H.M.S. Active (1911)

H.M.S. Active (1911)
Pendant Number:	A2 (1914) 01 (Jan 1918) N.06 (Apr 1918)
Builder:	Pembroke Royal Dockyard
Ordered:	1910 Programme
Laid down:	27 Jul, 1910
Launched:	14 Mar, 1911
Commissioned:	30 Dec, 1911
Sold:	21 Apr, 1920
Fate:	Broken up

H.M.S. Active was a scout cruiser in the Royal Navy completed in 1911. Modern sources often treat her as the name ship of a three-vessel class, but we treat her as contemporary documents do, as one of seven ships of the Boadicea class.

Service

Commissioned at Pembroke Dock on 30 December, 1911, Active was attached to Chatham. She was temporarily detached for service on the Southeast Coast of America and the West Coast of Africa.

Battle of Jutland

Active was one of four scout cruisers attached to the Grand Fleet at the Battle of Jutland, under the command of Captain Percy Withers, who issued this report on 9 June that his ship struck a submerged obstacle as did many others that night.

H.M.S. "Active,"
9th June, 1916.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to report that at about 11.15 p.m. on
May 31st H.M. Ship under my command was felt to strike
something. No damage was apparent from the inside of the
ship, and no leak developed.
On June 8th divers were sent down, and it was found that
some 15 feet of the Starboard Bilge Keel had been torn back,
and was projecting about 4 feet from the ship's side.
A sketch is attached showing the extent of the damage.'
I:t is submitted, that as a temporary measure, the Bilge Keel
be cut, as shown by the dotted red line in the sketch, and any
ragged edges removed from the fracture.
The ship's approximate position at 11.15 p.m. May 31st was
Lat. 56" l' N., Long, 5' 55' E., Course South, Speed 17 knots,
following astern of the 2nd Battle Squadron.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

PERCY WITHERS,

Captain.

The Vice Admiral Commanding

1st Battle Squadron,

H.M.S. " Royal Oak."

His more general report on the action was issued on the 10th.

H.M.S. "Active,"
10th June, 1916.
SIR,
IN accordance with your signal 0800 of to-day's date,
I have the honour to report that :—
(1) H.M.S. " Active " during the advance was acting as
linking ship in position " J."
(2) At about 6.0 p.m. an enemy Cruiser, apparently of the
" Wiesbaden " class was sighted on the starboard bow, and
engaged by H.M.S. " Shannon " and one other Cruiser, which
were between " Active " and the enemy. As, owing to the
mist weather, it was not possible to get an accurate range,
two salvos were fired. These fell a long way short, and cease
firing was sounded. The signal to deploy being then made, no
opportunity of closing the vessel occurred.
(3) The Fifth Battle Squadron not being present, and not
having the speed of the 4th L.C.S., I took station on the
disengaged beam of the leading Battle Squadron, and repeated
signals.
(4) When the Fleet formed up for the night, " Active " took
station astern of 2nd Battle Squadron.
(5) At about 10.15 p.m. an action took place lasting for from
5 to 10 minutes, just abaft the starboard beam, about 3 miles
distant.
(6) At about 11.0 p.m. a squadron of what appeared to be
Light Cruisers opened fire from the starboard quarter at a ship
about a mile astern of " Active." The After Control Officer
describes this vessel as having four funnels, and two masts, the
mainmast having a large top, and having shown a red light over
a green just before the action commenced. One funnel was
apparently shot away during the action, which lasted about
10 minutes. The ship burst into flames and appeared to sink,
the fires suddenly going out. Fire was not opened, as there
were doubts as to which were hostile ships, in addition to which
I did not feel justified in indicating the position of the Battle
Fleet.
(7) At about 11.15 p.m. the ship was felt to bump something
heavily, subsequent investigation revealing the fact that some
15 ft. of the Starboard Bilge Keel has been torn back. This
has formed the subject of a separate report.
(:8) Several actions subsequently took place, but so far astern,
that only the flashes in the sky could be seen.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

PERCY WITHERS,

Captain.

The Vice Admiral Commanding

1st Battle Squadron,

H.M.S. " Royal Oak."

Alterations

In October 1914, the ship was to be given 6 Pattern 1582 Electric Radiators to warm cabins whose stoves could not be used for heating them.

Fire Control Instruments

The ship was equipped with Vickers F.T.P. Mark III equipment for sending range and deflection to the guns. It is not certain that her sister ships were so equipped.

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

• Captain George Trewby, 30 December, 1911 – 30 December, 1913
• Captain James R. P. Hawksley, 6 January, 1914 – 1914  (and as Captain (D) of Second Destroyer Flotilla)
• Captain Thomas D. Pratt, December, 1914 – 11 January, 1915
• Commander George B. W. Young, 14 January, 1915 – 29 January, 1915
• Captain Hugh J. Tweedie, 29 January, 1915 – 10 February, 1915
• Captain James R. P. Hawksley, 10 February, 1915 – 1915  (and as Captain (D) of Second Destroyer Flotilla)
• Captain Percy Withers, 3 April, 1916 – December, 1916  (in command at Battle of Jutland, Captain (D) of Fourth Destroyer Flotilla from 6 July, 1916)
• Captain Neston W. Diggle, December, 1916 – March, 1917  (lent)
• Commander Kerrison Kiddle, March, 1917 – 30 November, 1917
• Captain Gordon Campbell, 12 November, 1917 – April, 1918  (and as Flag Captain to C-in-C, Coast of Ireland)
• Captain Edward R. G. R. Evans, 3 April, 1918 – 2 April, 1919
• Lieutenant-Commander (Supplementary List) James W. Fairtlough, 25 April, 1919 – 12 December, 1919

See Also

• Wikipedia

Bibliography

Boadicea Class Scout Cruiser

Boadicea Group

Boadicea

Bellona

Blonde Group

Blonde

Blanche

Active Group

Active

Amphion

Fearless

<–

Sentinel Class

Minor Cruisers (UK)

Bristol Class

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