HMS Bedford (1901)

HMS Bedford was a Monmouth-class armoured cruiser built for the Royal Navy in the early 1900s. She was one of ten ships in her class, designed for long-range patrols and colonial service. The Monmouth class was considered a compromise between size, speed, and armament, intended to be cheaper to build and operate than larger battleships.

Bedford was laid down at Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan, Scotland in February 1900, launched in August 1901, and commissioned in November 1902. Her armament typically consisted of fourteen 6-inch guns, along with a number of smaller quick-firing guns and torpedo tubes. She displaced approximately 9,800 tons and had a crew of around 678 officers and men.

Throughout her career, HMS Bedford served in various capacities, including postings to foreign stations. Her main duty was typical of cruisers of her time - patrolling and showing the flag in different parts of the British Empire.

In August 1910, while operating in the East Asian waters, HMS Bedford ran aground on a reef off the coast of Quelpart Island (present-day Jeju Island, South Korea) during heavy fog. The ship was deemed a total loss and was subsequently abandoned. Her crew were safely evacuated. The wreck of HMS Bedford remains a historical site.