HMS Success
HMS Success. 27/12/1914
Lively class destroyer (B Class)
Displacement: 430 grt.
Length: 64.0m. Beam: 6.4m. Draught: 1.5m.
Propulsion: 2 x 3 cyl. triple expansion engines, coal fired water-tube Reed boilers, dual shaft, 2 screws
Complement: 65 officers and men.
Armament: 1 x 12 pdr gun, 5 x 6 pdr., 3 x 18" Torpedo Tube.
Lively class destroyer (B Class)
Displacement: 430 grt.
Length: 64.0m. Beam: 6.4m. Draught: 1.5m.
Propulsion: 2 x 3 cyl. triple expansion engines, coal fired water-tube Reed boilers, dual shaft, 2 screws
Complement: 65 officers and men.
Armament: 1 x 12 pdr gun, 5 x 6 pdr., 3 x 18" Torpedo Tube.
The Destroyer HMS Success was built by Doxford W. & Sons - William Doxford & Sons Ltd., Sunderland and launched in 1901.
From the start of World War one served with Seventh Patrol Flotilla.
From the start of World War one served with Seventh Patrol Flotilla.
History
Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette - Monday 17 March 1902
MESSRS DOXFORD & SONS, LTD. ANNUAL MEETING.
They would pleased learn that H.M.S. Success, the last of the six torpedo boat destroyers that the firm had been building, had successfully passed through her official speed trials at Portsmouth, having attained a mean speed during the three hours' trial of 30.224 knots, and was practically ready for being taken over by the Admiralty.
MESSRS DOXFORD & SONS, LTD. ANNUAL MEETING.
They would pleased learn that H.M.S. Success, the last of the six torpedo boat destroyers that the firm had been building, had successfully passed through her official speed trials at Portsmouth, having attained a mean speed during the three hours' trial of 30.224 knots, and was practically ready for being taken over by the Admiralty.
Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette - Friday 01 November 1901
LOCAL TORPEDO BOAT.
H.M.S, Success, torpedo destroyer, which left Sunderland Wednesday morning for Portsmonth, arrived there last night, having had heavy passage.
LOCAL TORPEDO BOAT.
H.M.S, Success, torpedo destroyer, which left Sunderland Wednesday morning for Portsmonth, arrived there last night, having had heavy passage.
West Cumberland Times - Saturday 12 December 1914
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL BOY IN NAVAL BATTLE. Gunner J. Russell, H.M.S. Success, an old Industrial schoolboy. spent a few days leave at Cockermouth this week. He took part on August 28th, in the Bight of Heligoland battle in which two cruisers and two destroyers were sunk without British losses. He was slightly wounded by a splinter of shell.
The Loss
Daily Record - Monday 28 December 1914
BRITISH DESTROYER ASHORE. BADLY DAMAGED ON FIFE COAST. Early yesterday morning during a heavy gale blowing east-south-east the British torpedo-boat destroyer Success went ashore on the rocky coast at Kingsbarns, about six miles from St. Andrews. The craft was steaming south from Aberdeen to the Firth of Forth, and in the darkness, without shore lights to guide her, she lost her bearings. The Crail lifeboat, stationed at Fifeness, was launched, and made several trips, bringing safely to land fifty-two of the crew, but on her last trip was stove in by the rough seas dashing her against the rocky beach.
The St. Andrews lifeboat was also called out, and after several tacks against the wind reached the Success, and took off the remainder the crew, consisting of thirteen officers and men, including the commander. Another destroyer appeared the scene, and towed the St. Andrews boat back the harbour, where the navy men were safely landed. The Success is badly damaged, and likely to become a total wreck.
BRITISH DESTROYER ASHORE. BADLY DAMAGED ON FIFE COAST. Early yesterday morning during a heavy gale blowing east-south-east the British torpedo-boat destroyer Success went ashore on the rocky coast at Kingsbarns, about six miles from St. Andrews. The craft was steaming south from Aberdeen to the Firth of Forth, and in the darkness, without shore lights to guide her, she lost her bearings. The Crail lifeboat, stationed at Fifeness, was launched, and made several trips, bringing safely to land fifty-two of the crew, but on her last trip was stove in by the rough seas dashing her against the rocky beach.
The St. Andrews lifeboat was also called out, and after several tacks against the wind reached the Success, and took off the remainder the crew, consisting of thirteen officers and men, including the commander. Another destroyer appeared the scene, and towed the St. Andrews boat back the harbour, where the navy men were safely landed. The Success is badly damaged, and likely to become a total wreck.
Dundee Evening Telegraph - Thursday 14 January 1915
The following letters have been sent from the Admiral's Office, Rosyth:— To Provost Scott, Crail. —Dear Sir, —I request that you will convey to the inhabitants of Kingsbarns an expression of my gratitude for the great kindness shown to the officers and men of H.M.S. Success when she was wrecked St Andrews Bay on December 27, 1914. They appreciated very much indeed all that the inhabitants of Kingsbarns did for them. —Yours very truly, R. S. Lowry, Admiral.
The following letters have been sent from the Admiral's Office, Rosyth:— To Provost Scott, Crail. —Dear Sir, —I request that you will convey to the inhabitants of Kingsbarns an expression of my gratitude for the great kindness shown to the officers and men of H.M.S. Success when she was wrecked St Andrews Bay on December 27, 1914. They appreciated very much indeed all that the inhabitants of Kingsbarns did for them. —Yours very truly, R. S. Lowry, Admiral.
East of Fife Record - Thursday 18 February 1915
CRAIL. For Services Rendered.—Mr H. Birrell, Secretary of the local branch of the National Lifeboat Institution, has received the following letter from the secretary "Referring to my letter of the 14th ult., I have had the pleasure to forward you today a registered postal packet containing the Silver Medal of this institution, awarded by the Committee of Management to Coxswain Andrew Cunningham, in recognition of his gallant services to H.M.S. Success. I have also sent by railway a box containing the Vote of Thanks. inscribed on velum, and framed. I shall be much obliged if you will kindly cause this testimonial to be presented to Coxswain Cunningham, and furnish me with his acknowledgment in due course in order that I may lay it before the Committee of Management." The Medal and the Vote of Thanks, which will be publicly presented on an early date, can now be seen in the shop window of Mr R. Milne, jeweller, High Street.
CRAIL. For Services Rendered.—Mr H. Birrell, Secretary of the local branch of the National Lifeboat Institution, has received the following letter from the secretary "Referring to my letter of the 14th ult., I have had the pleasure to forward you today a registered postal packet containing the Silver Medal of this institution, awarded by the Committee of Management to Coxswain Andrew Cunningham, in recognition of his gallant services to H.M.S. Success. I have also sent by railway a box containing the Vote of Thanks. inscribed on velum, and framed. I shall be much obliged if you will kindly cause this testimonial to be presented to Coxswain Cunningham, and furnish me with his acknowledgment in due course in order that I may lay it before the Committee of Management." The Medal and the Vote of Thanks, which will be publicly presented on an early date, can now be seen in the shop window of Mr R. Milne, jeweller, High Street.
The Wreck
UKHO Wreck card 2991 was created in 1967 after an application to purchase the remains of HMS Success by a Mr Simpson. In 1981 Ian Whittaker, author of ''Off Scotland'' reported that only a part of the keel and prop shat remains but a report from 2004 states ''Not Located''.
Also see: https://www.scottishshipwrecks.com/hms-success/
Also see: https://www.scottishshipwrecks.com/hms-success/
