The fifth ship to carry the name HMS ESSEX was an Armoured Cruiser. Built at Pembroke Dock, laid down, 01-Jan-1900, launched 29-Aug-1901, and completed 22-Mar-1904.
On completion joined the Atlantic Fleet 1904-06.
In dry dock at Gibraltar December (?) 1905.
Went into reserve 1906-09. To the America & West Indies Station 1909-12, the Training Squadron 1912 and refit 1913.
Back to the America & West Indies Station 1914-16 during which she captured three German merchantmen.
Used as a Destroyer Deport Ship 1916-19.
Paid off 1919-20.
Sold 1921 and broken up in Germany
The Times, Thursday, 5 July 1906
THE GUN ACCIDENT IN H.M.S. ESSEX INQUEST
An inquest was held at the Royal Naval Hospital, Plymouth, yesterday on the body of GEORGE MALCOLMSON, 20, seaman, of HMS ESSEX, cruiser, who was killed during the manoeuvres.
W.H.H. Salter, leading seaman, said that on June 27, the ship, which was in the Blue Fleet of the manoeuvres, was off Arosa Bay. The witness was one of the gun's crew in the starboard upper deck foremost casemate. Lieut. Haly was also present, and altogether there would be ten men in the casemate. HMS ESSEX was engaged in stopping a merchant ship, and one 6in. blank cartridge had been fired. Malcolmson then received the second cartridge, and was standing with it about 3ft. immediately at the rear of the gun, opposite the breech; No. 2 of the gun's crew opened the breech for sponging before firingthe second charge.
At that moment there was a "back fire," caused by the vessel's steaming ahead, and a consequent strong headwind. The effect of the "back fire" was to explode the cartridge in Malcolmson's hand before the gun had been sponged out. Malcomson was killed, and others were injured. The effect of the explosion was to fill the casemate with smoke, and the witness's fear was that they would all be choked. There were no panic or excitement, and the evolution was being done quietly. There was nothing wrong with the gun. Malcolmson should have been at the left rear of the gun, and he would then have been safe.
After RMS Olympic sailed from Southampton, bound for New York on 29 July 1914, the Great War brewing in European embroiled Britain and her Empire. German armies took a short-cut through Belgium in a bid to outflank the defensive preparations of France; Britain had promised to defend Belgium's neutrality and thus declared war on Germany on 4th August. Olympic's Captain Haddock blacked out the ship's lights, imposed radio silence and made the best possible speed to the USA. HMS ESSEX a Royal Navy cruiser, escorted her on the final stretch of the journey.
In New York, the crew were put to work improving the blackout and painting the liner's superstructure a dull grey to make her less visible. On 8th August, Olympic left bound for England (without passengers or mail); HMS ESSEX escorted her as far as Sable Island, but allowed her to continue unaccompanied from that point - with a cruising speed of 23 knots, Olympic was more than able to outrun hostile warships. She zig-zagged to a rendezvous point close to the Irish Coast where another cruiser, HMS DRAKE, took up escort duties and saw her safely to Liverpool on the 15th August.
Name: HMS ESSEX
Builder: Pembroke Dock, Wales
Launched: 29 August 1901
Fate: Sold 8 November 1921
General characteristics
Displacement: 9,800 tons
Length: 463.5 ft (141.3 m)
Beam: 66 ft (20 m)
Draught: 25 ft (7.6 m)
Propulsion: 4-cylinder triple-extension steam engines
two shafts
31 Belleville boilers
22,000hp
Speed: apprx 23 knots
Complement: 678
Armament: 14 x BL 6-inch (152.4 mm) Mk VII guns
9 x 12 pounder guns
Armour: 4in (102mm) belt
5in (127mm) barbette
5in (127mm) turret
Delandre label
Sources and links: Wikipedia.
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forum ... pic=104349
http://olympic.50webs.com/history4.html (watch out for the piano music !)
Peter Crichton
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