H.M.S. Defence (1907)

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H.M.S. Defence (1907)
Pendant Number: 05 (1914)[1]
Builder: Pembroke Royal Dockyard[2]
Ordered: 1904-05 Programme[3]
Laid down: 22 Feb, 1905[4]
Launched: 24 Apr, 1907[5]
Commissioned: 9 Feb, 1909[6]
Sunk: 31 May, 1916[7]
Fate: at Battle of Jutland

H.M.S. Defence was one of three Minotaur class armoured cruisers completed for the Royal Navy in 1908 and 1909.

Service

Defence commissioned at Devonport on 9 February, 1909, for service in the Fifth Cruiser Squadron at the Nore.[8]

She recommissioned at Devonport on 14 February, 1911.[9]

In mid-1913, she was serving as flagship of the First Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean.[10] At the same time, it was decided to purchase a Type 9 Cruiser Auxiliary set for her.[11]

In late July 1914, the ship received one of five Waymouth-Cooke Rangefinders purchased for evaluation, possibly of a new model.[12]

Defence fought and died at the Battle of Jutland as the flagship of First Cruiser Squadron, bearing the volatile Rear-Admiral Robert K. Arbuthnot. Under his command, the squadron sought to avoid repeating his failure to engage the enemy at the Scarborough Raid, which intent prompted him to brashly dart in front of H.M.S. Lion to close the range. The result was disasterous, as the German fleet suddenly found Defence easily visible and present as a clear target at under 8,000 yards range. She was annihilated under a hail of fire. After magazine explosions, no survivors were found.

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

See Also

Footnotes

  1. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 44.
  2. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 44.
  3. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 73.
  4. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 73.
  5. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 44.
  6. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. p. 73.
  7. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 44.
  8. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Wednesday, 10 February, 1909. Issue 38879, col C, p. 11.
  9. The Navy List. (July, 1913). p. 299.
  10. The Navy List. (July, 1913). p. 299.
  11. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1913. W/T Appendix, p. 13.
  12. Admiralty Weekly Order No. 219 of 31 July 1914.
  13. Kemp Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 420.
  14. Kemp Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 420.
  15. The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 299.
  16. Dampier Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 497.
  17. Dampier Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 497.
  18. Bruce Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 85.
  19. The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 299.
  20. Bruce Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 85.
  21. The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 300b.
  22. Wray Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 400.
  23. Wray Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 400.
  24. Leatham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 147.
  25. The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 393h.
  26. Leatham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 147.
  27. Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  28. Day of month taken from his superseded predecessor. Leatham Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 147.

Bibliography

  • Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. London: Ian Allan.
  • Gray, Randal (editor) (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. (on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk).


Minotaur Class Armoured Cruiser
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