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{{Short description|British Minotaur-class armoured cruiser}}
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{|{{Infobox Ship Begin}}
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{{other ships|HMS Shannon}}
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{{Infobox Ship Image
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
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|Ship image=[[Image:HMS Shannon (1906).jpg|300px]]
{{Use British English|date=April 2017}}
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|Ship caption=''Shannon'' with short [[Funnel (ship)|funnels]] (1908–09).
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{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
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{{Infobox ship image
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|Ship image=HMS Shannon (1906).jpg
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|Ship caption=''Shannon'' with short [[Funnel (ship)|funnels]] (1908–09)
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{{Infobox Ship Career
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
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|Ship country=
|Ship country=United Kingdom
|Ship flag=[[Image:Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg|60px|Royal Navy Ensign]]
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}}
|Ship original cost=
|Ship original cost=
|Ship name=HMS ''Shannon''
|Ship name=''Shannon''
|Ship ordered=
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|Ship awarded=
|Ship awarded=
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|Ship fate=Sold for [[ship breaking|scrap]], 12 December 1922
|Ship fate=Sold for [[ship breaking|scrap]], 12 December 1922
}}
}}
{{Infobox Ship Characteristics
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
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|Header caption=
|Header caption=
|Ship class={{sclass|Minotaur|cruiser (1906)|0}} [[armoured cruiser]]
|Ship class={{sclass|Minotaur|cruiser (1906)|0}} [[armoured cruiser]]
|Ship displacement={{convert|14600|LT|t}}
|Ship displacement={{convert|14600|LT|t|lk=on}}
|Ship length={{convert|490|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} [[Length between perpendiculars|pp]]<br>{{convert|519|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} [[length overall|overall]]
|Ship length={{convert|519|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} ([[length overall|overall]])
|Ship beam={{convert|75.5|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|75.5|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|26|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} (mean)
|Ship draught={{convert|26|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} (mean)
|Ship power={{convert|27000|ihp|lk=in|abbr=on}}<br />24 [[Yarrow Shipbuilders|Yarrow]] [[water-tube boiler]]s
|Ship power=*24 [[Yarrow boiler]]s
*{{cvt|27000|ihp|lk=on}}
|Ship propulsion=2 [[Drive shaft|shafts]]<br>2 [[Marine steam engine#Triple or multiple expansion|Vertical triple-expansion steam engines]]
|Ship propulsion=2 shafts; 2 [[Marine steam engine#Triple or multiple expansion|triple-expansion steam engines]]
|Ship speed={{convert|22|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship speed={{convert|22|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range={{convert|8150|nmi|abbr=on|lk=in}} at {{convert|10|kn}}
|Ship range={{convert|8150|nmi|abbr=on|lk=in}} at {{convert|10|kn}}
|Ship complement=842 (1912)
|Ship complement=842 (1912)
|Ship armament=2 × 2 - [[BL 9.2 inch Mk XI naval gun|BL 9.2-inch Mk XI guns]]<br>10 × 1 - [[BL 7.5 inch Mk II - V naval gun|BL 7.5-inch Mk V guns]]<br>16 × 1 - [[QF 12 pounder 18 cwt naval gun|QF 12-pounder, 18 cwt guns]]<br>5 × [[British 18 inch torpedo|18-inch (450 mm) torpedo]] tubes<ref group=Note>British "18-inch" torpedoes were 17.72 inches (45.0 cm) in diameter</ref>
|Ship armament=*2 × twin [[BL 9.2-inch Mk XI naval gun|BL 9.2-inch Mk XI guns]]
*10 × single [[BL 7.5 inch Mk II - V naval gun|BL 7.5-inch Mk V guns]]
*16 × single [[QF 12 pounder 18 cwt naval gun|QF 12-pounder, 18 cwt guns]]
*5 × [[British 18 inch torpedo|18-inch (450 mm)]] [[torpedo tube]]s<ref group=Note>British "18-inch" torpedoes were 17.72 inches (45.0 cm) in diameter.</ref>
|Ship armour=[[Belt armor|Belt]]: {{convert|3|-|6|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}<br/>[[Deck (ship)|Deck]]: {{convert|1.5|-|2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}<br/> [[Barbette]]s: {{convert|7|in|mm|abbr=on|0}} <br/>[[Gun turret]]s: {{convert|4.5|-|8|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}<br />[[Conning tower]]: {{convert|10|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship armour=*[[Belt armor|Belt]]: {{convert|3|-|6|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
*[[Deck (ship)|Deck]]: {{convert|1.5|-|2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
*[[Barbette]]s: {{convert|7|in|mm|abbr=on|0}}
*[[Gun turret]]s: {{convert|4.5|-|8|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
*[[Conning tower]]: {{convert|10|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship motto=
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{{otherships|HMS Shannon}}


'''HMS ''Shannon''''' was a {{sclass|Minotaur|cruiser (1906)|0}} [[armoured cruiser]] built for the [[Royal Navy]] in the mid-1900s. Before the [[First World War]], she served with the [[Home Fleet]], generally as the [[flagship]] of a [[cruiser]] [[squadron (naval)|squadron]]. The ship remained with the [[Grand Fleet]], as the Home Fleet was renamed when the war began, for the entire war, but only participated in a single battle, the [[Battle of Jutland]] in May 1916. ''Shannon'' spent most of the war unsuccessfully patrolling the [[North Sea]] for German warships and [[commerce raider]]s. She was [[Ship decommissioning|paid off]] in 1919 and sold for [[ship breaking|scrap]] in 1922.
'''HMS ''Shannon''''' was a {{sclass|Minotaur|cruiser (1906)|0}} [[armoured cruiser]] built for the [[Royal Navy]] in the mid-1900s. Before the [[First World War]], she served with the [[Home Fleet]], generally as the [[flagship]] of a [[cruiser]] [[squadron (naval)|squadron]]. The ship remained with the [[Grand Fleet]], as the Home Fleet was renamed when the war began, for the entire war, but only participated in a single battle, the [[Battle of Jutland]] in May 1916. ''Shannon'' spent most of the war unsuccessfully patrolling the [[North Sea]] for German warships and [[commerce raider]]s. She was [[Ship decommissioning|paid off]] in 1919 and sold for [[ship breaking|scrap]] in 1922.


==Description==
==Description==
''Shannon'' displaced {{convert|14600|LT|t}} as built and {{convert|16630|LT|t}} at [[deep load]]. The ship had an [[length overall|overall length]] of {{convert|519|ft|m|1}}, a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|75|ft|6|in|m|1}} and a mean [[draft (ship)|draught]] of {{convert|26|ft|m|1}}. Her beam was {{convert|1|ft|m|1}} wider and her draught one foot less than her [[sister ship|sisters]] in the belief that she would prove to be the fastest ship in the class. ''Shannon'' was powered by a pair of four-cylinder [[Compound engine#Multiple expansion engines|triple-expansion steam engine]]s, each driving one shaft, using steam was provided by 24 [[Yarrow Shipbuilders|Yarrow]] [[water-tube boiler]]s. The engines were designed to reach a total of {{convert|27000|ihp|lk=in}} and were intended to give a maximum speed of {{convert|23|kn|lk=in}}. ''Shannon'' proved to be the slowest ship in the class; during her [[sea trial]]s on 3 December 1907 her engines reached {{convert|29644|ihp}}, but she only reached a speed of {{convert|22.592|kn|1}} The ship carried a maximum of {{convert|2060|LT|t}} of coal and an additional {{convert|750|LT|t}} of [[fuel oil]] that was sprayed on the coal to increase its burn rate. At full capacity, she could steam for {{convert|8150|nmi|lk=in}} at a speed of {{convert|10|kn}}. ''Shannon'' was designed to carry 779 officers and enlisted men, but had a complement of 819 in 1908 and 842 in 1912.<ref>Burt, pp. 86, 93–95</ref>
''Shannon'' displaced {{convert|14600|LT|t}} as built and {{convert|16630|LT|t}} at [[deep load]]. The ship had an [[length overall|overall length]] of {{convert|519|ft|m|1}}, a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|75|ft|6|in|m|1}} and a mean [[draft (ship)|draught]] of {{convert|26|ft|m|1}}. Her beam was {{convert|1|ft|m|1}} wider and her draught one foot less than her [[sister ship|sisters]] in the belief that she would prove to be the fastest ship in the class. ''Shannon'' was powered by a pair of four-cylinder [[Compound engine#Multiple expansion engines|triple-expansion steam engine]]s, each driving one shaft, using steam provided by 24 [[Yarrow Shipbuilders|Yarrow]] [[water-tube boiler]]s. The engines were designed to reach a total of {{convert|27000|ihp|lk=in}} and were intended to give a maximum speed of {{convert|23|kn|lk=in}}. ''Shannon'' proved to be the slowest ship in the class; during her [[sea trial]]s on 3 December 1907 her engines reached {{convert|29644|ihp}}, but she only reached a speed of {{convert|22.592|kn|1}} The ship carried a maximum of {{convert|2060|LT|t}} of coal and an additional {{convert|750|LT|t}} of [[fuel oil]] that was sprayed on the coal to increase its burn rate. At full capacity, she could steam for {{convert|8150|nmi|lk=in}} at a speed of {{convert|10|kn}}. ''Shannon'' was designed to carry 779 officers and ratings, but had a complement of 819 in 1908 and 842 in 1912.<ref>Burt, pp. 86, 93–95.</ref>


The ship's main armament consisted of four [[BL 9.2 inch gun Mk IX - X|BL 9.2-inch Mark X guns]] in two twin-[[gun turret]]s, one each fore and aft. Her secondary armament of ten [[BL 7.5 inch Mk II - V naval gun|BL 7.5-inch Mark II guns]] were mounted amidships in single turrets. Anti-[[torpedo boat]] defence was provided by sixteen [[QF 12 pounder 18 cwt naval gun|QF 12-pounder (3-inch) 18-cwt guns]].<ref group=Note>"Cwt" is the abbreviation for [[hundredweight]], 18 cwt referring to the weight of the gun.</ref> ''Shannon'' also mounted five submerged [[British 18 inch torpedo|17.7-inch]] [[torpedo tube]]s, one of which was mounted in the stern.<ref>Burt, p. 94</ref>
The ship's main armament consisted of four [[BL 9.2-inch Mk XI naval gun|BL 9.2-inch Mark XI guns]] in two twin-[[gun turret]]s, one each fore and aft. Her secondary armament of ten [[BL 7.5 inch Mk II - V naval gun|BL 7.5-inch Mark II guns]] were mounted amidships in single turrets. Anti-[[torpedo boat]] defence was provided by sixteen [[QF 12 pounder 18 cwt naval gun|QF 12-pounder (3-inch) 18-cwt guns]].<ref group=Note>"Cwt" is the abbreviation for [[hundredweight]], 18 cwt referring to the weight of the gun.</ref> ''Shannon'' also mounted five submerged [[British 18 inch torpedo|17.7-inch]] [[torpedo tube]]s, one of which was mounted in the stern.<ref>Burt, p. 94.</ref>


The [[waterline]] [[Belt armor|armour belt]] consisted of {{convert|6|in|0}} of [[Krupp cemented armour]] roughly between the fore and aft 7.5-inch gun turrets, but was reduced in steps to three inches to the ends of the ship. The gun turrets and [[barbette]]s were protected by {{convert|6|-|8|in|mm|0}} of armour. The thickness of the lower [[Deck (ship)|deck]] was {{convert|1.5|-|2|in|mm|0}}. The armour of the [[conning tower]] was {{convert|10|in|0}} thick.<ref>Burt, p. 86</ref>
The [[waterline]] [[Belt armor|armour belt]] consisted of {{convert|6|in|0}} of [[Krupp cemented armour]] roughly between the fore and aft 7.5-inch gun turrets, but was reduced in steps to three inches to the ends of the ship. The gun turrets and [[barbette]]s were protected by {{convert|6|-|8|in|mm|0}} of armour. The thickness of the lower [[Deck (ship)|deck]] was {{convert|1.5|-|2|in|mm|0}}. The armour of the [[conning tower]] was {{convert|10|in|0}} thick.<ref>Burt, p. 86.</ref>


==Construction and career==
==Construction and career==
[[Image:HMS Shannon.jpg|left|thumb|''Shannon'' after her [[Funnel (ship)|funnels]] were lengthened.]]
[[File:HMS Shannon.jpg|left|thumb|''Shannon'' after her [[Funnel (ship)|funnels]] were lengthened.]]
''Shannon'' was ordered as part of the 1904–05 naval construction programme as one of the three ''Minotaur''-class armoured cruisers. She was [[Keel|laid down]] on 2 January 1905 at [[Chatham Dockyard]]. The ship was christened on 27 April 1907 by [[Robert Wynn Carrington, 1st Marquess of Lincolnshire|Lady Carrington]] and commissioned on 19 March 1908<ref name=b9>Burt, p. 92</ref> at the cost of £1,415,135.<ref>Parkes, p. 447</ref> While [[fitting out]] in [[Portsmouth]], ''Shannon'' was accidentally struck on 5 December 1907 by the battleship {{HMS|Prince George|1895|2}} which had broken loose from her anchorage; both ships were only lightly damaged.<ref name=b9/>
''Shannon'' was ordered as part of the 1904–05 naval construction programme as one of the three ''Minotaur''-class armoured cruisers. She was [[Keel laying|laid down]] on 2 January 1905 at [[Chatham Dockyard]]. The ship was christened on 27 April 1907 by [[Charles Wynn-Carington, 1st Marquess of Lincolnshire|Lady Carrington]] and commissioned on 19 March 1908<ref name=b9>Burt, p. 92.</ref> at the cost of £1,415,135.<ref>Parkes, p. 447.</ref> While [[fitting out]] in [[Portsmouth]], ''Shannon'' was accidentally struck on 5 December 1907 by the battleship {{HMS|Prince George|1895|2}} which had broken loose from her anchorage; both ships were only lightly damaged.<ref name=b9/>


Upon commissioning, the ship became the flagship of the [[5th Cruiser Squadron]] of Home Fleet and was later transferred to the [[2nd Cruiser Squadron]] as a [[private ship]] when the fleet reorganized in April 1909. She became the flagship of her squadron on 1 March 1910 and made a port visit to [[Torbay]] in January 1911. ''Shannon'' was relieved as flagship by the [[battlecruiser]] {{HMS|Indomitable|1907|2}} on 5 March 1912 and was transferred to the [[3rd Cruiser Squadron]] as that squadron's flagship. In January 1914, she relieved ''Indomitable'' as flagship of the 2nd Cruiser Squadron during exercises off the northwest coast of Spain. The following month, ''Shannon'', together with the [[1st Battlecruiser Squadron]] and the rest of the 2nd Cruiser Squadron, made a port visit to [[Brest, France]].<ref name=b9/>
Upon commissioning, the ship became the flagship of the [[5th Cruiser Squadron]] of Home Fleet and was later transferred to the [[2nd Cruiser Squadron]] as a [[private ship]] when the fleet reorganized in April 1909. She became the flagship of her squadron on 1 March 1910 and made a port visit to [[Torbay]] in January 1911. ''Shannon'' was relieved as flagship by the [[battlecruiser]] {{HMS|Indomitable|1907|2}} on 5 March 1912 and was transferred to the [[3rd Cruiser Squadron]] as that squadron's flagship. In January 1914, she relieved ''Indomitable'' as flagship of the 2nd Cruiser Squadron during exercises off the northwest coast of Spain. The following month, ''Shannon'', together with the [[1st Battlecruiser Squadron]] and the rest of the 2nd Cruiser Squadron, made a port visit to [[Brest, France]].<ref name=b9/>


In October 1914, the ship was patrolling off the coast of Norway and almost intercepted the [[armed merchant cruiser]] {{SS|Berlin|1908|6}} on several occasions. During a sweep into the Heligoland Bight on 26 November, she was unsuccessfully bombed by a German aircraft. She began a refit shortly afterwards that lasted until 24 January 1915.<ref name=b9/> ''Shannon'' was present in [[Cromarty Firth]] when the armoured cruiser {{HMS|Natal|1905|2}}'s [[magazine (artillery)|magazine]] exploded on 30 December 1915 and her crew attempted to rescue survivors from ''Natal''.<ref>Hampshire, p. 105</ref> The ship received a [[QF 12 pounder 12 cwt AA gun|QF 12-pounder (3-inch) 12 cwt]] [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft]] (AA) gun and a [[Ordnance QF 3 pounder Vickers|QF 3-pounder (47&nbsp;mm)]] AA gun in 1915–16. The 12-pounder gun was mounted on the aft superstructure and the 3-pounder on the [[quarterdeck]] at the extreme rear. Sometime afterwards, a [[fire-control system]] was installed with a [[director (military)|director]] mounted on a platform fitted to the foremast.<ref>Burt, pp. 87, 92</ref>
In October 1914, the ship was patrolling off the coast of Norway and almost intercepted the [[armed merchant cruiser]] {{SS|Berlin|1908|6}} on several occasions. During a sweep into the Heligoland Bight on 26 November, she was unsuccessfully bombed by a German aircraft. She began a refit shortly afterwards that lasted until 24 January 1915.<ref name=b9/> ''Shannon'' was present in [[Cromarty Firth]] when the armoured cruiser {{HMS|Natal|1905|2}}'s [[magazine (artillery)|magazine]] exploded on 30 December 1915 and her crew attempted to rescue survivors from ''Natal''.<ref>Hampshire, p. 105.</ref> The ship received a [[QF 12 pounder 12 cwt AA gun|QF 12-pounder (three-inch) 12-cwt]] [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft]] (AA) gun and a [[Ordnance QF 3 pounder Vickers|QF 3-pounder (47&nbsp;mm)]] AA gun in 1915–16. The 12-pounder gun was mounted on the aft superstructure and the 3-pounder on the [[quarterdeck]] at the extreme rear. Sometime afterwards, a [[fire-control system]] was installed with a [[director (military)|director]] mounted on a platform fitted to the foremast.<ref>Burt, pp. 87, 92.</ref>


During the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916, she was on the unengaged side of the fleet and did not fire her 9.2 or 7.5-inch guns at all during the battle.<ref>Campbell, p. 361</ref> The ship spent several days after the battle searching for survivors from her [[Sister ship|sister]] [[HMS Defence (1907)|''Defence'']] and other sunken ships. Before the end of the war the 12-pounder AA gun mounted on the aft superstructure was moved to the roof of the forward 9.2-inch gun turret. ''Shannon'' was paid off on 2 May 1919<ref>Burt, pp. 87, 93</ref> and became an [[accommodation ship]] until sold for breaking up on 12 December 1922.<ref>Gardiner & Gray, pp. 10, 13</ref>
During the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916, she was on the unengaged side of the fleet and did not fire her 9.2 or 7.5-inch guns at all during the battle.<ref>Campbell, p. 361.</ref> The ship spent several days after the battle searching for survivors from her [[Sister ship|sister]] {{HMS|Defence|1907|2}} and other sunken ships. Before the end of the war the 12-pounder AA gun mounted on the aft superstructure was moved to the roof of the forward 9.2-inch gun turret. ''Shannon'' was paid off on 2 May 1919<ref>Burt, pp. 87, 93.</ref> and became an [[accommodation ship]] until sold for breaking up on 12 December 1922.<ref>Gardiner & Gray, pp. 10, 13.</ref>

==Notable commanding officers==
*[[Charles Douglas Carpendale]], 1912-1914<ref name=obit>"Vice-Admiral Sir C. D. Carpendale" (obituary) in ''[[The Times]]'' dated 23 March 1968, Issue 57208, column F, p. 10</ref>
*[[John Saumarez Dumaresq]]


==Notes==
==Notes==
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== References ==
== References ==
*{{cite journal|last=Burt|first=R. A.|date=1987|title=Minotaur: Before the Battlecruiser|journal=Warship|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=London|volume=42|pages=83–95|issn=0142-6222}}
* {{cite journal|last=Burt|first=R. A.|date=1987|title=Minotaur: Before the Battlecruiser|journal=Warship|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=London|volume=42|pages=83–95|issn=0142-6222}}
* {{cite book |last=Campbell|first=John|title=Jutland: An Analysis of the Fighting|year=1998|location=[[London]]|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|isbn=1-55821-759-2}}
* {{cite book |last=Campbell|first=John|title=Jutland: An Analysis of the Fighting|year=1998|location=[[London]]|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|isbn=1-55821-759-2}}
* {{cite book |editor1-last=Gardiner|editor1-first=Robert|editor2-last=Gray|editor2-first=Randal|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships: 1906–1921|year=1984|location=Annapolis, Maryland|publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=0-85177-245-5}}
* {{cite book |editor1-last=Gardiner|editor1-first=Robert|editor2-last=Gray|editor2-first=Randal|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921|year=1985|location=Annapolis, Maryland|publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=0-85177-245-5}}
* {{cite book|last=Hampshire|first=A. Cecil|title=They Called It Accident|year=1961|publisher=William Kimber|location=London|oclc=7973925}}
* {{cite book|last=Hampshire|first=A. Cecil|title=They Called It Accident|year=1961|publisher=William Kimber|location=London|oclc=7973925}}
* {{cite book|last=Parkes|first=Oscar|title=British Battleships|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1990|edition=reprint of the 1957|isbn=1-55750-075-4}}
* {{cite book|last=Parkes|first=Oscar|title=British Battleships|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1990|edition=reprint of the 1957|isbn=1-55750-075-4}}


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
* {{cite book|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860-1905|editor1-last=Chesneau|editor1-first=Roger|editor2-last=Kolesnik|editor2-first=Eugene M.|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=Greenwich|date=1979|isbn=0-8317-0302-4}}
* {{cite book|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905|editor1-last=Chesneau|editor1-first=Roger|editor2-last=Kolesnik|editor2-first=Eugene M.|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=Greenwich|date=1979|isbn=0-8317-0302-4|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/conwaysallworlds0000unse_l2e2}}


==External links==
{{Commons category|HMS Shannon (ship, 1906)}}

* [https://www.jutlandcrewlists.org/shannon Battle of Jutland Crew Lists Project - HMS ''Shannon'' Crew List]

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{{Minotaur class cruiser (1906)}}
{{Minotaur class cruiser (1906)}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shannon (1906)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shannon (1906)}}
[[Category:Minotaur-class cruisers (1906)]]
[[Category:Minotaur-class cruisers (1906)]]
[[Category:Chatham-built ships]]
[[Category:Ships built in Chatham]]
[[Category:1906 ships]]
[[Category:1906 ships]]
[[Category:World War I cruisers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:World War I cruisers of the United Kingdom]]

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Latest revision as of 18:42, 2 June 2023

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Shannon.

Shannon with short funnels (1908–09)
History
United Kingdom
NameShannon
BuilderChatham Dockyard
Laid down2 January 1905
Launched20 September 1906
CompletedNovember 1907 (for trials)
Commissioned19 March 1908
Decommissioned2 May 1919
FateSold for scrap, 12 December 1922
General characteristics
Class and typeMinotaur-class armoured cruiser
Displacement14,600 long tons (14,800 t)
Length519 ft (158.2 m) (overall)
Beam75.5 ft (23.0 m)
Draught26 ft (7.9 m) (mean)
Installed power
Propulsion2 shafts; 2 triple-expansion steam engines
Speed22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)
Range8,150 nmi (15,090 km; 9,380 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement842 (1912)
Armament
Armour

HMS Shannon was a Minotaur-class armoured cruiser built for the Royal Navy in the mid-1900s. Before the First World War, she served with the Home Fleet, generally as the flagship of a cruiser squadron. The ship remained with the Grand Fleet, as the Home Fleet was renamed when the war began, for the entire war, but only participated in a single battle, the Battle of Jutland in May 1916. Shannon spent most of the war unsuccessfully patrolling the North Sea for German warships and commerce raiders. She was paid off in 1919 and sold for scrap in 1922.

Description[edit]

Shannon displaced 14,600 long tons (14,800 t) as built and 16,630 long tons (16,900 t) at deep load. The ship had an overall length of 519 feet (158.2 m), a beam of 75 feet 6 inches (23.0 m) and a mean draught of 26 feet (7.9 m). Her beam was 1 foot (0.3 m) wider and her draught one foot less than her sisters in the belief that she would prove to be the fastest ship in the class. Shannon was powered by a pair of four-cylinder triple-expansion steam engines, each driving one shaft, using steam provided by 24 Yarrow water-tube boilers. The engines were designed to reach a total of 27,000 indicated horsepower (20,000 kW) and were intended to give a maximum speed of 23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph). Shannon proved to be the slowest ship in the class; during her sea trials on 3 December 1907 her engines reached 29,644 indicated horsepower (22,106 kW), but she only reached a speed of 22.592 knots (41.8 km/h; 26.0 mph) The ship carried a maximum of 2,060 long tons (2,090 t) of coal and an additional 750 long tons (760 t) of fuel oil that was sprayed on the coal to increase its burn rate. At full capacity, she could steam for 8,150 nautical miles (15,090 km; 9,380 mi) at a speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). Shannon was designed to carry 779 officers and ratings, but had a complement of 819 in 1908 and 842 in 1912.[1]

The ship's main armament consisted of four BL 9.2-inch Mark XI guns in two twin-gun turrets, one each fore and aft. Her secondary armament of ten BL 7.5-inch Mark II guns were mounted amidships in single turrets. Anti-torpedo boat defence was provided by sixteen QF 12-pounder (3-inch) 18-cwt guns.[Note 2] Shannon also mounted five submerged 17.7-inch torpedo tubes, one of which was mounted in the stern.[2]

The waterline armour belt consisted of 6 inches (152 mm) of Krupp cemented armour roughly between the fore and aft 7.5-inch gun turrets, but was reduced in steps to three inches to the ends of the ship. The gun turrets and barbettes were protected by 6–8 inches (152–203 mm) of armour. The thickness of the lower deck was 1.5–2 inches (38–51 mm). The armour of the conning tower was 10 inches (254 mm) thick.[3]

Construction and career[edit]

Shannon after her funnels were lengthened.

Shannon was ordered as part of the 1904–05 naval construction programme as one of the three Minotaur-class armoured cruisers. She was laid down on 2 January 1905 at Chatham Dockyard. The ship was christened on 27 April 1907 by Lady Carrington and commissioned on 19 March 1908[4] at the cost of £1,415,135.[5] While fitting out in Portsmouth, Shannon was accidentally struck on 5 December 1907 by the battleship Prince George which had broken loose from her anchorage; both ships were only lightly damaged.[4]

Upon commissioning, the ship became the flagship of the 5th Cruiser Squadron of Home Fleet and was later transferred to the 2nd Cruiser Squadron as a private ship when the fleet reorganized in April 1909. She became the flagship of her squadron on 1 March 1910 and made a port visit to Torbay in January 1911. Shannon was relieved as flagship by the battlecruiser Indomitable on 5 March 1912 and was transferred to the 3rd Cruiser Squadron as that squadron's flagship. In January 1914, she relieved Indomitable as flagship of the 2nd Cruiser Squadron during exercises off the northwest coast of Spain. The following month, Shannon, together with the 1st Battlecruiser Squadron and the rest of the 2nd Cruiser Squadron, made a port visit to Brest, France.[4]

In October 1914, the ship was patrolling off the coast of Norway and almost intercepted the armed merchant cruiser SS Berlin on several occasions. During a sweep into the Heligoland Bight on 26 November, she was unsuccessfully bombed by a German aircraft. She began a refit shortly afterwards that lasted until 24 January 1915.[4] Shannon was present in Cromarty Firth when the armoured cruiser Natal's magazine exploded on 30 December 1915 and her crew attempted to rescue survivors from Natal.[6] The ship received a QF 12-pounder (three-inch) 12-cwt anti-aircraft (AA) gun and a QF 3-pounder (47 mm) AA gun in 1915–16. The 12-pounder gun was mounted on the aft superstructure and the 3-pounder on the quarterdeck at the extreme rear. Sometime afterwards, a fire-control system was installed with a director mounted on a platform fitted to the foremast.[7]

During the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916, she was on the unengaged side of the fleet and did not fire her 9.2 or 7.5-inch guns at all during the battle.[8] The ship spent several days after the battle searching for survivors from her sister Defence and other sunken ships. Before the end of the war the 12-pounder AA gun mounted on the aft superstructure was moved to the roof of the forward 9.2-inch gun turret. Shannon was paid off on 2 May 1919[9] and became an accommodation ship until sold for breaking up on 12 December 1922.[10]

Notable commanding officers[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ British "18-inch" torpedoes were 17.72 inches (45.0 cm) in diameter.
  2. ^ "Cwt" is the abbreviation for hundredweight, 18 cwt referring to the weight of the gun.

Footnotes[edit]

  1. ^ Burt, pp. 86, 93–95.
  2. ^ Burt, p. 94.
  3. ^ Burt, p. 86.
  4. ^ a b c d Burt, p. 92.
  5. ^ Parkes, p. 447.
  6. ^ Hampshire, p. 105.
  7. ^ Burt, pp. 87, 92.
  8. ^ Campbell, p. 361.
  9. ^ Burt, pp. 87, 93.
  10. ^ Gardiner & Gray, pp. 10, 13.
  11. ^ "Vice-Admiral Sir C. D. Carpendale" (obituary) in The Times dated 23 March 1968, Issue 57208, column F, p. 10

References[edit]

  • Burt, R. A. (1987). "Minotaur: Before the Battlecruiser". Warship. 42. London: Conway Maritime Press: 83–95. ISSN 0142-6222.
  • Campbell, John (1998). Jutland: An Analysis of the Fighting. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 1-55821-759-2.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
  • Hampshire, A. Cecil (1961). They Called It Accident. London: William Kimber. OCLC 7973925.
  • Parkes, Oscar (1990). British Battleships (reprint of the 1957 ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-075-4.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to HMS Shannon (ship, 1906).

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