H.M.S. Vernon (Torpedo Training School)

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For our purposes, H.M.S. Vernon was a shore facility located in Portsmouth and housed in a hulked sailing ship. It was the Royal Navy's home for the research of Torpedoes and, soon thereafter, electricity and wireless telegraphy. It was situated very near the modern day "Spinnaker Tower".

History

In 1871 it was decided that Commander John Fisher would become Chief Torpedo Instructor at H.M.S. Excellent and educate officers in electricity and torpedoes.[1] In 1872 H.M.S. Vernon was selected to become the Royal Navy's torpedo training school as a tender to Excellent. Vernon was a fifty gun frigate designed by William Symonds which had been laid down in October, 1831 at Woolwich Royal Dockyard and launched on 1 May, 1832. She was described by Sir Charles Napier as the "most magnificent frigate ever built by any nation". She was hulked in March, 1863 and moved to Portsmouth for fitting out under the supervision of Fisher and was ready by the Spring of 1873.[2][3][4] In 1876 the Admiralty decided to separate Vernon from Excellent, and the former was commissioned in her own right on 26 April, 1876 under Captain William Arthur, with Arthur K. Wilson as Commander (Second-in-Command).[5]

In addition to instruction, research and testing of experimental devices were core activities which were published in a series of annual reports.

Captains

Dates of appointment given:

Numbers Trained

This data is generally contained in Section I of each edition of the Annual Report of the Torpedo School.

There were also a considerable number of men trained in seagoing ships.

Number trained in Seagoing Ships
in total
30 June, 1908 to 30 June, 1909 1,966[64]
30 June, 1909 to 30 June, 1910 2,368[65]
30 June, 1910 to 30 June, 1911 2,322[66]
30 June, 1911 to 30 June, 1912 2,801[67]

At some time prior to 1918, a short course in Torpedo Control was instituted. This is often referenced in the Service Records of men during the war as an appoinment to Vernon for a "T.C.C.". It was generally a week in duration.

Men trained in Vernon in Torpedo Control
1918[68]
Cdrs & Lt-Cdrs, R.N. 4
Lts, R.N. 62
Sub-Lts, R.N., R.A.N. & R.C.N. 287
Mates, R.N. 111
Midshipmen, R.N. & R.C.N. 13
officers, R.N.R. & R.A.N.R. 94
officers, R.N.V.R. 20
officers, R.A.F. 29
officers, R.M. 25
Instructor Lts. 13
Warrant Schoolmasters 50
Total: 708

Radio

In 1901, the school was noted as having or being slated to receive one Jackson, two Marconi and one "1 to 52" W/T set.[69]

At the end of 1909, she was to receive one of eleven Short Distance Radio Sets, to be installed at her next refit behind armour near the fore bridge, intended to supplant flag signaling.[70] In mid-1913, this gear was redesignated as Type 3.[71]

See Also

Footnotes

  1. Mackay. Fisher of Kilverstone. p. 106.
  2. Sharp. Memoirs of the Life and Services of Rear-Admiral Sir William Symonds, Kt.. p. 135.
  3. Lyon; Winfield. The Sail & Steam Navy List. p. 104.
  4. Mackay. Fisher of Kilverstone. pp. 109-110.
  5. Mackay. Fisher of Kilverstone. p. 125.
  6. The Navy List. (March, 1879). p. 249.
  7. The Navy List. (December, 1881). p. 249.
  8. The Navy List. (September, 1885). p. 256.
  9. Markham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/15. f. 12.
  10. The Navy List. (February, 1888). p. 253.
  11. Long Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/36/2058. f. 816.
  12. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 14 December, 1888. Issue 32569, col B, p. 10.
  13. Wilson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/14. f. 942.
  14. Wilson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/37. f. 1410.
  15. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Friday, 5 February, 1892. Issue 33553, col E, p. 4.
  16. Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/36. f. 246/566.
  17. Ottley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 988.
  18. Ottley Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 988.
  19. Blond. Technology and Tradition. p. 167.
  20. Blond. Technology and Tradition. p. 167.
  21. Blond. Technology and Tradition. p. 167.
  22. Egerton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 396.
  23. Egerton Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 396.
  24. Jackson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 685.
  25. Jackson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38. f. 685.
  26. Briggs Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. p. 654.
  27. Briggs Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. p. 654.
  28. Blond. Technology and Tradition. p. 167.
  29. Hornby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 338.
  30. Hornby Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 338.
  31. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 214.
  32. Nicholson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 214.
  33. Field Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 178.
  34. Field Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 178.
  35. Blond. Technology and Tradition. p. 167.
  36. Skipwith Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 255.
  37. Skipwith Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 255.
  38. The Navy List. (December, 1918). p. 926.
  39. Waistell Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 344.
  40. Waistell Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 344.
  41. Allen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 44.
  42. Allen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 44.
  43. Napier Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 296.
  44. Napier Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 296.
  45. The Navy List. (April, 1925). p. 279a.
  46. Kitson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 186.
  47. Kitson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 186.
  48. Archdale Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/90. f. 187.
  49. Archdale Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/90. f. 187.
  50. Bridges Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/34. f. 34.
  51. Bridges Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/34. f. 34.
  52. Taylor Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/173. f. 173.
  53. Taylor Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/173. f. 173.
  54. Miles Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50. f. 327.
  55. Miles Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50. f. 327.
  56. The Navy List. (July, 1937). p. 283.
  57. Willis Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52. f. 460.
  58. Willis Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/52. f. 460.
  59. Boyd Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/8. f. 8.
  60. Boyd Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/96/8. f. 8.
  61. National Archives. Papers of Rear Admiral Brian Egerton (1886 - 1973)
  62. Grace Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/134. f. 136.
  63. Grace Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/56/134. f. 136.
  64. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1910. p. iv.
  65. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1911. p. iv.
  66. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1911. p. iv, 7.
  67. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1912. p. iv, 8.
  68. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1918. p. 227.
  69. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1901. p. 112.
  70. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1909. Wireless Appendix, p. 25.
  71. Admiralty Weekly Order No. 306 of 20 June, 1913.

Bibliography

  • Blond, A. J. L. (1993). Technology and Tradition: Wireless Telegraphy and the Royal Navy 1895-1920. Unpublished PhD Thesis. Lancaster: University of Lancaster.