HMS Falcon (1899)

HMS Falcon was a Fairfield three funnel, 30 knot destroyer ordered by the Royal Navy under the 1898 – 1899 Naval Estimates. She spent her life in Home waters, was part of the Dover Patrol during World War I and was lost in a collision on 1 April 1918.

Construction
She was laid down as yard number 412 on 26 June 1899 at the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company shipyard at Govan, Glasgow and launched on 29 December 1899. During her builder’s trials she made her contracted speed requirement. She was completed and accepted by the Royal Navy in December 1901.

Pre-War
After commissioning she was assigned to the Channel Fleet. She spent her operational career only in home waters operating with the Channel Fleet as part of the Devonport Flotilla.

On 30 August 1912 the Admiralty directed all destroyer classes were to be designated by alphabetic characters starting with the letter 'A'. Since her design speed was 30-knots and she had three funnels she was assigned to the C class. After 30 September 1913, she was known as an C-class destroyer and had the letter ‘C’ painted on the hull below the bridge area and on either the fore or aft funnel.

World War I
For the test mobilization in July 1914 she was assigned to the 6th Destroyer Flotilla based at Dover. While employed with the 6th Flotilla she conducted counter-mining patrols escorted merchant ships and patrolled in defence of the Dover Barrage.

On 28 October 1914, while on anti-submarine patrol off the Belgian Coast with Syren she came under heavy accurate artillery fire from the Westende battery. She remained on station and returned fire until hit by an 8-inch shell which killed 8 personnel including her commanding officer. She was brought into Dunkirk and repaired. She was awarded the battle honour "Belgian Coast 1914 – 17" for her service.

Fate
On 1 April 1918 she was lost in a collision with the armed trawler HMS John Fitzgerald.