H.M.S. Canopus (1897)

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H.M.S. Canopus (1897)
Pendant Number: N.29 (1914)
N.17 (Jan 1918)[1]
Builder: Portsmouth Royal Dockyard[2]
Laid down: 4 Jan, 1897[3]
Launched: 13 Oct, 1897[4]
Commissioned: 5 Dec, 1899[5]
Sold: 18 Feb, 1920[6]
Fate: Scrapped

H.M.S. Canopus was a pre-dreadnought battleship of the Canopus Class in the Royal Navy completed in 1899.

Service

Around 1900, Canopus was assisting in radio experiments in which doubled antenna wires were allowing her to reliably converse with Jaseur and Hector at ranges of twelve miles.[7]

Relieved by Russell,[8] Canopus was paid off at Portsmouth on 24 April, 1903, preparatory to going to a private yard for refit.[9] On 18 July, 1904, a number of officers were appointed to Canopus for tactical exercises, amongst whom were Robert L. Groome,[10] and Maurice Woollcombe.[11]

By March 1907, she was one of sixteen battleships in the Channel Fleet, but designated, along with Goliath, Mars and Prince George to soon transfer to the Home Fleet.[12]

In mid-1913, she was in the Third Fleet at The Nore. In July, she was to "proceed to Pembroke Dock".[13]

Canopus was deemed too slow to join Rear-Admiral Cradock's force as it sought out von Spee's East Asia Squadron, and consequently was not present at the Battle of Coronel, where Spee sank the armoured cruisers of the British force, forcing the remnants to fall back to Port Stanley. Canopus joined this force as it awaited the arrival of Sturdee's battlecruisers and anchored in Port Stanley. She fired the first shots of the Battle of the Falkland Islands as von Spee approached.

After the battle of the Falkland islands Canopus was transferred in February 2015 to the Mediterranean and was part of the Dardanelles campaign.

The ship returned in April 1916 to Britain and was paid of.

The ship was sold for scrapping in 1920.

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

Radio

In 1901, while serving in the Mediterranean, she had or was slated to receive a Marconi W/T kit.[53]

See Also

Footnotes

  1. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 30.
  2. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 30.
  3. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 34.
  4. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 30.
  5. The Navy List. (February, 1900). p. 235.
  6. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 30.
  7. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1900. pp. 89-131.
  8. "The Navy Estimatesd." The Times (London, England), Wednesday, March 18, 1903, Issue 37031, p.4.
  9. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 25 April, 1903. Issue 37064, col E, p. 12.
  10. Groome Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 546.
  11. Woollcombe Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 504.
  12. The Navy List. (March, 1907). p. 269.
  13. The Navy List. (July, 1913). p. 290.
  14. The Navy List. (February, 1900). p. 235.
  15. Niblett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 956.
  16. Niblett Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 956.
  17. Tillard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/18. f. 557.
  18. Tillard Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/18. f. 557.
  19. "Appointments for the Naval Manoeuvres." The Times (London, England), Saturday, Jul 09, 1904; pg. 12; Issue 37442.
  20. Stafford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 221.
  21. Stafford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 524.
  22. Fisher Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 458.
  23. Fisher Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/18. p. 547.
  24. The Navy List. (November, 1905). p. 292.
  25. Gamble Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 506.
  26. The Navy List. (March, 1907). p. 291.
  27. The Navy List. (January, 1908). p. 291.
  28. Mundy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 920.
  29. Mundy Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 920.
  30. Story Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39/498. f. 1236.
  31. The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 291.
  32. Story Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39/498. f. 1236.
  33. Eyre Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 140.
  34. Inferred from his temporary successor. Wardle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 245.
  35. Wardle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 245.
  36. Wardle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 245.
  37. St. John Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/83. f. 90.
  38. The Navy List. (April, 1910). p. 291.
  39. St. John Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/83. f. 90.
  40. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Friday, 8 July, 1910. Issue 39319, col F, p. 9.
  41. Dannreuther Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/245. f. 270.
  42. The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 291.
  43. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  44. Grant-Dalton Service Record The National Archives. ADM 196/43/328. f. 362.
  45. The Navy List. (August, 1912). p. 291.
  46. "Naval Appointments." The Times (London, England), Monday, May 6, 1912, Issue 39891, p.15.
  47. Stopford Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/205. 221.
  48. Not clear when this ended.
  49. Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 258.
  50. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 338.
  51. Grant Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. f. 338.
  52. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 392d.
  53. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1901. p. 111.

Bibliography

  • Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. London: Ian Allan.
  • Grant, Vice Admiral Sir Heathcoat S. "H.M.S. Canopus, August, 1914, to March, 1916—I." The Naval Review XI (1): pp. 143-152.
  • Grant, Vice Admiral Sir Heathcoat S. "H.M.S. Canopus, August, 1914, to March, 1916—II." The Naval Review XI (2): pp. 324-337.
  • Grant, Vice Admiral Sir Heathcoat S. "H.M.S. Canopus, August, 1914, to March, 1916—III." The Naval Review XI (3): pp. 526-537.
  • Grant, Vice Admiral Sir Heathcoat S. "H.M.S. Canopus, August, 1914, to March, 1916—IV." The Naval Review XI (4): pp. 717-736.
  • Parkes, O.B.E., Ass.I.N.A., Dr. Oscar (1990). British Battleships 1860–1950. London: Pen & Sword Ltd. ISBN 0850526043. (on Bookfinder.com).


Canopus Class Pre-dreadnought
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