H.M.S. Thames (1885)

H.M.S. Thames (1885)
Pendant Number:	N.43 (1914) N.97 (Jan 1918)
Builder:	Pembroke Royal Dockyard
Laid down:	14 Apr, 1884
Launched:	3 Dec, 1885
Commissioned:	1888
Sold:

H.M.S. Thames was completed in 1888 as one of four second class protected cruisers of the Mersey class, but served in the war as a submarine depot ship.

Service

Completed conversion to a depot ship in July, 1903.

In mid-1906, she was at Portsmouth, one of three depot ships minding the four "A"-class and six "B"-class boats of the Portsmouth Submarine Flotilla.

During the Test Mobilisation, Thames supported the Fifth Submarine Flotilla, which was then comprised of six "C" class submarines. It remained with the Flotilla when it was made part of the Nore Local Defence Flotilla at the start of the war.

In Spring, 1915, Thames received the first Attack Teacher to permit simulated submarine attacks for training men for submarine command.

In July, 1917, she moved over to support three "C" boats from the Ninth Submarine Flotilla, operating as part of the Harwich Force. In November, 1917, Thames moved to join the Sixth Submarine Flotilla, operating as part of the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla.

In October, 1918, Thames moved to the Clyde to support the new Periscope School at Campbeltown under the command of Henry Dale Gill, who'd commanded her previously.

She paid off at the Nore on 23 December, 1919.

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

• Captain Charles B. Theobald, 4 July, 1888 – 28 August, 1888  (for Annual Manoeuvres of 1888)
• Captain Wollaston C. Karslake, July, 1889  (for Annual Manoeuvres of 1889, not indicated in his service record)
• Captain Wollaston C. Karslake, 22 July, 1890 – 2 September, 1890  (for Annual Manoeuvres of 1890)
• Captain Robert W. Craigie, 11 July, 1893  (for Annual Manoeuvres of 1893)
• Captain Arthur W. E. Prothero, 24 July, 1895 – 28 August, 1895  (for Annual Manoeuvres of 1895)
• Captain Herbert A. Warren, 11 July, 1899 – 22 August, 1899  (for Annual Manoeuvres of 1899)
• Captain Arthur C. Clarke, 16 July, 1901  (for Annual Manoeuvres of 1901)
• Captain Henry L. Fleet, March 21, 1902
• Captain Reginald H. S. Bacon, 1 January, 1903 – 21 October, 1904  (and as Inspecting Captain of Submarine Boats)
• Captain Edgar Lees, 21 October, 1904 – 18 April, 1906  (and as Inspecting Captain of Submarine Boats)
• Commander Robert W. Johnson, 18 April, 1906 – 12 November, 1906  (and for duty in Submarine Boats)
• Commander Frank Brandt, 12 November, 1906 – 2 April, 1907  (and for duty in Submarine Boats)
• Commander Frederick L. Attenborough, 2 April, 1907 – 20 November, 1907  (and for Duty with Submarines and in Command of Sea-going Flotilla)
• Commander Oswald H. Davies, 20 November, 1907 – 14 July, 1909  (and for Duty with Submarines and in Command of Sea-going Flotilla)
• Commander William R. Napier, 14 July, 1909 – 21 November, 1911  (for duty with Submarines and in Command of Flotilla)
• Commander Alexander R. Palmer, 23 November, 1911 – 12 January, 1912  (for duty with Submarines and in Command of Flotilla)
• Commander Stanley L. Willis, 12 January, 1912 – 15 October, 1912  (and for duty with Submarines and in Command of Seagoing Flotilla)
• Lieutenant & Commander Charles G. Brodie, 1 January, 1913 – 14 January, 1914
• Commander Alexander R. Palmer, 14 January, 1914 – 10 February, 1915  (and in command of Fifth Submarine Flotilla)
• Commander George B. Lewis, 10 February, 1915 – 1 November, 1915  (in command of the Fifth Submarine Flotilla)
• Commander Sir Charles R. Blane, early April, 1915 – late April, 1915  (for passage)
• Acting Commander Tom K. Triggs, 1 November, 1915 – 13 April, 1917  (in command of the Fifth Submarine Flotilla)
• Lieutenant in Command (retired) Charles W. L. Meynell, 6 September, 1917
• Lieutenant-Commander Henry D. Gill, 20 April, 1917 – 5 September, 1917  (and for command of Fifth Submarine Flotilla)
• Lieutenant-Commander Henry D. Gill, 24 November, 1917 – 7 May, 1919  (and in Charge of Periscope School, and the Sixth Submarine Flotilla from 8 October, 1918)
• Commander Charles S. Benning, 7 May, 1919 – November, 1919  (and in Charge of Periscope School)
• Lieutenant (in Command?) Joseph F. Dunne, November, 1919 – 23 December, 1919  (appointed to Thames on 28 June, 1919)

See Also

• Wikipedia