HMS Forester (1911)
Encyclopedia
HMS Forester was an Acheron-class destroyer
of the Royal Navy
that served during World War I
and was sold for breaking in 1921. She was the ninth Royal Navy
ship to be named after the traditional craft of forester
.
. She had three Parsons turbines, and three White-Forster boilers. Capable of 30 knots, she carried two 4-inch guns, other smaller guns and two 21-inch torpedo
tubes and had a complement of 72 men. She was launched on 1 June 1911.
in 1914 on the outbreak of World War I.
, and shared in the prize money for the battle.
, led by the light cruiser Aurora
. Her crew shared in the Prize Money for the German
armoured cruiser Blücher
.
, HMAT Berrima
was struck a mine in the English Channel. Four lives were lost, but the greater part of the crew took to the lifeboats and were picked up by Forester. A tow was passed and she was taken under tow into Portland Harbour
the next day. She was subsequently repaired and returned to service.
for breaking.
Acheron class destroyer
The Acheron class was a class of twenty-three destroyers of the British Royal Navy, all built under the 1910-11 Programme and completed between 1911 and 1912, which served during World War I. A further six ships were built to the same design for the Royal Australian Navy as River-class destroyers...
of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
that served during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and was sold for breaking in 1921. She was the ninth Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
ship to be named after the traditional craft of forester
Forester
250px|thumb|right|Foresters of [[Southern University of Chile|UACh]] in the [[Valdivian forest]]s of San Pablo de Tregua, ChileA forester is a person who practices forestry, the science, art, and profession of managing forests. Foresters engage in a broad range of activities including timber...
.
Construction
She was built under the 1910-11 shipbuilding programme by J. Samuel White & Company of CowesCowes
Cowes is an English seaport town and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. Cowes is located on the west bank of the estuary of the River Medina facing the smaller town of East Cowes on the east Bank...
. She had three Parsons turbines, and three White-Forster boilers. Capable of 30 knots, she carried two 4-inch guns, other smaller guns and two 21-inch torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
tubes and had a complement of 72 men. She was launched on 1 June 1911.
Pennant Numbers
| Pennant Number | From | |To |
|---|---|---|
| H39 | 6 December 1914 | 1 January 1918 |
| H34 | 1 January 1918 | Early 1919 |
| H58 | Early 1919 | 9 May 1921 |
Pre-War
Forester served with the First Destroyer Flotilla from 1911 and, with her flotilla, joined the British Grand FleetBritish Grand Fleet
The Grand Fleet was the main fleet of the British Royal Navy during the First World War.-History:It was formed in 1914 by the British Atlantic Fleet combined with the Home Fleet and it included 35-40 state-of-the-art capital ships. It was initially commanded by Admiral Sir John Jellicoe...
in 1914 on the outbreak of World War I.
The Battle of Heligoland Bight
She was present with First Destroyer Flotilla on 28 August 1914 at the Battle of Heligoland Bight, led by the light cruiser FearlessHMS Fearless (1912)
HMS Fearless was an Active-class scout cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was built at Pembroke Dockyard and launched on 12 June 1912.On commissioning she was assigned to the Harwich Force with her sisters, and was the leader of the 1st Destroyer Flotilla...
, and shared in the prize money for the battle.
The Battle of Dogger Bank
On 24 January 1915, the First Destroyer Flotilla, including Forester, were present at the Battle of Dogger BankBattle of Dogger Bank (1915)
The Battle of Dogger Bank was a naval battle fought near the Dogger Bank in the North Sea on 24 January 1915, during the First World War, between squadrons of the British Grand Fleet and the German High Seas Fleet....
, led by the light cruiser Aurora
HMS Aurora (1913)
HMS Aurora was an Arethusa-class light cruiser launched on 30 September 1913 at Devonport Dockyard.Construction started in 1912 and she was commissioned into the Royal Navy and saw service as part of the Grand Fleet from 1914 to 1915, as leader of the 1st Destroyer Flotilla...
. Her crew shared in the Prize Money for the German
Kaiserliche Marine
The Imperial German Navy was the German Navy created at the time of the formation of the German Empire. It existed between 1871 and 1919, growing out of the small Prussian Navy and Norddeutsche Bundesmarine, which primarily had the mission of coastal defense. Kaiser Wilhelm II greatly expanded...
armoured cruiser Blücher
SMS Blücher
SMS Blücher was the last armored cruiser to be built by the German Imperial Navy . She was designed to match what German intelligence incorrectly believed to be the specifications of the British s...
.
Transfer to Third Battle Squadron
The First Destroyer Flotilla was transferred to the Third Battle Squadron in the Spring of 1916 to act as an anti-submarine screen for the Battlecruisers. Forester was not present with her flotilla at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916.HMAT Berrima
On 18 February 1917, 50 miles west of Portland BillPortland Bill
Portland Bill is a narrow promontory of Portland stone, which forms the most southerly part of Isle of Portland, and therefore also the county of Dorset, England....
, HMAT Berrima
HMAS Berrima
HMAS Berrima was an Armed Merchant Cruiser which served in the Royal Australian Navy during World War I.The P&O passenger liner SS Berrima was requisitioned for use by the Navy, refitted and armed at the Cockatoo Island Dockyard and commissioned into the RAN as the auxiliary cruiser HMAS...
was struck a mine in the English Channel. Four lives were lost, but the greater part of the crew took to the lifeboats and were picked up by Forester. A tow was passed and she was taken under tow into Portland Harbour
Portland Harbour
Portland Harbour is located beside the Isle of Portland, off Dorset, on the south coast of England. It is one of the largest man-made harbours in the world. Grid reference: .-History:...
the next day. She was subsequently repaired and returned to service.
Mediterranean Service
From 1917 the Third Battle Squadron was deployed to the Mediterranean. Forester was present at the entry of the Allied Fleet through the Dardanelles on 12 November 1918.Disposal
In common with most of her class, she was laid up after World War I, and on 4 November 1921 she was sold to Rees of LlanelliLlanelli
Llanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
for breaking.