View source for HMS Ben-my-Chree

{{Short description|British ship}}
{{other ships|Ben-my-Chree (disambiguation){{!}}Ben-my-Chree}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{good article}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=HMS Ben-my-Chree (1915).jpg
|Ship caption=HMS ''Ben-my-Chree''
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship name=''{{lang|gv|Ben-my-Chree}}''
|Ship namesake= [[Manx language|Manx]] ''ben ma chree'', "woman of my heart"
|Ship country=United Kingdom
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Isle of Man|civil}}
|Ship operator=[[Isle of Man Steam Packet Company|Isle of Man Steam Packet Co.]]
|Ship registry={{flagicon|Isle of Man|civil}} [[Douglas, Isle of Man]]
|Ship route=England–[[Isle of Man]]
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=[[Vickers]], [[Barrow-in-Furness]]
|Ship yard number=
|Ship way number=
|Ship laid down= 1907
|Ship launched= 23 March 1908
|Ship completed=8 August 1908
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship fate=Chartered by the [[Royal Navy]], 1 January 1915
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=title
|Ship country=United Kingdom
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}}
|Ship name=HMS ''{{lang|gv|Ben-my-Chree}}''
|Ship commissioned=23 March 1915
|Ship acquired=1 January 1915
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship fate=*Sunk, 11 January 1917 by [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] artillery fire
* [[ship breaking|Scrapped]], 1923
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=(as passenger ship)
|Ship type= [[Packet (sea transport)|Packet]]
|Ship tonnage={{GRT|2,651}}
|Ship length={{convert|390|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} ([[Length overall|o/a]])
|Ship beam={{convert|46|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship decks=5
|Ship depth={{convert|18|ft|6|in|abbr=on}}
|Ship power= 4 × cylindrical [[boiler (steam generator)|boiler]]s
|Ship propulsion=*3 × shafts
* 3 × [[Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company|Parsons]] [[steam turbine]]s
|Ship speed= {{convert|24.2|kn|lk=in|abbr=on}}
|Ship capacity=2,549
|Ship crew=119
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=(in RN service)
|Ship type=[[Seaplane carrier]]
|Ship displacement={{convert|3888|LT|t|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship length={{convert|387|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} ([[Length overall|o/a]])
|Ship beam=
|Ship draught={{convert|16|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship power={{convert|14500|shp|kW|lk=in|abbr=on}}
|Ship speed={{convert|24.5|kn|abbr=on}}
|Ship crew=250
|Ship armament=*4 × [[QF 12 pounder 18 cwt naval gun|quick-firing 12-pounder gun]]s
* 2 × [[Ordnance QF 3-pounder Vickers|3-pounder anti-aircraft guns]]
|Ship aircraft=4–6 × [[seaplane]]s
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

'''HMS ''Ben-my-Chree''''' ([[Manx language|Manx:]] "Woman of My Heart"<ref name="Dotan2007-133">Dotan, p. 133</ref>) was a British [[Packet boat|packet steamer]] which served as a [[seaplane carrier]] in the [[Royal Navy]] during [[World War I]]. She was originally built in 1907 by [[Vickers]] for the [[Isle of Man Steam Packet Company]] and was intended for use on the England–[[Isle of Man]] route. ''Ben-my-Chree'' was the third vessel to bear her name. To this day, she holds the crossing speed record from [[Liverpool]] to [[Douglas, Isle of Man]] for a steamship at under three hours.<ref name=c7>Caruana, ''et al''., p. 297</ref>

She was chartered by the Royal Navy at the beginning of 1915 and participated in several abortive attacks on [[German Empire|Germany]] in May. The ship was transferred to the [[Dardanelles]] in June to support the [[Gallipoli campaign]], and one of her aircraft made the first ship-launched [[aerial torpedo]] attack on a ship in August.<ref name=c8>Caruana, ''et al''., p. 298</ref> After Gallipoli was evacuated at the end of the year, ''Ben-my-Chree'' became the [[flagship]] of the [[East Indies and Egypt Seaplane Squadron]] which operated in the [[Eastern Mediterranean]], performing reconnaissance missions and attacking [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] facilities and troops. 

She was sunk by Ottoman [[artillery]] fire while anchored at the recently occupied island of [[Kastellorizo]] in early 1917, with five members of her crew being injured. The ship was [[Marine salvage|salvaged]] in 1920 and [[Ship breaking|broken up]] in 1923. ''Ben-my-Chree'' was the only aviation vessel of either side sunk by enemy action during the war.<ref name=l4>Layman, p. 44</ref>

==Description and construction==
{{Main|SS Ben-my-Chree (1908)}}
[[SS Ben-my-Chree (1908)|SS ''Ben-my-Chree'']] had a [[tonnage]] of {{GRT|2651}}.<ref name=l3>Layman, p. 43</ref> The ship was {{convert|390|ft|m|1}} [[length overall|long overall]] and  {{convert|375|ft|m|1}} long [[Length between perpendiculars|between perpendiculars]]. She had a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|46|ft|m|1}} and a depth of {{convert|18|ft|6|in}} from her main deck to the top of her [[keel]]. ''Ben-my-Chree'' had five decks<ref name=lau>"Launch of the ''Ben-my-Chree''"</ref> and a capacity of 2,549 passengers with a crew of 119.<ref name=c7/>

The ship was powered by three license-built [[Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company|Parsons]] [[Steam turbine#Marine propulsion|direct-drive steam turbine]]s, each driving one [[propeller shaft]]. They were powered by steam provided by four cylindrical [[boiler (steam generator)|boiler]]s at a working pressure of {{convert|170|psi|kPa kg/cm2|0|abbr=on|lk=on}}<ref name=lau/> that gave her a speed of {{convert|24.2|kn|lk=in}}. Her engines burnt up to {{convert|95|LT|t|0}} of coal a day, which made her an expensive ship to run.<ref name=c7/>

She was ordered in 1907 by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company and was built at the [[Vickers]] shipyard in [[Barrow-in-Furness]] at a cost of {{GBP}}112,000. The ship was [[Ship naming and launching|launched]] on 23 March 1908<ref name=c7/> and completed on 8 August.<ref name=l3/> ''Ben-my-Chree'' was normally laid up, because of her expense, except for the three busiest months of the year when she had a full complement of passengers.<ref name=c7/>

==Royal Navy modifications and service==

SS ''Ben-my-Chree'' was chartered by the Royal Navy on 1 January 1915 and she began her conversion into a [[seaplane carrier]] at the [[Cammell Laird]] shipyard in [[Birkenhead]] the following day. Part of her aft [[superstructure]] was removed and replaced by a [[Hangar#Hangars aboard ships|hangar]], aft of her rear [[funnel (ship)|funnel]], that housed four to six seaplanes. The aircraft were lifted in and out of the water by [[derrick]]s fore and aft. A dismountable {{convert|60|ft|m|adj=mid|-long}} [[Flight deck#Early|flying-off platform]] was installed forward of her superstructure; it was equipped with a trolley and rails to allow a seaplane to take off.<ref name=c8/><ref name=l3/>

[[File:Stern of HMS Ben-my-Chree.jpg|thumb|left|Stern view of HMS ''Ben-my-Chree'', showing the aircraft hangars]]

In RN service the ship [[displacement (ship)|displaced]] {{convert|3888|LT|t|0}}, was {{convert|387|ft|m|1}} long overall, and had a [[Draft (hull)|draught]] of {{convert|16|ft|m|1}}. ''Ben-my-Chree''{{'}}s turbines generated {{convert|14500|shp|lk=in}} and she was credited with a speed of {{convert|24.5|kn}} although that speed was exceeded in service. The ship could carry {{convert|502|LT|t|0}} of coal. Her crew consisted of approximately 250 officers and ratings.<ref name=l3/>

Her armament consisted of four [[quick-firing gun|quick-firing]] (QF) [[QF 12 pounder 18 cwt naval gun|12-pounder 18 cwt gun]]s,<ref group=Note>"Cwt" is the abbreviation for [[hundredweight]], 18 cwt referring to the weight of the gun.</ref> and two [[Ordnance QF 3-pounder Vickers|Vickers three-pounder AA guns]].<ref name=l3/> ''Ben-my-Chree'' carried 130 rounds per 12-pounder and 64 rounds for each three-pounder. In May 1916, one 12-pounder AA gun, a three-pounder, and a 2-pounder [[QF 2-pounder naval gun|''pom-pom'']], each on army carriages, were added.<ref name=c8/><ref name=l3/>

She was initially assigned to the [[Harwich Force]], under the command of [[Commander (Royal Navy)|Commander]] [[Cecil L'Estrange Malone]], where on 3 May she took part in an abortive air raid on [[Norddeich (Norden)|Norddeich]] that had to be abandoned because of thick [[fog]].<ref name=f2/> On 6 May, while on another unsuccessful mission to attack Norddeich, she was accidentally rammed by the [[destroyer]] {{HMS|Lennox|1914|2}} in thick fog, although damage was slight.<ref name=c8/> Another attempt was made on 11 May, but was again abandoned because of heavy fog.<ref name=f2>Friedman, p. 32</ref> During this raid, ''Ben-my-Chree'' attempted to launch her [[Sopwith Schneider]] from a trolley off the fore deck, but the engine backfired, wrecking its starter, and breaking the pilot's wrist as the starter handle was in the cockpit.<ref>King, p. 82</ref>

===To the Dardanelles===
[[File:HMS Ben-My-Chree off the Dardanelles.png|thumb|Illustration of ''Ben-my-Chree'' off the Dardanelles in 1915]]
In May 1915, she sailed for the [[Dardanelles]],<ref name=c8/> carrying two [[Short Type 184]] [[torpedo bomber]]s, and arrived at [[Lesbos]] on 10 June. Her aircraft were mainly involved in [[Artillery spotting|spotting]] for ships providing [[naval gunfire support]] for troops ashore, although they also conducted reconnaissance missions of the area. On 11 August, one of these missions had spotted an [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] ship off the north coast of the [[Sea of Marmora]] and, on the following day, [[Flight Commander]] [[Charles Humphrey Kingsman Edmonds|Charles Edmonds]] attacked it flying a Short 184 seaplane. He left his observer behind and flew with a reduced fuel load to lighten his aircraft enough to carry a {{convert|14|in|mm|adj=on|0}}, {{convert|810|lb|kg|adj=on}} torpedo. He successfully dropped his [[aerial torpedo]] at a distance of about {{convert|800|yd}} and an altitude of {{convert|15|ft|m|1}}. It turned out that his target had been [[Beaching (nautical)|beached]] after having been torpedoed by the British [[submarine]] {{HMS|E14||2}}. This was followed by a successful attack on 17 August against a {{convert|5000|LT|t|adj=on}} ship by Edmonds. [[Flight Lieutenant]] George Dacre accompanied Edmonds on his flight in his own aircraft, but suffered engine troubles and had to land in the Dardanelles. He was [[taxiing]] on the water when he encountered a large steam [[tugboat]], which he promptly torpedoed. After taxiing for several miles he was able to get airborne again and was within gliding distance of ''Ben-my-Chree'' when his engine failed permanently.<ref>Bruce, p. 9</ref>

[[File:First flying and administrative officers of the Royal Flying Corps RAE-O790.jpg|thumb|Commander Samson (front row, 2nd from right), and Lieutenant Malone standing behind him, with other officers of the R.F.C. in 1913]]
On 2 September, she helped to rescue [[Australian Army#History|Australian troops]] from the torpedoed [[troopship]] [[HMT Southland#Mediterranean and first torpedo attack|HMT ''Southland'']] off [[Lemnos]]. The ship was transferred to [[Port Said]], [[Egypt]] after the end of the Gallipoli Campaign.<ref name=c8/> ''Ben-my-Chree'' became the flagship of the East Indies and Egypt Seaplane Squadron when it was formed in January 1916.<ref name=l4/> The squadron was under the command of the [[General Officer Commanding]], Egypt and its primary duty was to watch Ottoman positions and movements in southern Palestine and the Sinai.<ref>MacPherson, p. 289</ref> 

In February 1916 she was sent from [[Port Said]] to the Libyan coast; on 11 February, her aircraft observed [[Sidi Barrani]] and [[Sollum]], and on 15 February discovered the [[Senussi campaign#Action of Agagi|Senussi were encamped at Agagia]].<ref> Jones, p. 168</ref> {{SS|Uganda}} collided with her on 11 February and badly damaged the ship's bow.<ref name=c8/> Permanent repairs took were made at [[Suez]] from 13 March to 25 April.<ref name=l4/> 

Commander [[Charles Rumney Samson|Charles Samson]] replaced L'Estrange Malone as captain on 14 May. A few days later, Lieutenant [[William Wedgwood Benn, 1st Viscount Stansgate|William Benn]] joined the ship as an observer.<ref>Bruce, p. 10</ref> ''Ben-my-Chree'' was based at [[Aden]] later in 1916.<ref>Preston, p. 68</ref>

===Loss===
[[File:HMS Ben-my-Chree underfire 11 January 1917.jpg|thumb|right|HMS ''Ben-my-Chree'' under fire]]

French troops occupied the Greek island of [[Kastellorizo]], off the southwest coast of [[Turkey]], on 20 December 1916 to use it as an advance base against the Ottomans. Not pleased at the presence of the French, the Ottomans secretly deployed an [[artillery battery]] of four {{convert|155|mm|adj=on}} and twelve {{convert|77|mm|adj=on}} guns within range of the island. The French commander requested a seaplane carrier to conduct reconnaissance in the area and ''Ben-my-Chree'' was sent in response. She arrived on 11 January 1917 and anchored in the harbour which faced the mainland. Ottoman guns opened fire about two hours later, hitting the carrier with their third shot. Subsequent shells disabled her steering and started a fire in her hangar that spread across her upper deck.<ref name="c8"/> (''See'' [[Mustafa Ertuğrul Aker]])

[[File:StateLibQld 1 133753 Ben-My-Caree (ship).jpg|thumb|left|HMS ''Ben-my-Chree'' sinking]]
The crew was ordered to abandon ship after about forty minutes of the bombardment using the only remaining operable [[Lifeboat (shipboard)|motor lifeboat]] of the three stowed on board. One officer and four ratings were injured, but no one was killed. The Ottomans continued their bombardment for five hours until ''Ben-my-Chree'' [[list (watercraft)|listed]] to starboard and sank in shallow water. Later in the day, the captain and the chief engineer returned to the wreck to rescue the ship's mascots, a cat and dog which had both survived the attack.<ref>Caruana, ''et al''., pp. 298–99</ref>

''Ben-my-Chree''{{'}}s wreck remained in place until 15 August 1920 when it was [[Marine salvage|refloated]] by the salvage ship ''Vallette''. The wreck was immediately [[Beaching (nautical)|beached]] before the tow to the port of [[Piraeus]] began on 4 September. The ship proved to be a [[constructive total loss]] and was towed to [[Venice]], Italy, in 1923 to be demolished.<ref>Somner, p. S224</ref>

During her short career she operated [[Sopwith Type 860]], [[Sopwith Tabloid|Schneider]], and [[Sopwith Baby|Baby]] aircraft, the [[Wight Pusher Seaplane]], as well as [[Short Type 830]] and Type 184 floatplanes.<ref name=l4/>
{{Clear}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=Note}}

==Footnotes==
{{reflist|2}}

==References==
* {{cite book |last=Bruce |first=J. M. |title=The Short 184 |publisher=Albatros Productions |location=Berkhampstead, UK |series=Windsock Datafile |volume=85 |year=2001 |oclc=295877455}}
* {{cite magazine |last1=Caruana |first1=J. |last2=Field |first2=Andy |last3=Head |first3=Michael |title=Question 33/48: British Seaplane Tender Sunk by Turkish Artillery |magazine=Warship International |publisher=International Naval Research Organization |volume=49 |issue=4 |pages=297–299 |date=December 2012 |issn=0043-0374|display-authors=etal}}
* {{cite book|last=Chappell|first=Connery|title=Island Lifeline|year=1980|publisher=T. Stephenson|location=Prescot|isbn=0-90131420-X}}
* {{cite book |last=Dotan |first=Yossi |title=Watercraft on World Coins, Volume 1: Europe, 1800–2005 |publisher=Alpha Press |location=Brighton, UK |year=2007 |isbn=9781898595496}}
* {{cite book |last=Friedman |first=Norman |title=British Carrier Aviation: The Evolution of the Ships and Their Aircraft |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |year=1988 |isbn=0-87021-054-8|author-link=Norman Friedman}}
* {{cite book |last=Jones |first=H. A. |series=History of the Great War Based on Official Documents By Direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence |title=The War in the Air – Being the Story of the Part Played in the Great War by the Royal Air Force |volume=V |year=2002 |orig-year=1935 |publisher=Clarendon Press |location=London |edition=Imperial War Museum and Naval & Military Press |url=https://archive.org/details/warinairbeingsto05rale |isbn=978-1-84342-416-1}}
* {{cite book |last=King |first=H. F. |title=Sopwith Aircraft, 1912–1920 |publisher=Putnam |location=London |orig-year=1980 |year=1981 |isbn=0-370-30050-5}}
* {{cite journal |url=http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/mquart/mq04328.htm |title=Launch of the ''Ben-My-Chree'' |journal=Manx Quarterly |publisher=S. K. Broadbent |volume=1 |issue=4 |date=April 1908}}
* {{cite book |last=Layman |first=R. D. |title=Before the Aircraft Carrier: The Development of Aviation Vessels, 1859–1922 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |year=1989 |isbn=0-87021-210-9}}
* {{cite magazine |editor1-last=MacPherson |editor1-first=K. |title=Turncoat Carriers |magazine=Warship International |volume=5 |issue=4 |pages=285–94 |year=1968 |issn=0043-0374}}
* {{cite book|editor1-last=Gray|editor1-first=Randal|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921 |year=1985 |location=Annapolis, Maryland|publisher=Naval Institute Press |isbn=0-85177-245-5 |name-list-style=amp |chapter=Great Britain and Empire Forces|first1=Antony|last1=Preston|author-link=Antony Preston|pages=1–104}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Somner |first1=Graeme |title=Company History and Fleet List: Stelp and Leighton Ltd. Part 1 |journal=Marine News Supplement |date=April 2022 |volume=76 |issue=4 |pages=S223–S242 |issn=0966-6958}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |url=http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/fulltext/mf1923/p07.htm |chapter=The Ben-my-Chree |title=How the Manx Fleet Helped in the Great War |publisher=Louis G. Meyer |location=Douglas, UK |first=Charles John |last=Blackburn |date=1923 |oclc=12076508}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/upload/package/2/gallipoli/pdf_files/GallipoliAirWar.pdf |title=Gallipoli: The Air War |publisher=Imperial War Museums |first=Peter |last=Hart |year=2000 |access-date=20 May 2007 |archive-date=4 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804173812/http://www.iwm.org.uk/upload/package/2/gallipoli/pdf_files/GallipoliAirWar.pdf |url-status=dead }}

{{Steam Packet Ships}}
{{WWI British ships}}
{{January 1917 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ben-My-Chree}}
[[Category:Seaplane carriers of the Royal Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built in Barrow-in-Furness]]
[[Category:1908 ships]]
[[Category:World War I aircraft carriers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Royal Navy ship names]]
[[Category:Ferries of the Isle of Man]]
[[Category:Passenger ships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Steamships]]
[[Category:Steamships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1917]]
[[Category:World War I shipwrecks in the Aegean Sea]]