German news media claimed that a bomb dropped by a Zeppelin sank her, making her the first merchant ship to be sunk by aerial attack.

Irvin & Co built Rocklands as yard number 37 at West Hartlepool on the River Tees, launching her on 10 September 1881 and completing her that October.

[7] In August 1914 the United Kingdom entered the First World War, and the UK Admiralty seized Franz Fischer at Sharpness in Gloucestershire.

[9] On 31 January 1916 Franz Fischer left Hartlepool carrying a cargo of 1,020 tons of coal to Cowes in the Isle of Wight.

[8][10][11] On approaching the Kentish Knock lightvessel off the Essex coast at 9.30pm on 1 February, Franz Fischer was warned of German sea mines on the route ahead and her captain decided to join a group of vessels anchored for the night.

[8][12] Franz Fischer appeared only lightly damaged, but the crew prepared to lower her boats in case they had to abandon ship.

[8][15] The German news service the Wolffs Telegraphisches Bureau reported that the ship was sunk by a bomb from a Zeppelin returning from the 31 January – 1 February raid on the English Midlands.

[8] Franz Fischer's surviving crew reported hearing a mechanical noise to the southeast just before the explosion, and one described feeling that an aircraft was overhead, lending credence to the claim.