HMS Rosalind (1916)

Last updated

HMS Taurus (1917) IWM SP 1410.jpg
Sister ship HMS Taurus
History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgUnited Kingdom
NameRosalind
OrderedJuly 1915
Builder Thornycroft, Woolston, Southampton
Yard number850
Laid downOctober 1915
Launched14 October 1916
CommissionedDecember 1916
Decommissioned13 July 1926
Fate Broken up at Garston, Liverpool
General characteristics
Class and type R-class destroyer
Displacement1,037 long tons (1,054 t) standard 1,208 long tons (1,227 t) full
Length274 ft (83.5 m)
Beam27 ft 6 in (8.4 m)
Draught11 ft (3.4 m)
Propulsion
Speed35 kn (40 mph; 65 km/h)
Range3,450 nmi (6,390 km) at 20 kn (37 km/h)
Complement82
Armament

HMS Rosalind was an R-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy. The ship was launched by Thornycroft on 14 October 1916 as the first of five similar ships ordered from the yard. The design was used as the basis for five subsequent ships of the S-class also built by the company. Rosalind served as part of the Grand Fleet during the First World War, operating as an escort to other warships and in anti-submarine patrols alongside other destroyers. The vessel was sold to be broken up on 13 July 1926.

Contents

Design and development

Rosalind was the first of three R-class destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty from John I. Thornycroft & Company in July 1915 as part of the Sixth War Construction Programme. [1] The ships differed from the six preceding Thornycroft M-class built by the yard in having all geared turbines and the aft gun being raised on a bandstand. [2]

Rosalind had a long overall of 274 feet (84 m), with a beam of 27 feet 6 inches (8.38 m) and a draught of 11 feet (3.4 m). [3] Displacement was 1,037 long tons (1,054 t) normal and 1,208 long tons (1,227 t) full load. [4] Three Yarrow boilers fed steam to two sets of Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines rated at 29,000 shp (22,000 kW) and driving two shafts, giving a design speed of 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph), although the ship reached 37.09 knots (68.69 km/h; 42.68 mph) during trials. [2] Three funnels were fitted. A total of 296 long tons (301 t) of fuel oil was carried, giving a design range of 3,450 nautical miles (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph). [5]

Armament consisted of three QF 4in Mk IV guns on the ship's centreline, with one on the forecastle, one aft on a raised bandstand and one between the second and third funnels. [2] A single 2-pounder (40 mm) pom-pom anti-aircraft gun was carried, along with four 21 in (533 mm) torpedoes in two twin rotating mounts. [4] The vessel had a complement of 82 officers and ratings. [5]

Construction and career

Rosalind was laid down in October 1915 and launched on 14 October 1916. [4] On commissioning in December 1916, the ship joined the Grand Fleet, initially joining the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla. [6] However, within a month, Rosalind had moved and served until the end of the war as part of the Fifteenth Destroyer Flotilla. [7] Between 15 and 24 June 1917, the flotilla took part in anti-submarine patrols east of the Shetland Islands. Rosalind did not sight any submarines, but out of the 117 ships that sailed the route to and from Scandinavia, four were sunk during the operation. [8] On 2 August, the destroyer escorted the armoured cruisers Duke of Edinburgh and HMS Shannon off the coast of Scotland. [9] Rosalind was transferred to form part of the defence of the Irish Coast during December, serving in that capacity into 1918. [3]

Having been paid off earlier in the year, the vessel was re-commissioned on 15 December 1919, with a reduced complement. [10] [11] Rosalind subsequently formed part of the local defence flotilla for Portsmouth under the cruiser Dido. [12] However, in 1923, the Navy decided to systematically scrap many of the older destroyers in preparation for the introduction of newer and larger vessels. [13] Rosalind was one of those deemed to have reached the end of life and so was sold to King of Garston, Liverpool, to be broken up on 13 July 1926. [14]

Legacy

Rosalind was the prototype for not only three similar R class destroyers built by Thornycroft, but also the five S-class destroyers built by the same yard, including two that served with the Royal Canadian Navy. [15] These were termed Modified Rosalinds. [16] The name Rosalind was reused by the Shakespearian-class trawler HMT Rosalind that was a founding member of the Royal East African Navy. [17]

Pennant numbers

Pennant Number Date
G95January 1917 [18]
G89January 1918 [18]
D87January 1919 [19]
H77January 1922 [20]
G64August 1925 [21]

Related Research Articles

HMS <i>Taurus</i> (1917) Destroyer of the Royal Navy

HMS Taurus was an R-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during World War I. Ordered from Thornycroft in 1915 and launched in 1917, the vessel operated as part of the Harwich Force until the end of hostilities. Shortly after entering service, Taurus formed part of the destroyer shield for the Royal Navy's bombardment of Ostend that successfully sank the German destroyer S20. After the War, the destroyer was reduced to reserve and scrapped in 1930.

HMS <i>Teazer</i> (1917) Destroyer of the Royal Navy

HMS Teazer was an R-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during World War I. The destroyer was launched in April 1917 and, on trial, proved to be one of the fastest afloat, exceeding 40 knots. Attached to the Harwich Force, the ship had an uneventful wartime career. After the war, Teazer was kept in reserve until being sold to be broken up in 1931 following the signing of the London Naval Treaty that limited total destroyer tonnage.

HMS <i>Tirade</i> Destroyer of the Royal Navy

HMS Tirade was a modified Admiralty R-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy. The vessel was launched in 1917 at Greenock in Scotland and served with the Grand Fleet during World War I, sinking the minelaying submarine UC-55.

HMS <i>Rapid</i> (1916) Destroyer of the Royal Navy

HMS Rapid was a destroyer of the M class which served with the Royal Navy. Launched by Thornycroft on 15 July 1916 as the first of six similar ships, the destroyer served as part of the Grand Fleet during World War I. The design was used as the basis for the subsequent five ships of the R-class also built by the yard. Rapid served in escort and patrol roles, principally providing defence from submarines as part of the Grand Fleet until it was disbanded at the end of the War. After the end of hostilities, the vessel served in minor roles, including briefly as part of the Admiralty Compass Department, but was sold to be scrapped on 20 April 1927.

HMS <i>Ready</i> (1916) British naval vessel

HMS Ready was a destroyer of the M class which served with the Royal Navy. Launched by Thornycroft on 14 October 1916, the vessel was the one of two similar ships ordered as part of the Fifth War Construction Programme. They differed from the remainder of the M class in having more powerful engines. On commissioning, Ready operated within the Grand Fleet until it was disbanded at the end of the First World War. The vessel was credited with helping to sink a German Q-ship in 1917. After the war, the destroyer was initially transferred to HMNB Portsmouth, but was retired and sold to be broken up on 13 July 1926 after almost a decade of service as part of a preparation for a fleet of new destroyers.

HMS <i>Raider</i> (1916) British R-Class destroyer, WW1

HMS Raider was the second of a class of sixty two R-class destroyers operated by the Royal Navy. Launched on 17 July 1916, the vessel served with the Grand Fleet during World War I. The destroyer was built as part of the preceding M-class but was equipped with geared turbines which improved efficiency and increased range. The ship was involved in anti-submarine patrols, but did not sink any German submarines. After the war, the destroyer initially moved to Harwich and was briefly stationed in Ireland after the Irish Civil War. In 1923, the Navy decided to retire the older destroyers in the fleet and, although initially spared, Raider was decommissioned and sold to be broken up on 29 April 1927.

HMS <i>Sarpedon</i> (1916) Destroyer of the Royal Navy

HMS Sarpedon was an R-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy. he R class were a development of the preceding M-class, but differed in having geared turbines and other design changes. Launched in June 1916, the vessel escorted convoys that sailed between Scotland and Scandinavia in the First World War. After the war, the ship was allocated to local defence at Nore. However, in 1923, the Navy decided to retire many of the older vessels and Sarpedon was retired and was sold to be broken up on 23 June 1926.

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

HMS Nereus was a Admiralty M-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during the First World War. Launched on 24 February 1916, the vessel served with the Grand Fleet until the end of the conflict. The vessel operated as part for Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla in support of convoy operations. After the conflict, the destroyer was worn out by the demands of high speed operation in poor weather. Nereus was placed in reserve and subsequently sold for scrap on 15 November 1921 after less than six years service.

HMS <i>Rigorous</i> (1916) Destroyer of the Royal Navy

HMS Rigorous was an R-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during World War I. Launched on 30 September 1916, the vessel operated as part of the Grand Fleet, operating as part of destroyer flotillas hunting German ships that were attacking convoys. One flotilla was successful in destroying a Q ship in 1917. After the War, the destroyer was given a reduced complement and was sold to be broken up on 5 November 1926.

HMS <i>Speedy</i> (1918)

HMS Speedy was an S-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during the First World War, Russian Civil War and the Greco-Turkish War. Speedy was one of a pair of destroyers ordered from Thornycroft with more powerful geared turbines and design changes like a raised forecastle that improved seakeeping. Launched on 1 June 1918, the vessel operated as part of the 12th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet for the last months the War. After the Armistice, the vessel joined the Mediterranean Fleet and took part in actions in the Black Sea and Sea of Marmara. It was during action there that the ship struck a tug on 24 September 1922. The collision sank the destroyer, killing ten sailors.

HMS <i>Tobago</i> (1918)

HMS Tobago was an S-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during the Greco-Turkish War. Launched by Thornycroft on 15 July 1918, the vessel followed a design typical of the yard by being faster than the majority of the class, and also had better seakeeping properties thanks to a raised forecastle. The destroyer operated as part of the Grand Fleet for the last few weeks of the First World War, and, after the Armistice, joined the Mediterranean Fleet based in Malta. While serving in off the coast of Turkey, the ship hit a mine on 15 July 1920, exactly two years after being launched. Despite the relative youth of the vessel, the damage was deemed irrepairable and so Tobago returned to Malta and was sold for scrap on 9 February 1922.

HMS <i>Tourmaline</i> (1919) British S-class destroyer

HMS Tourmaline was an S-class destroyer, which served with the Royal Navy during the Greco-Turkish War and the Russian Civil War. Tourmaline was one of three destroyers ordered from Thornycroft in June 1917 with more powerful geared turbines than the majority of the class as well as design changes that improved seakeeping. Launched on 19 April 1919, the vessel operated as part of the Fourth Destroyer Flotilla serving with the Atlantic and Mediterranean Fleets. After serving in the Black Sea and Sea of Marmara, during which sister ships Speedy and Tobago were lost, Tourmaline led the Gibraltar Local Defence Flotilla. The London Naval Treaty, signed 1930, required the retirement of some destroyers to meet the Royal Navy's tonnage requirement and Tourmaline was chosen for retirement. The destroyer was decommissioned on 28 November 1931 after 12 years of service and broken up.

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

HMS Medway 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 Laforey-class, capable of higher speed. Originally laid down as HMS Redwing by J. Samuel White at East Cowes on the Isle of Wight, the vessel was renamed before being launched on 8 March 1916. The vessel was allocated to the Grand Fleet and served in the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight in support of the First Light Cruiser Squadron in their action against German light cruisers and minesweepers. During the action, the ship did not record any hits. After the War, the destroyer was placed in reserve and subsequently sold to be broken up on 9 May 1921.

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

HMS Plover 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. Launched on 3 March 1916 by Hawthorn Leslie on the River Tyne, the vessel served as part of the Grand Fleet. Plover was based at Scapa Flow and took part in sorties in response to German submarine activity. After an uneventful war, the destroyer was placed in reserve and decommissioned, being sold to be broken up on 9 May 1921.

HMS <i>Narwhal</i> (1915) British M-Class destroyer, WW1

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.

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

HMS Paladin 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 destroyer, capable of higher speed. Launched on 27 March 1916. Paladin took part in the Royal Navy sorties against German minesweepers in 1917, which culminated in the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight on 17 November, although the destroyer did not engage with any enemy warships during the battle. After the end of the war, the ship was placed in reserve before being decommissioned and sold to be broken up on 9 May 1921.

HMS <i>Tara</i> (1918) S class destroyerI

HMS Tara was an S-class destroyer, which served with the Royal Navy. Launched on 7 August 1918, the vessel entered service at the closing of the First World War. The ship joined the Fourteenth Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet but was placed in Reserve at Nore in 1919. Tara deteriorated over the following years and was sold to be broken up on 17 December 1931 after the signing of the London Naval Treaty that limited the amount of destroyer tonnage the Navy could retain.

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

HMS Pelican 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 18 March 1916, the vessel served with the Grand Fleet, taking part in significant actions on 19 August 1916 and 4 May 1917, as well as the fight between the British and German battlecruisers in the Battle of Jutland. The destroyer also undertook the other more general roles were typical of the type, including anti-submarine sweeps and escort duties for convoys. The destroyer had success driving away German submarines but did not sink any. After the end of the war, Pelican initially joined a Local Defence Flotilla but within a year had been placed in reserve and was subsequently sold to be broken up on 9 May 1921.

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

HMS Mons was an Admiralty M-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during the First World War and fought in the Battle of Jutland. The M class was an improvement on the preceding L class, capable of higher speeds. The ship, the first British naval vessel to be named after the Battle of Mons, was launched on 1 May 1915. Joining the Grand Fleet as part of the new Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla, the destroyer was soon in action, taking part in patrols that aimed to draw out the German High Seas Fleet. During the Battle of Jutland in May and June 1916, Mons attacked the German light cruisers at the forefront of the German battleline but scored no hits. After the armistice, the destroyer was placed in reserve. Mons was found to be worn out by wartime operations and, despite only serving for six years, on 8 November 1921, was sold to be broken up.

HMS <i>Tancred</i> (1917) British R-Class destroyer, WW1

HMS Tancred was an R-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during the First World War. The R class were an improvement on the previous M class with geared steam turbines to improve efficiency. Launched by Beardmore of Dalmuir on 30 June 1917, Tancred initially joined the Grand Fleet, serving as part of a flotilla that took part in one of the last naval actions of the war, although in this case the British vessels did not engage with the German High Seas Fleet. After the signing of the Armistice that ended the war and the dissolution of the Grand Fleet, the destroyer was initially transferred to the Home Fleet. However, within a year, Tancred had been allocated to the local defence flotilla at Firth of Forth. Despite being at a reduced complement as an economy measure, further reductions in fleet costs meant that the destroyer was retired. On 17 May 1928, Tancred was sold to be broken up.

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Friedman 2009, p. 157.
  2. 1 2 3 Parkes & Prendegast 1919, p. 106.
  3. 1 2 Forward 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 Gardiner & Gray 1985, p. 81.
  5. 1 2 Friedman 2009, p. 310.
  6. ↑ "Destroyer Flotillas of the Grand Fleet", The Navy List: 12, December 1916 – via National Library of Scotland
  7. ↑ "Destroyer Flotillas of the Grand Fleet", The Navy List: 12, January 1917 – via National Library of Scotland
  8. ↑ Naval Staff Monograph No. 35 1939, pp. 167–168.
  9. ↑ Stagg 2015.
  10. ↑ "Ships Paid Off", The Navy List: 711, October 1919 – via National Library of Scotland
  11. ↑ "Rosalind", The Navy List: 867, January 1921 – via National Library of Scotland
  12. ↑ "Local Defence and Training Establishments, Patrol Flotillas, Etc", The Navy List: 704, January 1920 – via National Library of Scotland
  13. ↑ Friedman 2009, p. 187.
  14. ↑ Colledge & Warlow 2006, p. 345.
  15. ↑ March 1966, p. 217.
  16. ↑ Friedman 2009, p. 399.
  17. ↑ Gardiner & Chesneau 1980, p. 66.
  18. 1 2 Dittmar & Colledge 1972, p. 71.
  19. ↑ Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 41.
  20. ↑ Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 75.
  21. ↑ Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 66.

Bibliography

  • Bush, Steve; Warlow, Ben (2021). Pendant Numbers of the Royal Navy: A Complete History of the Allocation of Pendant Numbers to Royal Navy Warships & Auxiliaries. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN   978-1-526793-78-2.
  • Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006). Ships of the Royal Navy: A Complete Record of All Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy From the 15th Century to the Present. London: Chatham. ISBN   978-1-86176-281-8.
  • Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN   978-0-71100-380-4.
  • Forward, Raymond (2008). "12th December 1917 Royal Navy Ships". The Acorn Archive. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  • Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the First World War. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN   978-1-84832-049-9.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger, eds. (1980). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN   978-0-85177-146-5.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN   978-0-85177-245-5.
  • March, Edgar J. (1966). British Destroyers: A History of Development 1892–1953. London: Seeley Service & Co. OCLC   1894771.
  • Monograph No. 35: Home Waters Part IX: 1st May 1917 to 31st July 1917. Naval Staff Monographs (Historical). Vol. XIX. Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division. 1939.
  • Parkes, Oscar; Prendegast, Maurice (1919). Jane's Fighting Ships. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd.
  • Stagg, Howard, ed. (2015). "HMS COCHRANE – July 1917 to March 1918, North America and West Indies Station, North Atlantic convoys, North Russia". naval-history.net.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.