HMS "Terrible"
(1894-1928), and sister ship HMS "Powerful", at 14,200 tons,
were the largest Cruisers in the world upon commissioning. HMS Terrible
was built by the Thompson, at Clydebank and laid down in 1894, and
launched on the 27th May 1895. HMS Terrible along with her sister
ship HMS Powerful were built to compete against the New Russian Cruisers
Rurik and Rossiya, these ships were the largest and longest warships
built at the time. HMS terrible and her sister ship HMS Powerful were
very expensive to build, costing twice that of the Edger class built
two or three years earlier. HMS Terrible started service in the China
Station and in 1899, at the start of the Boer War, she landed the
Naval Brigades at Durban. Captain Scott of "Terrible" fashioned
the famous gun carriage which enabled the ships' 4.7" guns to
be transported overland to Ladysmith, and which were crucial in relieving
the Boer siege on the British Garrison. She went into refit in 1902
until 1904 when she went into the reserve fleet. used for troop ship
in 1915 and was disarmed in 1915, from 1915 she was used as a accommodation
ship and for harbour service in January 1918, in the late 1920's she
was renamed TS Fishgard III before being sold for scrapping July 1932.
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The
photograph on the left is from an old postcard entitled HMS
"TERRIBLE" Living Letters.The message
"GOD
SAVE THE KING" is made up by sailors positioned
on scramble nets hanging on the ship's hull and was part of
the celebrations for the Coronation of King Edward VII in August
1902.
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