HMS Hampshire (1903)

Hampshire at anchor
History
United Kingdom
Name	Hampshire
Namesake	Hampshire
Builder	Armstrong Whitworth, Elswick
Laid down	1 September 1902
Launched	24 September 1903
Completed	15 July 1905
Fate	Sunk by mine, 5 June 1916
General characteristics
Class and type	Devonshire-class armoured cruiser
Displacement	10,850 long tons (11,020 t) (normal)
Length	473 ft 6 in (144.3 m) (o/a)
Beam	68 ft 6 in (20.9 m)
Draught	24 ft (7.3 m)
Installed power	21,000 ihp (16,000 kW) 17 × Yarrow boilers; 6 × cylindrical boilers
Propulsion	2 × Shafts 2 × 4-cylinder quadruple-expansion steam engines
Speed	22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)
Capacity	1,033 long tons (1,050 t) coal
Complement	610
Armament	4 × single BL 7.5 in (191 mm) Mk I guns 6 × single BL 6 in (152 mm) Mk VII guns 2 × single 12-pounder 8 cwt guns[Note 1] 18 × single QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns 2 × single 18 in (457 mm) torpedo tubes
Armour	Belt: 2–6 in (51–152 mm) Decks: .75–2 in (19–51 mm) Barbettes: 6 in (152 mm) Turrets: 5 in (130 mm) Conning tower: 12 in (305 mm) Bulkheads: 5 in (127 mm)

HMS Hampshire was one of six Devonshire-class armoured cruisers built for the Royal Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. She was assigned to the 1st Cruiser Squadron of the Channel Fleet upon completion. After a refit, she was assigned to the reserve Third Fleet in 1909 before going to the Mediterranean Fleet in 1911. She was transferred to the China Station in 1912 and remained there until the start of the First World War in August 1914.

The ship hunted for German commerce raiders until she was transferred to the Grand Fleet at the end of 1914. She was assigned to the 7th Cruiser Squadron upon her return home. She was transferred to the 2nd Cruiser Squadron in 1916 and was present at the Battle of Jutland. Several days later, on 5 June, she was sailing to Arkhangelsk, Russia, carrying the Secretary of State for War, Field Marshal Lord Kitchener, when she is believed to have struck a mine laid by a German submarine. She sank with 737 of 749 people aboard killed, including Kitchener and his staff. Rumours later circulated of German spies and sabotage being involved in the sinking. Her wreck is listed under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986, though parts were later salvaged. Several films have been made exploring the circumstances of her loss.
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