Construction and service
Onslow was ordered under the Third War Programme in November 1914 and built by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company at Govan. The ship was launched on 15 February 1916 and completed in April 1916. [3] Her first commander was John Tovey, (later Admiral of the Fleet).
On 24 April 1916, the Easter Rising against British rule broke out in Ireland. Two infantry brigades were ordered from Liverpool to Dublin to reinforce the British forces, with Onslow escorting the transports carrying these troops. [4] She saw action at the Battle of Jutland and was badly damaged, with her speed reduced to 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). Tovey pressed home the attack against first a cruiser and then a line of battlecruisers. Onslow was brought back to Aberdeen despite the damage, having been towed out of action by the destroyer HMS Defender, under heavy fire. The report on the battle by Admiral Beatty stated that:
Defender, whose speed had been reduced to 10 knots, while on the disengaged side of the battle cruisers, was struck by a shell which damaged her foremost boiler, but closed Onslow and took her in tow. Shells were falling all round them during this operation, which, however, was successfully accomplished. During the heavy weather of the ensuing night the tow parted twice, but was resecured. The two struggled on together until 1pm 1st June, when Onslow was transferred to tugs. I consider the performances of these two destroyers to be gallant in the extreme, and I am recommending Lieutenant-Commander J. C. Tovey of Onslow, and Lieutenant Commander Palmer of Defender, for special recognition...
Both officers were awarded DSOs.
Onslow was sold for breaking up on 26 October 1921.
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United Kingdom