HMS Recruit (1916)

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History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgUnited Kingdom
NameRecruit
Builder William Doxford & Sons, Sunderland
Launched9 December 1916
CommissionedApril 1917
FateSunk by SM UB-16, 9 August 1917
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type R-class destroyer
Displacement1,072 long tons (1,089  t) (normal)
Length276 ft 1 in (84.2 m) (o/a)
Beam26 ft 9 in (8.2 m)
Draught9 ft (2.7 m)
Installed power
Propulsion2 Shafts; 1 geared steam turbine
Speed36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)
Range3,450  nmi (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement80
Armament

HMS Recruit was an R-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy during the First World War. She was sunk by a German U-boat four months after she was commissioned in April 1917.

Contents

Description

The Admiralty R class were enlarged versions of the preceding Admiralty M class fitted with geared steam turbines. [1] They displaced 1,072 long tons (1,089  t ) at normal load. The ships had an overall length of 276 feet 1 inch (84.2 m), a beam of 26 feet 9 inches (8.2 m) and a draught of 9 feet (2.7 m). Recruit was powered by a single Parsons geared steam turbine that drove two propeller shafts using steam provided by three Yarrow boilers. The turbines developed a total of 27,000 shaft horsepower (20,000  kW ) and gave a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). The ships carried a maximum of 245 long tons (249 t) of fuel oil that gave them a range of 3,450 nautical miles (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). The ships' complement was 80 officers and ratings. [2]

The Admiralty Rs were armed with three single QF 4-inch (102 mm) Mark IV guns. One gun was positioned on the forecastle; the second was on a platform between the funnels and the third at the stern. They were equipped with a single QF 2-pounder (40 mm (1.6 in)) "pom-pom" anti-aircraft gun, on a platform between the two rotating twin mounts for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes amidships. [3]

Construction and career

Recruit was ordered under the Sixth War Programme from William Doxford & Sons. The ship was laid down at the company's Sunderland shipyard at an unknown date, launched on 28 October 1916 and commissioned in April 1917. [4]

In May 1917 the vessel was assigned to the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla as part of the Harwich Force. [5] The destroyer was sunk by a torpedo from the submarine SM UB-16 on 9 August 1917 in the North Sea 3 nmi (5.6 km; 3.5 mi) north of the Noord Hinder lightvessel, with 53 crewmen lost. [6]

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References

  1. ↑ Gardiner & Gray, p. 76
  2. ↑ Friedman, p. 296
  3. ↑ Gardiner & Gray, p. 81; March, plate 23/A
  4. ↑ Friedman, p. 306
  5. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (May, 1917). p. 13.
  6. ↑ "HMS Recruit". U-boat.net. Retrieved 21 July 2020.

Bibliography

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