H.M.S. Blenheim (1890)

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H.M.S. Blenheim (1890)
Builder: Thames Ironworks, Shipbuilding and Engineering Company[1]
Laid down: Oct, 1888[2]
Launched: 5 Jul, 1890[3]
Commissioned: 1 Jan, 1891[4][5]
Sold: 13 Jul, 1926[6]

Britain's protected cruiser H.M.S. Blenheim was converted to a destroyer depot ship after fifteen years of service, and served in this capacity throughout the Great War.

Service

Blenheim was to be detached from the Channel Squadron to escort the new destroyers Quail and Sparrowhawk to Bermuda in August, 1897. In the event, Sparrowhawk was unable to sally, as she was involved in a harbour collision at Devonport on 17 August.[7][8] The delay resulted in Charybdis replacing Blenheim as escort, departing on 26 August.[9][10]

In August 1900, she was one of six cruisers along with Sans Pareil ordered to receive wireless telegraphy systems.[11]

An inspection of the ship in 1902 by Rear-Admiral Grenfell while she was under the command of Frederick George Stopford was unsatisfactory. He noted that, "uniform not adhered to; bedding fair, signal staff only fairly efficient; Engr. Murray exceeded wine bill; exercise only fair; submerged tube not properly examined; [illeg order] or 12 Oct 07 neglected; Marine detacht not up to standard." Their Lordships conveyed their dissatisfaction, and the message was apparently taken to heard, as a follow-up inspection on 8 December was satisfactory.[12]

Blenheim completed conversion to a depot ship in May of 1906.[13]

Blenheim acted as a depot ship for the First Destroyer Flotilla in 1910 and 1911. In 1912, she moved to the {UK-DF|3}}. On 1 November, 1913, 3 D.F. was shifted in its entirety to the designation as Fifth Destroyer Flotilla, and was moved to the Mediterranean.

Blenheim supported 5 D.F.'s Beagles in the Mediterranean through the entire war, even printing a newspaper for their information and amusement, the "Tenedos Times".[14]

In March 1919, Blenheim was assigned to the Mediterranean's newly fashioned Sixth Destroyer Flotilla.

She recommissioned at Malta on 28 June, 1919.[15]

Blenheim re-commissioned on 14 October, 1921.[16]

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

Torpedoes

In 1904, in a competition to investigate how rapidly submerged tubes could be fired four times sequentially, starting with the tube loaded and the bar out, the ship's crew was able to do this in 4 minutes, 45 seconds.  The best time was achieved by Cressy at 50.75 seconds, though times of 3-5 minutes were more typical.[61]

See Also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 66.
  2. ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 66.
  3. ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 66.
  4. ↑ Naval & Military intelligence The Times (London). Friday, 28 December, 1900. p. 5.
  5. ↑ Naval & Military intelligence The Times (London). Thursday, 7 March, 1901. p. 11
  6. ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 66.
  7. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), 7 Aug. 1897, p. 6.
  8. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), 18 Aug. 1897, p. 8.
  9. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), 23 Aug. 1897, p. 5.
  10. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), 25 Aug. 1897, p. 5.
  11. ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Friday, Aug 24, 1900; pg. 4; Issue 36229.
  12. ↑ Stopford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39/481. 1230.
  13. ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 293.
  14. ↑ Smith. Hard Lying. p. 112.
  15. ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 735.
  16. ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1925). p. 219.
  17. ↑ Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/36. f. 246/566.
  18. ↑ Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/36. f. 246/566.
  19. ↑ The Navy List. (March, 1896). p. 205.
  20. ↑ Bridgeman Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 167.
  21. ↑ Bridgeman Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/86. f. 172.
  22. ↑ Fisher Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/18. f. 281.
  23. ↑ Fisher Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/18. f. 281.
  24. ↑ Custance Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/17. f. 51.
  25. ↑ Custance Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/17. f. 51.
  26. ↑ "The Naval Mobilization." The Times (London, England), 11 July 1900, p. 9.
  27. ↑ Henderson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 615.
  28. ↑ Henderson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 615.
  29. ↑ The Navy List. (May, 1903). p. 234.
  30. ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1905). p. 285.
  31. ↑ Pears Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 86.
  32. ↑ Pears Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 86.
  33. ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1908). p. 285.
  34. ↑ Bruce Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 85.
  35. ↑ Bruce Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 85.
  36. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 285.
  37. ↑ Brand Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 118.
  38. ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 285.
  39. ↑ Barttelot Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 238.
  40. ↑ Barttelot Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 238.
  41. ↑ Dent Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 50.
  42. ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 285.
  43. ↑ Dent Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 50.
  44. ↑ Carey Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/201. f. 216.
  45. ↑ Carey Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/201. f. 216.
  46. ↑ Haggard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 38.
  47. ↑ Haggard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 38.
  48. ↑ Coode Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/98. f. 105.
  49. ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 287.
  50. ↑ Coode Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/98. f. 105.
  51. ↑ Pitts Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/241. f. 273.
  52. ↑ Pitts Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/241. f. 273.
  53. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1920). p. 734.
  54. ↑ Powell Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/242. f. 274.
  55. ↑ Dundas Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/420. f. 467.
  56. ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1924). p. 219.
  57. ↑ Barrow Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/444. f. 511.
  58. ↑ Barrow Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/444. f. 511.
  59. ↑ Wood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49. f. ?.
  60. ↑ Wood Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49. f. ?.
  61. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1904. pp. 45-7.

Bibliography

  • Chesneau, Robert; Kolesnik, Eugene (editors) (1979). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. London: Conway Maritime Press. (on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk).


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