRINCE GEORGE [03], battleship – see ALBION, battleship, 2 May 1915, Gallipoli Campaign

PRINCESS BEATRICE, hired trawler, 5 October 1914, North Sea - 214grt, built 1912, North Shields-reg SN202, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, unarmed, Admiralty No.287, Skipper Alexander Hall RNR, serving with Dover Patrol. Mined, sank off Belgian coast; Skipper and 10 ratings lost. [Hepper – one of two Admiralty minesweeping trawlers sweeping in company near the North Hinder lightship, off the Belgian coast, disappeared with all hands, believed mined and sunk. Neither vessel was seen to sink, but other ships in the area reported an explosion at 1930, followed 15 minutes by another, perhaps when the surviving sweeper went to the assistance of the first.] [H/L/C/D/He/dk/dq; ADM.137/3109, ADM.1/8396/355]

PRINCESS IRENE, minelayer, 27 May 1915, SE England - 6,000grt, built 1914, one of two new ferries/liners built for Canadian Pacific Railway, converted by Denny, now 5,934grt, 2-4.7in/2-12pdr/2-6pdr AA/500 mines, 23kts, commissioned 20/1/15, Pendant No. P.47, [Commanding officer: Rn - Cdr T H M Maurice; He - Capt Mervyn Cobbe; ke - Capt M Cole], started to lay minefield NW of Heligoland on 8th/9th with sister ship Princess Margaret, now in River Medway, either alongside or mooored off Sheerness, undergoing repairs and mines, some reportedly with defective pistols, being primed. Major explosion amidships at 1108, followed by more as mines detonated, ship destroyed; at least 358 lives lost - 30 officers, 210 crew, 5 ratings from Chatham base HMS Pembroke, 36 merchant seamen and more than 77 civilians in the dockyard including at least 70 dockyard workers - 21 skilled labourers, 44 shipwrights and 5 yard boys [He – 51 crew, 78 dockyard workers and 6 men in Steam Pinnace 263 lying alongside; ke - 51 crew plus 77 civilian workers killed, 2 crew plus 1 civilian survived] [H/J/Rn/Cn/D/He/dk/dx/ke; ADM.116/1445, ADM.1/8422/147]

PRINCESS LOUISE, hired trawler, 20 July 1915, off Fair Isle - U.23 sunk by combination decoy trawler Princess Louise/submarine C.27 [dx]

PRINCESS MARGARET [01], minelayer – see PRINCESS IRENE, minelayer, 27 May 1915, SE England

PRINCESS MARGARET [02], minelayer, 17 August 1915, North Sea - Princess Margaret, auxiliary minelayer, 5,934grt, built 1914, and Mentor, destroyer, M-class, 1,055t, 3-4in/2-1pdr/4-12in tt, 10th DF, Cdr E Inman. Princess Margaret escorted by two divisions of 10th DF, supported by Harwich LCS and four 4th DF destroyers, sailed to lay field off Amrun Bank, 25 miles N of Heligoland, heading S from Horns Reef LV, very dark night, sea calm, heavily overcast. Ran into division of German 2nd TBF, attacked with torpedoes, Princess Margaret missed but Mentor's bows blown away under water, steamed back to Harwich; no casualties listed. Operation called off [Rn/Cn/D/ty]

PRINCESS ROYAL, battlecruiser - see BATTLE of THE DOGGER BANK, 24 January 1915.

PRINCESS VICTORIA, hired trawler, 7 November 1915, Atlantic off NW France - 272grt, built 1903, Hull-reg H.766, Armitage's Stream Trawling, hired 9/15 as patrol vessel, 13pdr, Admiralty No.1971, Skipper Ernest Wales RNR. Escorting collier Cressington Court and motor lighter X.65 in company with Admiralty trawler Donalda from Devonport across the English Channel. In collision with the collier at 1900 near Ushant, NW France and sank, no lives lost [H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/hw; ADM.137/169]

PROSERPINE, light cruiser – see SWIFTSURE, battleship, 3 February 1915, Suez Canal.

PSYCHE [NZ], light cruiser - see AUSTRALIA [RAN], battlecruiser, 30 August 1914, German Pacific Possessions.

PYRAMUS [01], light cruiser - see AUSTRALIA [RAN], battlecruiser, 30 August 1914, German Pacific Possessions.

PYRAMUS [02], light cruiser – see MERSEY, monitor, 6 July 1915, German East Africa

PYRAMUS [03], light cruiser – see MERSEY, monitor, 11 July 1915, German East Africa

Q

QUAIL III, hired trawler, 22 June 1915, English Channel - [He – Quail II], 162grt, built 1897, Kelsall Brothers & Beeching, Hull-reg H236, hired 1915 [D - 11/14; He - 1914] as minesweeper, 2-3pdr, Pendant No. 645. [Other sources – 23 June, perhaps because her loss was close to midnight on the 22nd] - In collision with tug Bulldog, sank at 2340, 7 miles SW of Portland Bill, Dorset [wi - in 50.30N, 02.30W], no lives lost [H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/fd/hw/wi; ADM.137/126]

QUEEN ELIZABETH [01], dreadnought – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 19 February 1915, First Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts

QUEEN ELIZABETH [02], dreadnought – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 25 February 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts

QUEEN ELIZABETH [03], dreadnought, 5 March 1915, Dardanelles Campaign - Queen Elizabeth-class, 31,500t, completed January 1915, 8-15in/16-6in, taking leading part in first bombardment of the inner defences, anchored in the Aegean 2 1/2m W of Gaba Tepe and firing over the Gallipoli peninsula at the Narrows forts, spotting by seaplanes and battleship Albion within the Straits. Turks brought up mobile field guns and howitzers, mainly 12pdrs and hit her 17 times, no serious damage [Rn/Cn/D/da]

QUEEN ELIZABETH [04], dreadnought – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 6 March 1915, Attack on the Narrows Forts

QUEEN ELIZABETH [05], dreadnought – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 18 March 1915, Final Naval Attack on the Narrows

QUEEN ELIZABETH [06], dreadnought - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

QUEEN, battleship - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

R

RACOON [01], destroyer – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 26 February 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts, continued

RACOON [02] , destroyer – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 1 March 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts, continued

RACOON [03], destroyer – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 18 March 1915, Final Naval Attack on the Narrows

RACOON [04], destroyer - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

RECRUIT, destroyer – see NORTH SEA ACTION, 1 May 1915

REDPOLE, destroyer – see MONARCH, dreadnought, 27 December 1914, North Sea.

REGINALD, Admiralty blockship, 930grt, built 1878, 240ft, The Admiralty, Glasgow-reg. Purchased 1914/15 for Scapa Flow, scuttled 1915 in No.3 Barrier, East Weddel Sound, between Burray & Glims Holm islands [wi - in 58.52.17N, 02.54.48W]. Some of the wreck remains [Lr/D/wi]

REINDEER, screw minesweeper – see IMMINGHAM, store carrier, 6 June 1915, Aegean Sea

REINFELD, Admiralty blockship, 3,582grt, built 1893, 340ft, was Continentale Rhederei AG, Hamburg-reg. Purchased 1914 for Scapa Flow, scuttled 1914 in No.2 Barrier, Skerry Sound, between Glims Holm & Lamb Holm islands, in centre of channel [wi - in 58.52.57N, 02.53.56W]. Wreck much broken up, close to SS Elton, now part of Churchill Barrier [Lr/D/wi]

RELIANCE, store carrier – see also AENNE RICKMERS, seaplane carrier.

REMUS [01], gunboat, Niger Flotilla – see CUMBERLAND, cruiser, 7 September 1914, German West Africa

REMUS [02], gunboat, Niger Flotilla – see CHALLENGER, light cruiser 27 September 1914, West African Campaign.

RESONO, hired trawler, 26 December 1915, North Sea - one of two naval vessels mined on same day in field laid by UC.5 [Herbert Putkuchen] ten days earlier. Resono, 230grt, built 1910, Grimsby-reg GY508, George F Sleight, hired 1/15 as auxiliary patrol vessel, Admiralty No.1042, commanded by a Lt RNR, “one of God’s own seamen”, Skipper Peter Burgon RNR. Sank near Sunk LV, off Harwich [wi - in 51.50.54N, 01.38.09E]; Skipper and 12 ratings lost, survivors included the captain. See also E.6 [H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/sc/wi; ADM.1/8443/365]

RESOURCE II, hired yacht, 12 November 1915, English Channel - ex-steam yacht, 734grt, built 1865, hired 1/10/15 as depot ship for the new RNVR-commanded ML’s arriving from the US, Pendant No. 098, Lt-Cdr Francis Richardson RNVR in command. Fitting out in Southampton, possibly at anchor, caught fire, towed clear of the dock to stop the fire spreading to shore installations, gutted and sank in Southampton Water [wi - in 50.48N, 01.17W]; no lives lost [H/J/C/D/He/ap/dk/se/wi; ADM.137/170]

RESPONSO, hired trawler, 31 December 1915, Orkneys - 228grt, built 1912, Grimsby-reg GY666, George F Sleight, hired 1914 as auxiliary patrol vessel, 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.196, Lt Horace Harvey RNR [wi - J McKenzie, Captain]. Driven ashore at Rive, N of Sanday Island, Orkneys in westerly storm, abandoned as total wreck [wi - in 59.17N, 02.35W]; no lives lost [H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.137/207]

RESTORE, Admiralty drifter, 12 October 1915, Adriatic Sea - 93grt, built 1914, Lowestoft-reg LT215, hired 8/15 as net drifter, Admiralty No.1826, armed with five rifles, with the first 60 hired drifters that reached Taranto by 31/9/15 to lay nets across Otranto Straits, Skipper George Catchpole RNR in command. Tending her nets, three other drifters 3 miles away. In first attack on Otranto drifters, U.39 [Walter Forstmann] started shelling from 4 miles at 0800, Restore blew her whistle, sent up rockets and headed NE for Saseno island, hit in engine-room and disabled, crew abandoned ship in the one boat, U-boat closed from 2 miles to just a few yards, shelled and sank her within 3min off the Albanian coast, then attacked the other three drifters before heading north for Cattaro; 2 ratings lost [H/L/Mn/C/D/He/ap/dk/ge/un; ADM.137/3133]

RESTORMEL, Admiralty collier, 19 August 1915, Atlantic off SW England - [wi - Admiralty-requisitioned collier, released for this one voyage and cargo], 2,118grt, built 1901, New Restormel SS Co, Cardiff-reg, 19 crew, Seville for Clyde with 3,300t iron ore. U.38 [Max Valentiner] surfaced close by, fired two shells and ordered her to stop, crew tried to abandon ship but master headed away at full-speed. Firing continued and ship finally hove-to, crew abandoned ship and a torpedo was fired hitting her in No.2 hold. Restormel was still afloat after the sinking of the nearby Baron Erskine, the U-boat returned, fired four shells into the engine-room and she sank at 0900, 28 miles NNW of Bishop Rock, Scillies [wi - in 50.15N, 06.52W]; armed yacht Rovenska arrived, forced the submarine to withdraw, the survivors were then rescued and landed at Penzance. One of three colliers sunk by U.38 at this time – see also BARON ERSKINE, SAMARA [H/L/te/un/wi]

REVENGE, later renamed Redoubtable, old battleship, 15 December 1914, Belgian Coast -Royal Sovereign-class, 15,580t, 4-12in/10-6in/7-18in tt, on sale list 8/14, now bombarding ship, Dover Patrol, with battleship Majestic and two or three gunboats, bombarding gun positions on Belgian coast around Zeebrugge. Revenge badly hit probably by 8in shell. Returned next day without Majestic because of the risks, again hit by 8in shell, badly damaged below the waterline, had to retire for docking. No lives lost [Rn/D/dq]

RHIANNON, Admiralty yacht, 20 July 1915, North Sea - 126grt, built 1914, hired 15/9/14 as auxiliary patrol vessel, 2-3pdr, Pendant No. 055, Lt-Cdr George Wellburn RNR. On patrol in Thames Estuary between Longsand and Kentish Knock sands with Admiralty trawler Strathspey, approaching wreck of Norwegian steamer Peik mined and sunk on 5 July. Detonated mine which destroyed the forepart of the vessel, leaving after part afloat before it too sank, off Longsands, off Clacton [wi - in 51.40N, 01.29E]. The mine had not been left over from the field that sank Peik and which had been swept; it had been laid by UC.3 [Erwin Weisbach]; Cdr Wellburn, 1 officer, 1 rating and 2 MMR killed by explosion [H/J/L/C/D/He/dk/sc/un/wi; ADM.1/8427/194, ADM.1/8427/206]

RHODESIA, Admiralty trawler, 19 April 1915, off NW Scotland - 155grt, built 1899, Hull Steam Fishing & Ice, Hull-reg H443, hired 1/15 as auxiliary patrol vessel, Admiralty No.1215, Skipper Philip Marr RNR [wi - A Gibson, Captain]. Wrecked near Stornaway, Isle of Lewis [He/wi - on Obb Rock, S of Tulm Is, South Harris, in 57.41.20N, 06.20.40W]; no lives lost [H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/hw/wi]

RIBBLE, destroyer - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

RIFLEMAN [01], destroyer, 23 August 1914, probably North Sea - H-class, 970t, 2nd DF Grand Fleet. In collision in fog with sister-ship Comet, which was "considerably damaged"; no lives lost [D/df/dk/gr]

RIFLEMAN [02], destroyer, 22 May 1915, North Sea - H-class, 2nd DF Grand Fleet, with other destroyers carrying out contraband control duties E and SE of Pentland Firth because of a U-boat threat to the usual armed boarding steamers. Grounded in fog, needed docking for repairs [Cn/D/gf/gr]

RINALDO, old sloop – see VENERABLE, battleship, 28 October 1914, Belgian Coast

RIVER CLYDE, assault ship - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

RIVIERA [01], seaplane carrier – see ENGADINE, seaplane carrier, 25 October 1914, North Sea.

RIVIERA [02], seaplane carrier – see EMPRESS, seaplane carrier, 25 December 1914, Cuxhaven Raid

ROEDEAN, auxiliary screw minesweeper, 13 January 1915, Orkneys - ex-Roebuck, railway packet, 1,094grt, built 1897, Great Western Railway Co, Milford Haven -reg, hired 2/10/14, armed with 1 or 2-12pdr, Pendant No. M.35, renamed Roedean 12/14, Cdr Stephen Pidgeon RNR. Sank at entrance to Longhope Sound, SE Hoy island [wi - in 58.48.36N, 03.09.48W], cause originally not recorded; no lives lost. “Wreck Index” notes that one source describes her as mined, but with Hepper, goes on to confirm that she actually dragged her anchor in bad weather, collided with the bow of harbour repair hulk Fisgard, ex-Imperieuse, was holed, and foundered as she passed down the starboard side of Fisgard. Cdr Pidgeon was reprimanded for only having one anchor out [H/J/Lr/C/Cn/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.1/8409/20]

ROHILLA, Admiralty hospital ship, 30 October 1914, North Sea - ex-passenger liner, 7,891grt, built 1906, British India Steam Navigation Co, Glasgow-reg, hired 6/8/14, total of 229 on board including 100 medical staff, a Catholic priest and an injured naval gunner from Scapa Flow, Mr Neilson in command, sailed Leith Docks 29th for Dunkirk to pick up wounded troops from Western Front, severe SE gale with heavy seas. Possibly struck the Whitby Rock [wi - also possibly mined, although this appears unlikely at this stage in the war], at 0410 driven on to the The Scar rocks 600yd offshore, S of Whitby [wi - in 54.29.21N, 00.35.42W], broke her back; Whitby, Redcar and Upgang lifeboats launched in appalling conditions and saved some of those onboard, Tynemouth lifeboat Henry Vernon rescued over 50 after pouring oil on the water. Ninety lives lost - 62 crew and 28 naval medical staff, but 138 were rescued [wd - 86 lost, 143 saved including the Master and all nurses]. Wreck remains lay in depths of 20-50ft. Sister hospital ship Rewa was torpedoed in 1918 [H/Lr/D/dk/wd/wi]

ROLULU, Admiralty trawler, 27 May 1915, off NW Scotland - 170grt, built 1909, George F Sleight, Grimsby-reg GY399, hired 4/15 as auxiliary patrol vessel, Admiralty No.1468, Skipper James Hodson RNR. Hebrides area, ran aground on Obb Rock, S of Tulm Is, South Harris in bad weather and wrecked, listed heavily to port but stern remained above water long enough for crew to be taken off; no lives lost [H/Lr/C/D/He/dk; ADM.137/117]

RONDA, Admiralty blockship, 1,941grt, built 1889, 274ft, T Wilson & Sons, Hull-reg, held in reserve. Purchased 1914/15 for Scapa Flow, scuttled 1915 in deep-water channel in about 40-60ft in Burra Sound, between Hoy & Graemsay islands [wi - in 58.55.40N, 03.18.38W]. Wreck dispersed in 1962 to clear shipping channel [Lr/D/ms/wi/www]

RONDO, hired trawler, 3 March 1915, Shetlands - 117grt, built 1893, George F Sleight, Grimsby-reg GY528, hired 1915 [D - 11/14] as auxiliary patrol vessel, Admiralty No.666, [wi - F Harlow, Captain up to 1914]. [He – 2nd] - Stranded on Unicorn Rocks, Tingwall, Shetland Islands at 2015 [wi - position unknown, but quotes 60.20N, 01.15W], bow held by rocks, flooded rapidly and sank by the stern, a wreck; crew stood by for an hour before leaving her in the boat, no lives lost [H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.137/98]

ROSEWOOD, Admiralty blockship, 1,757grt, built 1889, 259ft, Constantine & Pickering SS Co, South Shields-reg. Purchased 1914/15 for Scapa Flow, scuttled 1915 in No.2 Barrier, Skerry Sound, between Glims Holm & Lamb Holm islands [wi - in 58.53.11N, 02.54.19W]. Wreck now almost completely dispersed [Lr/D/wi]

ROTHERFIELD, Admiralty blockship, 2,831grt, built 1889, 320ft, Woodfield SS Co, London-reg. Purchased 1914/15 for Scapa Flow, scuttled in about 40-60ft in Burra Sound, between Hoy & Graemsay islands [wi - in 58.55.40N, 03.18.38W]. Dispersed by explosives 1962 to clear shipping channel. Note: WW2 blockships in this channel include Inverlane, Tabarka, Doyle [Lr/D/wi]

ROVENSKA, hired yacht – see BARON ERSKINE and RESTORMEL, both Admiralty colliers, 19 August 1915, Atlantic off SW England

ROXBURGH, cruiser, 20 June 1915, North Sea - Argyll and Roxburgh, armoured cruisers, Devonshire-class, 10,850t, 4-7.5in/6-6in, 3rd CS, Nottingham, light cruiser, Birmingham-class, 2nd LCS, all Grand Fleet, as the 3rd CS sweep continued, more torpedo attacks took place: Roxburgh, Argyll and Nottingham all missed by U.17, Nottingham missed for a second time by U.6. Before the latter attack, Roxburgh [Capt C Foot], zigzagging at high speed was hit well forward in the bows by U.38 [Max Valentiner] [Cn - U.39] at 1400 in 56.47N, 00.38E, maintained speed at 14kts returning to Rosyth, met by destroyers of 1st DF and escorted in. Considerably damaged, repairs were not completed until April 1916 [Rn/Cn/D/ge/gf/un]

ROYAL ARTHUR, cruiser, 9 September 1914, North Sea - Edgar-class, 7,700t, 10th CS Grand Fleet on Northern Patrol. Off Peterhead, approaching Swedish SS Tua [345grt], rammed and sank her with two men drowned, survivors taken into Cromarty. Damage not known [Cn/D/bi/gr/ms]  

ROYAL SCOT, armed boarding steamer – see PATUCA, armed merchant cruiser, 1 July 1915, Atlantic off NW Scotland

RUBY, hired trawler, 24 November 1915, Central Mediterranean - 198grt, built 1899, Grimsby-reg GY1136, T C & F Moss, hired 7/15 [He – as minesweeper], 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.1742, Skipper George Barrett RNR. Wrecked in Grandes Bay, S of Cape Sidero, Crete; no lives lost [H/Lr/C/D/He/dk]

RUBY, destroyer - see MONARCH, dreadnought, 27 December 1914, North Sea.

RUSSELL, battleship, 23 November 1914, Belgian Coast Operations - Old Duncan-class battleships Russell and Exmouth, 6th BS bombarded Zeebrugge, but inflicted little damage [dx]

S

SAMARA, Admiralty collier, 19 August 1915, Atlantic off SW England - [wi - Admiralty requisitioned collier No.563], 3,172grt, built 1906, MacLay & McIntyre, Glasgow-reg, sailing Colombo via Port Said for Bristol with sugar. Shelled by U.38 [Max Valentiner], ship abandoned, sank 35 miles W of Bishop Rock [L - 30 miles W of; wi - 35 miles NW of, in 49.45N, 07.20W]; survivors picked up by HMT Dewsland, landed at Penzance that day at 1730. One of three colliers sunk by U.38 at this time – see also BARON ERSKINE, RESTORMEL [H/L/te/un/wi]

SANDA [01], hired yacht – see GREAT HEART hired drifter, 24 September 1915, Belgian Coast

SANDA [02], hired yacht, 25 September 1915, Belgian Coast - ex-St Serf, 300grt, built 1906, hired 26/1/15 as auxiliary patrol vessel, 2-6pdr, Pendant No. 073, Dover Patrol, Lt-Cdr Henry Gartside-Tipping RN Rtd, aged over 70 in August 1914, volunteered for war service, “the oldest naval officer serving at sea”. Sailed in company with monitor bombardment force including Prince Eugene and General Crauford evening of 24th for Zeebrugge shoot, to start on 25th at 0700 in support of attack by British Army. Sanda was screening net drifters, shore batteries started replying at 0900. Hit near the deckhouse and sunk, probably by 8in shell from German batteries at Blankenberghe around 0915; 4 officers including the captain, 5 ratings and 4 MN lost [Rn - 12 officers and men lost; ap - 4 officers, 11 men killed or missing], survivors rescued by hired drifter Fearless [H/J/Rn/C/D/he/ap/dk/dp/dq; ADM.1/8437/315]

SAPPHIRE, light cruiser - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

SARNIA [01], armed boarding steamer, 11 April 1915, English Channel - 1,498grt, built 1910, hired 14/11/14, 2-12pdr, Cdr H Muir RNR. At 0700 Brixham smack Addax reported seeing a U-boat chasing a steamer half an hour earlier, at 0730 Sarnia sighted the French SS Frederic Franck 3 1/2m off with crew in boats and U.24 [Rudolf Schneider] alongside. Sarnia approached, the U-boat submerged, and Sarnia circled the steamer firing at the periscope. Around 0820 a first torpedo was evaded, then a second. Having called for destroyer help, she continued circling, firing at and attempting to ram the periscope until 1020 when the U-boat made off; the French steamer was only damaged [Mn/D]

SARNIA [02], armed boarding steamer – see HYTHE, screw minesweeper 28 October 1915, Gallipoli Campaign

SATRAP, Admiralty collier, 31 December 1915, N or W British Waters - Two loaded Admiralty chartered colliers heading for northern Britain went missing, “not since heard from”, lost on passage on or after 31st:

SATRAP, 2,234grt, built 1913, Newport-reg, Trident Line, 22 crew, Mr J Charlmers, sailed Barry 31st under sealed orders for “Naval Base in the north, within 5 days steam of Cardiff”, posted by Lloyds 9/2/16. “Wreck Index” refers to a memorial plaque in Manorbier Church, near Caldey Is, Pembrokeshire. Satrap was presumably lost off this coast - in approximately 51.38.15N, 04.48.45W as bodies were washed ashore and buried in the churchyard [H/L/Lr/wi];

TYNEMOUTH, 2,222grt, built 1909, Newcastle-reg, Burnett SS, sailed Cardiff 21st for North Scotland, posted by Lloyds 9/2/16 [H/L/Lr]

SAXON, hired trawler – see INDIA, armed merchant cruiser, 8 August 1915, Norwegian Sea

SCHIEHALLION, hired trawler, 9 June 1915, Mediterranean - 198grt, built 1903, Aberdeen-reg A905, Grampian Steam Fishing, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, Admiralty No.352, Skipper Thomas Barlow RNR. Mined and sunk, no other details; no lives lost [H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk]

SCORPION [01], destroyer - see E.15, submarine, 17 April 1915, Dardanelles Campaign

SCORPION [02], desteoyer, 27 April 1915, Gallipoli Campaign - Scorpion and Wolverine, destroyers, G-class, c,1,100t, 1-4in/3-12pdr/2-18in tt, 5th DF Mediterranean Fleet, two of nine temporarily-equipped minesweeping destroyers, sweeping some way inside the Straits to allow the battleships to reach bombardment positions, sweep wires passed and drawing apart. Turkish 4.1in shore batteries opened fire, Wolverine hit on bridge, Scorpion by shell in seaman’s messdeck which started a fire, soon put out; Wolverine lost Cdr O Prentis her captain, a sub-lieutenant RNR and coxswain [dk – on the 28th, probably night of 27th/28th]. There were a few shrapnel holes in Scorpion [Lt-Cdr A B Cunningham - “ABC” of WW2 fame] soon repaired by destroyer depot ship Blenheim. Over the succeeding days, more destroyers were hit and damaged [Cn/D/cu/dd/dk]

SCORPION [03], destroyer – see GOLIATH, battleship, 13 May 1915, Gallipoli Campaign

SCOTT, Admiralty trawler, 22 October 1915, North Sea - 288grt, built 1913, Hull-reg H.968, Pickering & Haldane's Steam Trawling, hired 4/15, minelayer, 1-6pdr/24 mines, Admiralty No.3218, then N.2A, Lt Arthur Notley RNR. [un – 21st] - Mined, laid by UC.1 [Egon von Werner] two days before, sank 2 miles ESE of Tongue LV, N of North Foreland [wi - in 51.32N, 01.25E]; 3 ratings lost [H/L/Lr/D/C/He/dk/hw/wi; ADM.1/8437/314]

SCOURGE [01], destroyer - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

SCOURGE [02], destroyer, 7 August 1915, Gallipoli Campaign - G-class, c1,100t, one of ten destroyers taking part in Suvla landings, each one carried in 500 troops on deck with another 500 in a towed X or motor lighter, Scourge landed her men on C-beach, S of Nibrunesi Point. Now trying to get some of the lighters off the ground, hit in engine-room by Turkish shell around 0830 and had to retire for repairs; casualties uncertain, but one rating lost [Rn/Cn/dd/dk] X-lighters, ramped self-propelled landing craft, X.1-series, designed for Dardanelles, launched 4-7/15, 160t, could carry 500 troops, carried K numbers, also known as K-boats, motor lighters, nicknamed "beetles". At least 10 lighters, numbered K.1-10 took part in the Suvla landings, some of which may not have got off, others damaged by gunfire [Rn/Cn/da/ec]

SCOURGE [03], destroyer, 19 November 1915, Gallipoli Campaign – in service off the Dardanelles, boiler explosion. Six stokers killed [dk]

SEA RANGER, hired trawler – see CAMEO, Admiralty trawler, July 1915, North Sea

SEVERN [01], monitor – see HUMBER, monitor, 13 October 1914, Dover.

SEVERN [02], monitor – see ATTENTIVE, light cruiser, 18 October 1914, Belgian Coast

SEVERN [03], monitors – see MERSEY, monitor, 6 July 1915, German East Africa

SEVERN [04], monitor – see MERSEY, monitor, 11 July 1915, German East Africa

SHAITAN [01], armed launch – see ESPIEGLE sloop, 4 December 1914, Mesopotamian Campaign

SHAITAN [02], armed launch, Monday 7 December 1914, Mesopotamian Campaign - 1-3pdr, taken up 11/14, Lt-Cdr Elkes RNR, continuing operations to take Kurnah. Disabled by heavy fire; commander killed and 1 rating DOW, both on HMS Ocean's books [Rn/D/dk]

SHAITAN [03], armed launch, 9 December 1914, Mesopotamian Campaign - British-Indian forces captured Kurnah/Al Qurnah, surrender taken by Capt Hayes-Sadler. Ships taking part over the four or five days hit by shell and rifle-fire, Royal Navy casualties included the two killed on Shaitan and ten wounded [Rn/gb]

SHAITAN [04], armed launch – see CLIO, sloop, 3 June 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

SHAITAN [05], armed launch – see COMET, armed paddle launch-tug, 27 September 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

SHAITAN [06], armed launch – see COMET, armed paddle launch-tug, 28 September 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

SHAITAN [07], armed launch – see COMET, armed paddle launch-tug, 30 September 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

SHAITAN [08], armed launch – see FIREFLY, river gunboat, 22 November 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

SHAITAN [09], armed launch, 28 November 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign - taken over 1/12/14, 1-3pdr, later 1-12pdr, Lt Aubrey Thursfield, with River Flotilla vessels Firefly, Comet, Messoudieh, Shushan, Sumana covering withdrawal from Ctesiphon to Kut. [D/dx - 29th] - Both Comet and Shaitan went aground just above Aziziya, Comet was soon off, but Shaitan remained unmoveable. Comet, Firefly, Shushan spent all day under constant snipper fire trying to get Shaitan free but were forced to abandon her with the approach of the Turkish advance guard; no lives lost. After two days rest the retreat continued to Umm-at-Tubal [H/Rn/D/He/dk/dx/gb/tf; ADM.137/3089]

SHARK, destroyer - see German Raid on Hartlepool, Scarborough and Whitby, 16 December 1914

SHUSHAN [01], stern wheeler – see CLIO, sloop, 3 June 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

SHUSHAN [02], stern-wheeler – see ESPIEGLE, sloop, 24 July 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

SHUSHAN [03], stern-wheeler – see FIREFLY, river gunboat, 22 November 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

SHUSHAN [04], stern-wheeler – see SHAITAN, armed launch, 28 November 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

SHUSHAN [05], stern-wheeler – see FIREFLY, river gunboat, 1 December 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

SILVERY WAVE, hired drifter, 13 November 1915, Atlantic off SW England - 96grt, built 1915, Lowestoft-reg LT507, hired 9/15 as net drifter, 1-6pdr, Admiralty No.1900, from St Mary’s, Scilly Islands for patrol & return, entering Crow Sound in bad weather in company with drifter Boy Eddie to take shelter on the night of the 12th/13th. Wrecked on NE side of St. Mary's island, near Pelistry Bay, Scillies [he - driven into Water Mill Cove and went ashore; wi - in 49.55.30N, 06.16.30W]; no lives lost. Badly damaged and declared a loss [H/C/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.137/170];

BOY EDDIE, hired drifter, 59grt, built 1909, hired 3/15 as net drifter. Went ashore at same time as Silvery Wave, refloated [D/he/wi]

SILVIA, Admiralty chartered red-ensign oiler, 23 August 1915, Atlantic off SW Ireland - 5,268grt, built 1913, Oil Tank SS Co, Liverpool-reg, 41 crew, Mr J Prouse, Halifax [NS] for Queenstown with 6,600t fumace fuel oil. U.38 [Max Valentiner] sighted two miles away on starboard beam at 1100, started shelling, tanker stopped and abandoned, U-boat closed, boarded and placed charges in engine room, pulled off a short distance and opened fire after they had exploded. Silvia sank at 1215, 47 miles W of Fastnet Rock, off Co Cork [L/wi - 40 miles W of, in 51.07N, 10.46W], ship's confidential papers thrown overboard by Master in weighted bag; survivors picked up by armed trawler at 1900, landed at Berehaven. One of two vessels sunk by U.38 at this time – see also TRAFLAGAR [H/L/Lr/te/un/wi]

SINKING OF CRUISERS ABOUKIR, HOGUE, CRESSY BY U.9, North Sea, 22 September 1914. [I] Southern Force [Adm Christian] had the task of keeping waters south of Dogger Bank clear of German torpedo craft and minelayers, also to protect troop movements across the English Channel. Patrols were carried out by Harwich Force [Cdre Tyrwhitt] with light cruiser leaders and 1st and 3rd DF's in cooperation with submarines of 8th Overseas Flotilla, and supported by cruiser Euryalus [flag], attached light cruiser Amethyst, and 7th CS or Cruiser Force C with cruisers Bacchante [flag, Adm Campbell], Cressy, Aboukir, Hogue, based on the Nore. One patrol area was off the Dogger Bank and one in the Broad Fourteens off the Dutch coast, weather was so bad on 17th that both destroyer flotillas had to be ordered home, leaving only the Dogger Bank being watched by Euryalus, Hogue and Aboukir, with Cressy back home coaling and Bacchante in dock for repairs.

[II] The Admiralty was already aware the cruisers were not suitable for this work and plans were in hand to reassign the "Live Bait Squadron" to less risky duties. On the 19th, only the patrol in the Broad Fourteens was to be maintained, but the weather was still too bad for destroyers to come out. On the 20th, Adm Christian had to leave in Euryalus to coal and for repairs to his wireless, and was unable to transfer his flag to Aboukir because of heavy seas. Command therefore passed to Aboukir’s Capt Drummond, who was joined by the re-coaled Cressy. Still no destroyers could join them then or thoughout the 21st, but then Fearless [Cdre Tyrwhitt] and eight destroyers were able to leave Harwich. Early on the 22nd, Admiralty received message "Aboukir and Hogue sinking" and more ships were sent out.

[III] Cruiser Force C, the three large or 1st class cruisers [Cressy-class, 12,000t, 2-9.2in/12-6in/14-12pdr/2-18in tt, 21kts, c700 crew] was steaming abreast and unescorted in a northeasterly direction i.e. towards German bases at the time, two miles apart, at 10kts and not zig-zagging, although on the lookout for submarines and each with two guns loaded and crews closed up. Aboukir was torpedoed at 0630, Hogue started rescue operations but was then torpedoed herself, followed by Cressy, all sunk by U.9 [Lt-Cdr Otto Weddigen] in 52.18N, 03.41E, about 30 miles W by S of Ymuiden [dx - off Maas LV]; over 1,460 men were lost including many old reservists and young midshipmen, more than the British losses at the Battle of Trafalgar, 60 officers and 777 men were saved in total by Dutch steamships Flora [170], Titan [147], Lowestoft sailing trawlers Coriander and J.G.C. [280] and ships of Harwich Force which arrived at 1045. See also ABOUKIR, HOGUE, CRESSY [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/dk/dx/ge/ke/ty; ADM.137/47, ADM.137/2232, ADM137/2081, ADM.1/8396/356]

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SIRDAR-I-NAPHTI, launch-tug – see OCEAN, battleship 6 November 1914, Mesopotamian Campaign

SKIPJACK, minesweeper, ex-gunboat, 19 December 1914, North Sea - three days after the Yorkshire Raid, minesweeping gunboats Skipjack, Gossamer, Jason, on passage from Sheerness to Scapa Flow to rejoin Grand Fleet, were ordered to sweep from Flamborough Head north to Scarborough to determine the extent of the minefield laid by the German Kolberg, but only found two mines off Scarborough. Grimsby-based Admiralty-hired minesweeping trawlers were then sweeping closer inshore, and a number of mines were swept up or detonated in sweeps. As Skipjack joined them, Orianda was mined and sunk close by, and two more damaged, all off Scarborough. Skipjack and the rest of the sweepers anchored until the tide rose. See also ORIANDA, PASSING, START OF BRITAIN [H/L/Rn/C/D/He/ap/dk/do/sc/wi]

SPANISH PRINCE, Admiralty blockship, March 1915, Dover Straits - 6,505grt, built 1894, 450ft, Prince Line, Newcastle-reg, purchased as replacement for Dover blockship Montrose lost 20 December 1914, fitted out in same way; March - Scuttled on east side of southern entrance across from Livonian [ms – 6,394grt, owned by J Knott, scuttled off Dover Breakwater, November 1914] [Lr/D/dq/ms]

SPARROWHAWK, destroyer, 18 February 1915, Orkneys - K-class, c1,300t, 4th DF Grand Fleet. Probably sometime in February after Goldfinch was lost - Went ashore, got off, but "considerably damaged". See also GOLDFINCH [Cn/D/gr/gf]

SPEEDY, minesweeper, 3 September 1914, North Sea - one of two small warships lost in Humber minefield laid by German Nautilus, near Outer Dowsing LV. Ex-Alarm-class torpedo gunboat, 810t, 1893, 1 or 2-4.7in/4-3pdr/3-18in tt, 19kts, c90 crew, converted to minesweeper 1909, retained guns, fitted with kite winch & gallows on quarterdeck, Lieutenant Commander Edward Miller Rutherfoord. Rescuing Lindsell's survivors, but mined herself. Whole of after part blown off including rudder and propellers, flooded and sank an hour later, 30 miles off the Humber [dx - 12 miles NNE of Outer Dowsing LV; wi - in 53.34N, 00.10E]; 1 rating lost. See also LINDSELL [H/J/C/Cn/D/ap/dk/dx/ke/wi; ADM.137/3108]

SPEETON, hired trawler, 31 December 1915, North Sea - 205grt, built 1913, Hull Steam Fishing & Ice, Hull-reg H104, hired 10/15, 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.1908, Skipper George Norvell RNR. Ordered to patrol off Lowestoft, explosion heard at 1915 by a number of vessels which went to investigate, body of a crew member found between Corton Lightvessel and South Scroby Sands, believed to have detonated a mine, laid that day by UC.7 [Georg Haag], sank 4 3/4m E by S of Corton, N of Lowestoft [un – in 52.33N, 01.50E; wi - in 52.30.54N, 01.52.43E]; 2 officers and 9 ratings lost, all hands [H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/hw/un/wi; ADM.137/3126]

SPENNYMOOR, Admiralty collier, 28 May 1915, English Channel - 2,733grt, built 1915, Moor Line, Newcastle-reg, sailing Sunderland for Cardiff with pit timber, on maiden voyage. [L - 27th] - captured by U.41 [Claus Hansen] and sunk by torpedo 50 miles SW 1/4 W of Start Point [L - 50 miles SW by W of]; 5 lives lost including master [H/L/te/un]

SPIDER, Admiralty trawler, 21 November 1914, North Sea - ex-Assyrian, 271grt, built c1908, originally Hull-reg H914, purchased by Admiralty 4/09, one of six vessels which, prewar, trained crews of the fishery reserve in minesweeping, 1-6pdr, Admiralty No. possibly 54, commissioned as minesweeper, originally based at Portsmouth, now with Auxiliary Patrol, Chief Gunner Albert Frankland in command. [He – 22nd] - Wrecked/stranded at Lowestoft, Suffolk; no lives lost [hw - later re-floated]. Note: in one of two accounts, “Wreck Index” describes her as damaged by U-boat-laid mine [but this was too early in the war], beached on Newcombe Sand, then towed towards Lowestoft but sank opposite the Hamilton Dock, in 52.28.15N, 01.45.26E “where she lay for many years”. In Hepper’s account “she was heading inshore at 2am [presumably on the 22nd] in a strong easterly gale with very heavy seas, and was driven onto the beach near the war Signal Station, at the northern end of the breakwater, Lowestoft, the crew being taken off by lifeboat. She was abandoned as a wreck. Remains sold in April 1915 although the hull apparently remained largely intact. This was to cause much concern later, with sand building up around the wreck to form a hazard to shipping.” [H/C/D/He/dk/hw/wi; ADM.137/76]

SPITFIRE, destroyer - see German Raid on Hartlepool, Scarborough and Whitby, 16 December 1914

STAG, destroyer, 25 September 1914, North Sea - D-class, probably Forth-based 8th Patrol Flotilla. Two torpedoes fired at her off Isle of May, Firth of Forth, torpedo also fired at another destroyer [Mn/D/gf]

STAR OF BRITAIN, hired trawler – see SKIPJACK, minesweeper, 19 December 1914, North Sea. 228grt, built 1908, hired 9/14, Aberdeen-reg, Lt C Crossley RNR. Leaking badly from mines exploding close alongside, in danger of sinking but saved; no lives lost. See also ORIANDA, PASSING [D/ap/dk/sc]

STAR OF BUCHAN, hired drifter, 20 October 1915, English Channel - 81grt, built 1913, Fraserburgh-reg FR534, hired 1/15 as patrol boat, Admiralty No.787. Recovering indicator nets when a mine was probably snagged and exploded at 0630, laid by UC.5 [Herbert Pustkuchen] the day before, blown up and foundered about 500 yards S of Nab Light [wi - SE of, in 50.35N, 00.53W]; 7 ratings lost [H/L/C/D/He/dk/un/wi; ADM.1/8436/310, ADM.137/543]

STAUNCH, destroyer – see PATUCA, armed merchant cruiser, 1 July 1915, Atlantic off NW Scotland

STRATHCARRON, Admiralty collier, 8 June 1915, St George's Channel area - 4,347grt, built 1912, Strathcarron SS Co, Glasgow-reg, sailing Barry for Truro with coal. Torpedoed and sunk by U.35 [Waldemar Kophamel] off The Smalls, 60 miles W of Lundy Is, off Devon [L - in 51.05N, 06.10W] [H/L/Lr/te/un]

STRATHGARRY, Admiralty trawler, 6 July 1915, Orkneys - 202grt, built 1906, Aberdeen Steam Trawling & Fishing, Aberdeen-reg A97, hired 6/15 [D/He - as boom defence vessel; wi - armed patrol trawler], Admiralty No.5, based at Scapa Flow, Skipper Isaac McFarlane RNR. Ships of 2nd Battle Squadron returning to Scapa Flow anchorage at 0330, passing through boom, battleship Monarch collided with and sank her [wi - in 58.45N, 03.05W]; no lives lost [He – one man drowned] [H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.137/129]

STRATHSPEY, hired trawler – see RHIANNON, Admiralty yacht, 20 July 1915, North Sea

SUCCESS, destroyer, 27 December 1914, North Sea - B-class, 425t, 1901, 112pdr/56pdr/218in tt, 30kts, 63 crew, Pendant No. D.24, possibly serving with Forth-based 8th Patrol Flotilla, Lt William Pennefather, sailed from Aberdeen on the 26th after coaling and heading for Rosyth, port shaft appeared damaged and run at slower speed than starboard one, weather bad with fog. No account taken of the defective shaft, the strength of the wind, and approaching the coast at night. Ran aground off Fife Ness [wi - on Cambo Sands, Kingsbarns, just NW of Fife Ness, in 56.18N, 02.37.36W] around 0500, still on the 27th. Progressively flooded, including engine room and most compartments by 31st, and abandoned; no lives lost, crew believed taken off on the 27th by two local lifeboats, Not refloated, later heavily salvaged, only keel remains buried in the sand [H/J/C/Cn/D/dk/ke/wi; ADM.156/14]

SUMANA [01], armed launch-tug – see CLIO, sloop, 3 June 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

SUMANA [02], armed launch-tug, 5 July 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign - 2-3pdr, Lt W Harris, supporting advance along River Euphrates towards Nasiriya. Turkish shell cut main steam pipe during the day, out of action, back next day [Rn/D]

SUMANA [03], armed launch-tug – see ESPIEGLE, sloop, 24 July 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

SUMANA [04], armed launch-tug – see COMET, armed paddle launch-tug, 27 September 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

SUMANA [05], armed launch-tug – see COMET, armed paddle launch-tug, 28 September 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

SUMANA [06], armed launch-tug – see COMET, armed paddle launch-tug, 30 September 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

SUMANA [07], armed launch-tug – see FIREFLY, river gunboat, 22 November 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

SUMANA [08], armed launch-tug – see SHAITAN, armed launch, 28 November 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

SUMANA [09], armed launch-tug – see FIREFLY, river gunboat, 1 December 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

SUMANA [10], armed launch-tug, 7 December 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign - British/Indian forces reached Kut on the 3rd, by the 7th they were completely surrounded by the Turks, armed launch Sumana stayed with the garrison when the rest of the River Flotilla withdrew [dx]

SUSANNA, hired drifter, 14 December 1915, St George's Channel - 83grt, built 1907, Banff-reg BF637, hired 8/15 [D/He - as net drifter; wi - armed patrol drifter], Admiralty No.2704, Skipper George Cowie RNR, entering Milford Haven in a gale, started to leak and pumps unable to keep her afloat. Foundered around 1430 off Saint Ann's Head [He – 1 1/2 miles S of Skokholm island; wi - in 51.40.45N, 05.10.15W], one of three Milford-based patrol drifters lost in 1915 winter storms; no lives lost. Hepper reports that much of her hull was found adrift some days later by trawler Nodzu, and taken into Milford for inspection, where it was found she was poorly built and in bad condition [H/C/D/He/dk/ps/wi; ADM.137/188; ADM.137/591]

SWIFT [01], flotilla leader – see HAWKE, light cruiser, 15 October 1914, North Sea

SWIFT [02], flotilla leader, 16 October 1914, North Sea - 4th DF Grand Fleet, dispatched from Scapa Flow with division of destroyers on 15th to search for missing Hawke. Reported U-boat near position where Hawke was last heard from, but no ship, searched all night and at 0900 spotted a raft with an officer and 20 men, reportedly attacked a number of times, and only by manoeuvring at high speed and screened by the other destroyers was it possible to rescue them. Search continued until the following morning when Swift returned to Scapa Flow. See also HAWKE, light cruiser, 15 October 1914, North Sea [Cn/D/bi/ge/gf/ss]

SWIFT [03], flotilla leader, 17 October 1914, off Orkneys - Grand Fleet. Reported another U-boat attack off Scapa Flow [Mn/ge]

SWIFTSURE [01], battleship, 3 February 1915, Suez Canal - Turkish attack on Suez Canal repulsed with the support of British and French warships, battleships Swiftsure, Ocean, old light cruisers, Minerva, Proserpine, sloop Clio, armed merchant cruiser Himalaya, torpedo boat No.043, Royal Indian Marine armed troopships Dufferin, Hardinge took part; Royal Navy Battle Honour - SUEZ CANAL 1915, to 4th [dx]

SWIFTSURE [02], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 2 March 1915, Third Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts

SWIFTSURE [03], battleship 5 March 1915, Turkish Coastal Operations - Attempt to reduce Smyrna [Izmir] forts by bombardment was unsuccessful because of defensive minefields; battleships Swiftsure, Triumph, armoured cruiser Euryalus, seaplane carrier Aenne Rickmers, five trawler minesweepers took part. Minesweeper No. 285 [Okino] sunk on 8th, Aenne Rickmers damaged on 11th [dx]

SWIFTSURE [04], battleship – see TRIUMPH, battleship, 6 March 1915, Smyrna Blockade

SWIFTSURE [05], battleship – see OKINO, Admiralty trawler, 8 March 1915, Smyrna Blockade

SWIFTSURE [06], battleship - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

SWIFTSURE [07], battleship – see TRIUMPH, battleship, 25 May 1915, Gallipoli Campaign

SWIFTSURE [08], battleship, 12 August 1915, Gallipoli Campaign - Swiftsure-class, 11,800t, 4-10in/14-7.5in and Grafton, ex-1st-class protected cruiser, Edgar-class, 7,350t, 2-9.2in/10-6in, now bulged or "blister ship", providing gunfire support off Suvla beaches. Swiftsure hit by 12-pdr field gun, 5 ratings lost and 10 wounded, one of whom died, Grafton off C-beach, S of Nibrunesi Point lost 9 ratings killed and 10 wounded [Cn/da/dk]

SWIFTSURE, battleship, 18 September 1915, Gallipoli Campaign - Swiftsure-class, 11,890t, proceeding Mudros for Suvla. Believed attacked by U-boat - possibly U.21, but not recorded in German Official History [Rn/Cn/D/ge]

SYDNEY [01] [RAN], light cruiser – see AUSTRALIA [RAN], battlecruiser, 14 September 1914, German Pacific Possessions

SYDNEY [02] [RAN], light cruiser, 9 November 1914, Indian Ocean, Sinking of Emden - German light cruiser SMS Emden headed for the Cocos Islands to destroy the cable and wireless station on the smaller Direction Island, appeared at 0550 and a warning was immediately sent out by cable station superintendent. Emden anchored and sent armed party ashore which destroyed the installations over the next two and half hours. Around 0630, the warning signal had been intercepted by light cruiser HMAS Melbourne escorting an Australian troop convoy only 50 miles away to the north, sister-ship Sydney was detached to investigate. Arriving off Cocos at 0915, Sydney sighted Emden which opened accurate fire at 0940 from 9,500yds, Sydney's after control station was soon hit. Making the most of her longer-range guns, Sydney brought down Emden's foremost funnel, foremast, then second funnel and third, the badly damaged Emden headed for the northerly North Keeling Island and ran aground at 1120. Sydney left to pursue the escaping collier SS Buresk, captured some time before. Schooner Ayesha was seized by German landing party after Emden left them ashore to go and fight Sydney, sailed to Padang, Dutch East Indies, and on to Turkish-occupied Yemen. The Germans then travelled overland to Constantinople. SYDNEY, Chatham-class, 6,000t, 8-6in/4-3pdr/2-21in tt, Capt John Glossop, Australian Fleet. Slightly damaged; 3 ratings killed, 1 DOW and 12 wounded. Royal Navy Single Ship Action - Sydney v EMDEN 1914 [Rn/Cn/D/dk/kp]

SYREN, destroyer – see FALCON, destroyer, 28 October 1914, Belgian Coast

T

T. R. FERENS, hired trawler, 13 July 1915, Barents Sea - 307grt, built 1913, Hull-reg, hired 5/15 as minesweeper, one of six trawlers fitted out at Lowestoft to sweep German mines laid in June in White Sea on the route to Archangel, departed 22 June, arrived Alexandrovsk, Murman coast on 6 July, started sweeping successfully. Mined, damaged off one of the headlands [D/sc]

TALBOT, cruiser - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

TARA [1], armed boarding steamer – see BAYANO, armed merchant cruiser, 11 March 1915, North Channel

TARA [02], armed boarding steamer, 5 November 1915, Eastern Mediterranean - ex-Hibernia, 1,862grt, built 1900, Dublin-reg, London & North Western Railway, hired 8/8/14, 3-6pdr, 105 crew, Capt Rupert Gwatkin-William i/c, master, Lt Tanner RNR. During Senussi revolt in Cyrenaica against the Italians, submarine sighted off Sollum on Egyptian border, four armed Egyptian customs cruisers on patrol off Egyptian coast now joined by Tara as senior ship in Western section east from Sollum, steaming into Sollum. Torpedoed by U.35 [Waldemar Kophamel], sank immediately in Sollum Bay [te - off Bardia]; 10 lives lost during the attack, 95 survivors towed in their lifeboats by U.35 to Bardia, handed over first to the Turks, and then local Senussi tribesmen. Senussi were defeated that same month and Bardia re-occupied 3/16 when it was learnt that Tara’s crew were prisoners in a camp 120 miles W of Bir Hakim/Hacheim. Vehicles of the Duke of Westminster’s Armoured Car Squadron and motor ambulances crossed the unmapped desert in 14 hours to rescue the survivors, four of whom had died in captivity; total of 14 lives lost - 3 officers, 1 rating, 8 merchant seaman killed, and 1 officer and 1 MN DOW. At the time of the attack on Tara, U.35 sank the Egyptian Abbas [plus also damaged: ap/dx - Nur el Bahr; ge - Abdul Moneim] off Sollum [H/J/L/Lr/Rn/C/Cn/D/He*/dk/dx/ge/ke/te; ADM.116/1529, ADM.137/4020]

TARANAKI, hired trawler – see C.24, submarine, 23 June 1915, North Sea

TARANTULA, river gunboat – see FIREFLY, river gunboat, 1 December 1915, Mesopotamian Campaign

TARLAIR, hired drifter, 4 February 1915, U-boat Warfare - Tarlair equipped with first anti-submarine hydrophone [dx]

TARTAR, destroyer – see LEVEN, destroyer, 8 September 1915, Dover Straits

TB.043, torpedo boat – see SWIFTSURE, battleship, 3 February 1915, Suez Canal.

TB.046, torpedo boat, 21 December 1915, Aegean Sea  - Thornycroft 125ft-type, 60t, 1886, 20kts, 2-3pdr/4-14 in tt, 16 crew, one of five TB's [Cn - 042, 044, 046, 063, 070; D - 043, 044, 063, 064, 070] formed Malta Local Defence Flotilla, Gunner Robert Stocker in command.  Departed Malta 18 December for Mudros in tow of mercantile auxiliary Carrigan Head, weather bad. On 19th taking in water, and later worsened, decision taken early on the 21st to take off crew which was accomplished by 0700. Torpedo boat cast adrift and sunk by gunfire in 35.42N, 22.37W. Wreck raised in 1920 and scrapped. [Earlier sources and research - possible confusion with TB.064: sailing Port Said for Mudros, ran out of coal, taken in tow. Wrecked by heavy weather on Lemnos island on 27th, later salved, apparently refloated, repaired and put back into service, sold for breaking up 1920 [J - foundered in tow]]; no lives lost [H/J/C/Cn/D/He/dk; ADM.137/3607]

TB.063, torpedo boat – see T.B. 064, torpedo boat, 21 March 1915, Dardanelles Campaign

TB.064, torpedo boat, 21 March 1915, Dardanelles Campaign - Yarrow 125ft-type, c87t, 1886, 19kts, 2-3pdr/5-14in tt, 16 crew, Chief Gunner James Cottrell in command. One of a group of six torpedo boats, including TB’s 063 and 070, sailed on 17th from Port Said for Mudros on the island of Lemnos, in company with old light cruiser Doris and collier Kasala. On the 20th, off the island of Khio [or Chios] with the weather worsening, they coaled, but TB.064 only took on half her bunkers. Continuing on to Lemnos in strong NE gales and following a course change, 064 became separated, and Doris, after reaching Mudros with the other five TB's, went out to search for the missing one. She was found off the east coast of the island, at anchor, with hardly any remaining coal and in no condition to proceed. Night of 21st - anchors dragged, drifted ashore and wrecked E side of Lemnos island; no lives lost, crew saved after a stoker swam ashore with a line [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/dk/ke; ADM.137/3119]

TB.070, torpedo boat – see T.B. 064, torpedo boat, 21 March 1915, Dardanelles Campaign

TB.10, torpedo boat – see TB.12, torpedo boat, 10 June 1915, North Sea

TB.12, torpedo boat, 10 June 1915, North Sea – one of two torpedo boats, ex-Cricket-class coastal destroyers, c400t, 1907, 26kts, 2-12pdr/3-18in tt, 35 crew, serving with Nore Local Defence Flotilla. Sailed from Harwich at midnight on the 9th, on patrol off Thames estuary, searching for reported submarines with three other TB’s and five destroyers; both mined, laid by UC.11 [Walter Gottfried Schmidt] two days earlier [H/J/tn - torpedoed]:

TB.12, ex-Moth, Lt Edward Bulteel, near the Sunk LV at 1530 when there was a large explosion under her bows, believed torpedoed at the time [He/un – confirmed mined]. Stayed afloat as other TB's came to her rescue, crew abandoned her when TB.10 came alongside, taken in tow, but now TB.10 suffered an explosion and sank. Trawler took over the tow of TB.12, assisted by destroyer Cynthia, progressed slowly while the TB gradually settled, sinking at 1055 [presumably on the 11th] in 51.44.40N 01.26E. Lt Bulteel and 22 ratings lost [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/dk/sc/tn/un; ADM.156/15];

TB.10, ex-Greenfly, Lt-Cdr John McLeod RN. Alongside TB.12, trying to take her in tow, then believed torpedoed herself at 1610 and broke in half, the two halves rising vertically before sinking off the Sunk LV [He/un – confirmed mined]; 22 ratings lost, one more DOW [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/dk/sc/tn/un; ADM.156/15]

TB.32, torpedo boat – see MAYFAIR, naval motor boat, 19 April 1915, North Sea

TB.83 - see TB.96, torpedo boat, 1 November 1915, Straits of Gibraltar

TB.88-97 - see TB.96, torpedo boat, 1 November 1915, Straits of Gibraltar

TB.92, torpedo boat, 6 May 1915, Western Mediterranean - Thornycroft 140ft-type, 130t, 1894, 3-3pdr/3-14in tt, Gibraltar Patrol, with one or more TB's watching area to east of Gibraltar for expected U-boats entering the Mediterranean, sighted submarine. Torpedo fired at TB.92, 40 miles W of Alboran island, submarine dived and two attempts made to ram. Believed to be U.21 which left the Ems on 25 April, reaching Cattaro on 13 May [Rn/Cn/ge]

TB.96, torpedo boat, 1 November 1915, Straits of Gibraltar - White 140ft-type, 130t, 1894, 23kts, 3-3pdr/3-14in tt, 18 crew, TB’s 83, 88-97 formed the Gibraltar Local Defence Flotilla, Chief Gunner John Summer in command of TB.96. On patrol about 5 miles E of Gibraltar, in collision with mercantile fleet auxiliary or "troopship" SS Tringa at 0115 and sank rapidly. Tringa was presumably the 2,154grt squadron supply ship torpedoed and sunk three weeks later; 2 officers including Chief Gunner Summer and 9 ratings lost [ke - no casualties] [H/J/C/Cn/D/He/dk/ke; ADM.137grt, built 194]

TEESWOOD, Admiralty blockship, 1,589grt, built 1882, 278ft, was Westwood Co, Christiana, Norway-reg, then The Admiralty, Middlesbrough-reg. [wi - in 58.53.02N, 02.53.50W]. Purchased 1914 for Scapa Flow, scuttled 1914 in No.2 Barrier, Skerry Sound, between Glims Holm & Lamb Holm islands Only engine block remains [Lr/D/wi]

TENBY CASTLE, hired trawler, 23 November 1915, Norwegian Sea - 256grt, built 1908, Swansea-reg, hired 2/15, serving with 10th CS off Norway for inshore blockade duties, heavy gale. Swept by "terrific sea" and considerably damaged, put into Bessiker, near Kya Island for repairs which took three days assisted by Norwegian gunboat Hidalgo without any threat of internment, later reached Lerwick [D/bi]

TERN, hired trawler, 23 February 1915, off N Scotland - 199grt, built 1907, Kelsall Bros & Beeching, Hull-reg H.961, hired 10/14 as minesweeper [D/He - auxiliary patrol vessel], Admiralty No.548, Skipper Daniel Stather RNR [wi - J Lewis]. Wrecked [H - Mined] in Loch Erribol, E of Cape Wrath [wi - in 58.30N, 04.40W]; 6 ratings lost. Note: exclusion from Lloyds listing suggests loss was due to marine cause, confirmed by Hepper [H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/hw/wi; ADM.1/8413/55, ADM.1/8413/60]

TEST, destroyer - see German Raid on Hartlepool, Scarborough and Whitby, 16 December 1914

TEUTONIC, armed merchant cruiser, North Atlantic, February 1915 - one of two armed merchant cruisers of 10th CS on Northern Patrol damaged in the winter gales, dates not known, possibly February. 9,984grt, built 1889, hired 5/9/14, on patrol in heavy seas possibly N of Shetlands. Six-inch shell unshipped from ready-use rack, exploded against bulwarks; no one injured, damage repaired by crew. See also CARIBBEAN [D/bi]

THAMES, Admiralty blockship, 1,327grt, built 1887, 279ft, Carron Co, Grangemouth-reg. Purchased 1914 for Scapa Flow, scuttled 1914 No.1 Barrier in Kirk Sound, between Lamb Holm island & Mainland [wi - in 58.53.30N, 02.54W]. Stern later removed and hull cut down to main deck [Lr/D/wi]

THE BANYERS, hired trawler – see BANYERS, hired trawler, 6 January 1915, North Sea

THE QUEEN, Admiralty collier, 17 August 1915, St George's Channel/Atlantic off SW England - coastal collier, 557grt, built 1897, John Hay & Sons, Glasgow-reg, Mr D Macalister, Ayr for Devonport with coal. Captured by U.38 [Max Valentiner] and sunk by gunfire, 40 miles NNE of The Smalls LH, E of Milford Haven [wi - in 52.15N, 05.05W]. One of three Admiralty colliers sunk at the time – see also GLENBY, KIRKBY [H/L/Lr/te/un/wi]

THE RAMSEY, armed boarding steamer, 8 August 1915, North Sea – the Moray Firth field of nearly 400 mines was laid by German auxiliary minelayer Meteor [1,912grt, ex-British Vienna seized Hamburg 4/8/14], night of 7th/8th to foul the approach to Cromarty and the Grand Fleet base of Invergordon, was discovered the morning of the 8th by a minesweeping trawler. That same day she met The Ramsey [J/C - Ramsey], 1,443grt, built 1895, Isle of Man Steam Passenger Co, Douglas-reg, hired 28/10/14, 2-12pdr, Pendant No. M.14, attached to Grand Fleet, Lt-Cdr Harry Raby RNR [Rn - Lt P Atkins RNR; gf - refers to Acting-Lt Atkins RNR as senior surviving officer], on patrol SE of Pentland Firth. After laying mines in the Moray Firth [see 7 August], Meteor, flying the Russian flag, met The Ramsey around 0600 c70 miles ENE of Kinnaird Head in 58.20N, 00.05W "but nearer to Cromarty". The Ramsey signalled the stranger to stop, closed to about 80yds to lower a boat when the German ensign was hoisted and Meteor [c2-8.8cm/2tt/375 mines] attacked with gunfire and torpedoes, The Ramsey sank in three minutes [J - torpedoed; J/D - SE of Pentland Firth; C - off Firth of Forth; dx - off Moray Firth]; 53 lives lost - 5 officers including Cdr Raby, 23 ratings and 25 MMR [He – 65 lives lost, 33 survivors; gf - 54 lives], 4 officers and 39 men taken prisoner, Meteor headed back to Germany, but was scuttled next day and the British POW's released. Note: D - "The Ramsey" is in Navy Lists as "Ramsey" [H/J/L/Lr/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/dk/dx/gf/kp; ADM.1/8430/241]

THESEUS [01], light cruiser – see HAWKE, light cruiser, 15 October 1914, North Sea

THESEUS [02], light cruiser, 21 October 1915, Aegean Sea - Royal Navy bombarded Dedeagatch in what was then Bulgaria. Monitors M.16, M.19, M.29 [M.15, M.28 in one source], bulged old cruiser Theseus and old light cruiser Doris took part [dx]

THISTLE IV, hired drifter, 30 June 1915, Irish Sea - 71grt, built 1906, Inverness-reg INS163, hired 5/15 as net tender, Admiralty No.2861. Rammed by Elder-Dempster liner Tarquah [3,859grt] in belief the vessel was a U-boat, sank off Great Orme's Head, Llandudno [wi - in 53.22N 03.52W]; no lives lost [H/C/D/He/dk/wi/dh; ADM.137/128]

THOMAS W IRVIN, hired trawler, 27 August 1914, North Sea - one of two hired trawlers mined in Tyne field laid by German Albatros. 201grt, built 1911, R Irvin & Sons, Aberdeen-reg A421, hired 8/14 as minesweeper, unarmed, Admiralty No.61, Skipper Henry Charles Thompson RNR, one of four minesweepers under command of Cdr R W Dalgety RN Rtd, Tyne Minesweeping Base. Left harbour around 0530 to sweep the area, twenty-eight miles off the mouth of the River Tyne. Seven mines swept and destroyed in the afternoon. Preparing to connect up another sweep at 1625, detonated mine, broke up and sank quickly [wi - in 55.01N, 01.22.45W]; 3 ratings lost. See also German Minelaying Raid on English East Coast - 25th/26th August 1914, and CRATHIE [H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/sc/wi; ADM.137/1002]

THORNHILL, collier – see AUDACIOUS, dreadnought, 27 October 1914, off N Ireland.

THORPWOOD, Admiralty collier, 8 October 1915, Central Mediterranean - 3,184grt, built 1912, Middlesbrough-reg, Joseph Constantine, Dunston/Tyne for Malta with coal. Captured by U.39 [Walter Forstmann], sunk by gunfire 122 miles S of Cape Martello, Crete [L - 100 miles S of Candia/Heraklion, which happens to lie on the north coast] [H/L/Mn/Lr/te/un]

TIGER, battlecruiser - see BATTLE of THE DOGGER BANK, 24 January 1915. improved Lion-class, 35,700t, 8-13.5in/12-6in/4-21in tt. Hit by 6 shells including one 11in on Q-turret, splinters jammed training gear and left turret out of action; 1 officer and 9 men killed, 3 officers and 5 men wounded [Cn - 10 crew killed, 11 wounded]. Repaired by 8 February. See also LION, METEOR [Rn/Cn/D/ti]

TOM TIT, hired trawler, 26 December 1914, North Sea – one of two hired trawlers lost in gales. 169grt, built 1904, Kelsall Brothers & Beeching, Hull-reg H35, hired 11/14 as minesweeper [D/He - auxiliary patrol vessel], Admiralty No.424, Skipper John CarIton RNR. Driven ashore around 1030 in gale and wrecked near Peterhead, N of Aberdeen [wi - in 57.30N, 01.46W]; no lives lost from Tom Tit, but local lifeboat Alexander Tulloch was wrecked while assisting and lost three of her crew. See also FAIR ISLE [H/Lr/C/D/He/dk/hw/wi; ADM.137/82]

TOPAZE, light cruiser – see FORMIDABLE, battleship, 1 January 1915, English Channel.

TOUCHSTONE, hired trawler – see JAPAN, hired trawler, 16 August 1915, North Sea

TOUTOU [01], gunboat – see MIMI, gunboat, 23 December 1915, German East Africa Campaign

TOUTOU [02], gunboat – see MIMI, gunboat, 26 December 1915, German East Africa Campaign

TRAFALGAR, possibly Admiralty collier, 23 August 1915, Atlantic off SW Ireland - [wi - on Admiralty charter], 4,572grt, built 1911, Glasgow-reg, Glasgow Shipowners, 31 crew, Mr W Peter Mejillones for Clyde with nitrates. Stopped by U.38 [Max Valentiner] and sunk with bombs 54 miles SW by W of Fastnet Rock, off Co Cork [L - 54 miles SW of; wi - in 50.39N, 10.27W]. One of two vessels sunk by U.38 at this time – see also SILVIA [H/L/te/un/]

TRENT, fleet messenger – see MERSEY, monitor, 6 July 1915, German East Africa

TRIAD, armed yacht - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

TRINGA [01], Admiralty store or squadron supply ship – see TB.96, torpedo boat, 1 November 1915, Straits of Gibraltar

TRINGA [02], Admiralty store or squadron supply ship, 26 November 1915, Central Mediterranean - 2,154grt, built 1913, Cork SS, hired 28/11/14 as RFA, Pendant No. Y9.21, probably not commissioned, Malta for Gibraltar, no cargo. Captured by U.33 [Konrad Gansser], sunk by gunfire 30 miles NE by N of Galita Is, off NW Tunis [L - 40 miles N of Cani Rocks]; 3 lives lost [H/LC/D/te/un]

TRIUMPH [01], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 19 February 1915, First Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts

TRIUMPH [02], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 25 February 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts

TRIUMPH [03], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 26 February 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts, continued

TRIUMPH [04], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 1 March 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts, continued

TRIUMPH [05], battleship – see SWIFTSURE, battleship 5 March 1915, Turkish Coastal Operations

TRIUMPH [06], battleship, 6 March 1915, Smyrna Blockade - Triumph, Swiftsure-class and Euryalus, armoured cruiser, Cressy-class, 12,000t, 2-9.2in/12-6in, taking part in blockade of Smyrna to prevent it being used as a submarine base. The intention was to destroy the forts ready for an attack, with minesweeping trawlers sweeping ahead, covered by Triumph, Swiftsure and Euryalus. Turks opened heavy and accurate fire forcing the trawlers to withdraw, Triumph, Euryalus and minesweepers hit; 1 officer DOW, 1 officer and 6 ratings wounded [Rn/Cn/D]

TRIUMPH [07], battleship – see OKINO, Admiralty trawler, 8 March 1915, Smyrna Blockade

TRIUMPH [08], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 18 March 1915, Final Naval Attack on the Narrows

TRIUMPH [09], battleship - see E.15, submarine, 17 April 1915, Dardanelles Campaign

TRIUMPH [10], battleship - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

TRIUMPH [11], battleship, 25 May 1915, Gallipoli Campaign - First U-boat attacks on ships off Gallipoli by U.21 [Lt-Cdr Otto Hersing]:

VENGEANCE, battleship, Canopus-class, zigzagging up from Mudros to meet sister-ship Canopus and relieve her as gunfire support ship off Anzac Cove, submarines were expected in the area and a periscope was spotted at 0730 off the Dardanelles entrance, it was also seen heading north and at one point passed between battleships Swiftsure and Agamemnon, then disappeared, sea calm and visibility good. Due east of Cape Kephalo, Imbros island at 1000, Vengeance spotted a torpedo coming towards her from shorewards, swung clear and continued on to Gaba Tepe. Alarms and sightings continued during the morning [Rn/D/ge];

TRIUMPH, battleship, Swiftsure-class, 11,985t, building as Chilean Libertad, launched 1903, purchased by Admiralty before completion, 4-10in/14-7.5in/14-14pdr/2-18in tt, 20kts, c700 crew, China Station 8/14, later to Mediterranean, Capt Maurice Fitzmaurice, providing gunfire support for Anzac beachhead, under way off Gaba Tepe with nets down, light guns manned and watertight doors closed, destroyer Chelmer patrolling round her at 15kts. Periscope sighted at 1225 on Triumph's starboard beam, Chelmer dashed for it, Triumph started firing but a a minute later a torpedo fired by U.21 [J - U.51] passed through the nets and hit her, almost immediately took on 10° list and continued to heel over. Chelmer came under her stern walk to take off a large number of men, capsized 10min after being hit, floated bottom-up for 30min then sank bow first just NW of Gaba Tepe off Ari Burnu/Anzac Cove. The scene was apparently so dramatic and unexpected, ANZAC and Turkish troops reportedly stopped fighting and stood to watch her end; 3 officers and 52 ratings lost [Rn/Cn/He/ke - 3 officers, 70 men lost, over 500 survivors]. With the U-boat threat, continuous battleship support was no longer possible, a severe blow to the Australian and New Zealand troops [H/J/Rn/C/Cn/D/He/dk/ke/mf; ADM.116/1444]

TRYGON, hired trawler, 30 March 1915, off SW Scotland - 289grt, built 1908, Fleetwood-reg FD.221, Mount Steam Fishing, hired 1914 as minesweeper [D - 2/15 as auxiliary patrol vessel; He – 1915 as patrol vessel], Admiralty No.978, Lt Henry Oakley RNR [wi - J Price, Captain]. In collision with SS Myrtle Grove, 2,640grt [ms - Myrtlegrove], foundered in River Clyde [wi - exact position unknown, but River Clyde, in 55.58N, 04.52W]; no lives lost [H/Lr/C/D/He/ms/dk/fd/wi; ADM.137/103]

TURQUOISE, fleet messenger, 31 July 1915, Atlantic off SW England - One of two Admiralty fleet messengers sailing in company from Glasgow under sealed orders, bound for Dardanelles, heavy seas with SW force 8 gale blowing, sunk by U.28 [Georg-Günther Freiherr von Forstner] off the Scillies. Ex-coaster, 486/c1892, Glasgow-reg, W Robertson, hired 2/7/15, Pendant No. Y4.30, 15 crew, Lt John McNicol RNR, sailing for Bizerta in ballast. In the afternoon sighted surfaced submarine on starboard bow which rapidly approached, ordered to stop but attempted to ram, U.28 opened fire around 1600 making several hits, ship immediately abandoned and sank at 1615, 60 miles SW of Scillies [wi - attacked in 49N, 07.08W, sank 40 miles SW of, in 49.00N 07.00W]; one life lost, probably Merchant Navy [He/wi - chief engineer killed by gunfire, two crew wounded], survivors picked up by patrol trawler, landed at St Mary’s next day. See also NUGGET [H/L/Lr/C/Cn/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.137/1130]

TYNEDALE, Admiralty blockship, 2,948grt, built 1889, 320ft, SS Tynedale of Belfast Co, Belfast-reg. Purchased 1914/15 for Sunderland, Durham - final scuttling location not known [Lr/D]

TYNEMOUTH, Admiralty collier - see SATRAP, Admiralty collier, 31 December 1915, N or W British Waters

U

UNDAUNTED [01], light cruiser, 17 October 1914, Action off the Texel - Undaunted, Arethusa-class, 3rd DF leader, Capt Cecil Fox, and Lance, Lennox, Legion, Loyal, destroyers, I-class, c970t, 1913/14, 3-4in/1-2pdr/4-21in tt, 1st Div, 3rd DF, all Harwich Force, off Dutch coast on patrol for German flotilla movements, on station in the Broad Fourteens at 1400, then 50 miles SW of Texel. Smoke sighted and four German 400t torpedo boats spotted, Undaunted signalled “General Chase” and by 1630 all four - S.115, S.117, S.118, S.119 had been sunk by gunfire [dx - 40 miles SW of Texel], British destroyers slightly damaged; Loyal had an officer and two ratings seriously wounded, one of the ratings dying; Legion had two ratings wounded [Rn/Cn/D/dk/dx]

UNDAUNTED [02], light cruiser – see EMPRESS, seaplane carrier, 25 December 1914, Cuxhaven Raid

UNDAUNTED [03], light cruiser – see BATTLE of THE DOGGER BANK, 24 January 1915.

UNDAUNTED [04], light cruiser, 15 February 1915, Dover Straits - Arethusa-class, 3rd DF leader, Harwich Force and eight destroyers, probably division of 3rd DF on passage from Harwich to Irish Sea because of increased U-boat activity there. Unsuccessful U-boat torpedo attack off Dungeness, possibly by U.16 [Rn/Mn/Cn/D/ty]

UNDAUNTED [05], light cruiser, 24 March 1915, North Sea - Arethusa-class, 4,400t, 3rd DF leader and Landrail, destroyer, L-class, c1,300t, 3rd DF, Harwich Force, in collision. Damaged to Undaunted not known but three crew drowned, Landrail towed home with badly crumpled bow [D/dk]

UNDAUNTED [06], light cruiser, 24 April 1915, North Sea - Arethusa-class, 4,400t, 3rd DF leader and LANDRAIL, destroyer, L-class, c1,300t, 3-4in/1-12pdr/4-21in tt, 3rd DF, Harwich Force sailed on the 23rd with carrier Empress for a seaplane raid on the German coast, good weather lasted until around 0500 on the 24th when dense fogbanks were encountered near the take-off position. During manoeuvres, Landrail hit Undaunted in the engine-room at 18kts holing her badly, Landrail lost 20-30ft of her forecastle, and both had their wireless knocked out, making it difficult to inform Cdre Tyrwhitt in Arethusa. Undaunted made her way home with 3ft of water in the engine-room, Landrail was towed stern-first by destroyer Mentor and then light cruiser Aurora, both having towing-hawsers part twice in rising seas. At 1830 and drifting close to Terschelling on a lee shore, Arethusa, after her own two failed attempts took up the tow and headed for Yarmouth at 4kts, reaching there at 2100 on the 26th, 71 hours after the collision. Two tugs took Landrail to Chatham where repairs took 5 weeks. Their last collision has been exactly one month before, on 24 March! [Cn/D/dd/gr/ty]

UNDAUNTED [07], light cruiser – see ARETHUSA, light cruiser, 2 June 1915, North Sea

UNITY, destroyer - see German Raid on Hartlepool, Scarborough and Whitby, 16 December 1914

URMSTON GRANGE, Admiralty blockship, 3,423grt, built 1894, Houlder Line, London-reg. Purchased 1914 for Scapa Flow, scuttled 1914 in about 40-60ft depth in Burra Sound, between Hoy & Graemsay islands [wi - in 58.55.40N, 03.18.38W]. Dispersed by explosives in 1962 to clear shipping channel [Lr/C/wi/www]

USK, destroyer - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

VALIANT, Admiralty yacht, 20 December 1914, North Sea - One of two hired auxiliaries mined in the Kolberg-laid Scarborough field. 1,855grt, built 1893, hired 18/11/14, Cdr C Barlow RNR [Adm Rtd], heading for Cromarty. Mined off Filey about 0900, propellers and rudder blown off, two trawlers brought her into Scarborough. Next day, taken in tow by yacht Eileen for the Humber and on to Isle of Wight for repairs; no lives lost. See also GARMO [Rn/Mn/ap/dk/sc]

VALIANT II, armed yacht – see BERKSHIRE [2], Admiralty trawler, 15 May 1915, North Channel

VAMPIRE, gunboat, Niger Flotilla – see CUMBERLAND, cruiser, 7 September 1914, German West Africa

VELOX, destroyer, 25 October 1915, English Channel - C-class, 445t, 1902, 1-12pdr/5-6pdr/2-18in tt, 27kts, c63 crew, Pendant No. D.71, probably Portsmouth Local Defence Flotillas, Lt Frank Pattinson RNR, believed on patrol from there. Mined, laid by UC.5 [Herbert Pustkuchen] a week before, off Nab LV [wi - off Bembridge Ledges, sank 1.5 miles E of Bembridge, IoW in 50.41.31N, 01.02.05W]; 4 ratings killed by explosion [wi - 12 lost]. Wreck lies at 30ft, sold in 1970, stripped and dispersed by explosives [+J/C/Cn/D/He*/dk/dx/ge/un/wi; ADM.1/8438/329]

VENERABLE [01], battleship, 28 October 1914, Belgian Coast - London-class, 5th BS Channel Fleet, Brilliant, old cruiser, Apollo-class [expended at Zeebrugge in 1918], Wildfire, old composite sloop, Nymphe-class, Rinaldo, old sloop, Condor-class, together with gunboat Bustard and three monitors, bombarding targets between Westende and Lombartzyde. Serious damage only avoided by continual course alterations although Wildfire badly hit on the waterline and sent home for repairs. In the afternoon Venerable ran aground but was helped off on rising tide by Brilliant with no damage, Brilliant [Rn/dp - one man killed, several wounded] and Rinaldo [Rn - 8 wounded] hit; only confirmed life lost was 1 rating in Rinaldo on 29th [Rn/D/dk]

VENERABLE [02], battleship - see MAORI, destroyer, 7 May 1915, Belgian Coast

VENGEANCE [01], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 19 February 1915, First Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts

VENGEANCE [02], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 25 February 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts

VENGEANCE [03], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 26 February 1915, Second Bombardment of Outer Dardanelles Forts, continued

VENGEANCE [04], battleship – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 18 March 1915, Final Naval Attack on the Narrows

VENGEANCE [05], battleship - see E.15, submarine, 17 April 1915, Dardanelles Campaign

VENGEANCE [06], battleship - see GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN, 25 April 1915, Allied Landings

VENGEANCE [07], battleship – see ALBION, battleship, 2 May 1915, Gallipoli Campaign

VENGEANCE [08], battleship – see TRIUMPH, battleship, 25 May 1915, Gallipoli Campaign

VENGEANCE [09], battleship – see HEROIC, armed boarding steamer, 25 June 1915, Aegean Sea

VENUS, light cruiser, November 1914 - Eclipse-class, 5,600t, Ireland-based 11th CS. November - Lost foremast in gale, British Isles waters [Cn/D]

VESTAL, old sloop, 30 October 1914, Belgian Coast - Condor-class, 980t, 6-4in/4-3pdr, taking part in bombardment of Westende area. Hit on forecastle about 1100 by same 8in battery that hit Falcon, possibly disabled; 1 rating killed [Rn/dk/dq]

VIGILANT, gunboat, Niger Flotilla – see CUMBERLAND, cruiser, 7 September 1914, German West Africa

VIKING [01], destroyer – see AMAZON, destroyer, 20 October 1914, Belgian Coast

VIKING [02], destroyer – see LEVEN, destroyer, 8 September 1915, Dover Straits

VIKING [03], destroyer – see BRIGHTON QUEEN, paddle minesweeper, 6 October 1915, Belgian Coast

VIKNOR, armed merchant cruiser, 13 January 1915, Atlantic off N Ireland - ex-Viking or The Viking, ex-cruise ship, 5,386grt, built 1888, Viking Cruise Co, 15kts, hired 19/11/14, Pendant No. M.82, 10th CS Grand Fleet, Cdr Ernest Ballantyne, most northerly ship on Northern Patrol line B north of the Shetlands. On the 11th, at around 62N, 02.24W, intercepted Norwegian SS Bergensfiord carrying an important German secret service agent and other nationals from New York, Viknor ordered to put prize crew on board, escort the Norwegian ship towards Lerwick, then continue on to Liverpool with a total of eight German prisoners. Last message from Viknor on 13th [He – off Malin Head; ss - at 1600 in 56.18N, 09W, course S21ºW], nothing more was heard of her. Probably 13th - Believed sunk off Northern Ireland by one of Berlin's mines broken free by heavy gales off Tory Island [Rn - foundered in heavy weather; C - Wrecked on north coast of Ireland], wreckage and bodies washed ashore at Portrush; 294 lives lost - 22 officers, 196 ratings, 74 MN and 1 canteen staff plus prisoners, no survivors [He – 259, ke - 295] [H/J/Rn/C/D/bi/dk/gf/ke/ss; ADM.137/185, ADM.116/1442]

VINCENZO FLORIO, Admiralty blockship – see MARIE DELLE VITTORIE, Admiralty blockship, 29 December 1915, Gallipoli Campaign

VINDICTIVE, cruiser – see CARNARVON, armoured cruiser, 22 February 1915, Central Atlantic

VIRGINIAN, armed merchant cruiser, 17 April 1915, SW Scotland - 10,760grt, built 1905, hired 13/11/14, 10th CS. Ran ashore in Clyde opposite Govan Ferry, blocked river and delayed armed merchant cruiser Oropesa leaving for her patrol [Mn/D]

VULTURE, destroyer – see LIGHTNING, destroyer, 30 June 1915, North Sea

W

WALRUS, locally converted to gunboat, Niger Flotilla – see CUMBERLAND, cruiser, 7 September 1914, German West Africa

WARREGO [RAN], destroyer – see AUSTRALIA [RAN], battlecruiser, 14 September 1914, German Pacific Possessions

WARSPITE [01], dreadnought, 16 September 1915, North Sea - Queen Elizabeth-class, 31,500t, completed 3/15, 5th BS Grand Fleet. Damaged by grounding off Dunbar in the Firth of Forth, repaired [Cn - at Rosyth 17/9-20/11/15; gf - Tyne], rejoined 5th BS on 23/11/15 [Cn/gf/gr]

WARSPITE [02], dreadnought, 3 December 1915, North Sea - Warspite and Barham, dreadnoughts, Queen Elizabeth-class, 31,500t, 5th BS Grand Fleet, Barham only completed in October, carrying out battle exercises westward from Scapa. Warspite collided with Barham, Barham holed starboard side abreast of quarterdeck, both ships in dock for a long period - Barham at Invergordon 8-23/12/15, Warspite at Devonport 11-21/12/15. Corbett describes Warspite, the ship with the most battle honours of World War 2, as "that unlucky ship", yet Warspite survived the war and Barham, after ramming and sinking a destroyer in 1939, was lost in 1941 [Rn/Cn/gf/gr]

WATERLILY, Admiralty drifter, 23 July 1915, English Channel - 82grt, built 1907, Banff-reg BF595, hired 5/15 as net drifter, Admiralty No.2171, Skipper George Slater RNR. Fitted out at Devonport and now sailing for Granton to take up duties, in collision with trawler Ouse [not believed taken into Admiralty service until 2/16] at 0500 off St. Alban's Head, Dorset [wi - in 50.30N 02.00W] and foundered; no lives lost [H/D/He/dk/wi; ADM.137/132]

WAVENEY, destroyer - see German Raid on Hartlepool, Scarborough and Whitby, 16 December 1914

WEAR, destroyer – see DARDANELLES CAMPAIGN, 18 March 1915, Final Naval Attack on the Narrows; also IRRESISTIBLE, battleship

WEELSBY, hired trawler - see C.33, submarine, 4 August 1915, North Sea

WESTWARD HO [01], paddle minesweeper – see BRIGHTON QUEEN, paddle minesweeper, 6 October 1915, Belgian Coast

WESTWARD HO [02], paddle minesweeper – see DUCHESS OF HAMILTON, paddle minesweeper, 29 November 1915, North Sea

WESTWARD HO [03], paddle minesweeper – see LADY ISMAY, paddle minesweeper, 21 December 1915, North Sea

WEYMOUTH [01], light cruiser – see FOX, light cruiser 12 January 1915, German East Africa Campaign.

WEYMOUTH [02], light cruiser – see MERSEY, monitor, 6 July 1915, German East Africa

WEYMOUTH [03], light cruiser – see MERSEY, monitor, 11 July 1915, German East Africa

WEYMOUTH [04], light cruiser – see DARTMOUTH, light cruiser, 29 December 1915, Adriatic Sea

WHITBY ABBEY, screw minesweeper - see BARRY, fleet messenger, 18 August 1915, Aegean Sea

WILDFIRE [01], old sloop, 23 October 1914, Belgian Coast - Myrmidon, destroyer, B-class, with patrol flotillas and Wildfire, Nymphe-class, two of the various unsuitable vessels operating as gunboats in support of the Alled armies. U-boat attack failed [Rn/D/dp]

WILDFIRE [02], old sloop – see VENERABLE, battleship, 28 October 1914, Belgian Coast

WILLIAM MORRISON, hired trawler, 28 November 1915, North Sea - 211grt, built 1915, Aberdeen-reg A355, Aberdeen Pioneer Steam Fishing, hired 9/15 as minesweeper, 1-3pdr, Admiralty No.3217, believed Harwich-based. Mined, laid by UC.7 [Franz Wäger] earlier in the day, sank near Sunk Head Buoy, off Harwich [He - 51.52.40N, 01.31E, wi - in 51.47.30N, 01.30E]; 3 ratings lost [H/L/D/He/dk/sc/un/wi; ADM.1/844/346]

WINIFRED, lake steamer, 7 March 1915, German East Africa Campaign - British lake steamers Winifred and Kavirondo drove German gunboat Mwanza ashore at the southern end of Lake Victoria and established local control [dx]

WOLVERINE [01], destroyer – see SCORPION, destroyer, 27 April 1915, Gallipoli Campaign

WOLVERINE [02], destroyer – see GOLIATH, battleship, 13 May 1915, Gallipoli Campaign

WOOD, Admiralty blockship, 28 October 1914, Eastern Mediterranean - scuttled, no other details [source uncertain]

WORSLEY, hired trawler, 14 August 1915 - 309grt, built 1913, E C Grant, Grimsby-reg GY814, hired 1914 as minesweeper [D - 7/15 as auxiliary patrol vessel], 1-3pdr, believed Harwich-based, Lt James Feetham RNR. On patrol with a second trawler along the Suffolk coast between Sizewell and Shipwash LV, mined under the bridge at 1800, laid by UC.6 [Matthias Graf von Schmettow] the previous day, broke in two and sank in under two minutes, one mile N of Aldeburgh Napes buoy, off Suffolk [WI - in 52.09N, 01.36.30E]; Lt Feetham lost [H/L/Lr/C/D/He/dk/sc/un/wi; ADM.137/3123]

WRESTLER, hired tug, 10 October 1915, Location Not Known - 346grt, built 1876, hired on harbour service 1915. Lost, no other details. Note: Dittmar lists hired screw tug Wrestler, 192grt, built 1914, hired 1916 [also in Colledge] and rescue tug Wrestler, 192grt, built 1915, hired 14/1/16, both of which survived the war. Finally, Miramar Ship Index [ms] confirms the Dittmar listings and also has Wrestler, tug, 338grt, built 1876, Liverpool Steam tug Co, in collision at Liverpool 24 March 1903, beached and broken up [C only]

X

X-Lighters – see SCOURGE, destroyer, 7 August 1915, Gallipoli Campaign

X.65, motor lighter – see PRINCESS VICTORIA, hired trawler, 7 November 1915, Atlantic off NW France

XERXES, hired trawler, 16 November 1915, North Sea - 243grt, built 1908, Swansea-reg SA55, Buckworth & Mumby, hired 12/14 as minesweeper, 1-6pdr, Admiralty No.835, Skipper F Hayes. Ordered from Aberdeen to escort oiler Burma, overhauling her and in collision, sank off Girdle Ness, near Aberdeen [H - mined, C/D/wi - in collision; wi - in 57.06N, 02W]; 3 ratings lost, 1 DOW. Note: exclusion from Lloyds listing suggests loss was due to collision [H/Lr/C/D/He*/dk/wi; ADM.156/18]

Y

YARRA [RAN], destroyer – see AUSTRALIA [RAN], battlecruiser, 14 September 1914, German Pacific Possessions

Z

ZEALANDIA, battleship – see ALBEMARLE, battleship, 6/7 November 1915, off northern Scotland

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2.  JANUARY 1916 to 1919