HMS "Гусар": История британской канонерской лодки

Gunboat of the Royal Navy

HMS Hussar was a of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1894 and served in the Mediterranean between 1896 and 1905 before being used for fishery protection. During the Dardanelles campaign of 1915 her commanding officer and two of her ship's company won the Victoria Cross. She was broken up in 1921.

Ordered under the Naval Defence Act of 1889, which established the "Two Power Standard", the class was contemporary with the first torpedo boat destroyers. With a length overall of 262 feet (80 m), with two reloads. Lieutenant Commander Marcus Rowley Hill was appointed in command of Hussar on 11 April 1899. In early February 1900 she left Malta homeward bound, and later that month arrived at Devonport, where she paid off on 12 March. She was re commissioned by Lieutenant Adolphus Huddlestone Williamson the same day, and returned to the Mediterranean. In June 1902 she visited Alexandria, in October that year she was at Syracuse, Sicily, and late that year she was at Port Said and visited the Red Sea.

In 1907 Hussar had her armament removed and was converted to become the yacht and despatch vessel for the Royal Navy's Commander in Chief, Mediterranean.

In 1914 Hussar was converted into a minesweeper, which was the fate of many such torpedo gunboats.

In February 1915, Commander Edward Unwin took command of Hussar. For the landing at Cape Helles on 25 April 1915, Unwin took command of the steamer SS River Clyde. Unwin received the Victoria Cross for his actions during the landing, as did two of his crew from Hussar who were also on River Clyde, Able Seaman William Williams and Seaman George Samson.

Hussar was initially sold in December 1920, but was resold on 13 July 1921 to L Gatt, of Malta for breaking up.