Whilst acting as guard ship in the Downs, was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine at 12.10pm. The track of the torpedo was sighted before it struck, apparently having been fired from the direction of the South Sand Head. Just before 12.30pm the gunboat took on a heavy list then slowly turned over, her stern rising out of the water so that her propellers were easily seen from the shore, then sank bow first. The North Deal and Kingsdown lifeboats saved all of the crew, consisting of eight officers and 77 other ranks, landing 47 at Deal, the remainder being taken to Ramsgate on board tugs. The Admiralty later made grants available to the locals responsible for the rescue of the crew, and presented silver medals from a private subscribed fund. It was said that the last man to leave, a petty officer, at considerable risk to his life, took down the ship's ensign, determined that no German should get hold of it, and went ashore with it round his waist. Year Built: 1892 Builder: Vickers Propulsion: 2 x screw Armament: 2 x 4.7ins.; 4 x 3pdr.; 3 x TT. Owner: Royal Navy Master: Lieut Cdr A T Muir RN Crew: 85 Crew Lost: 0 Passengers: 0 Date of Loss Qualifier: A Additional sources cited in United Kingdom Shipwreck Index: MOD(N).Hyd.Wk.No.012304001; KCT.12-14.11.1914(R); DOD.1990 Ed. p505; SRN.Vol.1 p384

Vertical Datum: LAT Quality of Depth: SWD HMS NIGER was torpedoed and sunk while at anchor by German submarine U12 in 1914, See wreck in 51 13 10.0N, 001 26 33.0E.

23-MAR-1981 Considered to be separate "unknown" wreck close to JACOB LUCKENBACH.

11-NOV-1980 Examined in 51 13 12.0N, 001 26 29.0E. Swept clear at 9.9m. No foul obtained (wreck close SE fouled at 9.6m). Least echosounder depth 11.8 in general depth 14m. No scour. Side scan sonar height 2.2m, length 75m, beam 22m. Lying 040/220 degrees. Small piece of wreckage, height 1.8m, lies 15m NW of main wreck.

12-SEP-1984 Well broken up (East Kent Maritime Trust, 23-JUL-1984). (2)

<1> United Kingdom shipwreck index, Page Nos. N/a (Bibliographic reference). SKE6340.

<2> Hydrographic Office wreck index, Extracted 20-01-1993 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6339.