HMS Onslaught (1915)

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History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Onslaught
OrderedNovember 1914
Builder Fairfield, Govan
Launched4 December 1915
Completed3 March 1916
Out of service30 October 1921
FateSold to be broken up
General characteristics
Class and type Admiralty M-class destroyer
Displacement
  • 950 long tons (970  t) normal
  • 1,021 long tons (1,037 t) full load
Length265 ft (80.77 m) p.p.
Beam26 ft 9 in (8.15 m)
Draught16 ft 3 in (4.95 m)
Installed power3 Yarrow boilers 25,000  shp (19,000  kW)
Propulsion2 Brown-Curtis steam turbines, 2 shafts
Speed34 knots (63.0 km/h; 39.1 mph)
Range3,450  nmi (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement76
Armament

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 At the end of the war, Onslaught was withdrawn from service and, in 1921, sold to be broken up.

Contents

Design and development

Onslaught was one of twenty-two Admiralty M-class destroyer destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty in November 1914 as part of the Third 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 feet (80.77 m) long between perpendiculars, with a beam of 26 feet 9 inches (8.15 m) and a draught of 16 feet 3 inches (4.95 m). Displacement was 950 long tons (970  t ) normal and 1,021 long tons (1,037 t) deep load. 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). [3] 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). [4]

Armament consisted of three single QF 4-inch (102 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. A single 2-pounder (40 mm) Mk II pom-pom anti-aircraft gun was carried, while torpedo armament consisted of two twin mounts for 21 in (533 mm) torpedoes. [5] The ship had a complement of 76 officers and ratings. [4]

Construction and career

Onslaught was launched by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company at their shipyard in Govan on the River Clyde on 4 December 1915 and completed on 3 March the following year. [3] This was the first time the name had been used in the Royal Navy. [6] The vessel was deployed as part of the Grand Fleet, joining the Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla under the flotilla leader Faulknor. [7] On 22 April, the destroyer operated with the light cruisers of the Grand Fleet off the Skegerrak. [8]

On 30 May 1916, the destroyer sailed with the Grand Fleet to confront the German High Seas Fleet in what would be the Battle of Jutland. [9] The destroyer formed part of the First Division of the Flotilla, led by Faulknor and also including sister ships Marvel, Mindful and Obedient. [10] The destroyer was deployed in action against the German light cruisers. [11] Shortly afterwards, the division saw the approaching line of the German Third Torpedo Boat Flotilla and attacked. The destroyer, along with the rest of the flotilla, sank the torpedo boat V48, previously disabled by the destroyer Shark. [12] As the battle closed, the flotilla spotted the retreating German line. The First Division was ordered to attack and use their superior speed to speed ahead of the German ships. [13] The destroyer attacked the German fleet, unleashing four torpedoes, at least one of which struck the pre-dreadnought battleship Pommern. [14] The torpedoes caused the 17 cm (6.7 in) magazines to detonate, sinking the ship with all hands. This was the only battleship sunk during the battle. [15] During the attack, a German shell had struck the destroyer's bridge, killing five crew. [16]

The destroyer subsequently participated in the Action of 19 August 1916 as an escort for the light cruiser Royalist. While escorting the cruiser to rendezvous with a major part of the Grand Fleet, the vessel was attacked by the German submarine UB-27, but the torpedo missed. [17] Onslaught subsequently also escorted the dreadnought battleship Iron Duke. [18] In 1917, the Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla was involved in anti-submarine operations, and for nine days from 15 June the destroyer was stationed off the north of Scotland. [19] [20] The operation did not lead to the destruction of any submarines and the Admiralty increasingly redeployed the destroyers of the Grand Fleet to escorting convoys. [21] During 1918, Onslaught was transferred to the Third Destroyer Flotilla. [22]

After the Armistice, the Royal Navy returned to a peacetime level of strength and both the number of ships and the amount of staff needed to be reduced to save money. [23] Onslaught was reduced to reserve on 17 October 1919. [24] [25] However, the harsh conditions of wartime service, exacerbated by the fact that the hull was not galvanised and operations often required high speed in high seas, meant that the destroyer was worn out and ready for retirement. [26] On 30 October 1921, the vessel was sold to W. & A.T. Burden and broken up. [27]

Pennant numbers

Pennant Number Date
G22September 1915 [28]
G40January 1918 [29]
G8AJune 1918 [30]
G32January 1919 [31]

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HMS <i>Pelican</i> (1916) British M-Class destroyer, WW1

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HMS <i>Penn</i> (1916) British M-Class destroyer, WW1

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HMS <i>Moorsom</i> (1914) British M-Class destroyer, WW1

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

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HMS <i>Morris</i> British M-Class destroyer

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HMS <i>Obedient</i> (1916) British M-Class destroyer

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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.

HMS <i>Munster</i> British M-Class destroyer

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

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

HMS Menace 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. Menace was launched in 1915 and joined the Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet. During the Battle of Jutland in 1916, the destroyer attacked battleships and light cruisers of the German High Seas Fleet but recorded no hits. The vessel subsequently participated in the unsuccessful search for the armoured cruiser Hampshire, lost along with the Secretary of State for War, Field Marshal Lord Kitchener. The destroyer ended the war with the Third Destroyer Flotilla. After the Armistice that ended the war, Menace was initially put in reserve until being sold in 1921 to be broken up.

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

HMS Nonsuch was a Repeat Admiralty 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. Originally laid down as HMS Narcissus but renamed before being launched in 1915, Nonsuch joined the Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet. During the Battle of Jutland in 1916, after being attacked by the light cruisers of the German High Seas Fleet, the warship rescued the damaged destroyer Acasta. The vessel formed part of the screen for the dreadnought battleships of the First Battle Squadron during the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight in 1917. In both actions, the destroyer reported no hits. After the Armistice that ended the war, Nonsuch was initially put in reserve and then sold in 1921 to be broken up.

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

HMS Noble was a Repeat Admiralty 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. Originally to be called Nisus, Noble was renamed before being launched in 1915. Joining the Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet, the vessel took part in the Battle of Jutland in 1916, during which the warship unsuccessfully attacked the light cruisers of the German High Seas Fleet. In 1917, the destroyer formed part of the screen for the dreadnought battleships of the First Battle Squadron during the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight but again reported no hits. After the Armistice that ended the war, Noble was initially put in reserve and then sold in 1921 to be broken up.

References

Citations

  1. ↑ McBride 1991, p. 34.
  2. ↑ Friedman 2009, p. 132.
  3. 1 2 Parkes & Prendergast 1969, p. 109.
  4. 1 2 Friedman 2009, p. 296.
  5. ↑ Preston 1985, p. 79.
  6. ↑ Manning & Walker 1959, p. 323.
  7. ↑ Naval Staff Monograph No. 32 1927, p. 45.
  8. ↑ Naval Staff Monograph No. 32 1927, p. 189.
  9. ↑ Brooks 2016, pp. 155.
  10. ↑ Brooks 2016, p. 337.
  11. ↑ Brooks 2016, p. 421.
  12. ↑ Jutland: Official Despatches 1920, pp. 331–332.
  13. ↑ Corbett 1920, p. 408.
  14. ↑ Campbell 1998, p. 311.
  15. ↑ Staff 2010, p. 13.
  16. ↑ Corbett 1920, pp. 409, 488.
  17. ↑ Naval Staff Monograph No. 33 1927, p. 98.
  18. ↑ Newbolt 1928, p. 84.
  19. ↑ Newbolt 1931, p. 55.
  20. ↑ "Destroyer Flotillas of the Grand Fleet", Supplement to The Monthly Navy List, p. 12, July 1917, retrieved 17 May 2022– via National Library of Scotland
  21. ↑ Newbolt 1928, p. 383.
  22. ↑ "Destroyer Flotillas of the Grand Fleet", Supplement to The Monthly Navy List, p. 12, January 1921, retrieved 17 May 2022– via National Library of Scotland
  23. ↑ Moretz 2002, p. 79.
  24. ↑ "IV. Vessels in Reserve at Home Ports and Other Bases", Supplement to The Monthly Navy List, p. 16, May 1919, retrieved 17 May 2022– via National Library of Scotland
  25. ↑ "631 Onslaught", The Monthly Navy List, p. 817, January 1921, retrieved 17 May 2022– via National Library of Scotland
  26. ↑ Preston 1985, p. 80.
  27. ↑ Colledge & Warlow 2006, p. 250.
  28. ↑ Dittmar & Colledge 1972, p. 65.
  29. ↑ Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 64.
  30. ↑ Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 68.
  31. ↑ Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 63.

Bibliography

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