H.M.S. Drake (1901)
| H.M.S. Drake (1901) | |
|---|---|
| Pendant Number: | P.09 (1914)[1] |
| Builder: | Pembroke Royal Dockyard[2] |
| Ordered: | 1898-99 Programme[3] |
| Laid down: | 24 Apr, 1899[4] |
| Launched: | 5 Mar, 1901[5] |
| Commissioned: | 13 Jan, 1903[6] |
| Torpedoed: | 2 Oct, 1917[7] |
| Fate: | Sunk by U.79 |
Contents
Alterations
In October 1914, the ship was to be given 24 Pattern 1582 Electric Radiators to warm cabins whose stoves could not be used for heating them.[8]
Service
Drake was launched on 5 March, 1901, by Mrs. Lord Philips, wife of Mr. F. Lort, of Lawrenny Park, Pembrokeshire.[9] She was commissioned at Portsmouth for service in the Cruiser Squadron on 13 January, 1903, by Captain Francis C. B. Bridgeman.[10]
In 1910, Drake was the best gunnery ship of the 11 tested of the Atlantic Fleet and Fifth Cruiser Squadron, scoring 67.27 – well ahead of the average 41.303.[11]
Drake recommissioned at Portsmouth on 13 March, 1913.[12]
Great War
At the outset of the war on 1 August, Rear-Admiral William Grant hoisted his flag in Drake as flagship of the Sixth Cruiser Squadron.[13][14]
On 2 October 1917, having dispersed Convoy HH.24 off the North coast of Ireland, Drake was torpedoed by an unseen German submarine. Captain Radcliffe decided to make for Rathlin Island, and signalled for the just-released destroyer escort from Convoy HH.24. A division of the Second Destroyer Flotilla intercepted the signal, and within an hour eight destroyers formed an anti-submarine screen around Drake, followed by four sloops.
While entering Rathlin Sound the destroyer Brisk struck a mine and had to be towed into Lough Foyle by two trawlers. By noon Drake was anchored in Church Bay, but began to heel rapidly. She was abandoned and her crew taken off by the Martin and the Delphinium, and in the afternoon she capsized at anchor. At the court-martial which followed, Radcliffe was found to be justified in proceeding unescorted after the convoy had been dispersed, but considered that an escort should have been provided.[15]
Radio
In 1908, the ship was one of just nine equipped with the "C" Tune Gear, capable of transmitting (only?) on "S", "U" and "W" tunes. It was to receive a Service Mark II set in 1909.[16]
Captains
Dates of appointment are provided when known.
- Captain Francis C. B. Bridgeman, 13 January, 1903[17]
- Captain John R. Jellicoe, 12 August, 1903[18]
- Captain Frederick C. D. Sturdee, 14 November, 1904[19]
- Captain Mark E. F. Kerr, 1 February, 1905[20]
- Captain Arthur Hayes-Sadler, 15 February, 1907[21]
- Captain Charles Bartolomé, 24 February, 1909[22]
- Captain The Hon. Hubert G. Brand, 27 July, 1909[23]
- Captain Charles D. Johnson, 30 November, 1911[24]
- Captain Edward F. Bruen, January, 1912[25][26]
- Commander Henry C. R. Brocklebank, 13 March, 1913[27]
- Captain Aubrey C. H. Smith, 15 July, 1914[28]
- Captain William G. E. Ruck-Keene, 21 February, 1916[29]
- Captain Fawcet Wray, 31 May, 1916[30]
- Captain Stephen H. Radcliffe, 5 May, 1917[31]
Footnotes
- ↑ Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 42.
- ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 69.
- ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 69.
- ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 69.
- ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 69.
- ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 69.
- ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 69.
- ↑ Admiralty Weekly Order No. 512 of 16 Oct, 1914.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 6 March, 1901. Issue 36395, col A, p. 10.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 14 January, 1903. Issue 36977, col D, p. 8.
- ↑ The National Archives. ADM 1/8328, p. 4.
- ↑ The Navy List (July, 1913). p. 303.
- ↑ "New Sea Lord" (News). The Times. Friday, 7 August, 1914. Issue 40597, col D, p. 4.
- ↑ Goldrick. The King's Ships were at Sea. p. 27.
- ↑ Naval Operations. Vol. V. p. 162.
- ↑ ARTS 1908 Wireless Appendix, p. 13.
- ↑ Bridgeman Service Record. {The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 167.
- ↑ Jellicoe Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/87. f. 27.
- ↑ Sturdee Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/39. f. 1256.
- ↑ Kerr Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 30.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 303.
- ↑ Bartolomé Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 208.
- ↑ Brand Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 118.
- ↑ Johnson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 54.
- ↑ Bruen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 418.
- ↑ The Navy List. (March, 1913). p. 303.
- ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 304.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1914). p. 306.
- ↑ Ruck-Keene Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 451.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 398s.
- ↑ Radcliffe Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 342.
Bibliography
- Newbolt, Henry (1931). Naval Operations. Vol. V. London: Longmans, Green and Co..
See Also
| Drake Class Armoured Cruiser | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Drake | Good Hope | King Alfred | Leviathan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| <– | Cressy Class | Major Cruisers (UK) | Monmouth Class | –> | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
