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HMS Hermes (1913)
Encyclopedia
HMS Hermes was a Highflyer-class
cruiser
which served with the Royal Navy
. She is notable for being refitted in April–May 1913 as the first experimental seaplane carrier
of the Royal Navy, with a launching platform and room to stow three seaplanes (the French
preceded her by about a year).
, Govan
, being laid down in April 1897, launched on 7 April 1898, and commissioned in October 1899. She initially served as the flagship
of the East Indies
station and then the Cape station (1907-1913). In May 1913, she was re-commissioned as a seaplane carrier. The conversion involved fitting a stowage platform at the rear of the ship and a launching platform at the front. The aircraft took off using wheeled trolleys and were retrieved by cranes. Two seaplanes were carried during trials in 1913. The results of these trials were used to help design , completed as a seaplane carrier using an existing hull after her purchase in May 1914. After the seaplane trials ended in December 1913, Hermes reverted to a cruiser and was recommissioned, only to be taken out of service at the end of the year and placed in reserve.
At the start of the First World War
, Hermes was again converted to a seaplane tender, delaying her recommissioning until 31 August 1914; she was then part of the Nore Command and used to ferry aircraft to France. On 30 October, Hermes arrived at Dunkirk with one load of seaplanes. The next morning, Hermes set out on the return journey but was recalled because a German submarine was reported in the area. Before the order could be obeyed, Hermes was torpedoed by off Ruylingen Bank in the Straits of Dover, and she sank with the loss of 22 of her crew. Her captain, who survived, was Charles Lambe.
Highflyer class cruiser
The Highflyer class cruisers were a three-ship class of second-class protected cruisers of the Royal Navy, laid down in 1897 and completed at an average cost of £300,000....
cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
which served with 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...
. She is notable for being refitted in April–May 1913 as the first experimental seaplane carrier
Seaplane tender
A seaplane tender is a ship that provides facilities for operating seaplanes. These ships were the first aircraft carriers and appeared just before the First World War.-History:...
of the Royal Navy, with a launching platform and room to stow three seaplanes (the French
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
preceded her by about a year).
Career
Hermes was built at the yards of Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering CompanyFairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company
The Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Limited was a British shipbuilding company in the Govan area on the Clyde in Glasgow. Fairfields, as it is often known, was a major warship builder, turning out many vessels for the Royal Navy and other navies through the First World War and the...
, Govan
Govan
Govan is a district and former burgh now part of southwest City of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated west of Glasgow city centre, on the south bank of the River Clyde, opposite the mouth of the River Kelvin and the district of Partick....
, being laid down in April 1897, launched on 7 April 1898, and commissioned in October 1899. She initially served as the flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
of the East Indies
East Indies
East Indies is a term used by Europeans from the 16th century onwards to identify what is now known as Indian subcontinent or South Asia, Southeastern Asia, and the islands of Oceania, including the Malay Archipelago and the Philippines...
station and then the Cape station (1907-1913). In May 1913, she was re-commissioned as a seaplane carrier. The conversion involved fitting a stowage platform at the rear of the ship and a launching platform at the front. The aircraft took off using wheeled trolleys and were retrieved by cranes. Two seaplanes were carried during trials in 1913. The results of these trials were used to help design , completed as a seaplane carrier using an existing hull after her purchase in May 1914. After the seaplane trials ended in December 1913, Hermes reverted to a cruiser and was recommissioned, only to be taken out of service at the end of the year and placed in reserve.
At the start of the First World War
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...
, Hermes was again converted to a seaplane tender, delaying her recommissioning until 31 August 1914; she was then part of the Nore Command and used to ferry aircraft to France. On 30 October, Hermes arrived at Dunkirk with one load of seaplanes. The next morning, Hermes set out on the return journey but was recalled because a German submarine was reported in the area. Before the order could be obeyed, Hermes was torpedoed by off Ruylingen Bank in the Straits of Dover, and she sank with the loss of 22 of her crew. Her captain, who survived, was Charles Lambe.