HMS Dunraven

HMS Dunraven was a Q-Ship of the Royal Navy during World War I.

For the ship launched in 1873, see SS Dunraven.

HMS Dunraven
"HMS Dunraven" by Charles Pears
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Dunraven
Launched7 December 1909
FateSunk, 10 August 1917
General characteristics
TypeQ-ship
Displacement3,100 long tons (3,150 t)
Armament

On 8 August 1917,[1] 130 miles southwest of Ushant in the Bay of Biscay, disguised as the collier Boverton and commanded by Gordon Campbell, VC, Dunraven spotted UC-71, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Reinhold Saltzwedel. Saltzwedel believed the disguised ship was a merchant vessel. The U-boat submerged and closed with Dunraven before surfacing astern at 11:43 am and opening fire at long range. Dunraven made smoke and sent off a panic party (a small number of men who "abandon ship" during an attack to continue the impersonation of a merchant).

Shells began hitting Dunraven, detonating her depth charges and setting her stern afire. Her crew remained hidden letting the fires burn. Then a 4-inch (102 mm) gun and crew were blown away revealing Dunraven's identity as a warship, and UC-71 submerged. A second "panic party" abandoned ship. Dunraven was hit by a torpedo. A third "panic party" went over the side, leaving only two guns manned. UC-71 surfaced, shelled Dunraven and again submerged. Campbell replied with two torpedoes that missed, and around 3 pm, the undamaged U-boat left that area. Only one of Dunraven's crew was killed, but the Q-Ship was sinking.

The British destroyer HMS Christopher picked up Dunraven's survivors and took her in tow for Plymouth, but Dunraven sank at 1:30 am early on 10 August 1917 to the north of Ushant.

In recognition, two Victoria Crosses were awarded, one to the ship's First Lieutenant, Lt. Charles George Bonner RNR, and the other, by ballot, to a gunlayer, Petty Officer Ernest Herbert Pitcher.

Captain Campbell later wrote:

"It had been a fair and honest fight, and I lost it. Referring to my crew, words cannot express what I am feeling. No one let me down. No one could have done better."

Captain Campbell had been previously awarded the Victoria Cross, in February 1917, for the sinking of U-83. 48°36′18″N 5°24′36″W

Notes and references
  1. "Professional Notes: H.M.S. Dunraven, August 8, 1917". United States Naval Institute Proceedings. United States Naval Institute. 45 (January 1919): 435. 1919.
  • Winchester, Clarence, ed. (1937), "Salute to a Hero", Shipping Wonders of the World, pp. 129–135 illustrated account of Gordon Campbell, "the most famous Q-ship officer", including his time with HMS Dunraven
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