View source for HMS Dunraven

{{For|the ship launched in 1873|SS Dunraven}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2009}}
{{Infobox ship
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 |image= HMS Dunraven.jpg
 |image_caption= "HMS Dunraven" by [[Charles Pears]]
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|section2={{Infobox ship/career
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 |country=United Kingdom
 |flag= {{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}}
 |name= HMS ''Dunraven''
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 |launched=7 December 1909
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 |fate= Sunk, 10 August 1917
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|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics
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 |type= [[Q-ship]]
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 |armament=*1 × {{convert|4|in|mm|abbr=on}} gun
           *4 × [[12-pounder gun]]s
           *2 × {{convert|14|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s
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'''HMS ''Dunraven''''' was a [[Q-ship]] of the [[Royal Navy]] during [[World War I]].

On 8 August 1917,<ref>{{cite journal |year=1919 |title=Professional Notes: H.M.S. ''Dunraven'', August 8, 1917 |journal=United States Naval Institute Proceedings |volume=45 |issue=January 1919 |pages=435 |publisher=United States Naval Institute |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6MgjAQAAIAAJ&q=%22HMS+Dunraven%22&pg=PA435}}</ref> 130 miles southwest of [[Ushant]] in the [[Bay of Biscay]], disguised as the collier ''Boverton'' and commanded by [[Gordon Campbell (Royal Navy officer)|Gordon Campbell, VC]], ''Dunraven'' spotted {{SMU|UC-71||2}}, commanded by {{lang|de|Oberleutnant zur See}} [[Reinhold Saltzwedel]].  Saltzwedel believed the disguised ship was a merchant vessel.  The [[U-boat]] submerged and closed with ''Dunraven'' before surfacing astern at 11:43 am and opening fire at long range.  ''Dunraven'' made smoke and sent off a panic party (a small number of men who "abandon ship" during an attack to continue the impersonation of a merchant).

Shells began hitting ''Dunraven'', detonating her depth charges and setting her stern afire.  Her crew remained hidden letting the fires burn.  Then a 4-inch (102&nbsp;mm) gun and crew were blown away revealing ''Dunraven''{{'}}s identity as a warship, and ''UC-71'' submerged.  A second "panic party" abandoned ship.  ''Dunraven'' was hit by a torpedo.  A third "panic party" went over the side, leaving only two guns manned.  ''UC-71'' surfaced, shelled ''Dunraven'' and again submerged.  Campbell replied with two torpedoes that missed, and around 3 pm, the undamaged U-boat left that area. Only one of ''Dunraven''{{'}}s crew was killed, but the Q-Ship was sinking.

The British [[destroyer]] {{HMS|Christopher|1912|6}} picked up ''Dunraven''{{'}}s survivors and took her in tow for [[Plymouth]], but ''Dunraven'' sank at 1:30 am early on 10 August 1917 to the north of Ushant.

In recognition, two [[Victoria Cross]]es were awarded, one to the ship's First Lieutenant, Lt. [[Charles George Bonner]] RNR, and the other, by ballot, to a gunlayer, Petty Officer [[Ernest Herbert Pitcher]].

Captain Campbell later wrote:
:"It had been a fair and honest fight, and I lost it.  Referring to my crew, words cannot express what I am feeling.  No one let me down. No one could have done better."{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}}

Captain Campbell had been previously awarded the Victoria Cross, in February 1917, for the sinking of {{SMU|U-83||2}}.
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==Notes and references==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{citation |chapter-url=http://www.shippingwondersoftheworld.com/salute-hero.html |chapter=Salute to a Hero |title=Shipping Wonders of the World |year=1937 |pages=129–135 |editor-first=Clarence |editor-last=Winchester }} illustrated account of Gordon Campbell, "the most famous Q-ship officer", including his time with HMS ''Dunraven''

{{August 1917 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dunraven}}
[[Category:Q-ships of the Royal Navy]]
[[Category:World War I shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1917]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by German submarines in World War I]]
[[Category:1909 ships]]