HMS Lancaster (1902)

HMS Lancaster (1902) was a Monmouth-class armoured cruiser built for the Royal Navy in the early 20th century. Part of the first group of armoured cruisers ordered after the Naval Defence Act of 1889, the Monmouth class was designed to protect British merchant shipping.

Lancaster was built by Armstrong Whitworth at Elswick and launched in 1902. She was commissioned in 1904 and served primarily on foreign stations throughout her career, including periods on the China Station and later in the Atlantic.

During World War I, Lancaster served with the 6th Cruiser Squadron on the South America Station. Her primary role was patrolling the South Atlantic and searching for German commerce raiders. In August 1914, she participated in the pursuit of the German light cruiser SMS Karlsruhe.

Lancaster continued to serve throughout the war, primarily on patrol duties. After the war, she was decommissioned and eventually sold for scrap in 1920. She was not involved in any major battles or engagements. She is remembered primarily for her role in patrolling trade routes during World War I. Her class was criticised for being under-armoured and relatively slow compared to some contemporary cruisers.