Ship Trivia Quiz

An RN question!

HMS Amphion, sunk on 6th August 1914, by mines laid by the Koeinig Luise, a disguised German minelayer.

The ironic part, I suppose, was that she was carrying survivors from the KL, which had been sunk by destroyers the previous day. After survivors were taken off Amphion, she drifted onto another mine. The fore magazine exploded, with debris striking the rescue boats and destroyers. One of Amphion's shells burst on the deck of HMS Lark, killing two of the Amphion's men and a German prisoner.

Rick

OK, it's coming up to the Festive Season, so here's a light-hearted RN question. I will be off to Austria on Friday, so if it's not answered by then, I'll be back after Christmas. As I say, it's slightly less than serious!

What was the name of the Royal Navy's only (to the best of my knowledge) six-funneled warship?

Rick

It is a legitimate warship, built at Vickers Limited, Barrow in Furness and launched in 1898. At the time in question she was at Muscat, in the Persian Gulf, and another ship was involved.

Enough clues for now, I think!

Rick

This one has me puzzled. Of the six vessels we launched, in 1898, only one was for the Navy; HMS Amphitrite. The only collision I can find recorded for her was with HMS Nessus but that happened in the North Sea.

I know this is not the one you are looking for, but.

This is the Italian (former) battleship (ex-)Italia, hulked at Brindisi as floating battery, between 1915 and 1917. Italia was completed in 1885 as a rather unusual battleship. She originally had six funnels (3 forward and 3 aft), and a single central mast; her speed of about 18 knots was very high for the day. She could accommodate thousands of troops, making her somewhat of a cruiser-transport rather than a pure battleship. The arrangment of her main armament was equally unusual, as she had four guns in a large armored citadel, with no turret or other overhead protection at all. This was the era of giant guns, so she was fitted with 17 inch pieces; three 17"/26 caliber, and one 17"/27 caliber. In 1905-1908 she was modified to the form seen here, with the funnels reduced to four, and a pair of masts fitted.

I know I was curious as all get-out; here is a link to some pics of the Italia class mentioned by runkel:

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/italia_class.htm

The only six-funnelled ship in the Royal Navy, per Edgar March, "British Destroyers" was HMS Viking, built 1909 at Palmers, confirmed in "Destroyers of the Royal Navy 1893-1981", by Maurice Coker and "Hard Lying, the Birth of the Destroyer" by Peter Smith.  The first and third books each have photos of Viking.

Viking was one of the "F" class or first Tribal class. 

Rick Heinbaugh 

OK, so we've got a "right" answer - but not the one I was expecting! Well done Rick, I had forgotten (or never knew!!) about Viking.

The ship I was looking for has been mentioned earlier. And yes, the Askold was involved in the "incident". I'd like to let this run for a day longer to see if anyone can connect the two. If not, this time tomorrow I will come clean, and the other Rick will be the winner.

Rick

Ok, shot in the dark, but was it HMS Glory, which once was Askold and was seized and used as a depot ship? Askold had 5 funnels, but what the heck, just guessing.

edit-no, she was built in Germany ::sigh:: 

OK, guys, here is the definitive answer. It appears in a book - The Royal Navy in Old Photographs (1975) - by Wifrid Trotter, a well-respected Naval Historian.

"In 1902 Russia sent the cruiser Askold, the only five-funnelled warship in the world, to the Persian Gulf; the Persians were con­siderably impressed. Britain ordered HMS Amphitrite, then on her way to the China Station, to proceed to Muscat. Amphitrite, an 11,000-ton first-class protected cruiser, was larger than Askold but had only four funnels, so the Captain rigged two extra funnels of wood and canvas and led smoke to them. Thus prestige was restored!"

However, "Surface Line" has come up with a genuine six-funneled RN ship, so it's over to him for the next question.

Happy New Year!

Rick

That explains it. It's nice to know something new about a Barrow-built boat.

From less than half a mile from where HMS Amphitrite was built

Dave Ross

Actually, I'd be leery about that statement in the book: "In 1902 Russia sent the cruiser Askold, the only five-funnelled warship in the world, to the Persian Gulf;... " because the French at that time had five and six funnelled warships.  But I digress; our subject here was the Royal Navy, and unless our books were all quoting the same source, Billy and I have several that claim Viking was the only Royal Navy ship with six real funnels.

 I think my question this time is much easier, though certainly focused on the USN.

Three FFG-7 class frigates: USS Carr, USS Copeland and USS Samuel B Roberts - what do they have in common, other than their class?

 Let's knock this out and then get on to more serious trivia for the New Year.

Rick 

Bob Copeland was commander of the World War II destroyer escort USS Samuel B Roberts and Carr was the gun captain on one of her 5" turrets. Roberts was sunk during the battle of Leyte Gulf by elements of the Japanese "Sho plan"

 Sorry, I'm reading "Last  Stand of the Tin Can Sailors" ;)

Yes indeed. It sounds as if I need to read that book.  The story of GM3 Carr's dedication to duty is one that has always inspired me.  Certainly Captain Copeland's willingness to follow orders and act as part of that "battleline", along with those other tin cans, saved a number of other American ships that day.

 Over to you, AJB.

Rick 

Yes, Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors is an excellent book, one of the best I've read in a long time.

Ok, my turn. Which was the only (to my knowledge) US ship that was scuttled twice in peace time? Bonus points if you can name dates and location(s).

The ship I'm thinking of was a veteran of WW2 and was scuttled TWICE post war.

I edited my original post, btw