Duke of Edinburgh Class armoured cruisers HMS Duke of Edinburgh and HMS Black Prince. Both Royal Navy armoured cruisers saw service during World War One.

HMS Black Prince  was built at the Thames Iron Works Blackwall, and laid down on the 3rd June 1903, launched 8th November 1904 and completed 17th March 1906.

HMS Duke of Edinburgh, built at Pembroke Dockyard and laid down on the 11th February 1903, launched 14th June 1904  and completed 20th January 1906.

These two armoured cruisers were part of the 1902 / 1903 Naval programme and had substantial changes in design to previous cruisers, they were the first cruisers designed under the direction of Phillip Watts.  Although they has variety of improvements they had one drawback being their ineffective secondary batteries, which reduced their value considerably and were not held in high esteem 

Both ships served with the 2nd Cruiser Squadron before transferring to the 1st Cruiser Squadron in 1907. Black Prince then transferred to the 5th squadron in the Atlantic Fleet from 1908-1912 and then to the 3rd squadron from 1912-13. While in the Red Sea she captured a German merchant vessel in 1914. Black Prince joined the Grand Fleet in December 1914 but was sunk by German battleships at Jutland on 31st May 1916 with the loss of all crew.

HMS Duke of Edinburgh also transferred to the 5th squadron from 1908-1912 and rescued the survivors of SS Delhi in December 1911. After joining the 3rd cruiser squadron in 1912-13 she then served with the 1st cruiser squadron of the Mediterranean Fleet from 1913-14. She helped to capture the German merchant ship with Black Prince and then went to the Persian Gulf in November 1914. She also saw action at Jutland with the Grand Fleet before joining the 2nd squadron in June 1916 and then escorted convoys in 1917. She was ordered to the American and West Indies Station in 1918 and returned to England in 1919 to be offered for sale in 1920.

HMS Duke of Edinburgh.

HMS Duke of Edinburgh, 1910.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here.  Order Code  XMP976

HMS Duke of Edinburgh, 1912.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here.  Order Code  XMP977

HMS Duke of Edinburgh.

HMS Duke of Edinburgh pictured c.1909.

HMS Duke of Edinburgh at anchor possibly near Weymouth

HMS Duke of Edinburgh pictured c.1909.

HMS Duke of Edinburgh possibly near Devonport

HMS Duke of Edinburgh pictured c.1906. 

HMS Duke of Edinburgh 

Naval Historians, Crew & Family Noticeboard

Duke of Edinburgh Class cruiser, Notice Board for naval enthusiasts and ex Crew families of Duke of Edinburgh Class cruisers. This website is not part of any governmental body or official websites of Duke of Edinburgh Class cruisers.

Photographs and information on historical events about HMS Argyll, HMS Antrim, HMS Black Prince or HMS Duke of Edinburgh requested for this new website. If you have any information you would like to send us including photographs of crew members serving on HMS Black Prince or HMS Duke of Edinburgh and also photographs of the ships please USE OUR MESSAGE FORM 

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HMS DUKE OF EDINBURGH

WALTER MANSFIELD... My father, Walter Mansfield, was a Stoker on HMS Duke of Edinburgh at the Battle of Jutland. Do you know of any way I could contact descendents of others who served on that ship?  contact here