HMS Hampshire ( 1903 ) HMS " Hampshire " was a " Devonshire " - class armoured cruiser of the Royal Navy . She was built by Armstrong Whitworth at Elswick on the River Tyne and commissioned in 1905 at a cost of £833 , 817 . " Hampshire " saw service during the First World War and was present at the Battle of Jutland in mid - 1916 . Several days later she was sailing to Russia , carrying the Secretary of State for War , Field Marshal Lord Kitchener , when she is believed to have struck a mine laid by a German submarine . She sank with heavy loss of life , including Kitchener and his staff . Rumours later circulated of German spies and sabotage being involved in the sinking . Her wreck is listed under the Protection of Military Remains Act , though part was later illegally salvaged . A number of films were made exploring the circumstances of her loss . Career . " Hampshire " was initially assigned to the Channel Fleet after her commissioning in 1905 . She spent 1911 in the Mediterranean , and was on the China Station between 1912 and 1914 . She joined the Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow to carry out patrol duties in 1915 , and fought at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916 . Last voyage and sinking . Immediately after the battle , she was directed to carry Lord Kitchener from Scapa Flow on a diplomatic mission to Russia via the port of Arkhangelsk . Due to the gale force conditions , it was decided that " Hampshire " would sail through the Pentland Firth , then turn north along the western coast of the Orkney Islands . This course would provide a lee from the strong winds , allowing escorting destroyers to keep pace with her . " Hampshire " departed Scapa Flow at 16 : 45 and about an hour later rendezvoused with her two escorts , the " Acasta " class destroyers HMS " Unity " and " Victor " . As the ships turned to the northwest the gale increased and shifted direction so that the ships were facing it head on . This caused the destroyers to fall behind " Hampshire " . As it was considered unlikely that enemy submarines would be active in such conditions , Captain Savill of the " Hampshire " ordered " Unity " and " Victor " to return to Scapa Flow . Sailing alone in heavy seas , " Hampshire " was approximately off the mainland of Orkney between Brough of Birsay and Marwick Head at 19 : 40 when an explosion occurred and she heeled to starboard . The detonation had holed the cruiser between bows and bridge , and the lifeboats were smashed against the side of the ship by the heavy seas when they were lowered . About 15 minutes after the explosion , " Hampshire " sank by the bows . Of over 600 personnel aboard , only 12 men on two Carley float s managed to reach the shore ; Kitchener and his staff were lost . Cause of sinking . It is believed that " Hampshire " struck one of several mines laid by the German minelaying submarine " U - 75 " on 28 May 1916 , just before the Battle of Jutland , in an effort to block one of Scapa Flow ' s exits . Fritz Joubert Duquesne , a Boer and German spy , claimed to have sabotaged and sunk " Hampshire " . Duquesne claimed to have assumed the identity of Russian Duke Boris Zakrevsky and joined Kitchener in Scotland . " En route " to Russia , Duquesne signalled a German U - boat to alert them that Kitchener ’ s ship was approaching . He then escaped on a raft just before " Hampshire " was destroyed . In the 1930s and ' 40s , he ran the famous " Duquesne Spy Ring " and was captured by the FBI along with 32 other Nazi agents in the largest espionage conviction in U . S . history . Location of wreck . The wreck was designated as a controlled site under the Protection of Military Remains Act . She lies in around of water off the north west coast of Orkney . In 1983 , one propeller and part of a drive shaft were illegally salvaged . The prop was later given to Lyness Museum , Orkney after protests . Media . The sinking of the ship and the events surrounding Kitchener ' s death are portrayed in the 1969 film " Fräulein Doktor " about a female spy , and the 1921 film " How Kitchener Was Betrayed " . The sinking is also central to one of the plots of Clive Cussler ' s book " Crescent Dawn " .