Dates: 1917 - 1939

Light battle cruiser ordered in 1915 from Armstrong’s, High Walker, Newcastle on Tyne and laid down in May that year. Launched on 4th February 1916 the ship was completed in January 1917. The first RN major warship lost in WW2.

Serving with Home Fleet and deployed on anti-submarine patrol duty in the SW Approaches. The deployment of aircraft carriers to carry out this role had been introduced as an offensive measure and assumed that the ASDIC equipment available in the escorts was far more effective than was in fact the case.

During patrol with a screen of two Home Fleet destroyers a wireless signal was received from ss KAFIRISTAN indicating that she was under fire from a German submarine. Whilst carrying out ansearch for this merchant ship or any survivors, she came under attack by U29, hit by three torpedoes and sank quickly.

518 lives were lost including many Reservists and Pensioners. Some survivors were rescued by HM Destroyer ECHO. As a consequence of this loss and an unsuccessful U-boat torpedo attack on HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL on 14th September the policy of using aircraft carriers for A/S search and destroy patrols was abandoned

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Added on 11/04/2011

Courageous was launched in 1916 as a light cruiser by Armstrong Whitworth, Newcastle. As a cruiser the ship was less than satisfactory spending too much time in the repair yard. She was given the nickname "Outrageous" by her crews. Armed with two twin 15" turrets and six triple mount 4" rapid fire guns. However the design of the triple mounts did not allow room for the men who would fire them. The men were constantly falling over each other which slowed the rate of fire to less than that of three single mounts.

Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Courageous

" Have you tried the HMS Courageous Society?  Copy and paste the link below. http://www.hmscourageous.co.uk Last edited by Murray Whyte"

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" Alright Niki, I’ve had a little spin ’round the web This is what I’ve come up with about the Courageous. HMS Courageous Built Armstrong, Elswick, laid down March 1915, completed January 1917. HMS Courageous saw action in 1917 in an inconclusive raid on German patrols.  The ..."

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" Quoting: Graham McDonough Excuse my ignorance[ex pongo],this sub, was she nuke or conventional? Ive been aboard the "Churchill" nuclear sub,when she was refitting in Chatham,Kent, early 80,s.Got to know the crew quite well.She was a big old girl in dry dock. I was surprised at the size of ..."

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" Quoting: George griffiths Your not ignorant my friend,im glad you managed to See inside the Churchill,they too were great boats and i know you would have been well looked after,i was part of the submarine Disposal group that scrapped that class of sub in the mid 90s.In fact HMS Courageous ..."

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