HMS Truant (1918)

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HMS Tara (1918) IWM SP 1415.jpg
Sister ship Tara in 1918
History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Truant
NamesakeTruant
OrderedJune 1917
Builder J. Samuel White], East Cowes
Yard number1513
Laid down14 February 1918
Launched18 September 1918
Completed17 March 1919
Out of service28 November 1931
FateSold to be broken up
General characteristics
Class and type S-class destroyer
Displacement
  • 1,075 long tons (1,092 t) normal
  • 1,220 long tons (1,240 t) deep load
Length265 ft (80.8 m) p.p.
Beam26 ft 8 in (8.13 m)
Draught9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) mean
Propulsion
Speed37 knots (42.6 mph; 68.5 km/h)
Range2,750  nmi (5,090 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h)
Complement90
Armament

HMS Truant was an S-class destroyer, which served with the Royal Navy. The vessel was the first of the name to enter service in the navy. Launched on 18 September 1918, Truant was too late to see service in the First World War, and, instead of joining the Grand Fleet, the vessel was allocated to Portsmouth to be a tender to HMS Victory. The vessel's subsequent time in service was relatively uneventful, despite gaining a reputation as the fastest destroyer in the fleet, capable of up to 37 knots (69 km/h; 43 mph). However, in 1921, the destroyer became the control ship for the radio-controlled target ship Agamemnon and, in 1923, a similar role with smaller Coastal Motor Boats. This service did not last long. The signing of the London Naval Treaty sounded the death knell for the ship as it limited the destroyer tonnage that the Royal Navy could operate. As newer and more powerful destroyers entered service, Truant was retired on 28 November 1931 and broken up.

Contents

Design and development

Truant was one of thirty-three Admiralty Sclass destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty in June 1917 as part of the Twelfth War Construction Programme. The design was a development of the Rclass introduced as a cheaper and faster alternative to the V and Wclass. [1] Differences with the R class were minor, such as having the searchlight moved aft. [2]

Truant had a overall length of 276 ft (84 m) and a length of 265 ft (81 m) between perpendiculars. Beam was 26 ft 8 in (8.13 m) and draught 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m). Displacement was 1,075 long tons (1,092  t ) normal and 1,220 long tons (1,240 t) deep load. Three White-Forster boilers were installed that fed steam to two sets of Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines rated at 27,000 shaft horsepower (20,000  kW ), driving two shafts and venting through two funnels. Design speed was 36 knots (67  km/h ; 41  mph ) at normal loading and 32.5 knots (60.2 km/h; 37.4 mph) at deep load. [3] The destroyer exceeded these speeds in service, gaining a reputation as the fastest destroyer in the Royal Navy, being capable of up to 37 knots (69 km/h; 43 mph). [4] A total of 301 long tons (306  t ) of fuel oil was carried, which gave a design range of 2,750 nautical miles (5,090 km; 3,160 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). [5] The ship had a complement of 90 officers and ratings. [6]

Armament consisted of three QF 4-inch (102 mm) Mk IV guns on the ship's centreline. [5] One was mounted raised on the forecastle, one between the funnels and one aft. [7] The ship also mounted a single 40-millimetre (1.6 in) 2-pounder pom-pom anti-aircraft gun for air defence. Four 21-inch (533 mm) tubes were fitted in two twin rotating mounts aft. [5] The ship was also equipped with two 18-inch (457 mm) torpedo tubes either side of the superstructure which were fired by the commanding officer using toggle ropes. [2] Fire control included a single Dumaresq and a Vickers range clock. [8]

Construction and career

Truant was laid down by J. Samuel White at East Cowes on the Isle of Wight with the yard number 1513 on 14 February 1918, and launched on 18 September the same year. [9] The ship was completed on 17 March the following year. [10] The vessel was the first to carry the name. [11] The destroyer was to join the Fourteenth Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet but the signing of the Armistice which ended the First World War meant the vessel saw no active service, instead being allocated as a tender to HMS Victory at Portsmouth. [12] The ship was given a reduced complement on 13 May 1919. [13]

In August 1921, Truant was converted to be the control ship for the radio-controlled target ship Agamemnon. The destroyer would typically follow the larger ship at a distance of about 1 mile (0.87 nmi; 1.6 km), sufficiently far not to be struck by a wayward shell but close enough to see the damage done. [14] In 1923, Truant served in the additional role of Signals School trials ship as well as working with smaller radio-controlled Coastal Motor Boats. However, this role did not last long, the destroyer being replaced as controller by sister ship Shikari within a few years. [4] On 22 April 1930, the United Kingdom signed the London Naval Treaty, which limited the total destroyer tonnage that the navy could operate. [15] As newer, larger and more powerful vessels were introduced, older destroyers like the S class were gradually retired. Truant remained in service until 28 November 1931 when the vessel was sold to Rees of Llanelly, and broken up. [16]

Pennant numbers

Penant numbers
Pennant number Date
G23March 1918 [17]
HAOUnknown [18]

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References

Citations

  1. ↑ Gardiner & Gray 1985, p. 85.
  2. 1 2 March 1966, p. 221.
  3. ↑ Friedman 2009, p. 297.
  4. 1 2 Kent 2004, p. 84.
  5. 1 2 3 Gardiner & Gray 1985, p. 84.
  6. ↑ Parkes & Prendergast 1969, p. 107.
  7. ↑ Friedman 2009, p. 163.
  8. ↑ "Fire Control in H.M. Ships". The Technical History and Index: Alteration in Armaments of H.M. Ships During the War. 3 (23): 31. 1919.
  9. ↑ Williams & Sprake 1993, p. 719.
  10. ↑ Williams & Sprake 1993, p. 36.
  11. ↑ Manning & Walker 1959, p. 452.
  12. ↑ "III Local Defence and Training Establishments". The Navy List: 13. July 1919. Retrieved 24 October 2021– via National Library of Scotland.
  13. ↑ "Truant". The Navy List: 877. October 1920. Retrieved 24 October 2021– via National Library of Scotland.
  14. ↑ Everett 2015, p. 129.
  15. ↑ Friedman 2009, p. 211.
  16. ↑ Colledge & Warlow 2006, p. 361.
  17. ↑ Dittmar & Colledge 1972, p. 75.
  18. ↑ Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 73.

Bibliography

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