HMS Lorna was a British armed yacht with a rich service history spanning both World Wars, originally built as a luxury steam yacht in 1904. Constructed by Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company in Greenock, Scotland, she was initially named Beryl. The vessel’s design reflected her luxury origins, though specific dimensions are not detailed in the source. The yacht was commissioned by Wyndham Francis Cook, but after his death in 1905, she was purchased by John Burns, 1st Baron Inverclyde, and later by Samuel Morley, 1st Baron Hollenden, who renamed her Lorna in 1911. During World War I, HMS Lorna was requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted into an armed patrol vessel. She was equipped with two 6-pounder guns and depth charges, likely operating as a Group Leader within the Auxiliary Patrol in both home waters and the Mediterranean. Notably, on 26 May 1918, Lorna engaged a German U-boat off Portland Bill, which was later identified as SM UB-74. During this encounter, Lorna detected the submarine’s periscope at close range, approached to within ten yards, and dropped two depth charges, resulting in turbulence and debris. Unfortunately, some survivors in the water were inadvertently killed when Lorna dropped a third charge, with only one survivor dying later. This action marked a significant anti-submarine success for the vessel. After the war, she was returned to her owner in 1919. Requisitioned again in 1939 at the onset of World War II, Lorna served in the North Atlantic, armed with a 12-pounder gun, and later in Gibraltar as an officers’ mess. She was returned to her owner in 1943. In 1947, she was sold to Greek interests, converted into a passenger vessel and renamed Thessalia. Her subsequent reconstruction included a single diesel engine, and she was renamed Glaros in 1960. The vessel sank following a collision in Piraeus in 1966, was salvaged, and ultimately scrapped in Perama in 1968. HMS Lorna’s service highlights her adaptability—from luxury yacht to military patrol vessel, and later to civilian passenger service—underscoring her maritime significance across multiple eras.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.