HMS Isis (D87)

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HMS Isis FL14119.jpg
An aerial view of HMS Isis underway during the Second World War
History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgUnited Kingdom
NameIsis
Namesake Isis
Builder Yarrow Shipbuilders
Laid down6 February 1936
Launched12 November 1936
Commissioned2 June 1937
Identification Pennant number: D87, I87
FateSunk by a mine off Normandy, 20 July 1944
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type I-class destroyer
Displacement
Length323 ft (98.5 m)
Beam33 ft (10.1 m)
Draught12 ft 6 in (3.8 m)
Installed power
Propulsion2 shafts, 2 geared steam turbines
Speed35.5 knots (65.7 km/h; 40.9 mph)
Range5,500  nmi (10,200 km; 6,300 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement145
Sensors and
processing systems
ASDIC
Armament
Service record
Operations: Battle of Greece (1941)
Victories: Sank German submarine U-562 (1943)

HMS Isis was one of nine I-class destroyers built for the Royal Navy during the 1930s.

Contents

Description

The I-class ships were improved versions of the preceding H-class. They displaced 1,370 long tons (1,390  t ) at standard load and 1,888 long tons (1,918 t) at deep load. The ships had an overall length of 323 feet (98.5 m), a beam of 33 feet (10.1 m) and a draught of 12 feet 6 inches (3.8 m). They were powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by three Admiralty three-drum boilers. The turbines developed a total of 34,000 shaft horsepower (25,000  kW ) and were intended to give a maximum speed of 35.5 knots (65.7 km/h; 40.9 mph). [1] Isis reached a speed of 35.3 knots (65.4 km/h; 40.6 mph) from 33,849 shp (25,241 kW) during her sea trials. [2] The ships carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 5,500 nautical miles (10,200 km; 6,300 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). Their crew numbered 145 officers and ratings. [1]

The ships mounted four 4.7-inch (120 mm) Mark IX guns in single mounts, designated 'A', 'B', 'X' and 'Y' from bow to stern. For anti-aircraft (AA) defence, they had two quadruple mounts for the 0.5 inch Vickers Mark III machine gun. The I class was fitted with two above-water quintuple torpedo tube mounts amidships for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes. [3] One depth charge rack and two throwers were fitted; 16 depth charges were originally carried, [1] but this increased to 35 shortly after the war began. [4] The I-class ships were fitted with the ASDIC sound detection system to locate submarines underwater. [5]

Construction and career

Isis, named for the Egyptian goddess, was laid down by the Yarrow and Company, at Scotstoun in Glasgow on 6 February 1936, launched on 12 November 1936 and commissioned on 2 June 1937. Isis took part in the evacuation of Greece in April 1941. On 19 February 1943 she and the escort destroyer HMS Hursley and a Vickers Wellington medium bomber attacked and sank the German submarine U-562 in the Mediterranean Sea north-east of Benghazi.

Isis was hit in 1941 off Beirut, Lebanon after the Battle of Crete. She pursued two Vichy French destroyers which escaped. A Junkers Ju 88 aircraft then attacked and severely damaged her. Hero attempted to tow her to Haifa, Palestine. The tow rope snapped, however the engines were restarted and she successfully reached Haifa.

Isis struck a mine and sank on 20 July 1944 at the position 49°27′N0°41′W / 49.450°N 0.683°W / 49.450; -0.683 in channel 'T' off the western sector of the Normandy landing beaches. [6] [7] She was the last interwar standard destroyer lost in the war, with eleven officers and 143 ratings lost. [8]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Lenton, p. 161
  2. March, p. 315
  3. Whitley, p. 111
  4. English, p. 141
  5. Hodges & Friedman, p. 16
  6. HMS Isis (D 87) of the I class uboat.net
  7. HMS Isis - Casualty Search
  8. English, pp. 124–125

Bibliography

49°27′N0°41′W / 49.450°N 0.683°W / 49.450; -0.683

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