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Royal Navy Log Books of the World War 1 Era - An Old Weather Citizen History Project

 

ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS and AUXILIARIES
HMS Acacia to HMS Hyacinth (Part 1 of 2)


Compiled by Gordon Smith and Don Kindell, Naval-History.Net

HMS Swiftsure, battleship (Photo Ships, click to enlarge)

  

on to Part 2
or back to Royal Navy Log Books
 
Under the leadership of the University of Oxford's Zooniverse programme, the UK Meteorological Office and Naval-History.Net have worked with large numbers of online volunteers to transcribe historical weather data and naval events from the logbooks of over 300 Royal Navy ships of the World War 1-era. Photos and brief details of the ships can be found on this page, together with links to background information.

The naval events are now being edited. If you would like to help  - a fascinating voyage in time and space - please visit "Editing the Ship Histories".

 

Background to Life in the Royal Navy in the World War 1 Era
 
 

links to:

 

Meteorological Instruments and their use

 

Royal Navy Signalman, 1904-28

HM Motor Launches, British Isles 1916-1918

HMS Zubian, Dover Straits 1918

HMS Fox, North Russia 1919

HMS Vanquisher, Baltic Sea 1921

HMS Curlew, America & West Indies Station 1922-25

HMS Durban, China Station 1926-28

 

Types and Numbers of Crews on Royal Navy Ships

British Shipbuilding Industry 1914-18


Compass Rose
 

Logbooks in Outline by Don Kindell - The logbook was as a rule a monthly record, which was landed as soon as possible once the month was completed.  That could be at a port of call or say, transferred to a collier, before being sent on to the Admiralty.  On Home Stations, the process was very speedy.  On Foreign Stations, the log would arrive as much as six to eight weeks after it was sent.

This process prevented more than one log being lost with the ship, except in rare instances on some foreign stations.  This might occur while the ship was at sea and lost at the beginning of a month, before the prior month's log was landed. In addition to all the other hazards to which the log book was subjected to aboard the ship, there was always a possibility the ship (warship or transport) carrying the log book back to England could be lost or damaged and the log lost this way. 

Finally, the logs were safely secured in the Admiralty files, later the Public Record Office, but were subject to some pilfering by collectors and enthusiasts.
 

The Ships

Ship Name

 

Type and class, main characteristics, WW1 Battle Honours, Fate including links to any Battle Honours, World War 1 fates, and World War 2 service.

Also images of various aspects of naval life at sea and ashore

 

Logbook periods covered and main locations including links to any contemporary accounts

 

Images, click for enlargements. Most images are taken, with permission, from Internet sites (for which our thanks)..

Most of the photographs of hired vessels e.g. armed merchant cruisers, commissioned escort ships, are as they appeared in civilian service, hence SS for Steamship. In some cases it is uncertain if the photograph is of an earlier or later ship with the same name - in this case a qualification is added.

Click for notes on 1. Order of Information after Ship's Name, 2. Additional Abbreviations, 3. Ship Information, 4. Types of Vessels

 

Acacia

 

fleet minesweeping sloop, Acacia-type, 1,200t, 1915(l), 2-12pdr, 16kts, 90 crew. Sold 1922

 

Young naval family in 1916 (Yeoman of Signals George Smith, his wife, and son George, killed in action at sea in 1943)

May 1915-Jul 1916, Spitsbergen, Bear Island

 

 

HMS Acacia (Photo Ships)

Achilles

armoured cruiser, Warrior-class, 13,350t, 1907(c), 6-9.2in, 23kts, 712 crew, Leopard action, 1917. Sold 1921

 

 

 

Sep 1916-Dec 1918, Atlantic convoys

HMS Achilles (CyberHeritage/Terry Phillips)

Africa

battleship, King Edward VII-class, 16,350t, 1906(c), 4–12in, 19kts, 777 crew. Sold 1920

 

Jan 1917-Apr 1917, Jun 1917-Nov 1918, Sierra Leone (convoys), Cape of Good Hope (convoys)

HMS Africa (Maritime Quest)

Alacrity

despatch vessel, ex-Surprise, 1,650t, 1885(l), 6-6pdr, 17kts, 93 crew. Sold 1919

Jul 1921-Jun 1922, China

 

 

HMS Alacrity (Photo Ships)

Albemarle

battleship, Duncan-class, 14,000t, 1903(c), 4-12in, 19kts, 720 crew. Sold 1919

 

 

Jan 1915-Nov 1916, Archangel

HMS Albermarle in 1903 (Maritime Quest)

Albion

 

battleship, Canopus-class, 12,950t, 1901(c), 4-12in, 18kts, 682 crew, Dardanelles 1915. Sold 1919

Jul 1914-Dec 1915, Cape Verde Islands, Cape of Good Hope

HMS Albion in 1911 (Maritime Quest)

Alcantara

armed merchant cruiser (hired), 15,831grt, 1914(b), 8-6in, 16kts. Sunk in action with German raider Greif in North Sea 29/2/16

 

 

Apr 1915-Jan 1916, Northern Patrol

believed to be SS Alcantara (Photo Ships)

Alert

depot ship, Persian Gulf, ex-sloop, Alert-class, 960t, 1895(c), was 6-4in, 13kts, 106 crew. Sold 1926

 

 

Oct 1915-Feb 1916, Jun 1916-Feb 1918, East Indies Station

sister-ship HMS Torch (Photo Ships)
Algerine old sloop, 1050t, 1895(c), 6-4in, 13kts, 106 crew. Sold 1919 Aug 1914, Pacific and Esquimalt
HMS Algerine (Dave Martin)

Almanzora

armed merchant cruiser (hired), 16,304grt, 1914(b), 6-6in, 16kts. Returned to civilian service 12/19

 

Oct 1915-Sep 1916, Northern Patrol, Denmark Strait;

Oct 1916-Oct 1917, Northern Patrol, Denmark Strait, Sierra Leone, Northern Patrol, Halifax;

Nov 1917-Nov 1918, Dakar, Halifax, Rio de Janeiro, Sierra Leone

SS Almanzora (Photo Ships)

Alsatian

armed merchant cruiser (hired), 18,481grt, 1913(b), 8-4.7in, 19kts. Returned to civilian service 4/19

 

Ship's stokehold, probably Merchant Navy (Dave Martin)

Aug 1914-Dec 1917, Northern Patrol;

Mar 1918-Dec 1918, Atlantic convoys

 

 

SS Alsatian (Photo Ships)
Amazon
 		 destroyer, Tribal-class, 970t, 1908(l), 2-4in/2-18in tt, 33 kts, 68 crew, Belgian Coast 1914-1918. Sold 1919 Aug-Oct 1916, Cape Verde Islands
HMS Amazon (Photo Ships)

Ambrose

 

armed merchant cruiser (hired), purchased 10/15 as submarine depot ship, 4,594grt, 1903(b), 8-4.7in, 15kts, purchased 10/15, converted to depot ship. Served in WW2, sold 1946

Mar 1915-Oct 1915, Northern Patrol;

Jul 1919-Oct 1923, China, Japan

 

SS Ambrose (Blue Star Line)

Amethyst

old 3rd class cruiser, Gem-class, 3,000t, 1905(c), 12-4in, 22kts, 296 crew, Heligoland 1914, Dardanelles 1915. Sold 1920

Mar 1915-Jul 1918, Nov 1918-Feb 1919, South America, South Atlantic

HMS Amethyst (Cyber Heritage)

Amphitrite

old 1st class cruiser, Diadem-class, 11,000t, 1901(c), 16-6in, 20kts, 677 crew. Sold 1920

 

 

Aug 1914-Jun 1915, Madeira, Cape Verde Islands

HMS Amphitrite (Photo Ships)

Andes

armed merchant cruiser (hired), 15,620grt, 1913(b), 6-6in, 16kts. Returned to civilian service 10/19

 

Apr 1915-Dec 1917, Northern Patrol;

Jan 1918-Dec 1918, Atlantic convoys

 

SS Andes (Photo Ships)

Antrim

armoured cruiser, Devonshire-class, 10,850t, 1905(c), 4-7.5in, 22kts, 700 crew. Sold 1922

 

Jan 1916-Jun 1917 Archangel, Halifax, Bermuda;

Jul 1917-Dec 1917, West Indies, Atlantic convoys

 

HMS Antrim (CyberHeritage/Terry Phillips)
Aphis river gunboat, Insect-class, 645t, 1915(l), 2-6in, 14kts, 53 crew. Served in WW2. Sold 1947 Feb-Apr 1916, Port Said;
Dec 1920-Aug 1921, Danube
HMS Aphis (Maritime Quest)

Argonaut

 

old 1st class cruiser, Diadem-class, 11,000t, 1900(c), 16-6in, 20kts, 677 crew. Sold 1920

 

Aug 1914-Oct 1914, Madeira

Nov 1914-Sep 1915, Azores, Madeira

 

HMS Argonaut (Photo Ships)

Ark Royal
 		 seaplane carrier; built on merchant ship hull, 7080t, 1914(c), 4-12pdr/7 aircraft, 11kts, 180 crew, Dardanelles 1915. Served in WW2 as HMS Pegasus. Sold 1946. Jan-Dec 1919, Mediterranean and Dardanelles
HMS Ark Royal (Maritime Quest)

Arlanza

armed merchant cruiser (hired), 15,044grt, 1912(b), 6-6in, 16kts. Returned to civilian service 6/20

 

Apr 1915-Jul 1916 Nov 1916-Jul 1917, Northern Patrol, White Sea;

Jul 1917-Dec 1918, Atlantic convoys

 

SS Arlanza (Photo Ships)

Armadale Castle

armed merchant cruiser (hired), 12,973grt, 1903 (b), 8-4.7in, 17kts. Returned to civilian service 9/19

 

Aug 1914-Oct 1917, Cape of Good Hope;

Nov 1917-Dec 1917, Sierra Leone (convoys);

Jan 1918-Apr 1918, Atlantic convoys

 

SS Armadale Castle (Photo Ships)

Artois, as Digby

armed merchant cruiser (hired), 3,966grt, 1913(b), 5-6in, 14kts, renamed Artois 11/15

Mar 1915-Nov 1915, Northern Patrol

SS Digby (Furness Lines)

Artois, ex-Digby

Returned to civilian service 1/19

Jul 1917-Dec 1917, Northern Patrol

as above

Astraea

 

old 2nd class cruiser, Astraea-class, 4,350t, 1895(c), 2-6in, 19kts, 318 crew, Cameroons 1914. Sold 1920

 

 

Apr 1913-Jul 1919, Cape of Good Hope

(unedited version may include some pages from log books of armed yacht HMS Atalanta - see below)

HMS Astraea (Photo Ships)
Atalanta armed yacht (ex‑Lorena),  1303grt, 1903(b) 2‑3 in. hired 5.6.15‑21.2.19.

 

 Aug-Dec 1915, British waters, UK to Gibraltar
A typical hired yacht, in this case the smaller HMS Adventuress, 342grt/1913. Here shown back in service in World War 2 (Photo Ships)

Attack

destroyer, I-class, 990t, 1911(l), 2-4in, 28kts, Heligoland 1914, Dogger Bank 1915, Jutland 1916. Torpedoed by, or sunk by mine laid by UC.34 off Alexandria, 30/12/17

 

HMS Attack sinking (Janet Martin)

Dec 1916-Aug 1917, Atlantic convoys

HMS Attack (Photo Ships)

Attentive

scout cruiser, Adventure-class, 2,670t, 1905(c), 9-4in, 25kts, 268 crew, Belgian Coast 1914-1918, Zeebrugge 1918. Sold 1920

Aug 1917-Dec 1918, Murmansk

HMS Attentive (Photo Ships)

Avenger

armed merchant cruiser (hired), 15,000grt, 1915(b), 8-6in, 18kts, Torpedoed and sunk by U.69 off Shetlands 14/6/17

 

Mar 1916-Aug 1916, West Africa;

Sep 1916-Jun 1917, Northern Patrol

 

HMS Avenger (Photo Ships)

Avoca

ex-Avon, armed merchant cruiser (hired), 11,073grt, 1907(b), 8-6in, 16kts. Returned to civilian service 10/19

 

 

Mar 1916-Dec 1918, Pacific

 

as SS Avon (Royal Mail Steam Packet Co)

Bacchante

armoured cruiser, Cressy-class, 12,000t, 1902(c), 2-9.2in, 21kts, 760 crew, Heligoland 1914, Dardanelles 1915-1916. Sold 1920

Jun 1917-Apr 1919, Gibraltar, West Africa

HMS Bacchante in Port Said (Photo Ships)
Bacchus water carrier until 1917, then stores carrier, 4,000grt, 1915(l), 10kts. Sunk as target 1938. Jan-Oct 1919, possibly worldwide
HMS Bacchus  (Chris White)
Barham
 		 battleship, Queen Elizabeth-class, 27,500t, 1915(c), 8-15in/14-6in, 23kts, 925 crew, Jutland 1916. Served in WW2, torpedoed and sunk 25/11/41 in Eastern Mediterranean Aug 1915-Aug 1916, North Sea area
HMS Barham (Photo Ships)

Bayano

commissioned escort ship (hired), 6,788grt, 1917(b), 4-6in, 14kts. Returned to civilian service 3/19

Dec 1917-Dec 1918, Atlantic convoys

SS Bayano (Photo Ships)

Bee

river gunboat, Insect-class, 645t, 1915(l), 2-6in, 14kts, 53 crew. Sold 1939

 

 

Feb 1918-Jan 1923, Hong Kong, Yangtse River

HMS Bee (Photo Ships)
Ben-My-Chree
 		 seaplane carrier (wartime steamer conversion), 3,888t, 1908(c), 2-4in/4 seaplanes, 24kts, c250 crew, Dardanelles 1915. Sunk by Turkish gunfire 11/1/17


HMS Ben-My-Chree on fire and sinking (Photo Ships)

 Feb-Jul 1916, Dardanelles and Aden
HMS Ben-My-Chree (Photo Ships)

Berwick

armoured cruiser, Monmouth-class, 9,800t, 1903(c), 14-6in, 23kts, 678 crew. Sold 1920

 

Collided with, and sank destroyer HMS Tiger in 1908 (CyberHeritage/Terry Phillips)

Mar 1914-Nov 1915 Jun 1916-Mar 1917, West Indies

Apr 1917-Aug 1918, Atlantic convoys;

Nov 1918-Aug 1919, Bermuda, Pacific

HMS Berwick (Photo Ships)

Birmingham

2nd class/light cruiser, Birmingham-class, 5,440t, 1914(c), 9-6in, 25kts, 480 crew, Heligoland 1914, Dogger Bank 1915, Jutland 1916. Sold 1931

 

 

Jun 1919-Jun 1921, Cape of Good Hope


HMS Birmingham (Photo Ships)
Blenheim 1st-class cruiser, Blake-class, converted to destroyer depot ship 1907, 9,000t, 1890 (l), 4-6in, 22kts, Mediterranean destroyers 1914-18. Sold 1926 May 1914-Aug 1917, Malta
HMS Blenheim, as cruiser (Photo Ships)

Bluebell

 

fleet minesweeping sloop, Acacia-type, 1,200t, 1915(l), 2-12pdr, 16kts, 90 crew. Sold 1930

 

Jan 1920-Dec 1920, China, Dutch East Indies Station;

Jan 1921-Apr 1924, China, Dutch East Indies Station

sister-ship HMS Anemone (Photo Ships)

Bramble

old 1st class gunboat, Bramble-class, 710t, 1898(l), 2-4in, 13kts. Sold 1920

 

Mar 1914-Jul 1914, Sep 1915-Oct 1919, China, East Indies Station

 

 

HMS Bramble (Photo Ships)

Bristol

2nd class/light cruiser, Bristol-class, 4,800t, 1910(c), 2-6in, 25kts, 480 crew, Falkland Islands 1914. Sold 1921

Jun 1914-Dec 1915, West Indies, Falkland Islands;

Jan 1918-May 1919, South America; plus Series 2 logs

 

HMS Bristol (CyberHeritage/Terry Phillips)

Britannia

 

battleship, King Edward VII-class, 16,350t, 1906(c), 4-12in, 19kts, 777 crew. Sunk by UB.50 off Cape Trafalgar 9/11/18

 

 

Jan 1917-Sep 1918, West Africa, West Indies

HMS Britannia (Navy Photos/Anton)

Britomart

old 1st class gunboat, Bramble-class, 710t, 1899(l), 2-4in, 13kts. Sold 1920

 


 HMS Curlew - some of the crew ashore collecting coconuts on Washington Island in the Pacific in 1923 (Yeoman of Signals George Smith)

Jan 1917-Oct 1917, Mar 1918-Mar 1920, East Indies Station

 

sister-ship HMS Bramble (Photo Ships)

Cadmus

old sloop, Cadmus-class, 1,070t, 1904(c), 6-4in, 13kts, 150 crew. Sold 1921

 

Oct 1913-Aug 1917, Dec 1917-Aug 1920, China, East Indies Station

 

HMS Cadmus (Photo Ships)

Caesar

battleship, Majestic-class, 14,900t, 1897(c), 4-12in, 17kts, 757 crew. Sold 1921

 

 

May 1914-Sep 1918, Bermuda, West Indies;

Sep-Dec 1919, Mediterranean and Black Sea

HMS Caesar (MaritimeQuest)

Cairo

light cruiser, Capetown-class, 4,290t, 1919(c), 5-6in, 29kts, 432 crew. Served in WW2, sunk by Italian submarine in Mediterranean, 12/8/42

Oct 1919-Jan 1924, East Indies Station

 

 

HMS Cairo in WW2 (Navy Photos/Mark Teadham)

Calcutta

light cruiser, Capetown-class, 4,290t, 1919(c), 5-6in, 29kts, 432 crew. Served in WW2, sunk by German aircraft off Crete, 1/6/41

 


 HMS Curlew - water polo match in Bermuda, Christmas 1922 (Yeoman of Signals George Smith)

Sep 1919-Sep 1923, North America, Newfoundland

HMS Calcutta (Photo Ships)

Calgarian

armed merchant cruiser (hired), 17,515grt, 1914(b), 8-6in, 20kts. Sunk by U.29 off Rathlin Island, north Ireland 1/3/1918

 

Oct 1914-Dec 1914, Canary Islands;

Jan 1915-Jan 1918, North America, Atlantic convoys

 

SS Calgarian (Photo Ships)

Calliope

 

light cruiser, Calliope-class, 4,230t, 1915(c), 2-6in/8-4in, 29kts, 368 crew, Jutland 1916. Sold 1931

 

Mar 1919-Apr 1919, Jun 1919, Aug 1919-Nov 1919

Apr 1920-Dec 1920, West Indies, Azores

 

HMS Calliope (Photo Ships)
Calypso
 		 light cruiser, Caledon-class, 4,120t, 1917(c), 5-6in, 29kts, 400 crew. Served in WW2, torpedoed and sunk 12/6/40 in Eastern Mediterranean Nov-Dec 1918, Baltic
HMS Calypso launching (Rory Carson)

Cambrian

light cruiser, Cambrian-class, 4,320t, 1916(c), 2-6in/8-4in, 29kts, 368 crew. Sold 1934

Jan 1919-Apr 1922, West Indies

 

 

HMS Cambrian (Photo Ships)

Canopus

battleship, Canopus-class, 12,950t, 1900(c), 4-12in, 18kts, 750 crew, Dardanelles 1915-16. Sold 1920

 

 

Jun 1913-Mar 1915, South Atlantic, Mediterranean

HMS Canopus (CyberHeritage/Terry Phillips)
Canterbury   light cruiser, Cambrian-class, 4,320t, 1916(c), 2-6in/8-4in, 28kts, 368 crew, Jutland 1916. Sold 1934 May-Jun 1918, North Sea area;
Jan 1918-May 1919, Aegean and Black Seas
HMS Canterbury (Photo Ships)

Capetown

light cruiser, Capetown-class, 4,290t, 1922(c), 5-6in, 29kts, 432 crew. Served in WW2, sold 1946

 

HMS Curlew - sister-ship Capetown's rugby team before playing Curlew in Bermuda, 1922 (Yeoman of Signals George Smith)

Apr 1922-Mar 1924, North America, Montreal

HMS Capetown (Photo Ships)
Caradoc light cruiser, Caledon-class, 4,120t, 1917(c), 5-6in, 29kts, 400 crew. Served in WW2, sold 1946 Nov-Dec 1918, Baltic
HMS Caradoc (CyberHeritage/Terry Phillips)
Cardiff light cruiser, Ceres-class, 4,190t, 1917(c), 5-6in, 29kts, 460 crew. Served in WW2, sold 1946 Jan 1918-Dec 1919, North Sea, Baltic, Mediterranean and Adriatic
HMS Cardiff (Photo Ships)

Carlisle

light cruiser, Capetown-class, 4,290t, 1918(c), 5-6in, 29kts, 432 crew. Served in WW2, badly damaged by German aircraft in Aegean 9/10/43, base ship. Sold 1948

 

 

Dec 1919-Dec 1920, Dec 1922-Nov 1923, China

HMS Carlisle (Photo Ships)

Carmania

armed merchant cruiser (hired), 19,254grt, 1905(b), 8-4.7in, 18kts, Cap Trafalgar action 1914. Returned to civilian service 7/16

Aug 1914-May 1916, Western Atlantic

 

 

HMS Carmania in action (CyberHeritage/Terry Phillips)

Carnarvon

armoured cruiser, Devonshire-class, 10,850t, 1905(c), 4-7.5in, 22kts, 655 crew, Falkland Islands 1914. Sold 1921

Jul 1913-Dec 1917, Cape Verde Islands, South Atlantic;

Jan 1918-Feb 1918, Oct 1918-Nov 1918, Atlantic convoys

HMS Carnarvon (Photo Ships)

Caroline

light cruiser, Caroline-class, 4,229t, 1914(c), 2-6in/8-4in, 28kts, 301 crew, Jutland 1916. Still in existence as drill ship in Belfast

 

 

Jun 1919-Feb 1922, East Indies Station

HMS Caroline (CyberHeritage/Terry Phillips)

Caronia

armed merchant cruiser (hired), 19,867grt, 1905(b), 8-4.7in, 18kts. Returned to civilian service 9/16

 

Aug 1914-May 1915, South Atlantic;

Jun 1915-Dec 1915, North America and West Indies Station

 

SS Caronia (Photo Ships)

Carrigan Head

 

owned by Ulster Steamship Co/Head Line, hired as commissioned escort ship, 4,201grt, 1901(b), 2-6in. Returned to civilian service 2/19

 

 

Sep 1917-Oct 1918, Atlantic convoys

possibly similar to SS Lord Downshire, 4,893grt, built 1899, owned by the same company (Photo Ships)
Castor light cruiser, Cambrian-class, 4,320t, 1915(c), 2-6in/8-4in, 28kts, 368 crew, Jutland 1916. Sold 1936 May-Jul 1916, North Sea area;
Jan 1919-May 1920, Black Sea
HMS Castor (Photo Ships)

Cedric

 

armed merchant cruiser (hired), 21,040grt, 1903(b), 8-6in, 17kts. Returned to civilian service 1/16

 

 

Dec 1914-Jan 1916, Northern Patrol

SS Cedric under tow (Photo Ships)

Celtic

armed merchant cruiser (hired), 20,904grt, 1901(b), 8-6in, 17kts. Returned to civilian service 1/16

 

 

Nov 1914-Dec 1915, South America, Pacific

SS Celtic in Phaleron Bay, Greece (Photo Ships)
Centaur
 		 light cruiser, Centaur-class, 4,165t, 1916(c), 5-6in, 29kts, 437 crew, Belgian Coast 1914-1918. Sold 1934 Jan 1918-Feb 1920, Baltic
HMS Centaur (Photo Ship)
Ceres light cruiser, Ceres-class, 4,190t, 1917(c), 5-6in, 29kts, 460 crew. Served in WW2. Sold 1946 Jan 1918-Dec 1919, Baltic

Challenger

old 2nd class cruiser, Challenger-class, 5,650t, 1904(c), 11-6in, 20kts, 450 crew, Cameroons 1914. Sold 1920

 

Jul 1914-Apr 1919, West Africa, East Africa

HMS Challenger (Photos Ships)

Changuinola

armed merchant cruiser (hired), ex-German, 5,978t, 1912(b), 6-6in, 15kts. Returned to civilian service 1/20

 

 

Dec 1914-Jan 1919, Northern Patrol, Atlantic convoys

SS Changuinola (Photo Ships)

Chatham

2nd class/light cruiser, Chatham-class, 5,400t, 1912(c), 8-6in, 25kts, 380 crew, Dardanelles 1915-16, to New Zealand, 1920-24. Sold 1926

 

 

Apr 1915-Feb 1916, Mediterranean and East Africa;

Oct 1920-May 1924, West Indies, New Zealand

HMS Chatham (Photo Ships)

Christopher

destroyer, K-class, 1,072t, 1912(l), 3-4in/2tt, 29kts, 73 crew, Jutland 1916. Sold 1921

Nov 1916-Dec 1918, Atlantic convoys

sister-ship HMS Ardent (Navy Photos)

Cicala

river gunboat, Insect-class, 645t, 1916(c), 2-6in, 14kts, 53 crew. Served in WW2, sunk by Japanese aircraft at Hong Kong, 21/12/41

 

Dvina River Flotilla, North Russia 1919

Sep 1918-Jul 1919, North Russia;

Jan 1920-Dec 1920, China

 

HMS Cicala in North Russia (both scrapbook of Yeoman of Signals George Smith)

 

City of London

armed merchant cruiser (hired), 8,917t, 1907(b), 8-6in, 15kts. Returned to civilian service 7/19

 

Mar 1916-Apr 1918, China;

Aug 1918-Nov 1918, Atlantic convoys

 

SS City of London (Photo Ships)

Clio

old sloop, Cadmus-class, 1,070t, 1904(c), 6-4in, 13kts, 150 crew, Suez Canal 1915, Mesopotamia 1915. Sold 1920

Oct 1913-Aug 1918, Mar 1919-Aug 1919, China;

Nov 1919-May 1920, East Indies Station

 

 

sister-ship HMS Cadmus (Photo Ships)

Cochrane

armoured cruiser, Warrior-class, 13,530t, 1907(c), 6-9.2in, 22kts, 700 crew, Jutland 1916. Wrecked in River Mersey 14/11/18

 

 

Aug 1917-Mar 1918, Atlantic convoys

HMS Cochrane (CyberHeritage/Terry Phillips)

Cockchafer

river gunboat, Insect-class, 645t, 1916(c), 2-6in, 14kts, 53 crew. Served in WW2, sold 1949

 

Sep 1918-Dec 1918, North Russia;

Jan 1920-Dec 1923, China

 

HMS Cockchafer (Photo Ships)

Colne

destroyer, E or River-class, 615t, 1905(c), 4-12pdr/2tt, 25kts, 70 crew, Dardanelles 1915-16. Sold 1919

 

 

Jan 1914-Aug 1918, Nov 1918-Mar 1919, China

HMS Colne (Photo Ships)

Colombo

light cruiser, Capetown-class, 4,290t, 1920(c), 5-6in, 29kts, 432 crew. Served in WW2, sold 1948

 

 

Jul 1919-Feb 1924, China, East Indies Station

HMS Colombo (Photo Ships)

Columbella

ex-Columbia, armed merchant cruiser (hired), 8,292grt, 1902(b), 6-6in, 18kts. Returned to civilian service 6/19 as Columbia

 

Nov 1914-Aug 1917, Spitsbergen Bear Island, Northern Patrol;

Sep 1917-Nov 1918, Atlantic convoys

 

as SS Columbia (Photo Ships)
Commonwealth battleship, King Edward VII-class, 15,585t, 1905(c), 4-12in/4-9.2in, 18kts, 777 crew. Sold 1921 April-Aug 1918, Northern Patrol
HMS Commonwealth (CyberHeritage/Trevor Phillips)

Comus

light cruiser, Caroline-class, 4,229t, 1915(c), 2-6in/8-4in, 28kts, 301 crew, Jutland 1916. Sold 1934

Oct 1919-Jun 1922, East Indies Station

 

 

HMS Comus (Photo Ships)

Constance

light cruiser, Cambrian-class, 4,320t, 1916(c), 2-6in/8-4in, 29kts, 368 crew, Jutland 1916. Sold 1936

 

 

Jan 1919-Dec 1923, West Indies

HMS Constance (Photo Ships)

Cornflower

fleet minesweeping sloop, Arabis-type, 1,250t, 1916(l), 2-4.7in, 16kts, 90 crew. Served in WW2, lost at Hong Kong 19/12/41

 

 

Sep 1922-Aug 1924, East Indies Station

HMS Cornflower (Photo Ships)

Cornwall

armoured cruiser, Monmouth-class, 9,800, 1904(c), 14-6in, 23kts, 678 crew, Falkland Islands 1914, Dardanelles 1915. Sold 1920

 

HMS Curlew - steaming into an Atlantic storm in 1922 (Yeoman of Signals George Smith)

Dec 1913-Apr 1915, West Indies, South Atlantic, East Africa;

Jan 1916-Mar 1917, China;

Aug 1917-Aug 1919, West Indies, Atlantic convoys

HMS Cornwall (Photo Ships)

Coronado

owned by Elders & Fyffes Shipping, hired as commissioned escort ship, 6,539grt, 1915(b), 4-6in, 14kts. Returned to civilian service 3/19

 

 

Nov 1917-Oct 1918, Atlantic convoys

SS Coronado disembarking passengers at Royal

Edward Dock, Bristol (Photo Ships)
Coventry

 

 light cruiser, Ceres-class, 4,190t, 1917(l), 5-6in, 29kts, 460 crew. Served in WW2, and sunk 14/9/42 in Mediterranean June 1920-May 1921, Ferrol & Gibraltar
HMS Coventry (Photo Ships)

Crescent

old 1st class cruiser, Edgar-class, 7,350t, 1894(c), 2-9.2in, 20kts, 544 crew. Sold 1921

 

 

Jan 1914-Feb 1915, Northern Patrol

HMS Crescent (Photo Ships)

Cricket

river gunboat, Insect-class, 645t, 1916(c), 2-6in, 14kts, 53 crew. Served in WW2, badly damaged by Axis aircraft off Egyptian coast, broken up 1942

Nov 1918-Dec 1918, North Russia;

Jan 1920-Dec 1923, China

 

 

sister-ship HMS Cicala (scrapbook of Yeoman of Signals George Smith)

Crocus

fleet minesweeping sloop, Arabis-type, 1,250t, 1915(l), 2-4.7in, 16kts, 90 crew. Sold 1930

 

 

Jan 1921-Dec 1923, East Indies Station

HMS Crocus (Photo Ships)

Cumberland

armoured cruiser, Monmouth-class, 9,800t, 1904(c), 14-6in, 23kts, 678 crew, Cameroons 1914. Sold 1921

 

Aug 1913-May 1914, Dec 1914, Mar 1915-Aug 1916, Oct 1916, West Indies;

Jun 1917-Dec 1918, Atlantic convoys;

Feb 1919-Apr 1920, West Indies

HMS Cumberland (Photo Ships)

Curlew

light cruiser, Ceres-class, 4,190t, 1917(c), 5-6in, 29kts, 460 crew. Served in WW2, sunk by German bombers off Norway, 26/5/40

 

Signal Staff of near sister-ship HMS Cassandra in 1917 (Yeoman of Signals George Smith)

Apr 1920-Sep 1922, China;

Nov 1922-Nov 1923, Pacific, West Indies;

see HMS Curlew, America & West Indies Station 1922-25

HMS Curlew (Dave Martin)

Cyclamen

fleet minesweeping sloop, Arabis-type, 1,250t, 1916(l) 2-4.7in, 16kts, 90 crew. Sold 1932

Mar 1922-Jul 1922, Jan 1923-Feb 1924, Persian Gulf

 

 

HMS Cyclamen (Photo Ships)
Dalhousie troopship, Royal Indian Marine, 1,960t, 1886(b), 6-6pdr, 14kts. Served in WW2. Jan-Jul 1919, Persian Gulf
RIMS Dalhousie (Photo Ships)

Danae

light cruiser, Danae-class, 4,850t, 1918(c), 6-6in, 29kts, 450 crew. Served in WW2, sold 1948

Dec 1920-Nov 1921, Madeira, Canary Islands

 

 

HMS Danae (Photo Ships)

Dartmouth

2nd class/light cruiser, Weymouth-class, 5,250t, 1911(c), 8-6in, 25kts, 375 crew, Dardanelles 1915. Sold 1930

 

Sep 1913-Jun 1915, East Indies Station, South Atlantic;

Apr 1919-Dec 1920, Pacific, South America;

Jan 1921-Jun 1921, South America

HMS Dartmouth (Photo Ships)

Dauntless

light cruiser, Danae-class, 4,850t, 1918(c), 6-6in, 29kts, 450 crew. Served in WW2, sold 1946

 

 

Jan 1919-Dec 1919, West Indies, North America

HMS Dauntless (Navy Photos/Mark Teadham)

Defence

armoured cruiser, Minotaur-class, 14,600t, 1909(c), 4-9.2in, 22kts, 755 crew, Jutland 1916, Sunk by German gunfire at Battle of Jutland 31/5/16

 

 

Aug 1914-Feb 1915, South Atlantic

HMS Defence (Navy Photos)

Delhi

light cruiser, 4,850t, 1919(c), 6-6in, Danae-class, 29kts, 450 crew. Served in WW2, sold 1948

 

 

Jul 1920-Jul 1921, Azores, Canary Islands

HMS Delhi in 1942 with US 5in turrets (Navy Photos)

 

Despatch

light cruiser, Danae-class, 4,850t, 1922(c), 6-6in, 29kts, 450 crew. Served in WW2, sold 1946

 

 

Jun 1922-May 1924, China

HMS Despatch in World War 2 (Navy Photos)

Devonshire

armoured cruiser, Devonshire-class, 10, 850t, 1904(c), 4-7.5in, 22kts, 700 crew. Sold 1921

 

Jun 1916-Aug 1916, Archangel;

Nov 1916-May 1917, North America, West Indies;

Jun 1917-Sep 1917, Nov 1917-May 1919, Atlantic convoys, West Indies

 

HMS Devonshire (CyberHeritage/Terry Phillips)

 

Diana

old 2nd class cruiser, Eclipse-class, 5,600t, 1897(c), 11-6in, 19kts, 450 crew. Sold 1920

 

 

Mar 1915-Apr 1917, Jun 1917-Sep 1917, Nov 1917-Jun 1919, China, Red Sea

HMS Diana (Photo Ships)

Digby - see Artois

armed merchant cruiser (hired)

 

SS Digby (Furness Lines)

Diomede

light cruiser, Danae-class, 4,850t, 1922(c), 6-6in, 29kts, 450 crew. Served in WW2, sold 1946

 

 

Oct 1922-Sep 1923, China

HMS Diomede (Photo Ships)

Donegal

armoured cruiser, Monmouth-class, 9,800t, 1903(c), 14-6in, 23kts, 678 crew. Sold 1920

 

Royal Marines recruiting poster. Marines manned some of the gun turrets in large warships as well as fought ashore

Oct 1914-Feb 1915, Sierra Leone;

Mar 1915-May 1916, Archangel;

Jun 1916-Aug 1917, West Africa, West Indies;

Sep 1917-Oct 1918, Atlantic convoys

HMS Donegal (Photo Ships)

Dragon

light cruiser, Danae-class, 4,850t, 1918(c), 6-6in, 29kts, 450 crew. Served in WW2, damaged off Normandy, scuttled as breakwater 8/7/44

 

Aug 1919-Jul 1920, North America;

Jul 1920-Jul 1921, Madeira, Canary Islands

 

HMS Dragon (Navy Photos/Paul Simpson)

Drake

armoured cruiser, Drake-class, 14,100t, 1902(c), 2-9.2in, 23kts, 900 crew, Torpedoed by U.79 off Rathlin Island, N Ireland and capsized 2/10/17

 

 

Jun 1916-Jun 1917 Aug 1917, West Indies, Atlantic convoys

HMS Drake (Navy Photos)

Dryad

minesweeper, ex-torpedo gunboat, Dryad-class, 1,070t, 1893(l), 2-4.7in, 20kts. Sold 1920

 

Oct 1914-Feb 1915, Northern Patrol

 

HMS Dryad (Photo Ships)

Dublin

 

2nd class/light cruiser, Chatham-class, 5,400t, 1912(c), 8-6in, 25kts, 380 crew, Dardanelles 1915, Jutland 1916. Sold 1926

 

 

Jan 1920-Nov 1923, Cape of Good Hope

HMS Dublin (Photo Ships)

Dufferin

troopship, Royal Indian Marine, 7,457t, 1904, 8-4in, 19kts. Sold c1955

Aug 1914-Jan 1919, East Indies Station

RIMS Dufferin (Photo Ships)

Duke of Edinburgh

armoured cruiser, Duke of Edinburgh-class, 13,550t, 1905(c), 6-9.2in, 22kts, 700 crew, Jutland 1916. Sold 1920

 

Mar 1914-Feb 1915, East Indies Station;

May 1916-Aug 1918, Atlantic convoys

 

HMS Duke of Edinburgh (Navy Photos)

Dunedin

light cruiser, Danae-class, 4,850t, 1919(c), 6-6in, 29kts, 450 crew. Served in WW2, sunk by U.124 in South Atlantic 24/11/41

 

Sep 1920-Sep 1921, Canary Islands, Casablanca;

Aug 1923-May 1924, New Zealand

 

HMS Dunedin (Photo Ships)

Durban

light cruiser, Danae-class, 4,850t, 1918(c), 6-6in, 29kts, 450 crew. Served in WW2, sunk as breakwater at Normandy 9/6/44

 


 HMS Durban - ship's company march past on the ships first visit to Durban, December 1926

Nov 1921-Oct 1923, China;

see HMS Durban, China Station 1926-28

 

HMS Durban in drydock at Simonstown 1927 (both Yeoman of Signals George Smith)

Dwarf

old 1st class gunboat, Bramble-class, 710t, 1898(l), 2-4in, 13kts, Cameroons 1914. Sold 1926

 

Jul 1914-Feb 1916, Oct 1917-Dec 1917, Sep 1920-Oct 1923, West Africa

 

HMS Dwarf (Photo Ships)

Ebro

armed merchant cruiser (hired), 8,480grt, 1915(b), 6-6in, 15kts. Returned to civilian service 10/19

 

Apr 1915-Sep 1917, Northern Patrol;

Oct 1917-Dec 1918, Sierra Leone, Rio de Janeiro

 

possibly SS Ebro or a later vessel with same name (Photo Ships)

Eclipse

old 2nd class cruiser, Eclipse-class, 5,600t, 1897(c), 5-6in, 19kts, 450 crew. Sold 1921

 

 

Feb 1914-May 1914, Singapore

HMS Eclipse (Photo Ships)

Edinburgh Castle

armed merchant cruiser (hired), 13,326grt, 1910(b), 8-6in, 17kts. Returned to civilian service 7/19. Served in WW2.

 

Sep 1914-May 1918, South Atlantic;

Jun 1918-Oct 1918, Atlantic convoys

 

SS Edinburgh Castle (Photo Ships)
Empress
 		 seaplane carrier (wartime steamer conversion), 2,540t, 1907(c), 2-4in/6 seaplanes, 21kts, c250 crew. Returned 1919 Jan-Nov 1919, Egypt
in civilian service as SS Empress (Photo Ships)

Empress of Britain

armed merchant cruiser (hired), 14,189grt, 1906(b), 8-4.7in, 18kts. Returned to civilian service 5/15

 

 

Aug 1914-Mar 1915, Cape Verde Islands

SS Empress of Britain (Maritime Quest)

Empress of Japan

armed merchant cruiser (hired), 5,940grt, 1891(b), 8-4.7in, 16kts. Returned to civilian service 10/15

 

 

Feb 1915-Jun 1915, Aug 1915-Nov 1915, China

SS Empress of Japan (Photo Ships)

Endeavour

survey vessel, 1,280t, 1912(l), 1-3pdr, 13kts. Served in WW2, sold 1946

 

 

Jan 1921-Jan 1923, Cape of Good Hope

 

HMS Endeavour (Photo Ships)

Endymion

old 1st class cruiser, Edgar-class, 7,350t, 1893(c), 2-9.2in, 20kts, 544 crew, Dardanelles 1915-16. Sold 1920

 

The Navy fought for "King and Country", in this case King George V, in the uniform of Admiral of the Fleet

Dec 1913-Nov 1914, Northern Patrol

Jun 1915-Dec 1918, Mediterranean; plus Series 2 logs

 

 

HMS Endymion (Photo Ships)
Enterprise

schooner-rigged steel steam tug, 347grt, 1890(b), 12kts,

survey vessel 1916-19, East Indies Station
 Jul-Nov 1917, East Indies and Red Sea
Enterprise as the 'Flying Eagle in Dundee Docks
 (Leisure and Culture Dundee, Libraries)
Erebus monitor, Erebus-class, 8,000t, 1916(c), 2-15in, 12kts, 204 crew. Belgian Coast 1914, Zeebrugge 1918. Served in WW2, sold 1946 Nov 1919, Baltic
HMS Erebus (Navy Photos)

Eskimo

armed merchant cruiser (hired), 3,326grt, 1910(b), 4-6in, 17kts. Returned to civilian service 7/15.

 

 

Dec 1914-Mar 1915, Northern Patrol

SS Eskimo (Photo Ships)

Espiegle

old sloop, Cadmus-class, 1,070t, 1902(c), 6-4in, 13kts, 150 crew, Mesopotamia 1914-16. Sold 1923

 

Jul 1913-Feb 1917, East Indies Station;

Mar 1921-May 1923, Persian Gulf

HMS Espiegle (Photo Ships)

Essex

armoured cruiser, Monmouth-class, 9,800t, 1903(c), 14-6in, 23kts, 678 crew. Sold 1921

 

 

Jan 1914-Aug 1916, Western Atlantic, Canary Islands

HMS Essex (Photo Ships)

Europa

old 1st class cruiser, Diadem-class, 11,000t, 1899(c), 16-6in, 20kts, 677 crew. Sold 1920

 

 

Aug 1914-Jan 1916, Canary Islands, Madeira

HMS Europa (Photo Ships)

Euryalus

armoured cruiser, Cressy-class, 12,000t, 1903(c), 2-9.2in, 21kts, 700 crew, Heligoland 1914, Dardanelles 1915. Sold 1920

Apr 1915-Nov 1915, Nov 1916-Dec 1917, Dec 1918-Apr 1919, Mediterranean, East Indies Station

 

 

HMS Euryalus (Photo Ships)

Exmouth

battleship, Duncan-class, 14,000t, 1903(c), 4-12in, 19kts, 750 crew, Belgian Coast 1914, Dardanelles 1915. Sold 1920

Apr 1916-Aug 1917, East Indies Station

HMS Exmouth (Maritime Quest)

Falmouth

 

2nd class/light cruiser, Weymouth-class, 5,250t, 1911(c), 8-6in, 25kts, 375 crew, Heligoland 1914, Jutland 1916, Sunk by U.63 in North Sea 19/8/16

Sep 1914-Feb 1915, East Indies Station

 

 

HMS Falmouth (CyberHeritage/Terry Phillips)

Fame

 

 

 

destroyer, D-class, 340t, 1897(c), 1-12pdr/2tt, 30kts, 63 crew. Sold 1921

 

Two Petty Officers on more modern destroyer HMS Vanquisher in the Baltic 1921 (Yeoman of Signals George Smith)

Jan 1914-Jan 1917, May 1917-Aug 1917, Apr 1918-Jun 1920, China

HMS Fame (no enlargement)

Fantome

 

 

sloop (RAN), ex-survey vessel, ex-sloop, Cadmus-class, 1,070t, 1902(c), 6-4in, 13kts, 150 crew as sloop; survey ship from 1906/7; rearmed as sloop with 2-4 in guns, 7/15. Sold 1925.

May 1914-Jun 1914, Jul 1919-Jul 1920, Pacific;

Jul 1920-Feb 1924, Pacific, East Indies Station

HMAS Fantome (Photo Ships)

Fearless

scout cruiser, Active-class, 3,350t, 1913(c), 10-4in, 25kts, 325 crew. Leader, 12th Submarine Flotilla, Grand Fleet (Cdr Charles J C Little) at the time. Escorted submarines G.2, G.4 and G.6, departing Scapa Flow 13/10/16, arriving Alexandrowsk (or Romanov/Murmansk) on the 20th. Submarines had uneventful patrols in White Sea, departed Alexandrowsk 15/11/16 with Fearless, arrived Kirkwall 21st

Apr 1916-Aug 1917, White Sea

HMS Fearless (Photo Ships)

Fortol

 

 

Royal Fleet Auxiliary, admiralty oiler, Belgol-class, 4,900t, 1917(l), 14kts. Served in WW2, broken up 1958

Feb 1920 Sep 1920, West Indies

RFA Fortol (Photo Ships)

Fox

old 2nd class cruiser, Astraea-class, 4,360t, 1896(c), 2-6in, 19kts, 318 crew. Sold 1920

 

Nov 1913-Nov 1917, Jan 1918-Jul 1918, East Indies Station, East Africa;

Apr 1919-Sep 1919, Archangel;

see North Russian Expeditionary Force 1919, including account of being trapped in an icefield.

HMS Fox (Scrapbook of Yeoman of Signals George Smith)

 

Foxglove

fleet minesweeping sloop, Acacia-type, 1,200t, 1915(l), 2-12pdr, 16kts, 90 crew. Served in WW2, sold 1946

 

HMS Durban - armed landing party waiting to go ashore at Shanghai, 1927 (Yeoman of Signals George Smith)

Jan 1920-Oct 1923, China

HMS Foxglove (Photo Ships)

Foyle

Admiralty trawler, Mersey-class, ex-John Edmund, renamed 9/20, 438t, 1918(l), 1-12pdr, 11kts. Served in WW2, sold 1948

 

 

Nov 1920-Mar 1921, Cape of Good Hope

HMS Foyle (Photo Ships)
Galatea
 		 light cruiser, Arethusa-class, 3,750t, 1914(c), 2-6in/6-4in, 28kts, c280 crew, Jutland 1916. Sold 1921 Mar 1916-Jul 1917, North Sea area;
Jan-Dec 1919, Black Sea
HMS Galatea (Photo Ships)

Gibraltar

old 1st class cruiser, Edgar-class, 7,350t, 1894(c), 2-9.2in, 20kts, 544 crew. Sold 1923

 

Jan 1914-Nov 1914, Northern Patrol

HMS Gibraltar (CyberHeritage)

Glasgow

2nd class/light cruiser, Bristol-class, 4,800t, 1911(c), 2-6in, 25kts, 376 crew, Falkland Islands 1914. Sold 1927

Mar 1914-Feb 1918, South Atlantic, Pacific

 

 

HMS Glasgow (ShipsPhotos)

Glory

battleship, Canopus-class, 12,950t, 1900(c), 4-12in, 18kts, 750, Dardanelles 1915, renamed Crescent 1920. Sold 1922

 

Petty Officer's Mess, HMS Borodino, North Russia 1919 (Yeoman of Signals George Smith)

Oct 1916-Dec 1918, Archangel

 

 

HMS Glory (Maritime Quest)

Gloucester

2nd class/light cruiser, Bristol-class, 4,800t, 1911(c), 2-6in, 25kts, 376 crew, Jutland 1916. Sold 1921

 

 

Feb 1915-May 1915, Sierra Leone

HMS Gloucester (CyberHeritage/Terry Phillips)

Gloucestershire

armed merchant cruiser (hired), 8,124grt, 1910(b), 8-6in. Returned to civilian service 7/19

 

Feb 1916-Jul 1917, Northern Patrol;

Aug 1917-Jan 1919, Atlantic convoys

HMS Gloucestershire (ShipsPhotos)

Glowworm

river gunboat, Insect-class, 645t, 1916(l), 2-6in, 14kts, 53 crew. Sold 1928

Dec 1918, North Russia

 

 

sister-ship HMS Aphis (Maritime Quest)

Gnat

river gunboat, Insect-class, 645t, 1916(c), 2-6in, 14kts, 53 crew, Mesopotamia 1916-17. Served in WW2, torpedoed and damaged by U.79 off Libya. Sold 1945

 

 

Jun 1918-Nov 1921, Jun 1922-Nov 1923, Hong Kong, Lower Yangtse

HMS Gnat (Photo Ships)

Goliath

 

battleship, Canopus-class, 12,950t, 1900(c), 4-12in, 18kts, 750 crew, Dardanelles 1915. Sunk by German-commanded, Turkish torpedo boat off Gallipoli 13/5/15

 

Cleaning-up after coaling a warship (Dave Martin)

Jan 1915-Apr 1915, East Africa

HMS Goliath (Maritime Quest)

Grafton
 

old 1st class cruiser, Edgar-class, 7,350t, 1894(c), 2-9.2in, 20kts, 544 crew, Dardanelles 1915-16. Sold 1920

 

 

Apr 1914-Dec 1914, Jun 1915-Aug 1916, Northern Patrol;

Nov 1917-Dec 1918, Mediterranean and Red Sea

HMS Grafton in Esquimalt, BC, Canada (Photo Ships)

Hampshire

armoured cruiser, Devonshire-class, 10,850t, 1905(c), 4-7.5in, 22kts, 655 crew, Jutland 1916. Sunk by U-boat-laid mine off Orkneys 5/6/16, carrying Lord Kitchener, Minister of War and his staff to N Russian when lost

 

 

Aug 1913-Sep 1914, Dec 1914, Mediterranean, China;

Sep 1914-Feb 1915, China

 

HMS Hampshire (Photo Ships)
Hannibal ex-battleship, now depot ship/troopship June-October 1919, Mediterranean & Alexandria
Hannibal (Maritime Quest)

Hawkins

light cruiser, Cavendish-class, 9,750t, 1919(c), 7-7.5in, 31kts, 712 crew. Served in WW2, sold 1947

 


 HMS Durban - CPO's cricket team, Hankow Race Course, 1927 (Yeoman of Signals George Smith)

Jul 1919-Apr 1924, China

HMS Hawkins (Navy Photos)
Hermione old 2nd class cruiser, Astraea-class, 4,350t, 1896(c), 2-6in, 19kts, 318 crew. Served as HQ ship, ML's and CMB's from 1916. Sold 1921 not available
HMS Hermione (Photo Ships)
Hibernia battleship, King Edward VII-class, 16,350t, 1905(l), 4-12in, 19kts, 780 crew. Sold 1921 March 1915-June 1916, Dardanelles
HMS Hibernia (Maritime Quest)

Highflyer

old 2nd class cruiser, Hermes-class, 5,650t, 1899(c), 11-6in, 20kts, 450 crew. Sold 1921

 

Jun 1913-Aug 1917, Cape Verde Islands, West Africa;

Sep 1917-Dec 1918, Halifax, Atlantic convoys;

Jan 1919-Mar 1921, East Indies Station

HMS Highflyer (Photo Ships)

Hilary

armed merchant cruiser (hired), 6,239grt, 1908(b), 6-6in, 15kts. Sunk by U.88 west of the Shetlands, 25/5/17

 

Dec 1914-Mar 1917, Northern Patrol

 

SS Hilary (Photo Ships)

Hildebrand

armed merchant cruiser (hired), 6,991grt, 1911(b), 8-4.7in, later 8-6in, 15kts. Returned to civilian service 7/19

 

 

Dec 1914-Dec 1918, Northern Patrol, Halifax

HMS Hildebrand (Photo Ships)

Himalaya

armed merchant cruiser (hired), 6,929grt, 1892(b), 8-4.7in, later 8-6in, 18kts, Suez Canal 1915, purchased 1916. Sold 1922

 

 

Aug 1914-Oct 1915 Apr 1916-Jul 1918, China, East Africa

SS Himalaya as a transport ship

Hollyhock

fleet minesweeping sloop, Acacia-type, 1,200t, 1915(l), 2-12pdr, 16kts, 90 crew. Sold 1930

 


HMS Durban - armed landing party in Nanking, China, 1927/28 (Yeoman of Signals George Smith)

Jan 1920-Feb 1924, China

 

 

sister-ship HMS Acacia (Photo Ships)

Hood

battlecruiser, Hood-class, 41,200t, 1920(c), 8-15in, 31kts, 1477 crew. Served in WW2, sunk by German battleship Bismarck off Iceland 24/5/1941

 

 

May 1923-Apr 1924, Circumnavigation

HMS Hood (Maritime Quest)

Humber

monitor, Humber-class, 1,260t, 1913(c), 2-6in, 9kts, 140 crew, Belgian Coast 1914, Dardanelles 1915. Sold 1920

 

 

May 1919-Oct 1919, Murmansk

HMS Humber (Photo Ships)

Hyacinth

old 2nd class cruiser, Hermes-class, 5,650t, 1900(c), 11-6in, 20kts, 450 crew. Sold 1923

Jan 1914-Aug 1919, Cape of Good Hope

 

 

HMS Hyacinth (Navy Photos)
 
 

Notes:
 

 

1. Order of information after ship name

  • type of vessel

  • class name or type

  • tonnage (t - displacement for warships, grt - gross for merchant ships)

  • year of launch (l), build (b) or completion (c)

  • main gun armament, either diameter of barrel in inches (in) or weight of shell in pounds (pdr), plus torpedo tubes (tt) for destroyers and aircraft for seaplane/aircraft carriers

  • speed in knots (kts) or nautical miles per hour

  • crew - total number of officers and ratings

  • Royal Navy battle honours or single-ship actions awarded in World War 1

  • Fate, including lost, service in World War 2, sold for breaking up

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Additional abbreviations:

  • CPO - Chief Petty Officer

  • RAN - Royal Australian Navy

  • RIM - Royal Indian Marine (or navy)

  • SS - steamship

  • U. - German U-boat or submarine

  • UB. - German coastal submarine

  • UC. - German coastal minelaying submarine

 

 
 

3. Ship Information

 

Few of the characteristics are precise and often vary from source to source. This is partly due to how some are measured, but mainly to changes during operation or the career of the vessel. For example:

Warship displacement tonnage can be as varied as load, deep load, average load, legend, normal, and that is before you get into the complexity of gross and other tonnage used to measure merchant vessels.

 

Launch dates are usually precise, but completion can vary depending on how it is defined. Merchant ships are usually associated with a build year.

 

Apart from main armament (number of barrels x internal diameter of gun barrel or weight of shell), World War 1 ships often mounted a variety of secondary armament and as the war progressed, more anti-aircraft guns. These could change, often frequently, and few records were kept. As a main role of destroyers was torpedo attack, and for aircraft and seaplane carriers, the number of aircraft that could be flown off from sea or flight-deck, the numbers of these two weapons are included.

 

Speed in knots is usually the maximum. Ships rarely steamed at high speed because of the disproportionate use of coal or oil fuel. Also speed often dropped over time as vessels and engines aged. Economic cruising speed would be preferred.

 

Crews are usually quoted, if more than one figure is given, as peacetime, wartime, and as a flagship that additionally carried an Admiral and staff, at least for big ships. These numbers only ever appear to be approximate, with actual crew sizes fluctuating.

 

Even fates are rarely precise. The cause of a ship sinking are usually known, but sometimes only by post-war research, but times and positions can vary wildly - if your ship is sinking in heavy seas, recording such niceties no doubt gets overlooked. Of course, if a ship disappears without trace, that is another matter. Even sold and broken up dates vary.

 

In short, ship information is often approximate.

 

4. Types of Vessels

WARSHIPS, including

Battleships

Battlecruisers

Monitors

Armoured cruisers

Old light cruisers (old 1st, 2nd and 3rd-class)

Light and scout cruisers

Aircraft and seaplane carriers

Kite balloon ships

destroyers

Old sloops

Old gunboats

Despatch vessel

Fleet minesweeping and convoy sloops

River gunboats

Minesweepers

Minelayers

 

AUXILIARY WARSHIPS, including

Armed merchant cruisers - mainly passenger ships, armed for patrol and convoy escort

Commissioned escort ships - mainly cargo steamships, armed for convoy escort

Armed boarding ships - armed steamships for boarding mainly neutral vessels for contraband control

Submarine decoy or Q-ships - disguised vessels of many types, powered or sailing vessel, equipped with weapons to sink U-boats

 

AUXILIARY PATROL, including

Hired yachts

Admiralty or hired trawlers

 

SUPPLY AND SUPPORT VESSELS, including

Depot ships

Admiralty oilers

Fleet messengers

Survey ships

Troopships (RIM)
 
 

on to Part 2
or back to Royal Navy Log Books

 

revised 19/10/12