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1902 Aug? Battleship ?HMS ORION?, lay off Ardrossan Harbour.
Cruiser ?HMS Falmouth, lay off Saltcoats harbour, both on a courtesy visit to the towns
HMS Battleship ?ORION?
Lead ship of her class, and first Super Dreadnought.
L 581? B 88? D 24?? Steam Turbine?21 knots?
3 torpedo tubes.
Commissioned: January 1912
Press coverage:
War Ships at Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald
June 1912
Few local occurrences have excited so general an interest as did the arrival of warships at Ardrossan & Saltcoats on Friday last.
Some time ago the town councils of both burghs, made a suggestion to the Admiralty, through their respective Town Clerks, that the whole community would appreciate a visit by a representative vessel of the British Navy.
Arrangements were made whereby HMS ORION, the latest Super Dreadnoughts was sent to Ardrossan for the weekend, while HMS FALMOUTH, an armoured cruiser paid a visit to Saltcoats.
Both vessels arrived off the respective towns on Friday afternoon, and from both burghs, a deputation of the town council officials went aboard the vessels.
Extending a formal welcome to the ships companies, and to offer such privileges to officers and men as they had it in their power to give.
From Ardrossan, there went to the HMS ORION, Bailie McKellar, Bailie Flinn and Councillor Harvey, who were cordially received by Captain Arthur W Craig and his staff.
The members of the deputation, after an exchange of courtesies Bailie McKellar, having in eloquent terms expressed the pleasure of the people of Ardrossan,
at having such a vessel come to pay a visit.
The officers must have noticed that Ardrossan has the possibilities, such as are to be found at few towns.
A banquet was held and there after the officers were shown over the Burgh Chambers, all of them wee interested in the ancient stone coffin, which is a conspicuous object in the entrance hall
During their stay the officers and men took full advantage of the privileges extended to them, many of the former golfing, both on the Ardrossan, Saltcoats and on Ardeer courses.
This was followed by an amateur competition at the Crown Picture Palace, Ardrossan
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