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Like H.M.S. Lowestoft, whose launch Topical Budget had recorded the previous April (87-2), the light cruiser H.M.S. Arethusa was built at Chatham Dockyard, from which she was launched on 25 October 1913. The sixth Royal Navy ship to bear that name, she was distinguished from her predecessors by being one of the first light cruisers with entirely oil-based propulsion. Arethusa saw extensive service in World War I, including the Battle of Heligoland Bight (August 1914), the Cuxhaven Seaplane Raid (December 1914) and the Battle of Dogger Bank (January 1915). The ship was also involved in the capture of four German trawlers in (September 1915). On 11 February 1916, Arethusa struck a mine near Felixstowe that is believed to have been laid by the German U-boat UC-7 the previous evening. The explosion killed six men, and another two were drowned attempting to abandon ship. The ship's cat also perished, but 272 men survived. Although the destroyers Lightfoot and Loyal attempted to tow Arethusa ashore, they were prevented from doing so by gale force winds. Eventually, the ship ran aground, split in two, and sank. Michael Brooke
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Complete film (1:03)
