HMS Empress (1914)

For other ships of the same name, see HMS Empress.

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Career (United Kingdom)
Name:	HMS Empress
Builder:	William Denny and Brothers Dumbarton
Laid down:	1906
Launched:	13 April 1907
Acquired:	11 August 1914
Commissioned:	25 August 1914
Out of service:	November 1919
Fate:	Returned to owners November 1919
General characteristics
Displacement:	2540 tons normal
Length:	311 ft (95 m)
Beam:	40 ft (12 m)
Draught:	16 ft (4.9 m)
Propulsion:	3 Shaft Parsons Turbine 6000shp
Speed:	21 knots
Complement:	250
Armament:	2 x 4in (10.2 cm), 1 x 6pdr (57 mm)
Aircraft carried:	Six seaplanes

HMS Empress was a Royal Navy seaplane carrier that served during the First World War.

Built as a fast Cross-Channel steamer for the South East and Chatham Railway Co., HMS Empress was requisitioned by the Admiralty on 11 August 1914 and converted by Chatham Dockyard to carry and operate four seaplanes. Based at Harwich along with HMS Engadine and Riviera, aircraft from all three ships took part in the Cuxhaven Raid on hangars housing Zeppelin airships on Christmas Day 1914.

In 1915 HMS Empress relocated to Queenstown, before moving to the Mediterranean. She was returned to her owners in November 1919.

References

• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: the complete record of all fighting ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham. ISBN 9781861762818. OCLC 67375475. 
• Dittmar, F. J. & Colledge, J. J., "British Warships 1914-1919", (Ian Allen, London, 1972), ISBN 0-7110-0380-7
• Gray, Randal (ed), "Conway's All The Worlds Fighting Ships, 1906-1921", (Conway Maritime Press, London, 1985), ISBN 0-85177-245-5