H.M.S. Ariel (1897)
| H.M.S. Ariel (1897) | |
|---|---|
| Builder: | John I. Thornycroft & Company[1] |
| Ordered: | 1895-96[2] |
| Laid down: | 23 Apr, 1896[3] |
| Launched: | 5 Mar, 1897[4] |
| Commissioned: | Oct, 1898[5] |
| Wrecked: | 19 Apr, 1907[6] |
H.M.S. Ariel was one of the Royal Navy's eleven "D" class destroyers.
Performance
The ship was taken out of Chatham on 9 August, 1898 for a three-hour trial. The ship drew 5 feet, 11.75 inches forward and 6 feet 11.5 inches aft. She made 29.919 knots at 199 psi boiler pressure – she had averaged 30.039 on a previous test.[7]
Service
In commission with the Mediterranean Fleet in December 1905 and January, 1907.[8][9]
The destroyer was wrecked and lost in a night attack exercise on 19 April, 1907 when she was one of five destroyers testing the defences of Malta's Grand Harbour. Searchlights on St. Elmo point and Ricasoli blinded the men on the bridge and the ship struck a breakwater. With steering lost, Bruizer tried unsuccessfully to tow her to keep her clear of the rocky coast. A coxswain lost his life after he failed to be included in the evacuation over the rails that ensued.[10] Lieutenant Lancelot Napier Turton was faulted for taking unjustified risks that precipitated the calamity and he was not to be appointed to another destroyer in consequence.[11]
The body of the missing coxswain Sneddon was recovered by May 6.[12]
Captains
Dates of appointment are provided when known.
- Lieutenant James R. P. Hawksley, 8 October, 1898[13]
- Lieutenant & Commander Thomas F. T. Michell, 4 April, 1899 – 13 June, 1899
- Lieutenant & Commander Charles J. T. Dormer, 4 April, 1899 – 10 May, 1899
- Lieutenant & Commander Godfrey G. Webster, 13 October, 1899 – 12 February, 1900
- Lieutenant & Commander Henry C. R. Brocklebank, 1 March, 1900[14] – 31 May, 1900[15]
- Lieutenant & Commander Henry C. R. Brocklebank, c. July, 1900[16] – 18 September, 1900[17]
- Lieutenant & Commander John P. Irven, 18 September, 1900[18] – 2 March, 1901
- Commander Bertram M. Chambers, 16 July, 1901[19] – 22 August, 1901[Inference] (for the Annual Manoeuvres of 1901)
- Lieutenant & Commander Leopold G. D. Way, 22 August, 1901[20] (not noted in his service record)
- Lieutenant & Commander Arthur W. Lowis, 28 February, 1902[21] – 23 March, 1902[22]
- Lieutenant Valentine E. B. Phillimore, 11 March, 1902[23][24] – November, 1904[25]
- Lieutenant in Command Joseph A. Shuter, 30 December, 1904[26] – 31 January, 1905[27]
- Lieutenant & Commander Andrew W. Kerr, 6 April, 1905 – April, 1905[Inference] (temporary, by C-in-C)
- Lieutenant & Commander Basil G. Washington, April, 1905[28] – 2 October, 1905[29]
- Lieutenant & Commander Lancelot N. Turton, 2 October, 1905[30][31] – 19 April, 1907[32] (vessel wrecked under his command)
The conflict between Dormer and Michell is acknowledged. Dormer's appointment was initially to have been to Spitfire, but this was cancelled.
See Also
Footnotes
- ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 94.
- ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 94.
- ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 94.
- ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 94.
- ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 94.
- ↑ Wikipedia.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Wednesday, Aug 10, 1898; pg. 6; Issue 35591.
- ↑ The Monthly Navy List. (December, 1905). p. 280.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1907). p. 279.
- ↑ Hepper. British Warship Losses in the Ironclad Era: 1860-1919. p. 20.
- ↑ Turton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/100. f. 111.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), 6 May 1907, p. 6.
- ↑ Hawksley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 289.
- ↑ Brocklebank Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/390. f. 431.
- ↑ Brocklebank Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/390. f. 431.
- ↑ Brocklebank Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/390. f. 431.
- ↑ Brocklebank Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/390. f. 431.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1901). p. 226.
- ↑ "The Naval Manoeuvres." The Times (London, England), Thursday, July 11, 1901, Issue 36504, p.8.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Tuesday, 30 January 1900. (36052), p. 11.
- ↑ Lowis Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/93. f. 103.
- ↑ Lowis Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/93. f. 103.
- ↑ Phillimore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/511. f. 511.
- ↑ Naval & Military Intelligence The Times (London). Friday, 28 February 1902. (36703), p. 5.
- ↑ Phillimore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/511. f. 511.
- ↑ Shuter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/283. f. 318.
- ↑ Shuter Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/283. f. 318.
- ↑ Washington Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/514. f. 517.
- ↑ Washington Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/514. f. 517.
- ↑ Turton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/100. f. 111.
- ↑ The Navy List. (March, 1907). p. 279.
- ↑ Turton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/100. f. 111.
Bibliography
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| Desperate | Fame | Foam | Mallard | Angler | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ariel | Coquette | Cynthia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cygnet | Stag | Taku | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| <– | "C" Class | Destroyers (UK) | River Class | –> | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
