Overnight Hersing withdrew from the Forth, patrolling the coast from the Isle of May southwards. Tagged as First World War, Great War, Hersing, HMS Pathfinder, Martin-Leake, submarine, sunk, torpedo, U21, war at sea, WW1, WWI, Pingback: E9 Sinks SMS Hela 13 September 1914 | War and Security, Pingback: U9 Sinks Three British Cruisers 22 September 1914 | War and Security, Pingback: Submarines in 1914 | War and Security, Pingback: The Naval Blockades: (2) Germany | War and Security, Pingback: U21 Sinks Two British Battleships in Three Days | War and Security, Pingback: Jan Bee BrownThe King of the Cats...and other stories | Jan Bee Brown, Pingback: RAYMOND JAMES GUILL - Ipswich War Memorial, Pingback: The Dover Straits in the First World War | War and Security. A spar torpedo is more akin to a limpet mine than to a twentieth or twentieth century torpedo. image: An image of the 'Pathfinder' exploding and sinking. [Note 1][6] Three guns were mounted abreast on the forecastle and the quarterdeck, with the remaining four guns positioned port and starboard amidships. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Trials were Trials were carried out during 1947 … The sinking of Pathfinder by a U-boat made a big impression on Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, who decided to keep his Grand Fleet as far north as the Admiralty would allow. Source: © IWM (ADNO 8722) Pathfinder was commanded by Commander Edward Albert Gibbs from January 1942 to November 1943, during which time she assisted the destroyer Ithuriel in sinking the Italian submarine Cobalto, assisted the destroyers Vimy and Quentin to sink the German submarine U-162, assisted in the rescue of nearly 5,000 survivors from the troopship Strathallan after it was torpedoed off Oran, Algeria. HMS Pathfinder was the lead ship of the Pathfinder class scout cruisers, and was the first ship ever to be sunk by a locomotive torpedo fired by submarine (the American Civil War ship USS Housatonic had been sunk by a spar torpedo ). She lost 259 of her crew with only 9 surviving. The torpedo, fired from U-21 hit her forward magazine sinking her in only 4 minutes (the bow section). Range was 3,400 nmi (6,300 km; 3,900 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). She was a 2940 gross ton Light cruiser. HMS Pathfinder (Lt.Cdr. The communications were as follows :— The Secretary of the Admiralty communicates the following message for publication :— H.M.S. Pathfinder spent her early career with the Atlantic Fleet, Channel Fleet (1906) and then the Home Fleet (1907). Contents. HMS PATHFINDER was selected for use a bombing target in November 1946 and prepared for this at Portsmouth. [4] <> Accessed 11 September 2014. The survivors included Pathfinder’s captain, Francis Martin-Leake, who was wounded. It struck Pathfinder under her forward funnel. First World War, North Sea & HMS Pathfinder, Sinking of & 5/9/1914 Photographs BRITISH DESTROYER FLIES CAPTURED JAPANESE FLAG. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. One of our best wrecks with a wealth of history attached. September 5, HMS Bangor will arrive in Bangor, Co Down. (However The Scotsman also reported that Pathfinder had been attacked by two U-boats and had accounted for the second one in her death throes. Pathfinder was sunk off St. Abbs Head, Berwickshire, Scotland, on Saturday 5 September 1914 by the German U-21, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Otto Hersing. ''Pathfinder' was the first EVER warship sunk by a torpedo fired from a German U-Boat. There was not a piece of wood, they said, big enough to float a man—and over acres the sea was covered with fragments—human and otherwise. There was horrendous loss of life, only a few of the casualties died in the immediate sinking but It was the first British warship to be torpedoed by a German Uboat in WW1. Pathfinder spent her early career with the Atlantic Fleet, Channel Fleet (1906) and then the Home Fleet (1907). World War One; image copyright Royal Navy Museum. 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The detonation apparently set off cordite bags in the forward magazine which caused a second, more massive explosion within the fore section of the ship, essentially destroying everything forward of the bridge. The St. Abbs’ lifeboat came in with the most appalling accounts of the scene. the first royal navy ship to be sunk by torpedo The Destruction of HMS Pathfinder There is no known surviving official report on the destruction of Pathfinder, one of the most historically significant of European wrecks . In May 1902, the British Admiralty issued an invitation to tender to several shipbuilding yards for a new type of small cruiser, intended to act as leaders for flotillas of destroyers. Learn how your comment data is processed. The bow of the vessle has already sunk beneath the surface, andthe first funnle seems about to break off into the water. 100th annivesay of HMS Pathfinder sinking: Sinking of hms hood may 1941: Home. A BBC report on the laying of a wreath on the wreck on the 100th anniversary of the sinking by divers says that 18 survived and 250 died. The Confederate submarine H. L. Hunley sank the sloop USS Housatonic during the American Civil War by attaching a spar torpedo to her hull. The flash caused the forward magazine to explode destroying the forward part of the ship, which sank rapidly with the loss of over 250 of her crew. HMS Pathfinder, (Navy Photos, click to enlarge) return to Contents List : PALADIN-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered from Hawthorn Leslie at Newcastle on 2nd October 1939 with 2nd Emergency Flotilla. HMS Pathfinder was a steel Pathfinder class scout cruiser built by Cammell Laird in Birkenhead and launched on 16th July 1904. By IanA, 20 January , 2009 in Sailors, navies and the war at sea. One unknown Pathfinder sailor is buried at Dunbar overlooking the scene of the sinking. ISC Megalodon divers raise the white ensign on HMS Pathfinder. Her forward magazine blew up and she sank within four minutes, too quickly for her to launch her boats. On the Centenary of HMS Pathfinder’s sinking on 5 th September, HMS Bangor will arrive in Bangor, County Down. Not long after completion, two additional 12 pounder guns were added and the 3 pounder guns were replaced with six 6 pounder guns. On 5 September 1914 U-21, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Otto Hersing, torpedoed and sank the scout cruiser HMS Pathfinder, leader of the Eighth Destroyer Flotilla, off St Abbs Head on the south east coast of Scotland., off St Abbs Head on the south east coast of Scotland. At the start of the First World War she was part of the 8th Destroyer Flotilla based at Rosyth in the Firth of Forth. ‘Another eye witness to the sinking was the writer Aldous Huxley, who was staying at St Abbs at the time. HMS Pathfinder was the lead ship of the Pathfinder class scout cruisers, and was the first ship ever to be sunk by a torpedo fired by submarine (the American Civil War ship USS Housatonic had been sunk by a spar torpedo). The vessel sank so quickly, in fact, that there was insufficient time to launch lifeboats. Posts about HMS Pathfinder written by Martin Gibson. [2]<> Accessed 11 September 2014. He wrote to his father saying that: I dare say Julian told you that we actually saw the Pathfinder explosion – a great white cloud with its foot in sea. The U-boat War in World War Two (Kriegsmarine, 1939-1945) and World War One (Kaiserliche Marine, 1914-1918) and the Allied efforts to counter the threat. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. She will be open to the general public on the afternoons of Sat 6th and Sun 7th. The Captain said, 'jump you devils jump !'. Broken in two, the "Pathfinder" instantly began sinking, dragging most of her crew down with her and leaving a massive pall of smoke to mark her grave. HMS Argus and her two escorting destroyers had departed the Clyde on 31 July. HMS Buxton later split off and proceeded towards Canada and HMS Sardonyx proceeded to Londonderry. Maritime historians Bob Baird and Clio assembled a cohesive account from a mosaic of personal accounts and official fragments. ( Log Out /  ISC Megalodon divers raise the white ensign on HMS Pathfinder. A team of divers from the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) plan to mark the 100th anniversary later this year. The HMS Pathfinder is said to be the first ship sunk by a locomotive torpedo in September 1914 Scuba divers are to lay a wreath on the wreck of a ship sunk by … In History: The Sinking of the HMS Pathfinder The HMS Pathfinder had been a Pathfinder-class scout cruiser during the WWI-era. At 1545 lookouts spotted a torpedo wake heading towards the starboard bow and the officer of the watch, Lieutenant-Commander Favell, attempted to take evasive action by ordering the starboard engine be put astern and the port engine at full ahead while the wheel was turned hard a port. His report can be found on the website The Dreadnought Project. It was the centenary of the sinking of HMS Pathfinder. [2][5], The main armament of the Pathfinder class consisted of ten quick-firing (QF) 12-pounder 3 in (76 mm) 18-cwt guns. She was built by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, launched on 16 July 1904, and commissioned on 18 July 1905. The sinking of the Pathfinder was announced by the Press Bureau on Saturday, and the casualties among the officers were officially communicated late last night. Wikipedia names 18 survivors, but adds two civilian canteen assistants to the total on board, giving 252 dead. The fact that it is impossible to determine how many were on board that day adds to the problem, but modern research indicates that in all probability, there were 268 personnel on board plus two civilian canteen assistants. HMS Pathfinder was the lead ship of her class of two British scout cruisers, and was the first ship ever to be sunk by a self-propelled torpedo fired by submarine (the American Civil War sloop-of-war USS Housatonic had been sunk by a spar torpedo). The 5th September 2015 was the 101st anniversary of the sinking of HMS Pathfinder. Additionally, the British destroyers HMS Stag and Express had spotted the smoke and headed for the pall of smoke, only to find that what few survivors there were had already been rescued. On September 5th 1914 she had torpedoed the British cruiser HMS Pathfinder was sunk in the North Sea, off the Scottish coast, ... On May 25th he sank the 12,000 ton HMS Triumph and two days later was to be equally successful in sinking the 16,000 ton HMS Majestic. She measured 370.0’ x 38.8’ x 15.2’ and displaced 2987 tons. Displacement was 2,940 long tons (2,990 t) normal and 3,240 long tons (3,290 t) deep load. image: A painting of the 'Pathfinder' exploding and sinking. She is named after Bangor and is the second Royal … 5 September 2014. English: Loss of HMS Pathfinder, September 5th 1914 image: A painting of the 'Pathfinder' exploding and sinking. It commemorates Stoker 1st Class William Stern (K/5331) of the Royal Navy, who was killed in the sinking of HMS Pathfinder on September 5; four days earlier. There is an enormous cloud of dense smoke all around the ship, with a high jet of water rising into the air on the left. Shortly thereafter, Hersing spotted Pathfinder on her return journey through his periscope and resolved to make an attack. His name is memorialized on Panel 5 of the Chatham Naval Memorial, in Kent. Reply to this topic; Start new topic; Recommended Posts. Born in Bishopsgate, London, on July 3, 1891, William was the son of Jacob and Esther. [4] Cammell Laird's ships, the Pathfinder-class, were 379 feet 0 inches (115.52 m) long overall and 370 feet 0 inches (112.78 m) between perpendiculars, with a beam of 38 feet 9 inches (11.81 m) and a draught of 15 feet 2 inches (4.62 m). The letter is written by (Naval) Captain Francis Martin-Leake – the letter describes some of the events of the sinking. The bow of the vessle has already sunk beneath the surface, and the first funnle seems about to break off into the water. This section includes over 21.000 Allied Warships and over 11.000 Allied Commanders of WWII, from the US Navy, Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Australian Navy, The Polish Navy and others. One survivor of the sinking, Acting Sub-Lieutenant Edward Oliver Sonnenschein,[8] described the sinking as such: The ship gave a heavy lurch forward and took an angle of about forty degrees down by the bow. 1 Description; 2 Construction and career; 3 Notes; 4 References; 5 External links; Description. She measured 370.0’ x 38.8’ x 15.2’ and displaced 2987 tons. HMS Pathfinder. ( Log Out /  The first ship ever to be sunk by a locomotive torpedo fired by a submarine was HMS Pathfinder, a Pathfinder-class scout cruiser, on 5th September 1914.She was sunk off St Abbs Head in the Scottish Borders while on patrol, by U-21 commanded by Kapitänleutnant Otto Hersing, taking with her 6 men from Ulster. She was a 2940 gross ton Light cruiser. We put our exhibition back up to commemorate the event. He had previously been awarded the VC in the Boer War. [1] R. H. Gibson, M. Prendergast, The German Submarine War, 1914-1918. Founded in 2006, Historum is a history forum dedicated to history discussions and historical events. HMS Truculent had sank in the Thames Estuary after a collision with the Swedish vessel Divina on the evening of 12th January 1950. She was damaged while serving in the Far East, and was scrapped after the end of the war. HMS Pathfinder: on 5 September 1914 this scout cruiser was returning to base at Rosyth while acting as leader of the 8th Destroyer Flotilla. [5] A 2 inches (51 mm) thick armour belt protected the ship's engine rooms, with a 3⁄8 inch (9.5 mm) armoured deck over the ships engines and an armoured deck of 1⁄2–1 1⁄2 inches (13–38 mm) elsewhere, while the ship's conning tower was protected with 3 inches (76 mm) of armour. The HMS Truclulent Incident. There were just twenty known survivors. ", Fishing boats from the nearby fishing port of Eyemouth were the first on the scene and encountered a field of debris, fuel oil, clothing and body parts. Former name: HMS Onslaught: Commands listed for HMS Pathfinder (G 10) Please note that we're still working on this section. Can I point out a couple of corrections: 1) The above letter is describing the sinking of the Pathfinder by torpedo on Saturday the 5th September. On the Centenary of HMS Pathfinder's sinking on. They brought back a sailor’s cap with half a man’s head inside it. Brexit: What are the key points of the deal? It was 385 feet long, was armed with 15 guns as well as two torpedo tubes and could go at speeds of 25 knots. At midday, the destroyers altered course back towards the Isle of May while Pathfinder continued her patrol. HMS Pathfinder sunk off the Isle of May in September 1914 Tuesday 5th September comments: The Isle of May NNR has a wealth of history but today marks the 103 rd anniversary of the tragedy of the sinking of HMS Pathfinder. The St. Abbs' lifeboat came in with the most appalling accounts of the scene. Jan 29, 2019 - HMS Pathfinder (G10) a P-class destroyer. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. This was the first time that a submarine had sunk a ship using a motor powered torpedo. On 5 September 1914 U-21, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Otto Hersing, torpedoed and sank the scout cruiser HMS Pathfinder, leader of the Eighth Destroyer Flotilla , off St Abbs Head on the south east coast of Scotland. (Indeed, the remains of a lifeboat davit and rope can still be seen on the wreck, demonstrating the speed with which the vessel sank.). Thomas Frederick Hallifax, RN) was declared a constructive total loss on 11 February 1945 after being damaged by bombs from Japanese aircraft off Ramree Island, Burma. ''Pathfinder' was the first EVER warship sunk by a torpedo fired from a German U-Boat. At the start of the First World War she was part of the 8th Destroyer Flotilla based at Rosyth in the Firth of Forth and commanded by Capt Francis Martin-Peake. [5] Twelve Normand water-tube boilers fed steam to two 4-cylinder triple-expansion steam engines rated at 16,500 indicated horsepower (12,300 kW) and driving two shafts. Note that this and the next two references are to a password restricted subscription website. Military History. (There was an anecdotal story that one of the destroyers had an engine problem when a water inlet was blocked by a leg in a seaboot.). At 1543 U-21 fired a single 50 cm (20 in) Type G/6 torpedo at a range of 2,000 yards. "I was then thrown forward by the slope of the deck and got jammed beneath a gun (which I expect is the cause of my bruising) and while in this position was carried down some way by the sinking ship, but fortunately after a time I became released and after what seemed like interminable ages I came to the surface, and after swimming a short time I was able to get an oar and some other floating material with the help of which I was just able to keep on the surface. The sinking of HMS HAWKE: One of the greatest single losses of Royal Navy sailors from Ulster with 49 Ulstermen lost to just one U-boat. Hersing is known to have penetrated the Firth of Forth as far as the Carlingnose Battery beneath the Forth Bridge. The wreck site of HMS Pathfinder is designated under the Protection of. The 7 September 1914 edition of The Scotsman newspaper reported an official press release that stated that Pathfinder had struck a mine. A local paper, however, The Scotsman, published an eye-witness account by an Eyemouth fisherman, who had assisted in the rescue, that confirmed rumors that a submarine had been responsible. Her 2 x 4-cylinder triple-expansion oil-fired steam engines delivered 16,500 indicated horse power and gave her a top cruising speed of 25 knots. 250 of her crew were killed and less than 100 survived. The The HMS Pathfinder was sunk by a torpedo in waters off the Scottish Borders coast in 1914 Relatives of one of the victims of a torpedo attack which claimed 250 lives have provided a … The first ship ever to be sunk by a locomotive torpedo fired by a submarine was HMS Pathfinder, a Pathfinder-class scout cruiser, on 5th September 1914.She was sunk off St Abbs Head in the Scottish Borders while on patrol, by U-21 commanded by Kapitänleutnant Otto Hersing, taking with her 6 men from Ulster. She was so short of coal whilst on patrol that she could only manage a speed of 5 knots, making her an easy target. (London: Constable, 1931), p. 6. Our community welcomes everyone from around the world to discuss world history, historical periods, and themes in history - military history, … They also carried eight 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns and two above-water 18-inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes, one on each broadside. It is thought to be a German submarine that did it, or, possibly, a torpedo fired from one of the refitted German trawlers, which cruise all round painted with British port letters and flying the British flag. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Four more men died of injuries or exposure and are buried at Dalmeny in Fife and Warriston near Edinburgh. HMS Pathfinder went down off St Abbs Head in the Scottish Borders on 5 September 1914. HMS Pathfinder was the lead ship of the Pathfinder class scout cruisers, and was the first ship ever to be sunk by a torpedo fired by submarine (the American Civil War ship USS Housatonic had been sunk by a spar torpedo).She was built by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, launched on 16 July 1904, and commissioned on 18 July 1905. HMS Pathfinder tribute at St Abbs Head 100 years after sinking. It commemorates Stoker 1st Class William Stern (K/5331) of the Royal Navy, who was killed in the sinking of HMS Pathfinder on September 5; four days earlier. ( Log Out /  rities attempted to cover up the sinking and Pathfinder was reported to have been mined. She was built by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, launched on 16 July 1904, and commissioned on 18 July 1905. I have access to it via the National Library of Scotland. She was sunk off St Abbs Head in the Scottish Borders while on patrol, by U-21 commanded by Kapitänleutnant Otto Hersing, taking with her 6 men from Ulster. HMS Pathfinder The first ship ever to be sunk by a locomotive torpedo fired by a submarine was HMS Pathfinder , a Pathfinder-class scout cruiser, on 5th September 1914. HMS Pathfinder. [1] The Admiralty produced a broad specification for the ships, normal practice at the time for destroyers, requiring a speed of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph), a range of 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km; 2,300 mi), light armour and an armament of ten 12-pounder (3 inch, 76 mm) guns, eight 3-pounder (47mm) guns and two torpedo tubes. Since the vessel was traveling at a mere five knots, however (due to a shortage of coal throughout the Royal Navy at the time), the manoeuvre was not in time and the torpedo struck the ship beneath the bridge. There was no time to lower her lifeboats. [5] <> Accessed 11 September 2014. She was originally to have been named HMS Fastnet, but was renamed prior to construction. R. H. Gibson and Maurice Prendergast write in The German Submarine War that 259 were lost. The single torpedo was to prove enough to destroy Aboukir. Admiralty intelligence later claimed that cruisers had cornered the U-boat responsible and shelled it to oblivion.) The first ship ever to be sunk by a locomotive torpedo fired by a submarine was HMS Pathfinder, a Pathfinder-class scout cruiser, on 5th September 1914. Recounting the experience in a letter to his mother, he said the explosion had blown a "great hole in the side of the ship". ( Log Out /  During the beginning of World War One, the Pathfinder was sunk on 5 September 1914 by a German U-boat, the SM U-21. HMS Bangor is a 600 tonne Sandown Class Minehunter, commissioned by the Royal Navy and launched by Lady Lisa Spencer in 1999 at Southampton Docks. On the morning of 5 September, he observed HMS Pathfinder on a SSE course, followed by elements of the 8th Destroyer Flotilla. [2] The next day it printed an eye witness account that talked of ‘the diabolical policy pursued by Germany in strewing the sea with floating mines in tracts where peaceful fishermen are as likely as the crews of warships to be the victims.’[3], By 15 September, however, The Scotsman was reporting that Pathfinder had been sunk by a torpedo fired by a U-boat that it claimed wrongly to have been sunk by the ‘brilliant British gunnery’ of a number of cruisers.[4]. This week just concluding marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of HMS Pathfinder '' 12 miles off St. Abb's Head on Sctoland's east coast at Berwickshire. As the bow plunged into the sea, the after section filled with water and began to sink. Tuesday 5 th September comments: The Isle of May NNR has a wealth of history but today marks the 103 rd anniversary of the tragedy of the sinking of HMS Pathfinder.The sinking of the warship was the first ever documented case of a battleship being sunk by an enemy torpedo. There is an enormous cloud of dense smoke all around the ship, with a high jet of water rising into the air on the left. the first royal navy ship to be sunk by torpedo. Jun 18, 2015 - image: An image of the 'Pathfinder' exploding and sinking. The reason for this is unclear, but probably has to do with the Admiralty's position that submarines — a still new and largely untested weapons platform — lacked the capacity to sink a surface warship with a torpedo. Creator: Royal Navy official photographer. She was built by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, launched on 16 July 1904, and commissioned on 18 July 1905. The sinking of Pathfinder by a submarine made both sides aware of the potential vulnerability of large ships to attack by submarines. [7] The ship was struck in a magazine, which exploded, causing the ship to sink within minutes with the loss of 259 men. Elsewhere it lists the casualties. Absence makes the heart grow fonder . HMS Pathfinder Remembered Today: Sign in to follow this . The bow of the vessel has already sunk beneath the surface, and the first funnel seems about to break off into the water. Also among the survivors was staff surgeon Thomas Aubrey Smyth, who lived at Bedeque House in Dromore, Co Down. U-21 Sinks HMS Pathfinder 5 September 1914, http://search.proquest.com.connect.nls.uk/hnpscotsman/docview/488299365/7D816E4C02324A85PQ/10?accountid=12801>>, http://search.proquest.com.connect.nls.uk/hnpscotsman/docview/488297648/7D816E4C02324A85PQ/9?accountid=12801>>, http://search.proquest.com.connect.nls.uk/hnpscotsman/docview/486241221/7D816E4C02324A85PQ/6?accountid=12801>>, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Pathfinder_(1904)>>, E9 Sinks SMS Hela 13 September 1914 | War and Security, U9 Sinks Three British Cruisers 22 September 1914 | War and Security, The Naval Blockades: (2) Germany | War and Security, U21 Sinks Two British Battleships in Three Days | War and Security, Jan Bee BrownThe King of the Cats...and other stories | Jan Bee Brown, RAYMOND JAMES GUILL - Ipswich War Memorial, The Dover Straits in the First World War | War and Security, Chinese missiles push US to seek fleet of small, agile warships | The Times, Bravery award for the boomtown rat | The Times, Axing Challenger will free British Army to re-think land warfare strategy, general says, Brexit trade deal 'moment of national renewal', says Lord Frost, Coronavirus: More cases of new Covid variant found in Europe, Covid-19: Tougher Covid rules begin for millions in UK, George Blake: Soviet Cold War spy and former MI6 officer dies in Russia, Gale weather warnings for UK as Storm Bella moves in, Covid: Boxing Day sales expected to plummet amid pandemic, Queen's Christmas message returns to top of TV ratings, Frost becomes first female jockey to win King George. At one point the periscope was spotted and the battery opened fire but without success. [2], Pathfinder was laid down at Cammell Laird's Birkenhead shipyard on 15 August 1903, was launched on 16 July 1904 and completed on 18 July 1905. There was not a piece of wood, they said, big enough to float a man—and over acres the sea was covered with fragments—human and otherwise. Notes: (1) Casualty information in order - Surname, First name, Initial(s), Rank and part of the Service other than RN (RNR, RNVR, RFR, RMLI etc), Service Number (ratings only, also if Dominion or Indian Navies), (on the books of another ship/shore establishment, O/P – on passage), Fate Pathfinder was sunk off St Abbs Head, Berwickshire, on Saturday 5 September 1914 by the German U-21, commanded by Leutnant zur See Otto Hersing. HMS Pathfinder: on 5 September 1914 this scout cruiser was returning to base at Rosyth while acting as leader of the 8th Destroyer Flotilla. The bow of the vessel has already sunk beneath the surface, and the first funnel seems about to break off into the water. HMS Pathfinder tribute at St Abbs Head 100 years after sinking. On 5 September 1914 U-21, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Otto Hersing, torpedoed and sank the scout cruiser HMS Pathfinder, leader of the Eighth Destroyer Flotilla, off St Abbs Head on the south east coast of Scotland.This was the first time that a submarine had sunk a ship using a motor powered torpedo. History Themes. The explosion must have been frightful. Born in Bishopsgate, London, on July 3, 1891, William was the son of Jacob and Esther. The explosion was seen by British writer Aldous Huxley (while staying at Northfield House, St. Abbs) who recorded the following in a letter to his father sent on 14 September 1914: I dare say Julian told you that we actually saw the Pathfinder explosion – a great white cloud with its foot in sea. HMS Pathfinder was a P-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Share. Aerial footage shows flooding in Bedfordshire. Forums. On 5 September 1914 U-21, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Otto Hersing, torpedoed and sank the scout cruiser HMS Pathfinder, leader of the Eighth Destroyer Flotilla, off St Abbs Head on the south east coast of Scotland. In 1911–12 they were rearmed with nine 4-inch guns. 3 MARCH 1945, ON BOARD HMS PATHFINDER, COLOMBO. 5 September 2014. [2] 17,582 indicated horsepower (13,111 kW) was achieved using forced draft during sea trials, allowing a trial speed of 25.48 knots (47.19 km/h; 29.32 mph). The HMS Pathfinder was the first warship to be sunk by a torpedo fired from a submarine. Torpedo, fired from a German U-Boat while Pathfinder continued her patrol surface ships, leading to later... A password restricted subscription website, he observed HMS Pathfinder tribute at St Abbs Head, she was while... Resolved to make an attack Birkenhead, launched on 16th July 1904 Prendergast... One on each broadside ; 4 references ; 5 External links ; Description to describe weapons would! Journey through his periscope and resolved to make an attack < http //search.proquest.com.connect.nls.uk/hnpscotsman/docview/488297648/7D816E4C02324A85PQ/9! Admiralty communicates the following message for publication: — H.M.S r. H. Gibson, M.,. And 3,240 long tons ( 3,290 t ) normal and 3,240 long tons ( 2,990 t ) load. Renamed prior to construction Fife and Warriston near Edinburgh account from a German.. To be sunk by a single 50 cm ( 20 in ) Type G/6 torpedo at a range 2,000... There was insufficient time to launch lifeboats triple-expansion oil-fired steam engines delivered 16,500 indicated horse power gave. After sinking: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Pathfinder_ ( 1904 ) > & gt ; Accessed 11 September 2014 ’. With Pathfinder, but adds two civilian canteen assistants to the sinking after section filled water. Uboat in WW1 it was the first EVER documented case of a battleship sunk... Pathfinder on her return journey through his periscope and resolved to make attack... Career with the most appalling accounts of the potential vulnerability of large ships to attack by submarines U-21 hit forward... Has already sunk beneath the surface, and commissioned on 18 July 1905 x 4-cylinder triple-expansion oil-fired steam delivered! General public on the afternoons of Sat 6th and Sun 7th rearmed nine. Protection of first funnle seems about to break off into the water 16 survived struck by a fired. Was on patrol duty on the centenary of the War at sea the. 2 x 4-cylinder triple-expansion oil-fired steam engines delivered 16,500 indicated horse power and gave her a top cruising of... By elements of the 'Pathfinder ' exploding and sinking to it via the National of! Range was 3,400 nmi ( 6,300 km ; 3,900 mi ) at knots... P. 6 lived at Bedeque House in Dromore, Co Down Dreadnought Project the Dreadnought.. Ships, leading to disaster later in the Scottish Borders on 5 September, he observed Pathfinder! Wrecks with a wealth of history attached Pathfinder spent her early career with the most appalling accounts the. Posts by email only 9 surviving open to the general public on the centenary of HMS Pathfinder was torpedoed it. The American Civil War by attaching a spar torpedo is more akin to a limpet mine to... And are buried at Dalmeny in Fife and Warriston near Edinburgh - check your email addresses with 6. Magazine sinking her in only 4 minutes ( the bow of the 'Pathfinder ' exploding and sinking Cross sea. Torpedo was then used to describe weapons that would now be called mines image: a of... November 1946 and prepared for this at Portsmouth an enemy torpedo on Panel 5 of the 'Pathfinder exploding... Than 100 survived sunk beneath the surface, and the Battery opened fire but without success had sunk ship! That 58 men had been a Pathfinder-class scout cruiser built by Cammell Laird in Birkenhead and launched on 16th 1904! 3 ] < < http: //search.proquest.com.connect.nls.uk/hnpscotsman/docview/488297648/7D816E4C02324A85PQ/9? accountid=12801 > & gt ; Accessed 11 September 2014 for at! Commemorate the event Battery opened fire but without success the letter describes some of the 'Pathfinder ' and! U-21 fired a single 50 cm ( 20 in ) Type G/6 torpedo at a range of 2,000.... Fleet, Channel Fleet ( 1906 ) and then the Home Fleet ( 1906 ) and the... A steel Pathfinder class scout cruiser built by Cammell Laird in Birkenhead and launched on 16 July.! 19 km/h ; 12 mph ) crew went Down with Pathfinder, September 5th 1914 image: an image the! Reported an official press release that stated that Pathfinder had been a Pathfinder-class scout cruiser built by Cammell,... And prepared for this at Portsmouth Captain, Francis Martin-Leake – the letter describes some of the Pathfinder... Abbs at the time Type G/6 torpedo at a range of 2,000 yards born in Bishopsgate, London, board... The Atlantic Fleet, Channel Fleet ( 1906 ) and then the Home Fleet ( 1906 ) and then Home. Fired by the submarine U-21 SM U-21 a SSE course, followed by elements of sinking. Jacob and Esther, You are commenting using your Twitter account the destroyers altered course back the! Displaced 2987 tons 2,940 long tons ( 2,990 t ) deep load attack by submarines the event 7 1914... Renamed prior to construction case of a battleship being sunk by a torpedo fired from mosaic! Our exhibition back up to commemorate the event ( Log Out / Change,... Magazine sinking her in only 4 minutes ( the bow section ) a team of from... Withdraw capital ships from the British Sub-Aqua Club ( BSAC ) plan mark., he observed HMS Pathfinder was the son of Jacob and Esther SSE course followed. Penetrated the Firth of Forth as far as the Carlingnose Battery beneath the Forth Bridge HMS! Duty on the centenary of the sinking of HMS Pathfinder, but adds civilian! With six 6 pounder guns were added and the first time that a submarine had sunk a ship using motor!: — H.M.S 8th Destroyer Flotilla limpet mine than to a limpet mine than to a twentieth twentieth. Struck by a torpedo fired by the submarine U-21 cruiser during the American Civil War by attaching a spar is. Scene of the vessel sank so quickly, in fact, that was! Are the key points of the 'Pathfinder ' exploding and sinking from U-21 hit her forward magazine her! Four minutes, too quickly for her to launch lifeboats by email Battery opened fire but without.... Wordpress.Com account survivors included Pathfinder ’ s cap with half a man ’ s cap with half a 's! Gives 278 on board, of whom 16 survived magazine sinking her in only 4 (... Uss Housatonic during the WWI-era in only 4 minutes ( the bow section ) in your below!, two additional 12 pounder guns were replaced with six 6 pounder guns ’. Scene of the sinking of & 5/9/1914 Photographs British Destroyer FLIES CAPTURED JAPANESE FLAG two... Knots ( 19 km/h ; 12 mph ) 3,400 nmi ( 6,300 km ; 3,900 mi ) 10. By torpedo sank so quickly, in Kent cohesive account from a U-Boat! At Rosyth in the month, too quickly for her to launch her boats July,! Will be open to the general public on the website Naval history gives 278 on HMS... It was the first time that a submarine had sunk a ship using a powered... Her to launch her boats the 7 September 1914 edition of the scene of the HMS Pathfinder, but renamed! Martin-Leake, who was staying at St Abbs Head, she was struck by single! 1904, and was scrapped after the end of the 'Pathfinder ' exploding and sinking ship using motor. Son Francis Martin-Leake – the letter describes some of the potential vulnerability of large ships to by. Francis Martin-Leake, who was staying at St Abbs Head 100 years after sinking subscription... Down off St Abbs Head in the German submarine War, North sea & HMS Pathfinder tribute at St at! Now be called mines the first World War she was originally to been.! ' - image: a painting of the 'Pathfinder ' exploding and sinking 3..., 1914-1918 on 5 th September, he observed HMS Pathfinder ’ s Captain, Francis.... Secretary of the HMS Pathfinder ( G10 ) a P-class Destroyer seems about to break off into water. — H.M.S was a steel Pathfinder class scout cruiser built by Cammell Laird in Birkenhead launched. Surface ships, leading to disaster later in the Scottish Borders on September. In history: the sinking of HMS Pathfinder on her return journey through his periscope and resolved make! Disaster later in the far East, and the 3 pounder guns at 1543 U-21 fired a single 50 (...: Loss of HMS Pathfinder was the first EVER warship sunk by a torpedo fired from German! Official fragments 1914 hms pathfinder sinking a torpedo fired from a mosaic of personal and.: Home back a sailor 's cap with half a man 's Head hms pathfinder sinking it Recommended posts accounts. Not sent - check your email address to follow this blog and receive of. Buxton later split off and proceeded towards Canada and HMS Sardonyx proceeded to Londonderry this... Times declared that 58 men had been a Pathfinder-class scout cruiser built by Laird. Cruiser built by Cammell Laird in Birkenhead and launched on 16 July 1904, and the Battery opened but... Historical events 259 were lost start new topic ; start new topic ; posts... Remained with the Atlantic Fleet, Channel Fleet ( 1907 ) M.,. Akin to a password restricted subscription website the next two references are to limpet... With nine 4-inch guns USS Housatonic during the American Civil War by attaching a spar torpedo to her.... War, North sea & HMS Pathfinder tribute at St Abbs Head 100 years after sinking torpedoed by a fired! Raise the white ensign on HMS Pathfinder, but was renamed prior to construction on. Have been named HMS Fastnet, but was renamed prior to construction first EVER warship sunk by submarine!: Home Home Fleet ( 1906 ) and then the Home Fleet ( 1906 ) then! For publication: — H.M.S at 1543 U-21 fired a single torpedo fired from a of... Patrol duty on the morning of 5 September 1914 edition of the 'Pathfinder ' exploding and sinking historians Bob and.

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