HMS Empress (1914)
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.jpg/300px-HMS_Empress_(1914).jpg) |
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| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | HMS Empress |
| Builder: | William Denny and Brothers Dumbarton |
| Laid down: | 1906 |
| Launched: | 13 April 1907 |
| Acquired: | 11 August 1914 |
| Commissioned: | 25 August 1914 |
| Out of service: | November 1919 |
| Fate: | Returned to owners November 1919 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 2540 tons normal |
| Length: | 311 ft (95 m) |
| Beam: | 40 ft (12 m) |
| Draught: | 16 ft (4.9 m) |
| Propulsion: | 3 Shaft Parsons Turbine 6000shp |
| Speed: | 21 knots |
| Complement: | 250 |
| Armament: | 2 x 4in (10.2 cm), 1 x 6pdr (57 mm) |
| Aircraft carried: | Six seaplanes |
For other ships of the same name, see HMS Empress.
HMS Empress was a Royal Navy seaplane carrier that served during the First World War.
Built as a fast Cross-Channel steamer for the South East and Chatham Railway Co., HMS Empress was requisitioned by the Admiralty on 11 August 1914 and converted by Chatham Dockyard to carry and operate four seaplanes. Based at Harwich along with HMS Engadine and Riviera, aircraft from all three ships took part in the Cuxhaven Raid on hangars housing Zeppelin airships on Christmas Day 1914.
In 1915 HMS Empress relocated to Queenstown, before moving to the Mediterranean. She was returned to her owners in November 1919.
[edit] References
- Colledge, J. J. and Warlow, Ben (2006). Ships of the Royal Navy: the complete record of all fighting ships of the Royal Navy, Rev. ed., London: Chatham. ISBN 9781861762818. OCLC 67375475.
- Dittmar, F. J. & Colledge, J. J., "British Warships 1914-1919", (Ian Allen, London, 1972), ISBN 0-7110-0380-7
- Gray, Randal (ed), "Conway's All The Worlds Fighting Ships, 1906-1921", (Conway Maritime Press, London, 1985), ISBN 0-85177-245-5
