Scrapped 1921
The thirteenth “FAME” is a twin-screw torpedo-boat destroyer, launched at Thorneycroft’s Yard in 1896. She is of 340 tons, 5700 horse-power, and 30-knots speed. Her length, beam, and draught are 211 ft., 20ft., and 7 ft.
In 1900 the “Fame,” commanded by Lieutenant Roger J.B. Keyes, was employed in the third China War or Boxer riots.
On June 17th the “Fame” with the “Whiting” in company, proceeded up the Peiho River at 2.A.M. to attack and capture four Chinese torpedo-boat destroyers lying between Taku and Tongku. Each of the British vessels towed a whaler with a boarding party of twelve men under a lieutenant. When abreast the Chinese destroyers the “Fame” and “Whiting” sheered in, and each selected an opponent, leaving the other two to be attacked by the two whalers. After a slight resistance and the exchange of a few shots, the enemy were driven overboard or below hatches. Chinese lost several killed and wounded. There were no British casualties, though the British destroyers received some shots from a mud battery, and from some snipers in the dockyard. Of the prizes, one was given to the Russians, one to the Germans, and one to the French. The one retained by the British was renamed “Taku.”
On June 25th the “Fame” proceeded up the river to destroy all munitions of war in Hsing Cheng fort. Lieutenant Keyes landed with 32 men, entered the fort without opposition, blew up the magazine, and disabled six 5.9 inch Krupp breech-loaders, by putting a 2 1\4 lb. Charge of gun-cotton, under the trunnions of each piece, thus shattering and bending the carriage but not permanently injuring the gun itself.
In August the “Fame” contributed to a naval brigade which advanced to the final and satisfactory relief of peking, with 20,100 troops under Lieutenant-General Sir Alfred Gaselee.
