HMS Pargust
Encyclopedia
HMS Pargust was a Royal Navy
warship that was active during World War I
.
She was a Special Service Vessel (also known as Q-ship
s) used by the RN in anti-submarine warfare.
Pargust was active in this role during the last two years of the war, and was successful on one occasion, destroying the U-boat UC-29.
In 1917 she was requisitioned by the Royal Navy for conversion into a special service vessel.
She was taken in hand at Cardiff
, and converted for her new role at Devonport
.
The collier was armed with five guns, a 4 in and four 12 pdr naval guns, and two torpedo tubes, all in concealed mountings. She was also fitted with a gun in plain sight; as many merchant ships were defensively armed by this stage of the war, Pargust would have looked suspicious without it. Q ship crews of this period had developed evolutions to give a half-hearted defence before abandoning ship, to reinforce the impression they were just helpless merchantmen.
She was manned with a volunteer crew and commanded by Cdr G Campbell, who transferred with his crew from Farnborough
, another Q ship. She was re-named Pargust and commissioned on 28 March 1917.
and was active on anti-submarine duties in the Southwest Approaches
On 7 June 1917 Pargust was on patrol west of Valentia Island
when she encountered UC-29, which had already sunk three ships in the area.
As Pargust approached the U-boat’s position UC 29 fired a torpedo which hit P in the engine room.
Campbell made no attempt to avoid this, as he was convinced the only way to allay the suspicions of a U-boat was to allow his ship to be torpedoed, relying on her buoyant cargo to keep her afloat, and obliging the U-boat to surface to finish her off with gun-fire. He had already employed this strategy with Farnborough, and would do so again, in one of the epic Q-ship actions, with Dunraven
.
Pargust was hit at 8 am; shortly after Campbell ordered his panic party out, a group masquerading as the merchant crew who abandoned ship in simulated disorder, to further persuade the U-boat that it was safe to approach.
The U-boat closed in at periscope depth, then circled Pargust and her boats in order to inspect her for any signs of concealed weapons. The U-boat then broke surface, intending to interrogate the boat crew, but the boat pulled away, around the steamer's stern, in order to bring the U–boat closer. This was successful, and at 8.36am, when UC-29 was just 50 yds distant, Campbell opened fire.
Pargust's gunners scored numerous hits on the U-boat, damaging the conning tower particularly, and the crew started to abandon ship, raising their hands in surrender. Campbell ordered cease-fire, at which UC-29 started to move away on the surface, into the surrounding mist. At this, and to prevent the U-boat escaping (Pargust was immobilized, and unable to pursue) Campbell commenced firing again, until 8.40 am when UC-29 blew up and sank. Just two of her crew were saved.
Pargust remained afloat, and was joined by the sloops Crocus and Zinnia, and the US destroyer Cushing
. Pargust's crew were transferred to Zinnia, and she was taken under tow; she was brought safely to Queenstown the following day.
In May 1918, and now re-named Pangloss, she was transferred to Gibraltar
. She joined a special service force based there for patrol work in the mid-Atlantic, where German U-cruisers were operating, and in the western Mediterranean
. However she saw no further action before the war ended in November 1918.
After this she was de-commissioned and returned to civilian service.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
warship that was active during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
She was a Special Service Vessel (also known as Q-ship
Q-ship
Q-ships, also known as Q-boats, Decoy Vessels, Special Service Ships, or Mystery Ships, were heavily armed merchant ships with concealed weaponry, designed to lure submarines into making surface attacks. This gave Q-ships the chance to open fire and sink them...
s) used by the RN in anti-submarine warfare.
Pargust was active in this role during the last two years of the war, and was successful on one occasion, destroying the U-boat UC-29.
Early career
Pargust was built in 1907 as a collier, and was originally named Vittoria. She had an uneventful peacetime career before the start of World War I.In 1917 she was requisitioned by the Royal Navy for conversion into a special service vessel.
She was taken in hand at Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, and converted for her new role at Devonport
HMNB Devonport
Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport , is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy . HMNB Devonport is located in Devonport, in the west of the city of Plymouth in Devon, England...
.
The collier was armed with five guns, a 4 in and four 12 pdr naval guns, and two torpedo tubes, all in concealed mountings. She was also fitted with a gun in plain sight; as many merchant ships were defensively armed by this stage of the war, Pargust would have looked suspicious without it. Q ship crews of this period had developed evolutions to give a half-hearted defence before abandoning ship, to reinforce the impression they were just helpless merchantmen.
She was manned with a volunteer crew and commanded by Cdr G Campbell, who transferred with his crew from Farnborough
HMS Farnborough
HMS Farnborough, also known as , was a Q-ship of the British Royal Navy that saw service in the First World War. Farnborough was a heavily armed merchant ship with concealed weaponry that was designed to lure submarines into making surface attacks. Farnborough sank two submarines in her service in...
, another Q ship. She was re-named Pargust and commissioned on 28 March 1917.
Service history
Pargust was assigned to special service duty and based at QueenstownCobh
Cobh is a seaport town on the south coast of County Cork, Ireland. Cobh is on the south side of Great Island in Cork Harbour. Facing the town are Spike Island and Haulbowline Island...
and was active on anti-submarine duties in the Southwest Approaches
Southwest Approaches
The Southwest Approaches is the name given to the offshore waters to the southwest of Great Britain. The area includes the Celtic Sea, the Bristol Channel and sea areas off southwest Ireland...
On 7 June 1917 Pargust was on patrol west of Valentia Island
Valentia Island
Valentia Island is one of Ireland's westernmost points, lying off the Iveragh Peninsula in the southwest of County Kerry, Ireland. It is linked to the mainland by the Maurice O'Neill Memorial bridge at Portmagee, as well as by a ferry which sails from Reenard Point to Knightstown, the island's...
when she encountered UC-29, which had already sunk three ships in the area.
As Pargust approached the U-boat’s position UC 29 fired a torpedo which hit P in the engine room.
Campbell made no attempt to avoid this, as he was convinced the only way to allay the suspicions of a U-boat was to allow his ship to be torpedoed, relying on her buoyant cargo to keep her afloat, and obliging the U-boat to surface to finish her off with gun-fire. He had already employed this strategy with Farnborough, and would do so again, in one of the epic Q-ship actions, with Dunraven
HMS Dunraven
HMS Dunraven was a Q-Ship of the Royal Navy during World War I.On 8 August 1917, 130 miles southwest of Ushant in the Bay of Biscay, disguised as the collier Boverton and commanded by Gordon Campbell, VC, Dunraven spotted , commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Reinhold Saltzwedel. Saltzwedel believed...
.
Pargust was hit at 8 am; shortly after Campbell ordered his panic party out, a group masquerading as the merchant crew who abandoned ship in simulated disorder, to further persuade the U-boat that it was safe to approach.
The U-boat closed in at periscope depth, then circled Pargust and her boats in order to inspect her for any signs of concealed weapons. The U-boat then broke surface, intending to interrogate the boat crew, but the boat pulled away, around the steamer's stern, in order to bring the U–boat closer. This was successful, and at 8.36am, when UC-29 was just 50 yds distant, Campbell opened fire.
Pargust's gunners scored numerous hits on the U-boat, damaging the conning tower particularly, and the crew started to abandon ship, raising their hands in surrender. Campbell ordered cease-fire, at which UC-29 started to move away on the surface, into the surrounding mist. At this, and to prevent the U-boat escaping (Pargust was immobilized, and unable to pursue) Campbell commenced firing again, until 8.40 am when UC-29 blew up and sank. Just two of her crew were saved.
Pargust remained afloat, and was joined by the sloops Crocus and Zinnia, and the US destroyer Cushing
USS Cushing (DD-55)
USS Cushing was an built for the United States Navy prior to the American entry into World War I. The ship was the second U.S. Navy vessel named in honor of William B. Cushing, a U.S...
. Pargust's crew were transferred to Zinnia, and she was taken under tow; she was brought safely to Queenstown the following day.
Later career
Pargust was moved to Devonport, for extensive repairs; she was still under repair in October 1917 when she was transferred to the US Navy. The USN was keen to take part in the anti-submarine special service operations, and had requested two Q-ships to be manned by US personnel. However Pargust's damage was more extensive than had been expected, and she not ready in time for operations with the Americans, so was returned to RN control.In May 1918, and now re-named Pangloss, she was transferred to Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
. She joined a special service force based there for patrol work in the mid-Atlantic, where German U-cruisers were operating, and in the western Mediterranean
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
. However she saw no further action before the war ended in November 1918.
After this she was de-commissioned and returned to civilian service.