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HMS Viper
Posted by peter cook on 18/9/2024, 15:30:36
HMS Viper was built by Hawthorn Leslie & Com., Hebburn and was launched on the 6th of September 1899. The original order had gone to Parson's Marine Steam Turbine Co., Wallsend but obviously you need a shipyard to build a destroyer and the order for HMS Viper was sub-contracted out to Hawthorn Leslie. HMS Viper was to be the first naval vessel to receive steam turbines which were to be supplied by Parson's. The photos show HMS Viper and the cabinet photo shows one of her crew which was taken by G. Johnston, Ocean Road, South Shields. On the 3rd of August 1901 HMS Viper sailed from Portland to take part in a search as part of the annual fleet exercises. Arriving off Alderney's Casquet Rocks in mid-afternoon, she spent some time searching the area. Visibility was generally good, although there were patches of mist, and she was able to sight a vessel playing the 'enemy' in the exercise.
By early evening the mist had become fog and she slowed to 10 knots. At 17:23 breakers were spotted on the starboard bow and she turned to port, but found rocks all around and soon grounded. The destroyer fought clear, but soon grounded again and lost her propellers, finally drifting broadside onto the rocks. By 18:45, with the engine room flooded and Viper heeling over, she was abandoned. A local pilot's launch arrived to offer assistance and towed the boats ashore with the crew. Daylight on the following day showed her on Renonquet Rocks and beyond recovery. The damage increased until her back was broken and the bow section sheared around perpendicular to the keel.[10]
The subsequent enquiry found that the commanding officer, Lieutenant William Speke, had failed to exercise proper precautions while steaming in fog. In particular, he had not ensured that an accurate record of the courses steered was maintained. He was reprimanded. The navigating officer, Sub-Lieutenant Kenneth Mackenzie Grieve, was informed that he had "incurred their Lordships' displeasure", having inserted the missing data into the log following the wreck.
In December 1901 HMS Viper's wreck was sold to Messrs. Agnes and Co., of Southampton, for £100. The photos show HMS Viper and the other one shows one of her crew from a photo taken by G. Johnston, Ocean Road, South Shields.
Re: HMS Viper
Posted by John Shearer on 18/9/2024, 20:58:23, in reply to "HMS Viper"
Thanks Pete, the bottom picture must have been take in a studio.