History | |
---|---|
United Kingdom | |
Name | HMS Morris |
Namesake | George Morris |
Ordered | May 1915 |
Builder | John Brown & Company, Clydebank |
Yard number | 428 |
Laid down | 26 March 1914 |
Launched | 19 November 1914 |
Completed | 31 December 1914 |
Out of service | 8 November 1921 |
Fate | Sold to be broken up |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Admiralty M-class destroyer |
Displacement |
|
Length | 273 ft 8 in (83.4 m) o/a |
Beam | 26 ft 9 in (8.2 m) |
Draught | 16 ft 3 in (4.95 m) |
Propulsion |
|
Speed | 34 knots (63.0 km/h; 39.1 mph) |
Range | 3,450 nmi (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
Complement | 76 |
Armament |
|
HMS Morris was an Admiralty M-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during the First World War. The M class were an improvement on the preceding L class, capable of higher speed. The ship, the only vessel to be named Morris to serve with the Royal Navy, was launched on 19 November 1914. Joining the Grand Fleet as part of a new flotilla, the destroyer was soon in action, serving as part of a destroyer screen during the Battle of Dogger Bank in January 1915 and an escort to the minelayer Princess Margaret during a skirmish with German torpedo boats eight months later. At the Battle of Jutland in 1916, the destroyer was a crucial part of the flotilla that drove the German torpedo boats away from the British battlecruisers. Morris received no hits during these confrontations. The destroyer assisted in the rescue of survivors from the R-class destroyer Simoom and the recovery of the damaged flotilla leader Botha in 1917. The ship also undertook general duties including escorting merchant ships, minelayers, monitors, and the seaplane carrier Vindex. After the armistice that ended the war, the destroyer was considered superfluous to requirements, Initially placed in reserve, Morris was decommissioned and, on 8 November 1921, sold to be broken up.
Morris was one of the initial six Admiralty M-class destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty in May 1915 as part of the 1913–14 Naval Programme, and one of the last destroyers to be ordered before the outbreak of the First World War. [1] The M-class was an improved version of the earlier L class, designed to reach a higher speed in order to counter rumoured German fast destroyers, although it transpired these vessels did not exist. Although envisioned to have a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph), they were eventually designed for a speed 2 knots (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph) slower. [2]
The destroyer was 273 feet 8 inches (83.41 m) long overall, with a beam of 26 feet 9 inches (8.15 m) and a draught of 16 feet 3 inches (4.95 m). Displacement was 860 long tons (870 t ) normal and 1,021 long tons (1,037 t) full load. [3] Power was provided by three Yarrow boilers feeding two Brown-Curtis steam turbines rated at 25,000 shaft horsepower (19,000 kW ) and driving two shafts, to give a design speed of 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph). [4] Three funnels were fitted and 296 long tons (301 t) of oil was carried, giving a design range of 3,450 nautical miles (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). [5]
Armament consisted of three 4-inch (102 mm) Mk IV QF guns on the ship's centreline, with one on the forecastle, one aft on a raised platform and one between the middle and aft funnels. A single 2-pounder (40 mm) pom-pom anti-aircraft gun was carried, while torpedo armament consisted of two twin mounts for 21 in (533 mm) torpedoes. [6] The ship had a complement of 76 officers and ratings. [5]
Morris was laid down by John Brown & Company of Clydebank on 26 March 1914 with the yard number 428, launched on 19 November and completed on 31 December. [3] The destroyer was the only vessel in the navy to be named after the naval officer George Morris, a commander of small ships between 1803 and 1812. [7] The ship was deployed as part of the Grand Fleet, joining the newly formed Tenth Destroyer Flotilla. [8]
On 23 January 1915, Morris was part of the destroyer escort for the battlecruisers of the First and Second Battlecruiser Squadrons at the Battle of Dogger Bank. [9] The British fleet encountered a substantial German force, which turned away. Morris and rest of the flotilla pursued the retreating warships. [10] However, the destroyers were unable to hold a speed ahead of the main fleet and so could not significantly influence the outcome of the battle. [11] Nine days later, the destroyer joined six others of the M class at Sheerness to escort the telegraph steamer Alert in laying a minefield off the French coast, leaving the operation on 9 February. [12] This was the first of a series of escorting duties. Morris formed part of the flotilla in escorting merchant ships between 1 and 10 June. [13] On 16 August, the ship joined eight other destroyers that escorted the minelayer Princess Margaret on a sortie from Sheerness. [14] During the night of the 17, the destroyer saw an attacking force of German torpedo boats, and turned to intercept them but lost sight before contact was made. [15] By October, the destroyer, along with the rest of the flotilla, had been transferred to the Harwich Force. [16]
The morning of 24 March 1916 found Morris escorting the seaplane carrier Vindex on an unsuccessful raid on Hoyer and Tondern. Two German armed trawlers were sunk in the action, but Morris came away unscathed. [17] At the Battle of Jutland on 31 May and 1 June, Morris, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Edward S. Graham, was attached to the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla, along with sister ship Moorsom, under the light cruiser Champion. [18] The destroyer was transferred from the Harwich Force to supplement the Grand Fleet, which had insufficient destroyers to shield both the First and Second Battlecruiser Squadrons. [19] The flotilla attacked the battlecruisers of the German High Seas Fleet after the destruction of the Indefatigable and Queen Mary. [20] The vessel became separated and, instead joined in a melee with German torpedo boats, led by V27. [21] After engaging with guns and driving away the smaller warships, the destroyer attempted to attack the German capital ships but could not get a clear torpedo shot. [22] On 23 July, the destroyer was on patrol in concert with two light cruisers and five destroyers when they encountered five torpedo boats of the German Second Flotilla. [23] The British fleet was, however, weakened and only one of the light cruisers could be brought to bear. Morris attacked with gunfire and drove away the German ships, which escaped under the cover of a smoke screen. [24]
On 22 January 1917, an intercepted German radio signal warned the British Admiralty that the German Sixth Torpedo Boat Flotilla was to be sent from the High Seas Fleet to reinforce their forces at Flanders. [25] On the following day the destroyer was part of a flotilla, which also included Manly, Mansfield, Matchless, Moorsum, Nimrod and Phoebe, were to patrol an area of the Schouwen Bank. [26] The force did not see the German ships; however, they did encounter another British contingent that did. [27] Morris, still commanded by Graham, approached Simoom, which had been damaged in the action, and rescued 50 survivors. After unsuccessfully attempting to tow the stricken destroyer, Morris was joined by Matchless, which sank the ship. [28]
Morris then joined the Dover Patrol, which had been recently equipped with thirteen monitors, forming part of the Sixth Destroyer Flotilla. [29] Initially, the destroyer was held in reserve. [30] However, this did not last long and, on 20 March, the destroyer accompanied the monitor Terror on an attack on German troops near Dunkirk. [31] The flotilla, led by the leader Botha, encountered seven torpedo boats of the German Navy, one of which, A7, was sunk. However, Botha was damaged and Morris towed the crippled ship back to safety. [32] On 11 May, the destroyer was part of the escort for the monitors Erebus, Marshal Soult, Sir John Moore and Terror in their bombardment of Ostend. [33] The operation was deemed a success as the Admiralty gained intelligence that the bombardment led to the German command doubting that Ostend was a safe haven for their warships. [34] The destroyer accompanied a subsequent attack on Zeebrugge by monitors on 24 April 1918, which also included the sinking of blockships to impede the flow of German submarines leaving the port. [35] The ship provided a similar service to the monitors that attacked Ostend on 9 May, which once again including Erebus, Sir John Moore and Terror. [36] Although the operation did not meet the expectations of the Admiralty and the port remained open, the bombardment was achieved without interference by enemy warships or loss of any British vessel. [37]
After the armistice, the Royal Navy returned to a peacetime level of mobilisation and Morris was declared superfluous to operational requirements. On 15 October 1919, the destroyer was given a reduced completement and placed in reserve at Devonport. [38] However, this did not last long and, after being decommissioned, on 8 November 1921, Morris was sold to Slough TC to be broken up. [39]
Pennant number | Date |
---|---|
HA3 | August 1915 [40] |
H85 | January 1918 [41] |
D35 | September 1918 [42] |
H47 | January 1919 [43] |
HMS Matchless was a Royal Navy Admiralty M-class destroyer. Matchless was built by Swan Hunter from 1913 to 1914 and was completed in December that year. She served through the remainder of the First World War, operating in the North Sea as part of the Harwich Force in the early part of the war and later in the English Channel as part of the Dover Patrol, where she took part in both the First and Second Ostend Raids. Despite being badly damaged by a German mine in 1915 and being involved in several collisions, she survived the war, and was sold for scrap in 1921.
HMS Milne was a Royal Navy Admiralty M-class destroyer. Milne was built by John Brown & Company from 1913 to 1914 and was completed in December that year. She served through the remainder of the First World War, at first with the Harwich Force with which she took part in the Battle of Dogger Bank in January 1915, and later with the Dover Patrol, sinking the German submarine UC-26 in May 1917. Milne was sold for scrap in 1921.
HMS Laurel was a Laforey-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy. Launched on 6 May 1913 as HMS Redgauntlet, the ship was renamed on 30 September under an Admiralty order to become one of the first alphabetical class destroyers. On commissioning, the vessel joined the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla and operated as part of the Harwich Force during the First World War. During Battle of Heligoland Bight, Laurel led a flotilla that pursued German torpedo boats, engaging with G194 and G196, and was damaged in action with the cruiser Mainz. The vessel also played a minor role in the Battles of Dogger Bank, Dover Strait and Jutland. With the cessation of hostilities, the ship was placed in reserve and scrapped on 1 November 1921.
HMS Lysander was a Laforey-class destroyer that served with the Royal Navy during the First World War. Launched in August 1913 as HMS Ulysses, the ship was renamed the following month under an Admiralty order to become one of the first in what would be the norm, a class of destroyers named after successive letters of the alphabet. On commissioning, the vessel joined the Third Destroyer Flotilla and operated as part of the Harwich Force. The destroyer took part in the Battle of Heligoland Bight in 1914, attacking the German light cruiser Mainz and escorted the seaplane carriers Engadine and Riviera in an abortive attempt to attack the Cuxhaven airship base. During 1915, Lysander undertook anti-submarine patrols and escorting duties, coming under fire from German shore-based batteries while accompanying the mine-laying paddle-steamers Prince of Wales and Queen Victoria off the coast of Ostend. In 1916, the destroyer was involved in action with German battlecruisers following the bombardment of Yarmouth and Lowestoft but escaped unharmed, and rescued the survivors from the Canadian hospital ship Llandovery Castle in 1918. With the cessation of hostilities, the ship was placed in reserve and sold to be broken up in June 1922.
HMS Llewellyn was a Laforey-class destroyer that served with the Royal Navy. Laid down on 14 December 1912 as HMS Picton, the ship was renamed on 30 September 1913 under an Admiralty order to become one of the first alphabetical class destroyers, being launched on 30 October. On commissioning, the vessel joined the Third Destroyer Flotilla and operated as part of the Harwich Force during the First World War. The destroyer took part in the Battle of Heligoland Bight, as well as undertaking anti-submarine patrols and escort duties. It was during one of these patrols on 4 December 1916 that the vessel unsuccessfully attacked the German submarine UB-18. On 17 March 1917, the destroyer was struck in the bow by a torpedo launched by a German torpedo boat while rescuing survivors from the sunk destroyer Paragon, but returned to port safely by steaming backwards. With the cessation of hostilities, the ship was placed in reserve. Although subsequently offered for sale to the Finnish Navy, Llewellyn was instead withdrawn from service and sold to be broken up on 18 March 1922.
HMS Lawford was a Laforey-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy. The Laforey class was the class of destroyers ordered under the Royal Navy's 1912–1913 construction programme, which were armed with three 4-inch (102 mm) guns and four torpedo tubes and were capable of 29 knots. The ship, which was originally to be named Ivanhoe but was renamed before launch, was built by the Scottish shipbuilder Fairfields between 1912 and 1914.
HMS Nicator was an Admiralty M-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during the First World War. The M class was an improvement on the preceding L class, capable of higher speed. Launched in February 1916, the destroyer fought in the Battle of Jutland between May and June 1916, operating in support of the British battlecruisers in their action against the German High Seas Fleet. Nicator claimed, along with sister ship Nestor, the destruction of a German torpedo boat, likely to be V27. The destroyer also attacked the German battlecruisers and battleships and, although no hits were recorded, kept the German ships from closing with the British. This was crucial to limiting losses to the British battlecruiser fleet. The vessel was subsequently fitted with paravanes for anti-submarine warfare. After the war, the destroyer was placed in reserve and subsequently sold to be broken up in May 1921.
HMS Obdurate was an Admiralty M-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during the First World War. The M class were an improvement on the previous L-class, capable of higher speed. Launched on 21 January 1916 by Scotts of Greenock, the vessel served as part of the Grand Fleet in the Battle of Jutland in May 1916. The destroyer formed part of the cover for the British battlecruisers and was involved in attacks on German battleships and destroyers, but recorded no hits. The destroyer was also part of attack by Zeppelin L 43 on Sydney and the distant cover for the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight, but received only minor damage from the German airship. After the armistice, Obdurate was assigned to the Local Defence Force at Nore and sold to be broken up on 9 May 1921.
HMS Pelican was a Admiralty M-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during the First World War. The M class were an improvement on the preceding L class, capable of higher speed. Launched on 18 March 1916, the vessel served with the Grand Fleet, taking part in significant actions on 19 August 1916 and 4 May 1917, as well as the fight between the British and German battlecruisers in the Battle of Jutland. The destroyer also undertook the other more general roles were typical of the type, including anti-submarine sweeps and escort duties for convoys. The destroyer had success driving away German submarines but did not sink any. After the end of the war, Pelican initially joined a Local Defence Flotilla but within a year had been placed in reserve and was subsequently sold to be broken up on 9 May 1921.
HMS Penn was a Repeat Admiralty M-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during the First World War. The M class were an improvement on the preceding L class, capable of higher speed. The ship was named after William Penn, the father of the founder of Pennsylvania. Launched on 8 April 1916, the vessel served with the Grand Fleet forming part of the screen for the dreadnought battleships of the 1st Battle Squadron and escorting the aircraft carrier Furious in battle. The destroyer participated in the Actions of 19 August 1916 and 16 October 1917, as well as forming part of the distant support during the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight. Penn was also instrumental in rescuing the survivors from the light cruiser Nottingham, sunk by a German submarine. After the Armistice that ended the war, the destroyer was placed in reserve and subsequently sold to be broken up on 9 May 1921.
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HMS Onslaught was a Admiralty M-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during the First World War. The M class were an improvement on the previous L-class, capable of higher speed. The vessel, launched in 1915, joined the Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla under the flotilla leader Faulknor. The ship saw action during the Battle of Jutland in May 1916, jointly sinking the German torpedo boat SMS V48 and launching the torpedo that sank the pre-dreadnought battleship Pommern, the only German battleship to be lost in the battle. Subsequently, the destroyer acted as an escort to other naval ships during the Action of 19 August 1916 and took part in anti-submarine operations. At the end of the war, Onslaught was withdrawn from service and, in 1921, sold to be broken up.
HMS Myngs was an Admiralty M-class destroyer which served in the Royal Navy during the First World War. The M-class ships were an improvement on those of the preceding L class, capable of higher speeds. Myngs, the first ship to enter Royal Navy service to be named after Vice-Admiral Sir Christopher Myngs, was launched in 1914. initially serving as part of the Grand Fleet, the vessel was involved in escorting troop ships like RMS Mauretania before being transferred to the Harwich Force in 1915. Placed within the Dover Patrol, the destroyer continued to operate as an escort, as well as taking part in sorties against German warships. The vessel formed part of the cover for monitors including Erebus and Terror for an attack on Zeebrugge in 1918. Towards the end of the war, Myngs sank the monitor Glatton, which was alight following an internal explosion, with a single torpedo. After the Armistice, the destroyer was placed in reserve and subsequently sold to be broken up in 1921.
HMS Lookout was a Laforey-class destroyer that served with the Royal Navy during the First World War. Laid down in 1912 as HMS Dragon, the ship was renamed in 1913 under an Admiralty order to become one of the first alphabetical class destroyers. Launched in 1914, Lookout joined the Harwich Force and participated in the Battle of Heligoland Bight, attacking the German light cruiser Strassburg with torpedoes, and the Battle of Dogger Bank. For much of the war, the ship acted as an escort for a wide range of ships, including the troopships carrying soldiers to serve in the Gallipoli campaign and the seaplane carriers Riviera and Vindex during an attack on the Zeppelin hangars at Zeebrugge. From 1917, the destroyer served as an escort to convoys of merchant ships. At the end of the war, the warship was placed in reserve. Although subsequently offered for sale to the Finnish Navy, Lookout was instead withdrawn from service and sold to be broken up in 1922.
HMS Munster was an Admiralty M-class destroyer which served in the Royal Navy during the First World War. The M class was an improvement on those of the preceding L class, capable of higher speed. Named after the Irish province of Munster, the destroyer was launched in 1915 and joined the Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet. In 1916, Munster rescued survivors from the armed merchantman Alcantara and then fought in the Battle of Jutland as part of the Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla. The flotilla sank the German torpedo boat V48. At the end of the battle, the destroyer returned to Scapa Flow undamaged. During the following year, the warship participated in the unsuccessful search for the armoured cruiser Hampshire and the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight. Neither led to the warship being involved in any action with the enemy. The destroyer finished the war with the Third Destroyer Flotilla. After the Armistice, Munster was placed in reserve before being sold to be broken up in 1921.
HMS Nepean was an Admiralty M-class destroyer which served in the Royal Navy during the First World War. The M class was an improvement on those of the preceding L class, capable of higher speed. The second Royal Navy vessel to be named after Sir Evan Nepean, and the first not in Australian service, the destroyer was launched in 1916 and joined the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet. In 1917, Nepean formed part of the escort for the light cruisers Dublin and Sydney when they were attacked by the Zeppelin L 43 and the First Battlecruiser Squadron during the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight. Neither led to the warship being involved in any action with the enemy. The destroyer finished the war with the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla. After the Armistice, Nepean was placed in reserve before being sold to be broken up in 1921.
HMS Milbrook was an Admiralty M-class destroyer which served in the Royal Navy during the First World War. The M class was an improvement on those of the preceding L class, capable of higher speed. The destroyer was launched in 1915 and joined the Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet. In 1916, Milbrook responded with the Grand Fleet to the bombardment of Yarmouth and Lowestoft and fought in the Battle of Jutland. During the following year, the warship was transferred to Buncrana to operate under the Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Ireland and, for the remainder of the war, the destroyer escorted convoys that were arriving and departing ports on the Clyde and Mersey to cross the Atlantic. In 1918, the ship was jointly responsible for the destruction of the German submarine UB-124. After the Armistice, Milbrook was placed in reserve before being sold to be broken up in 1921.
HMS Mansfield was a Hawthorn Leslie M-class destroyer that served in the Royal Navy during the First World War. The M class was an improvement on those of the preceding L class, capable of higher speed. Built by the Tyneside shipbuilder Hawthorn Leslie, the destroyer was launched in 1915 and joined the Harwich Force as an anti-submarine escort for merchant ships in the Southwest Approaches and English Channel. In between that service, in 1916, Mansfield accompanied the seaplane carrier Vindex on a seaplane raid on German Zeppelin sheds during which the destroyer assisted in the sinking of two German patrol boats. In 1918, the vessel supported attacks by British monitors and submarines against Zeebrugge and escorted Vindictive to Ostend where the retired protected cruiser was sunk as a blockship. After the Armistice, Mansfield was placed in reserve before being sold to be broken up in 1921.