HMS Hampshire (1903)

Coordinates: 59°7.065′N 3°23.843′W / 59.117750°N 3.397383°W / 59.117750; -3.397383 (Wreck location of HMS Hampshire)
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For other ships with the same name, see HMS Hampshire.

Hampshire at anchor
History
United Kingdom
NameHampshire
NamesakeHampshire
Builder
Elswick
Laid down1 September 1902
Launched24 September 1903
Completed15 July 1905
FateSunk by mine, 5 June 1916
General characteristics
Class and type
armoured cruiser
Displacement10,850 long tons (11,020 t) (normal)
Length473 ft 6 in (144.3 m) (o/a)
Beam68 ft 6 in (20.9 m)
Draught24 ft (7.3 m)
Installed power
Propulsion
  • 2 × Shafts
  • 2 × 4-cylinder
    quadruple-expansion steam engines
Speed22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)
Capacity1,033 long tons (1,050 t) coal
Complement610
Armament
Armour

HMS Hampshire was one of six

First World War
in August 1914.

The ship hunted for German commerce raiders until she was transferred to the

Protection of Military Remains Act
, though parts were later salvaged. Several films have been made exploring the circumstances of her loss.

Design and description

Hampshire was designed to

kW) and gave a maximum speed of 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph). The engines were powered by seventeen Yarrow and six cylindrical boilers.[1] She carried a maximum of 1,033 long tons (1,050 t) of coal and her complement consisted of 610 officers and ratings.[2]

Her main armament consisted of four

12-pounder 8 cwt guns could be dismounted for service ashore.[3]

At some point in the war, the main deck six-inch guns of the Devonshire-class ships were moved to the upper deck and given gun shields. Their casemates were plated over to improve seakeeping and the four 3-pounder guns displaced by the transfer were landed.[7]

The ship's waterline armour belt had a maximum thickness of 6 inches (152 mm) and was closed off by 5-inch (127 mm) transverse bulkheads. The armour of the gun turrets was also five inches thick, whilst that of their barbettes was six inches thick. The protective deck armour ranged in thickness from 0.75–2 inches (19–51 mm) and the conning tower was protected by 12 inches (305 mm) of armour.[1]

Construction and service

Hampshire, named to commemorate the

6th Cruiser Squadron of the Mediterranean Fleet and was transferred to the China Station in 1912.[9]

First World War

When the war began, she was in

ANZAC troop convoy through the Indian Ocean and Red Sea to Egypt. Hampshire was refitted in Gibraltar in December before returning home to serve with the Grand Fleet.[11] She was assigned the 7th Cruiser Squadron in January 1915 and was detached in November to escort shipping in the White Sea.[9] She returned home in time to participate in the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916[12] with the 2nd Cruiser Squadron. During the battle, she was never actually engaged and only fired four salvos at the German II Scouting Group that fell well short of their targets, in addition to shooting at illusory submarine periscopes throughout the day.[13]

Last voyage and sinking

Immediately after the battle, she was ordered to carry

Orkney Islands. This course would provide a lee from the strong winds, allowing escorting destroyers to keep pace with her. She departed Scapa Flow at 16:45 and about an hour later rendezvoused with her two escorts, the Acasta-class destroyers Unity and Victor. As the ships turned to the northwest, the gale increased and shifted direction so that the ships were facing it head on. This caused the destroyers to fall behind Hampshire. As it was considered unlikely that enemy submarines would be active in such conditions, Hampshire's Captain Savill ordered Unity and Victor to return to Scapa Flow.[14]

Sailing alone in heavy seas, Hampshire was approximately 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km; 1.7 mi) off Mainland in the Orkney Islands between Brough of Birsay and Marwick Head at 19:40 on 5 June when an explosion occurred and she heeled to starboard. She had struck one of several mines laid by the German minelaying submarine U-75 on 28–29 May, just before the Battle of Jutland. The detonation had holed the cruiser between bows and bridge, and the lifeboats were smashed against the side of the ship by the heavy seas when they were lowered. About 15 minutes after the explosion, Hampshire sank by the bow.[14] Of the 735 crewmembers and 14 passengers aboard, only 12 crew survived after coming ashore on three Carley floats. A total of 737 were lost, including Kitchener and all the members of the mission to Russia.[15][16][17][18]

Nazi agents in the largest espionage conviction in U.S. history.[20]

Wreck

Salvaged propeller and shaft from Hampshire
Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Winchester War Memorial outside Winchester Cathedral

The wreck is designated as a controlled site under the

Protection of Military Remains Act at coordinates 59°7.065′N 3°23.843′W / 59.117750°N 3.397383°W / 59.117750; -3.397383 (Wreck location of HMS Hampshire) and diving is forbidden without a licence.[21] The ship is upside down at a depth of 180–230 feet (30–38 fathoms; 55–70 m
) of water.

Memorials

Kitchener Memorial at Marwick Head, Orkney

In 1983, one propeller and part of Hampshire's drive shaft were salvaged from the wreck.[18] They are now on view at the Scapa Flow Visitor Centre and Museum, Lyness, Hoy, Orkney. Three Vickers 3 Pounder Mk II Quick-Firing deck guns were also salvaged from the wreck. In 2021, one of these was restored to its original condition by specialist conservators in Alloa, and is now on display in the foyer of the museum.[22][23]

The 737 Hampshire dead are commemorated on the right-hand side of the base at the Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Winchester War Memorial outside Winchester Cathedral.

A tower was erected on Marwick Head on Mainland, Orkney, in 1926 by the people of Orkney to the memory of Kitchener and the officers and men of Hampshire. The Kitchener Memorial is a square, crenellated stone tower with the following inscription:[24]

This tower was raised by the people of Orkney in memory of Field Marshal Earl Kitchener of Khartoum on that corner of his country which he had served so faithfully nearest to the place where he died on duty. He and his staff perished along with the officers and nearly all the men of HMS Hampshire on 5 June 1916.

Media

The sinking of the ship and the events surrounding Kitchener's death are portrayed in the 1921 film How Kitchener Was Betrayed,[25] the 1969 film Fraulein Doktor about a female spy,[26] and the 2021 film The King's Man, a prequel to 2015's Kingsman: The Secret Service.

Notes

  1. ^ "Cwt" is the abbreviation for hundredweight, 12 cwt referring to the weight of the gun.

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c d Chesneau & Kolesnik, p. 71
  2. ^ Friedman 2012, p. 336
  3. ^ a b Friedman 2012, p. 256
  4. ^ Friedman 2011, pp. 75–76
  5. ^ Friedman 2012, pp. 256, 260–261
  6. ^ Friedman 2011, pp. 80–81
  7. ^ Friedman 2012, p. 280
  8. ^ Silverstone, p. 235
  9. ^ a b Gardiner & Gray, p. 13
  10. ^ Corbett, Vol. I, pp. 137, 142–143, 282–283, 288, 290
  11. ^ Transcript
  12. ^ "The Loss of HMS Hampshire". Royal Naval Museum. Archived from the original on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  13. ^ Campbell, pp. 22, 123
  14. ^ a b Cassar, p. 286
  15. ISBN 978-0-9535945-7-3
    .
  16. ^ "Orkney Heritage Society's site dedicated to casualties of HMS Hampshire and HM Drifter Laurel Crown". www.hmshampshire.org. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  17. ^ "HMS Hampshire, killed and died, casualty lists, June 1916". www.naval-history.net. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  18. ^ a b Historic Environment Scotland. "HMS Hampshire: Birsay Bay, Atlantic (102221)". Canmore. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  19. ^ Wood, pp. 335–349
  20. ISSN 0040-781X. [1]
    (subscription required)
  21. ^ "The Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order 2009". The National Archives. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  22. ^ "Big artefacts go under cover at Scapa Flow Museum". www.orkney.gov.uk. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  23. ^ Merritt, Mike (9 February 2022). "Gun from the ship that sunk with Kitchener on board is restored". The Herald. Glasgow, Scotland. p. 11.
  24. ^ "Kitchener memorial". Scottish Places. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  25. ^ Robertson, pp. 17–19
  26. ^ Pavlides, Dan. "Fräulein Doktor (1969)". AllMovie.com. Retrieved 18 March 2014.

Bibliography

External links

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