HMS Narwhal (1915)

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History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Narwhal
Namesake Narwhal
OrderedFebruary 1915
Builder William Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton
Yard number1046
Laid down21 April 1915
Launched30 December 1915
Completed3 March 1916
FateSold to be broken up 1920
General characteristics
Class and type Admiralty M-class destroyer
Displacement
Length265 ft (80.8 m) (p.p.)
Beam26 ft 8 in (8.1 m)
Draught9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)
Installed power3 Yarrow boilers, 25,000  shp (19,000  kW)
Propulsion Parsons steam turbines, 3 shafts
Speed34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph)
Range3,450  nmi (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement76
Armament

HMS Narwhal 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 30 December 1915, the vessel fought in the Battle of Jutland between 31 May and 1 June 1916 and subsequently served in anti-submarine and escort duties based at Cobh in Ireland. During February 1917, the destroyer rescued the crew of the Q-ship Farnborough, which had sunk and been sunk by the German submarine SM U-83, and rescued the armed merchantman Cameronia from SM U-50, The destroyer was transferred to Devonport during 1918 and, after the end of the war, was broken up there in 1920 after suffering a fatal collision the year before.

Contents

Design and development

Narwhal was one of sixteen Admiralty M-class destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty in February 1915 as part of the Fourth War Construction Programme. [1] The M-class was an improved version of the earlier L-class destroyers, required to reach a higher speed in order to counter rumoured German fast destroyers. The remit was to have a maximum speed of 36 knots (67  km/h ; 41  mph ) and, although the eventual design did not achieve this, the greater performance was appreciated by the navy. It transpired that the German ships did not exist. [2]

The destroyer was 265 ft (80.8 m) long between perpendiculars, with a beam of 26 ft 8 in (8.1 m) and a draught of 9 ft 3 in (2.8 m). [3] Displacement was 994 long tons (1,010  t ) normal and 1,025 long tons (1,041 t) full load. [4] Power was provided by three Yarrow boilers feeding Parsons steam turbines rated at 25,000 shaft horsepower (19,000  kW ) and driving three shafts, to give a design speed of 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph). [3] The ship achieved 34.25 kn (63.43 km/h; 39.41 mph) during trials. [1] Three funnels were fitted. A fuel load of 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 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph). [5]

Armament consisted of three single QF 4-inch (100 mm) Mk IV 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. [6] Two single QF 2-pounder 40 mm (2 in) "pom-pom" anti-aircraft guns were carried, while torpedo armament consisted of two twin rotating mounts for 21 in (533 mm) torpedoes. [4] The ship had a complement of 76 officers and ratings. [5]

Construction and career

Narwhal was laid down by William Denny and Brothers of Dumbarton on 21 April 1915 with the yard number 1046, launched on 30 December and completed on 3 March the following year. [4] The ship was named after the toothed whale. [7] The vessel was deployed as part of the Grand Fleet, joining the Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla. [8]

Between 31 May and 1 June 1916, Narwhal sailed as part of the Flotilla, led by the flotilla leader HMS Faulknor to confront the German High Seas Fleet in the Battle of Jutland. [9] The ship managed to launch two torpedoes from her port side against the German Fleet, but both missed. [10]

In February 1917, the destroyer was transferred to Cobh, Ireland, to counter increasing activity by German submarines in the Southwest Approaches. [11] [12] The submarines had been very active and the Royal Navy had resorted to introducing Q-ships to try and ambush them. On 17 February, Narwhal was called upon to rescue the crew of one of these ships, HMS Farnborough, which was sunk by and sank SM U-83. [13] Nine days later, the ship chased away SM U-50 from attacking the armed merchantman Cameronia. [14] Escort duties continued, including accompanying convoys to Liverpool from 27 March. [15]

During 1918, Narwhal was transferred to Devonport as part of the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla. [16] After the Armistice of 11 November 1918 that ended the war, the destroyer remained in Devonport and, shortly afterwards, joined the local defence flotilla at the base. [17] Narwhal was damaged in a collision in 1919 and returned to Devonport to be broken up the following year. The vessel's name was subsequently used by two submarines that served with the Royal Navy. [18]

Pennant numbers

Pennant number Date
G47September 1915 [19]
G36January 1917 [20]
G35January 1918 [21]
H29June 1918 [22]
F91January 1919 [23]

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HMS <i>Opportune</i> (1915) British M-Class destroyer

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HMS <i>Mindful</i> (1915) British M-Class destroyer

HMS Mindful was a Admiralty M-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during the First World War. The M class destroyers 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 and helped sink the German torpedo boat SMS V48. In March 1917, the destroyer was involved in a friendly fire incident, nearly sinking the British submarine G12. In June that year, the vessel was involved in the sinking of the German merchant ship SS Gamma in Norwegian waters, which led to a diplomatic protest from the Norwegian government. At the end of the war, Mindful was withdrawn from service and, in 1921, sold to be broken up.

HMS <i>Minion</i> (1915) British M-Class destroyer

HMS Minion 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 speed. Minion was launched in 1915 and joined the Grand Fleet. The destroyer participated in the Battle of Jutland in 1916 as part of the Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla, particularly in the evening action between the light cruisers. During an anti-submarine patrol during the following year, the destroyer ran low on fuel. An attempt was made to refuel from the light cruiser Calliope, which was unsuccessful, leading to the patrol being curtailed. In 1918, the vessel was transferred to Devonport as part of the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla. After the Armistice, Minion was sold to be broken up in 1921.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 McBride 1991, p. 46.
  2. ↑ Friedman 2009, p. 132.
  3. 1 2 Parkes & Prendergast 1969, p. 109.
  4. 1 2 3 Lyon 1975, p. 702.
  5. 1 2 Friedman 2009, p. 296.
  6. ↑ Preston 1985, p. 79.
  7. ↑ Manning & Walker 1959, p. 310.
  8. ↑ "Destroyer Flotillas of the Grand Fleet". Supplement to the Monthly Navy List: 12. April 1916. Retrieved 4 February 2021– via National Library of Scotland.
  9. ↑ Corbett 1920, p. 432.
  10. ↑ Corbett 1920, p. 409.
  11. ↑ Naval Staff Monograph No. 34 1933, p. 182.
  12. ↑ "VI Coast of Ireland Station". Supplement to the Monthly Navy List: 17. July 1917. Retrieved 3 March 2022– via National Library of Scotland.
  13. ↑ Naval Staff Monograph No. 34 1933, p. 205.
  14. ↑ Naval Staff Monograph No. 34 1933, p. 211.
  15. ↑ Naval Staff Monograph No. 34 1933, p. 347.
  16. ↑ "VII Local Defence and Escort Flotilla". Supplement to the Monthly Navy List: 17. October 1918. Retrieved 4 February 2021– via National Library of Scotland.
  17. ↑ "III Local Defence and Trining Establishments". Supplement to the Monthly Navy List: 13. July 1919. Retrieved 30 August 2022– via National Library of Scotland.
  18. ↑ Colledge & Warlow 2006, p. 239.
  19. ↑ Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 64.
  20. ↑ Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 63.
  21. ↑ Dittmar & Colledge 1972, p. 66.
  22. ↑ Dittmar & Colledge 1972, p. 72.
  23. ↑ Dittmar & Colledge 1972, p. 52.

Bibliography

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  • Colledge, J.J.; Warlow, Ben (2006). Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of All Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy. London: Chatham Press. ISBN   978-1-93514-907-1.
  • Corbett, Julian S. (1920). Naval Operations: Volume III. History of the Great War. London: Longmans, Green and Co. OCLC   1049894619.
  • Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN   978-0-71100-380-4.
  • Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the First World War. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN   978-1-84832-049-9.
  • Lyon, David John (1975). The Denny List: Ship numbers 769-1273. London: National Maritime Museum. OCLC   256517657.
  • Manning, Thomas Davys; Walker, Charles Frederick (1959). British Warship Names. London: Putnam. OCLC   780274698.
  • McBride, Keith (1991). "British 'M' Class Destroyers of 1913–14". In Gardiner, Robert (ed.). Warship 1991. London: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 34–49. ISBN   0-85177-582-9.
  • Monograph No. 34: Home Waters Part VIII: December 1916 to April 1917. Naval Staff Monographs (Historical). Vol. VIII. Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division. 1933.
  • Parkes, Oscar; Prendergast, Maurice (1969). Jane's Fighting Ships 1919. Newton Abbott: David & Charles. OCLC   907574860.
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