.jpg) HMSBen-my-Chree | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Ben-my-Chree |
| Namesake | Manxben ma chree, "woman of my heart" |
| Operator | Isle of Man Steam Packet Co. |
| Port of registry |  Douglas, Isle of Man |
| Route | England–Isle of Man |
| Builder | Vickers,Barrow-in-Furness |
| Laid down | 1907 |
| Launched | 23 March 1908 |
| Completed | 8 August 1908 |
| Fate | Chartered by theRoyal Navy, 1 January 1915 |
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMSBen-my-Chree |
| Acquired | 1 January 1915 |
| Commissioned | 23 March 1915 |
| Fate | |
| General characteristics (as passenger ship) | |
| Type | Packet |
| Tonnage | 2,651 GRT |
| Length | 390 ft (118.9 m) (o/a) |
| Beam | 46 ft (14.0 m) |
| Depth | 18 ft 6 in (5.64 m) |
| Decks | 5 |
| Installed power | 4 × cylindricalboilers |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 24.2 kn (44.8 km/h; 27.8 mph) |
| Capacity | 2,549 |
| Crew | 119 |
| General characteristics (in RN service) | |
| Type | Seaplane carrier |
| Displacement | 3,888 long tons (3,950 t) |
| Length | 387 ft (118.0 m) (o/a) |
| Draught | 16 ft (4.9 m) |
| Installed power | 14,500 shp (10,800 kW) |
| Speed | 24.5 kn (45.4 km/h; 28.2 mph) |
| Crew | 250 |
| Armament | |
| Aircraft carried | 4–6 ×seaplanes |
HMSBen-my-Chree (Manx: "Woman of My Heart"[1]) was a Britishpacket steamer which served as aseaplane carrier in theRoyal Navy duringWorld War I. She was originally built in 1907 byVickers for theIsle of Man Steam Packet Company and was intended for use on the England–Isle of Man route.Ben-my-Chree was the third vessel to bear her name. To this day, she holds the crossing speed record fromLiverpool toDouglas, Isle of Man for a steamship at under three hours.[2]
She was chartered by the Royal Navy at the beginning of 1915 and participated in several abortive attacks onGermany in May. The ship was transferred to theDardanelles in June to support theGallipoli campaign, and one of her aircraft made the first ship-launchedaerial torpedo attack on a ship in August.[3] After Gallipoli was evacuated at the end of the year,Ben-my-Chree became theflagship of theEast Indies and Egypt Seaplane Squadron which operated in theEastern Mediterranean, performing reconnaissance missions and attackingOttoman facilities and troops.
She was sunk by Ottomanartillery fire while anchored at the recently occupied island ofKastellorizo in early 1917, with five members of her crew being injured. The ship wassalvaged in 1920 andbroken up in 1923.Ben-my-Chree was the only aviation vessel of either side sunk by enemy action during the war.[4]
SSBen-my-Chree had atonnage of 2,651 GRT.[5] The ship was 390 feet (118.9 m)long overall and 375 feet (114.3 m) longbetween perpendiculars. She had abeam of 46 feet (14.0 m) and a depth of 18 feet 6 inches (5.64 m) from her main deck to the top of herkeel.Ben-my-Chree had five decks[6] and a capacity of 2,549 passengers with a crew of 119.[2]
The ship was powered by three license-builtParsonsdirect-drive steam turbines, each driving onepropeller shaft. They were powered by steam provided by four cylindricalboilers at a working pressure of 170 psi (1,172 kPa; 12 kgf/cm2)[6] that gave her a speed of 24.2knots (44.8 km/h; 27.8 mph). Her engines burnt up to 95 long tons (97 t) of coal a day, which made her an expensive ship to run.[2]
She was ordered in 1907 by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company and was built at theVickers shipyard inBarrow-in-Furness at a cost of£112,000. The ship waslaunched on 23 March 1908[2] and completed on 8 August.[5]Ben-my-Chree was normally laid up, because of her expense, except for the three busiest months of the year when she had a full complement of passengers.[2]
SSBen-my-Chree was chartered by the Royal Navy on 1 January 1915 and she began her conversion into aseaplane carrier at theCammell Laird shipyard inBirkenhead the following day. Part of her aftsuperstructure was removed and replaced by ahangar, aft of her rearfunnel, that housed four to six seaplanes. The aircraft were lifted in and out of the water byderricks fore and aft. A dismountable 60-foot-long (18 m)flying-off platform was installed forward of her superstructure; it was equipped with a trolley and rails to allow a seaplane to take off.[3][5]
In RN service the shipdisplaced 3,888 long tons (3,950 t), was 387 feet (118.0 m) long overall, and had adraught of 16 feet (4.9 m).Ben-my-Chree's turbines generated 14,500shaft horsepower (10,800 kW) and she was credited with a speed of 24.5 knots (45.4 km/h; 28.2 mph) although that speed was exceeded in service. The ship could carry 502 long tons (510 t) of coal. Her crew consisted of approximately 250 officers and ratings.[5]
Her armament consisted of fourquick-firing (QF)12-pounder 18 cwt guns,[Note 1] and twoVickers three-pounder AA guns.[5]Ben-my-Chree carried 130 rounds per 12-pounder and 64 rounds for each three-pounder. In May 1916, one 12-pounder AA gun, a three-pounder, and a 2-pounderpom-pom, each on army carriages, were added.[3][5]
She was initially assigned to theHarwich Force, under the command ofCommanderCecil L'Estrange Malone, where on 3 May she took part in an abortive air raid onNorddeich that had to be abandoned because of thickfog.[7] On 6 May, while on another unsuccessful mission to attack Norddeich, she was accidentally rammed by thedestroyerLennox in thick fog, although damage was slight.[3] Another attempt was made on 11 May, but was again abandoned because of heavy fog.[7] During this raid,Ben-my-Chree attempted to launch herSopwith Schneider from a trolley off the fore deck, but the engine backfired, wrecking its starter, and breaking the pilot's wrist as the starter handle was in the cockpit.[8]
In May 1915, she sailed for theDardanelles,[3] carrying twoShort Type 184torpedo bombers, and arrived atLesbos on 10 June. Her aircraft were mainly involved inspotting for ships providingnaval gunfire support for troops ashore, although they also conducted reconnaissance missions of the area. On 11 August, one of these missions had spotted anOttoman ship off the north coast of theSea of Marmora and, on the following day,Flight CommanderCharles Edmonds attacked it flying a Short 184 seaplane. He left his observer behind and flew with a reduced fuel load to lighten his aircraft enough to carry a 14-inch (356 mm), 810-pound (370 kg) torpedo. He successfully dropped hisaerial torpedo at a distance of about 800 yards (730 m) and an altitude of 15 feet (4.6 m). It turned out that his target had beenbeached after having been torpedoed by the BritishsubmarineE14. This was followed by a successful attack on 17 August against a 5,000-long-ton (5,100 t) ship by Edmonds.Flight Lieutenant George Dacre accompanied Edmonds on his flight in his own aircraft, but suffered engine troubles and had to land in the Dardanelles. He wastaxiing on the water when he encountered a large steamtugboat, which he promptly torpedoed. After taxiing for several miles he was able to get airborne again and was within gliding distance ofBen-my-Chree when his engine failed permanently.[9]
On 2 September, she helped to rescueAustralian troops from the torpedoedtroopshipHMTSouthland offLemnos. The ship was transferred toPort Said,Egypt after the end of the Gallipoli Campaign.[3]Ben-my-Chree became the flagship of the East Indies and Egypt Seaplane Squadron when it was formed in January 1916.[4] The squadron was under the command of theGeneral Officer Commanding, Egypt and its primary duty was to watch Ottoman positions and movements in southern Palestine and the Sinai.[10]
In February 1916 she was sent fromPort Said to the Libyan coast; on 11 February, her aircraft observedSidi Barrani andSollum, and on 15 February discovered theSenussi were encamped at Agagia.[11]SS Uganda collided with her on 11 February and badly damaged the ship's bow.[3] Permanent repairs took were made atSuez from 13 March to 25 April.[4]
CommanderCharles Samson replaced L'Estrange Malone as captain on 14 May. A few days later, LieutenantWilliam Benn joined the ship as an observer.[12]Ben-my-Chree was based atAden later in 1916.[13]
French troops occupied the Greek island ofKastellorizo, off the southwest coast ofTurkey, on 20 December 1916 to use it as an advance base against the Ottomans. Not pleased at the presence of the French, the Ottomans secretly deployed anartillery battery of four 155-millimetre (6.1 in) and twelve 77-millimetre (3.0 in) guns within range of the island. The French commander requested a seaplane carrier to conduct reconnaissance in the area andBen-my-Chree was sent in response. She arrived on 11 January 1917 and anchored in the harbour which faced the mainland. Ottoman guns opened fire about two hours later, hitting the carrier with their third shot. Subsequent shells disabled her steering and started a fire in her hangar that spread across her upper deck.[3] (SeeMustafa Ertuğrul Aker)
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The crew was ordered to abandon ship after about forty minutes of the bombardment using the only remaining operablemotor lifeboat of the three stowed on board. One officer and four ratings were injured, but no one was killed. The Ottomans continued their bombardment for five hours untilBen-my-Chreelisted to starboard and sank in shallow water. Later in the day, the captain and the chief engineer returned to the wreck to rescue the ship's mascots, a cat and dog which had both survived the attack.[14]
Ben-my-Chree's wreck remained in place until 15 August 1920 when it wasrefloated by the salvage shipVallette. The wreck was immediatelybeached before the tow to the port ofPiraeus began on 4 September. The ship proved to be aconstructive total loss and was towed toVenice, Italy, in 1923 to be demolished.[15]
During her short career she operatedSopwith Type 860,Schneider, andBaby aircraft, theWight Pusher Seaplane, as well asShort Type 830 and Type 184 floatplanes.[4]
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in January 1917 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents |
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