HMS GLOUCESTER was a Town-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy launched on 28 October 1909 from the yards of William Beardmore and Company. She formed part of the Bristol subgroup.
On being commissioned, HMS GLOUCESTER was assigned to the 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean and in August 1914 she was involved in the hunt for the German cruisers SMS Goeben and Breslau. For this operation, she was under the command of Captain Howard Kelly and managed to slightly damage the Breslau with one hit at the waterline in the ensuing exchange of gun fire. She was unable to prevent the German ships escaping however.
29123 - 9 APRIL 1915
Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood
Lord Chamberlain’s Office, St James Palace, 10 April 1915
The KING is pleased to give orders for the following appointment to the Most Honourable Order of the Bath in recognition of the services of the undermentioned Officer during the chase of the German Cruisers Goeben and Breslau by HMS GLOUCESTER on 6th and 7th August 1914 -
To be an additional Member of the Military Division of the Third Class or Companion.
Captain William Archibald Howard Kelly Royal Navy. The report of HMS GLOUCESTER shows that the Goeben could have caught and sunk her at any time had she dared to turn upon her. The Goeben was apparently deterred by the Gloucester’s boldness which gave the impression of support close at hand. The combination of audacity with restraint, unswerving attention to the principal military object, namely holding on to the Goeben without tempting her too much and strict conformity to order constitute a naval episode which may justly be regarded as a model.
Later that year, HMS GLOUCESTER was operating off the west coast of Africa, hunting for German raiders. In February 1915, she was reassigned to the 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron of the Grand Fleet. In April 1916, she shelled Galway, Ireland during the Easter Rising.
On 31 May -1 June 1916, she took part in the Battle of Jutland and later that year was reassigned to the 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron. A posting in the Mediterranean followed in December 1916 on joining the 8th Light Cruiser Squadron in the Adriatic. She survived the war and was sold for scrapping on 9 May 1921 to Ward, of Portishead and Briton Ferry.
Class and type: Town-class light cruiser
Name: HMS GLOUCESTER
Builder: William Beardmore and Company, Dalmuir, Scotland
Laid down: 15 April 1909
Launched: 28 October 1909
Commissioned: October 1910
Fate: Sold for scrapping 9 May 1921
General characteristics
Displacement: 4,800 long tons (4,900 t)
Length: 453 ft (138 m) o.a
Beam: 47 ft (14 m)
Draught: 15 ft 6 in (4.72 m)
Installed power: 22,000 shp (16,000 kW)
Propulsion: 4 ×Parson steam turbines
12 × Yarrow boilers
4 × shafts
Speed: 25 kn (29 mph; 46 km/h)
Capacity: Coal:600 short tons (540 t) (1,353 short tons (1,227 t) maximum)
Fuel oil: 260 short tons (235.8680 t)
Complement: 411
Armament: 2 × BL 6 in (150 mm) Mk XI guns
10 × BL 4 in (100 mm) Mk VII guns
1 × 3 inch gun
4 × 3-pounder guns
4 × machine guns
2 × 18 in (460 mm) torpedo tubes
Armour: 2 inch, 1¾ inch, ¾ inch deck
6 inch conning tower
Delandre label
Sources and links: Wikipedia.
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/we ... ester.html
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forum ... pic=153030
Peter Crichton
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