HMS Isis

HMS Isis was an Eclipse class second class cruiser that spent much of the First World War on the North American and West Indies Station. At the start of the war she joined the 11th Cruiser Squadron, operating from Ireland. That squadron’s main duty was to protect the trade routes, but in mid-August they helped to protect the Vth Division as it crossed from Ireland to Le Havre.

HMS Isis from the left

By the start of 1916 the Isis was on the North America and West Indies Station. The main difficulties faced on this station in 1916 was the neutrality of the United States. The squadron had two widely areas of friendly bases, in the British West Indies and in Canada, separated by the east coast of the United States. During 1916 the Isis visited both – she was present at Bermuda for part of the year, while in December, when a new generation of German commerce raiders set sail she was in Halifax. The British squadron had to balance the need to stop blockade runners with the need not to annoy the United States.

During 1917 the situation changed, and the main problem became the U-boat. From the summer of 1917 the Isis was engaged in convoy escort duties in the Atlantic. She remained on the North America and West Indies Station until the end of the war. She returned home in 1919, and was sold off in 1920.

Books on the First World War | Subject Index: First World War

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