HMS Phoenix (1911)

HMS "Phoenix" was an "Acheron" class destroyer of the British Royal Navy. She is named for the mythical bird, and was the fifteenth ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name. She was the only British warship ever to be sunk by the Austrian Navy. [cite web|url=http://www.naval-history.net/WW1NavyAustrian.htm|title=The Austro-Hungarian Navy at Naval-History.net|accessdate=2008-09-28] cite web|url=http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?438|title=HMS "Phoenix" at the Wrecksite|accessdate=2008-09-26]

Pennant Numbers

History

"Phoenix" was ordered during the building programme of 1910-1911 and laid down by Vickers Limited of Barrow-in-Furness. She was launched on 9 October 1911cite web|url=http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/acheron.htm#HMS%20Phoenix|title=HMS "Phoenix" at Battleships-Cruisers website|accessdate=2008-09-26] . Capable of 28 knots, she carried two convert|4|in|mm|0|sing=on guns, other smaller guns and 21 inch torpedo tubes and had a complement of 72 men.

Career

At the beginning of the First World War "Phoenix" was part of the 1st Destroyer Flotilla operating in the North Sea. She and her sisters were attached to the Grand Fleet at the beginning of the First World War.

Battle of Dogger Bank

On 24 January 1915 "Phoenix" took part in the Battle of Dogger Bank, and her crew shared in the Prize Money for the German armoured cruiser "Blücher". [cite web|url=http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/LondonGazette/PrizeMoney/Prize_Bounty_WWI.html|title=An Index of Prize Bounties as announced in the London Gazette 1915 - 1925|accessdate=2008-09-28]

HMAT "Ballarat"

"Phoenix" was escorting the Australian troopship "Ballarat" when she was attacked by a German submarine on Anzac Day (25 April) 1917 in the English Channel. Although efforts were made to tow "Ballarat" to shallow water, she sank off The Lizard the following morning. No lives were lost of the 1,752 souls on board, a striking testament to the clamness and discipline of the troops. [cite web|url=http://cas.awm.gov.au/photograph/A02377|title="Ballarat" photograph at the Australian War Memorial website|accessdate=2008-09-29] "Phoneix" was subsequently transferred to the 5th Destroyer Flotilla for service in the Mediterranean.

Fate

She was sunk on 14 May 1918 by the Austro-Hungarian submarine "U-XXVII" in the Adriatic Sea. HMAS "Warrego" made an unsuccessful attempt to tow her to Valona (now Vlorë in Albania),cite web|url=http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_12628.asp|title=HMAS "Warrego" at the Australian War Memorial website|accessdate=2008-09-26] but she sank within sight of the port in position coord|42|43.5|N|015|50.8|E. There were only two casulaties; a Leading Stoker and an Engine Room Artificer. [cite web|url=http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1918-05May.htm|title=Royal Naval Casulaties May 1918 at Naval-History.net|accessdate=2008-09-28]

References