Sold for Scrap 1921
A three funnel Scout Class Cruiser of 2,850 tons built to be the ‘eyes of the Grand Fleet’ launched in 1904. She served throughout the First World War in the North Sea and Mediterranean, being sold in 1921.
Built Fairfield, laid down October 1903, completed September 1905.
Size:
Length 365 feet pp 379 feet overall, beam 39 feet 3 inches, draught 14 feet 3 inches, displacement 2,860 tons load.
Propulsion:
2 shaft TE engines, 16,500 ihp, 25 knots
Trials:
Foresight 15,800 ihp = 25.28 knots
Armour:
2in belt,1-0.5in decks
Armament:
10 x 12 pounder QF (10 x 1), 8 x 3 pounder QF (8 x 1), 2 x 18in TT
World War 1 Service:
9th Destroyer flotilla Shetland Islands.
1914 7th Destroyer Flotilla Humber.
May 1915 Temporarily with the 6th Light Cruiser Squadron Humber.
1915 Mediterranean.
July 1916 Aegean.
1921 Sold for scrap.
On 16 December 1914, HMS Forward saw heavy action in Hartlepool.
Hartlepool was attacked and shelled led by the German cruiser Blücher. Once the firing had started HMS Patrol, and HMS Forward together with the Submarine C9 left the harbour. The Blücher opened fire as HMS Patrol dashed out of the harbour and hit her twice, she ran aground, two of her crew were dead and five wounded. Captain Dering ordered the C9 to dive in order to escape the shells even though the bottom was only three fathoms down. The submarine and grounded HMS Patrol blocked HMS Forward.
Christmas this year, the first of the war, must have provided some normality to the situation.
This is a very important ship to my family. It is the ship where my Grandfather - Jack Stean (see my website) - served as a Stoker during World War 1.
