H.M.S. Erne (1903)

H.M.S. Erne (1903)
Pendant Number:	N.58 (1914)
Builder:	Palmer Shipbuilding and Iron Company
Laid down:	3 Jul, 1902
Launched:	14 Jan, 1903
Commissioned:	Feb, 1904
Wrecked:	6 Feb, 1915

H.M.S. Erne was one of 36 destroyers of the "River" class.

Service

In February 1908 Erne was one of seven "Rivers" of the Nore Destroyer Flotilla taken into Sheerness Dockyard for refitting, during which time three 12-pdr guns were mounted in lieu of five 6-pdrs, which were deemed too light to be useful.

Erne was paid off into Dockyard hands at Sheerness for a refit after being relieved by Afridi on 18 September, 1909, slated to be re-commissioned on 23 October for service with the Second Destroyer Flotilla.

In mid-1913, she was in Ninth Destroyer Flotilla, a patrol flotilla.

On 2 February, 1914, she was one of five Rivers of the Ninth Destroyer Flotilla paid off at Sheerness and Chatham, immediately recommissioning with new crews.

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

• Commander John Luce, 1 June, 1904 – 1 February, 1905
• Lieutenant & Commander Rowland H. Bather, 1 February, 1905 – 28 May, 1906
• Lieutenant & Commander Walter R. G. Petre, 2 October, 1905 – 28 May, 1906
• Lieutenant & Commander Percy G. Brown, 28 May, 1906 – 10 July, 1906
• Lieutenant & Commander Harold G. Innes, 10 July, 1906 – 21 March, 1907
• Commander Rupert S. Gwatkin-Williams, 21 March, 1907 – 15 June, 1908
• Lieutenant in Command Claude Seymour, 15 June, 1908 – 18 September, 1909  (into Dockyard Hands until 23 October)
• Lieutenant in Command George W. McO. Campbell, 19 October, 1909 – 7 December, 1910
• Lieutenant in Command Arthur Marsden, 13 April, 1911 – 31 July, 1912
• Lieutenant in Command Melville A. Hawes, 2 July, 1912  (for manoeuvres)
• Lieutenant-Commander John P. Landon, 31 July, 1912 – 6 February, 1915  (vessel lost under his command)

See Also

• Wikipedia