Commodore
Reginald Tyrwhitt
(1870-1951)
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HMS Conquest was a Caroline class light cruiser that was badly damaged during the German raid on Lowestoft of 25 April 1916. She was commissioned into the 5th Light Cruiser Squadron of the Harwich Force in June 1915. There she took part in the hunt for the German mine layer Meteor of August 1915, and also accompanied British mine layers. She also accompanied the force that attacked the German Zeppelin base at Tondern in March 1916. That expedition saw the flagship of the squadron damaged and Conquest took over from March-April 1916.
On 25 April 1916 the Germans attacked Lowestoft. Tyrwhitt, with the Harwich cruisers, intercepted the German force, which included their battlecruisers, before they reached the coast, but was unable to lure them away. After the attack on the town, the German battlecruisers moved towards Yarmouth. Tyrwhitt attacked their light cruisers, forces the battlecruisers to turn back. When they appeared, Tyrwhitt was forced to flee back south. His squadron was under fire for 13 minutes, before the Germans ended the engagement and turned east for home. HMS Conquest was hit by a 12in salvo, which killed 25, wounded 13 and destroyed her aerials. However, she was still able to make 20kts, and escaped further damage.
She was back with the squadron by August, when the Harwich Force took part in the general fleet sortie triggered by a movement of the High Seas Fleet. During the sortie the Harwich Force was spotted by Zeppelin L 13. Conquest attempted to shoot her down, but without success.
During 1917 the Conquest took part in an unsuccesful attack on German destroyers (January), and sank the destroyer S 20 off the Belgian coast on 5 June during the raid on Ostend. Her war ended in July 1918 when she hit a mine and required repairs that took until April 1919 to complete.
After her repairs were completed, HMS Conquest joined the Nore reserve (1919-1922). From 1922-1927 she served as Senior Naval Officer’s ship in the 1st Submarine Flotilla of the Atlantic Fleet. From 1927-1928 she was in the Mediterranean, before re-entering the reserve.
Displacement (loaded) |
4,733t |
Top Speed |
28.5kts |
Armour – deck |
1in |
- belt |
3in-1in |
- conning tower |
6in |
Length |
446ft |
Armaments |
Two 6in Mk XII guns |
Crew complement |
301 |
Launched |
20 January 1915 |
Completed |
June 1915 |
Sold for break up |
1930 |
Captains |
Farie |
Flagship of |
Commodore Tyrwhitt |