AV - HMS Raven II (1903)

[b:422628567e][u:422628567e]HMS Raven II[/u:422628567e][/b:422628567e]
[i:422628567e]Species:[/i:422628567e] seaplane carrier
[i:422628567e]Class:[/i:422628567e] German
[i:422628567e]State:[/i:422628567e] United Kingdom
[i:422628567e]Establishing hernia:[/i:422628567e] 1901?
[i:422628567e]Run to the water:[/i:422628567e] 1903, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd., Newcastle-on-Tyne (GBR) as steamer [b:422628567e][i:422628567e]SS Rabenfels[/i:422628567e][/b:422628567e]
[i:422628567e]Completion:[/i:422628567e] 12.1903 (11.1903?)
[i:422628567e]Inclusion in service:[/i:422628567e] 12. 6. 1915 (officially, otherwise 1914 - see History)
[i:422628567e]withdrawn from service:[/i:422628567e] 10. 7. 1917

[i:422628567e]Length:[/i:422628567e] [b:422628567e]118,5 m[/b:422628567e] (the most common indication, still appears 118,8 m)
[i:422628567e]Width:[/i:422628567e] [b:422628567e]15,68 m[/b:422628567e] (the most common indication, further to 15.4 m)
[i:422628567e]Draught:[/i:422628567e] [b:422628567e]8,34 m[/b:422628567e] (the most common indication, further 8.4 m)
[i:422628567e]Displacement:[/i:422628567e] [b:422628567e]4 749 BRT[/b:422628567e] (the most common figure, hereinafter referred 4 678 GT; 4 706 BRT; 4 815 BRT)

[i:422628567e]Propulsion:[/i:422628567e] steam engine, 2 000 hp, 1 screw
[i:422628567e]Boiler:[/i:422628567e] 3 (coal)
[i:422628567e]Speed:[/i:422628567e] [b:422628567e]11 nodes[/b:422628567e] (cited 10 knots)

[i:422628567e]Armament:[/i:422628567e] 1 x 76,2 (1xI)
[i:422628567e]Aircraft:[/i:422628567e] 2 seaplanes

[i:422628567e]Crew:[/i:422628567e] ? men (as a steamer 55 men)


[i:422628567e][u:422628567e]History:[/u:422628567e][/i:422628567e]
Originally the German commercial steamer [b:422628567e]SS Rabenfels[/b:422628567e] (Deutsche Dampfschifffahrts-Gesellschaft "Hansa", Bremen) seized by the british navy in Port Said at the beginning of 1. world war [u:422628567e]4. August 1914[/u:422628567e] while sailing from Rotterdam to Bombay.
In [u:422628567e]December 1914[/u:422628567e] rebuilt into a seaplane carrier and used by the Allies in the Mediterranean and the Indian ocean.
[u:422628567e]12. June 1915[/u:422628567e] officially included in the state of the Royal Navy.
In [u:422628567e]August 1915[/u:422628567e] renamed to [b:422628567e]HMS Raven II[/b:422628567e].
[u:422628567e]1. September 1916[/u:422628567e] (some sources say 31. August) is damaged by a German air raid in Port Said.
From [u:422628567e]16. march[/u:422628567e] to [u:422628567e]10. June 1917[/u:422628567e] searching in the Indian ocean after the German auxiliary cruiser (overflow vessel) SMS Wolf II (ex. [i:422628567e]Wachtfels[/i:422628567e] of the company "Hansa").
[u:422628567e]10. July 1917[/u:422628567e] out of the state of the Royal Navy and rebuilt back to the business ship.
In [u:422628567e]January 1918[/u:422628567e] under the name [b:422628567e]DS Ravenrock[/b:422628567e] started service for the british Admiralty (operator: Grahams & Co.).
In [u:422628567e]1923[/u:422628567e] purchased by the British Dominions Steamship Co. Ltd. from London (operator: Smith, Pritchard & Co.).
The same [u:422628567e]1923[/u:422628567e] further sold to the japanese company Kabafuto Kisen Kabushiki Kaisha of Tokyo, where it bears the name of [b:422628567e]DS Heiyei Maru Well. 7[/b:422628567e].
From [u:422628567e]1935[/u:422628567e] operated by Inui Kisen KK, Tokyo.
In [u:422628567e]1938[/u:422628567e] renamed to [b:422628567e]DS Heiei Maru Well. 7[/b:422628567e].
[u:422628567e]12. January 1945[/u:422628567e] sunk in the attack of american carrier-based fighters in the Mekong delta (position 10-46N,106-42E). Some sources say the name [b:422628567e]Kenei Maru[/b:422628567e].
In [u:422628567e]1949[/u:422628567e] eliminated from the lloyd's registry of ships.

[i:422628567e]Sources:[/i:422628567e] archives of the author; hazegray.org; theshiplist.com; warsailors.com..

Britský prvoválečný nosič hydroplánů HMS Raven II.

British prvoválečný seaplane carrier, HMS Raven II..

Details

1. December 1914, shortly after Great Britain declared war on Turkey, the operated unit of French seaplanes (consisting of seven machines of the Nieuport with the engines on the performance of the 80 k) under the command of Lt. de Vaisseau de l’Escaille of two hydroplánových carriers with a base in Port Said, and according to the orders of the british command in Egypt carried out a survey of the Turkish territory on the Sinai and then Palestine. The pilots were French and observers the British. Their reports brought very valuable information. Carrier seaplanes HMS Anne (ex-SS Aenne-Rickmers) and HMS Raven II (ex-SS Rabenfels) were two of the former German cargo ship, captured at the beginning of the war and modified in 1915 to carry a few small seaplanes.
11. march 1915 examine the two remaining serviceable seaplanes at Port Said, operating from a boat Rabenfels, the coast of Palestine.
From 1. January 1916 were seaplanes during the campaign in Sinai and Palestine used from small carriers (HMSs Ben-my-Chree, Empress, Anne, , Raven II, etc.) for operations against the Turkish communication routes from Asia minor to Aden.
1. February 1916, there have been tranformaci hydroplánových forces in Egypt. Carrier Ben-my-Chree, Empress, Anne and , Raven II, French hydroplánová base and the british station at Port Said were formed into the east india and the egyptian squadrons of seaplanes (the East Indies and Egypt Seaplane Squadron) under the command of Sqn. Cdr. l’Estrange Malone. Service units include a survey of the approaches to Egypt through Syria and Sinai, bombing targets on these routes, the exploration of the western desert and patrolling above the shores of the Sinai, Syria, Asia minor, the Red sea and the gulf of Aqaba. Base on one of the islands in the port of Port Said serve as the administrative and maintenance centre of the squadron. It was decided that the Ben-my-Chree and , Raven II will use the british seaplanes, while Anne will continue to use seaplane Nieuport piloted by French pilots and british observers. Was envisaged and any extension of the operational area to the Indian ocean.
14. may 1916 Sqn. Cdr. (later Wg. Cdr.) C. R. Samson replaced the Sqn. Cdr. l’Estrange Malone, who remained on the force as his deputy and commanded the HMS Raven II.
1. July 1916 voyage Ravenu II along the syrian coast had one of the seaplanes of the Schneider engine failure and was lost half a mile from Acre. The pilot saved the seaplane Short, who landed next to it and picked it before it was Schneider sunk by machine gun fire. Short took off with the rescued pilot sitting astride the fuel tank and returned to the , Raven II.
7. August 1916 , Raven II under the command of l’Estrange Malone returned to Port Said from the Red sea, where he was to promote their vessels and to map Aqaba.
9. August 1916 performed , Raven II survey and observation for monitor M21. Radio signals from a broadcast seaplane Short, however, were not captured and the operation failed. The second seaplane Short attacked the large camp, and when returning he was intercepted by German aircraft Fokker. The fuel tank, the radiator and the floats were damaged and a seaplane during landing with the Ravenu II began to dive, managed to make it however save. At the same time were , Raven II and M21 attacked by two other enemy aircraft, but survived the explosion without damage. It was the first of many duels with enemy aircraft, which led to the initiation of accompaniments Filipinos two or more seaplanes Schneider.
25. August 1916 received a squadron commander Cdr. Samson ordered to perform the maximum possible force attack on a busy railway junction at El Afuleh. Three ships of the squadron at dawn gathered at Haifa after a separate cruise from the Port Said. , Raven II and Anne, accompanied by trawlerem Paris II and the French destroyer Ace drifted in front of a faster Ben-my-Chree accompanied by ships Arbalette. Six seaplanes Short (Cdr. C.R. Samson and Capt. J. Wedgwood Benn, Flt. Cdr. G.B. Dacre and And. N. Other, Flt. Lt. And.W. Clemson and Cdr. (?) L’Estrange Malone, Flt. Lt. And.With. Maskell and 2/Lt. E. King, Flt. Lt. J.C. Brooke and 2/Lt Williams, Flt. S/Lt G.D. Smith and Lt. In. Millard) and four seaplanes Schneider (Flt. Cdr. T. H. England, Flt. Lt. J.T. Bankes-Price, Flt. Lt. W. Man, Flt. S/Lt. L.P. Paine) flew in formation over the right side of the command of the aeroplane to the outback to El Afuleh, where, according to the plan divided into sections. Although the anti-aircraft defense should achieve considerable power, caused a drop of thirteen 65 liberních and 112 liberních and thirty-one, 16 liberních bomb-great damage. Was destroyed one locomotive, 14 cars and several warehouses. A lot of damage suffered also the permanent railway and station buildings. All aircraft returned safely. To avoid the counterattack, went , Raven II and Anne immediately to the new gathering place. Ben-my-Chree is followed up after sending two Filipinos, which should verify the result of the bombing. Another objective was a large camp in the Bureiru and the railway viaduct in the Wadi El Hesi, where three Shorty and four Schneider have caused loss and damage to the track. Flt. Cdr. Dacres was captured after over the hinterland broke down the engine of his aeroplane. The subsequent search aircraft from HMS Anne was unsuccessful. The squadron is then split, and the Ben-my-Chree sailed to the north, Anne in Jaffa and , Raven II to Adalije.
27. August 1916 looking for , Raven II after the mines and submarines north of Adalie and a day later returned to Port Said.
31. August 1916 was , Raven II attacked by enemy aircraft and damaged several men fell. The increasing activity of German aeroplanes made Cdr. Samson to start training their pilots in flying in combat formations, when each Short was accompanied by two Schneider. Damaged , Raven II was replaced by the HMS Anne.
26. October 1916 was repaired , Raven II posted into the Red sea to the relief of the HMS Anne.
Up to 25. December 1916 Cdr. Samson tried to get the order to attack on the railway bridge in Chicaldere, the fundamental connection of the Turkish communication system. An order was now issued, and HMS Raven II sailed from Port Said to the gulf of Alexandretta.
26. December 1916 sailed HMS Ben-my-Chree sailed from Port Said to meet with Raven II.
27. December 1916 was first posted one seaplane Short to espy and bombing seen a boat moored. Were dropped four 16-pound and one 65-pound bomb, it was later discovered that the ship was the previous year, managed by the French navy. The first wave of aircraft sent against a bridge in Chicaldere (Chikaldir) over Jeihamem accounted for one Short (Flt. S/Lt Smith and Capt. Wedgwood Benn) and three Schneider (Cdr. Samson, Flt. Lt. Clemson, Flt. Lt. Brooke) from Ben-my-Chree. Short dropped one 65 lb bomb on the bridge and two 16 lb bombs on the track, but all three have failed and the aircraft was in addition, under the defense of the bridge. Seaplanes Schneider showed one direct hit on the bridge and two near. In the second wave of two more Shorty (Flt. Lt. Burling and Lt. Stewart, Flt. S/Lt. King and Lt. Williams) from Ravenu II reached the second direct hit of the bridge and in the third wave of one Short (Flt. Lt. Maskell and Lt. WL. Samson) and two Schneider (Flt. Lt. Clemson, Flt. S/Lt. Henderson) from Ben-my-Chree experienced another intervention of the bridge and damage to the perineum. The bridge was one week removed from the traffic, which meant the delay in delivery of heavy weapons to Baghdad. After the attack the allied union left the bay, ready to return the next day, but the command was with the results achieved satisfied and ordered a return to Port Said.
18. January 1917 formed the east india and the egyptian squadron of seaplanes after the loss of HMS Ben-My-Chree only HMS Raven II and the HMS Anne. Squadron commander Cdr. Samson later received for outstanding performance of the squadron clasp (bar) to your order DSO.
In February (??) 1917 was the australian cruiser HMAS Brisbane equipped with a reconnaissance seaplane Sopwith Baby from HMS Raven II.
10. in march 1917, is HMS Raven II (Cdr. Samson) sent from Port Said to strengthen the French cruiser Pothuau in Aden to start looking for him after the German auxiliary cruiser Wolf II.
21. April 1917 is in the search for the ship Wolf II in the space of the archipelago of the Maldives broke down seaplane from Ravenu II with two officers on board. The aeroplane finally managed to in the storm and in the dark land safely on a coral reef the southernmost island of the Maldives.
26. April 1917 were the castaways stranded on the island Fiale delivered the sailboat to the sultan of the island of Male, fed and obléknuti to the uniforms of the sultan's guard. Later they were transferred to Colombo.
6. may 1917 the survivors of the emergency landing in the Maldives back on the board HMS Raven II. Their seaplane was later discovered intact.

Source: the oca.269squadron.btinternet.what.uk.

Search for an auxiliary cruiser (assault ship) Wolf II

From April 1917 the australian light cruiser HMAS Brisbane stationed in Colombo, where it strengthened the seaplane carrier, HMS Raven II and the French armored cruiser Pothuau. The vessel had to find and disarm the German auxiliary cruiser Wolf II.
Carrier , Raven II (ex Rabenfels, a former German cargo ship) arrived in Colombo 2. April armed with the seaplane Short 184 with engines of 240 hp and one seaplane Sopwith Baby. Ship and aircraft commanded by Commander Samson.
While the ships complement of coal, were seaplanes Short from the carrier entrusted with the exploration of the Maldives and seaplane Baby was transferred to Brisbane. This aircraft, which carried the serial number of the Royal Naval Air Service N 1014, belonged to the first series of aircraft built in the factory of the Blackburn air-cooled rotary engine of the Clerget 110 k, later replaced by an engine of 130 hp. The seaplane was carried on the stern of the Brisbane and was lowered overboard to the sea with a crane.
Although the search was fruitless, Sopwith Baby operated successfully from the Brisbane and a few weeks graduated two years ago, a day in which he was piloted by Flying Officerem And.W. Clemsonem, who later became squadron commander and was awarded the DSC.
21. may 1917 were Brisbane and , Raven II, this time with the battleship HMS Exmouth, entrusted with the escort of a convoy from Bombay to the Red sea.

Source: navyhistory.org.au.