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Cricket-class destroyer

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The Cricket class and following classes of coastal destroyers were a series of small torpedo boat destroyers (TBDs) intended to complement the Royal Navy's Tribal-class destroyers. The thirty-six vessels which broadly comprised this group actually consisted of several distinct classes, as each contractor built to their own designs, and even single contractor's designs evolved from year to year.

HMS Cricket
Class overview
NameCricket class and subsequent classes
BuildersJ S White, Thornycroft, Yarrow, Denny, Hawthorn Leslie, Palmer
Operators Royal Navy
Completed36
Lost6
Scrapped30

The first twelve vessels (comprising White's Cricket class, Thornycroft's Gadfly class and Yarrow's Mayfly class) were ordered in 1905 and launched in early 1906. In practice they were not strong enough for open ocean operations and were reclassified as 1st class torpedo boats. These first twelve had been given names but in October 1906 - after the first two vessels ran trials but before any had been delivered - all were then given the numbers TB 1 to TB 12 and their names were withdrawn.

The following two batches—each of twelve more boats, comprising TB 13 to TB 24 ordered under the 1906–07 Programme, and TB 25 to TB 36 under the 1907–08 Programme—were only ever given numbers and were on average 10 ft (3.0 m) longer. These were only ever classified as 1st class torpedo boats. The last boat was launched in 1909. Those that survived the war (six were wartime losses - four from the 1905-06 batch and two from the 1906-07 batch) were sold off from 1919 to 1921.

They were built by six different yards (thirteen by White at Cowes, nine by Thornycroft (five at Chiswick and four at Woolston, Hampshire), four each by Denny at Dumbarton and by Hawthorn Leslie at Hebburn, and three each by Yarrow at Cubitt Town and by Palmers at Jarrow).

The boats differed in detail as each shipbuilder was allowed to construct to their own design, and the designs were modified and enlarged for the later batches, but all had two funnels with one of the torpedo tubes on the stern. These vessels closely resembled the earliest 26-knotter TBDs of 1892–93, having 'turtle-back' forecastles and carried a similar armament.

By 1914 all boats were serving in North Sea Patrol Flotillas or the Nore Local Defence Flotilla. TB 4 and TB 24 won the Battle Honour Belgian Coast 1915. In 1918 the four Denny-built boats were sent to the Mediterranean: TB 17 and TB 18 served at Gibraltar, TB 29 and TB 30 at Malta, where these went to the breakers in 1919.

Cricket-class (TB.1 to TB.5 - J. S. White 1905–1906 programme)

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General characteristics
TB.1 to TB.5
TypeCoastal destroyer (from October 1906, 1st class torpedo boats)
Displacement
  • 247 t normal
  • ~272 t deep load
Length178 ft (54 m) overall, 175 ft (53 m) between perpendiculars
Beam17 ft 6 in (5.33 m)
Draught6 ft 1.5 in (1.867 m)
Propulsion2 Yarrow boilers, 3 Parsons turbines generating 3,600 shp (2,700 kW) on three shafts
Speed26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph)
Range21.7–37 t of oil
Complement39
Armament

J Samuel White's torpedo boats of the 1905–1906 shipbuilding programme were 178 feet 0 inches (54.25 m) long overall and 175 feet 0 inches (53.34 m) between perpendiculars, with a beam of 17 feet 6 inches (5.33 m) and a draught of 6 feet 1+1⁄2 inches (1.867 m). Displacement was 247 long tons (251 t) normal and 272 long tons (276 t) deep load.[1] The ships had turtleback[a] forecastles and two funnels. Two oil-fuelled Yarrow water-tube boilers fed steam to three-stage Parsons steam turbines, driving three propeller shafts.[3][4] The machinery was designed to give 3,600 shaft horsepower (2,700 kW), with a speed of 26 knots (30 mph; 48 km/h) specified.[5]

Armament consisted of two 12-pounder (76-mm) 12 cwt guns[b], and three 18-inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes (in three single mounts).[3][6] The ships had a crew of 39.[5]

Original
Name		 Number Builder Laid down Launched Completion Fate
1905–1906 Programme
Cricket TB 1 J. Samuel White 12 September 1905 23 January 1906 December 1906 Sold 7 October 1920 to Fowey Coaling & Ship Co.[7]
Dragonfly TB 2 J. Samuel White 15 September 1905 11 March 1906 January 1907 Sold 7 October 1920 to Thos. W. Ward[7]
Firefly TB 3 J. Samuel White 18 September 1905 1 September 1906 February 1907 Sold 7 October 1920 to Thos. W. Ward[7]
Sandfly TB 4 J. Samuel White 18 September 1905 30 October 1906 April 1907 Sold 7 October 1920 to Thos. W. Ward[7]
Wrecked 11 January 1921 on way to scrapping
Spider[8] TB 5 J. Samuel White 18 September 1905 15 December 1906 1907 Sold for scrapping 7 October 1920 to Thos. W. Ward.[7]

Gadfly-class (TB.6 to TB.10 - Thornycroft boats - 1905–1906 programme)

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General characteristics
TB.6 to TB.10
TypeCoastal destroyer (from October 1906, 1st Class torpedo boats)
Displacement
  • 244 t normal
  • ~268 t deep load
Length171 ft 6 in (52.27 m) overall, 166 ft 6 in (50.75 m) between perpendiculars
Beam17 ft 6 in (5.33 m)
Draught6 ft 4.5 in (1.943 m)
Propulsion2 Yarrow boilers, 3 Parsons turbines generating 3,750 shp (2,800 kW) on three shafts
Speed26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph)
Range21–35.6 t of oil
Complement39
Armament

Thornycroft's torpedo boats under the 1905–1906 programme were 171 feet 6 inches (52.27 m) long overall and 166 feet 6 inches (50.75 m) between perpendiculars, with a beam of 17 feet 6 inches (5.33 m) and a draught of 6 feet 4+1⁄2 inches (1.943 m). Displacement was 244 long tons (248 t) normal and 268 long tons (272 t) deep load.[1] As for the White-built boats, they had turtleback forecastles and two funnels. The machinery was similar, but was rated at 3,750 shaft horsepower (2,800 kW), with a speed of 26 knots (30 mph; 48 km/h) specified.[5] The ship's armament and crew was as the White-designed ships.

Original
Name		 Number Builder Laid down Launched Completion Fate
1905–1906 Programme
Gadfly TB 6 Thornycroft, Chiswick 1 September 1905 24 June 1906 December 1906 Sold 22 October 1920 to Stanlee, Dover[7]
Glowworm TB 7 Thornycroft, Chiswick 25 September 1905 20 December 1906 February 1907 Sold 9 May 1921 to Thos. W. Ward, Rainham[7]
Gnat TB 8 Thornycroft, Chiswick 4 October 1905 1 December 1906 March 1907 Sold 9 May 1921 to Thos. W. Ward, Rainham[7]
Grasshopper TB 9 Thornycroft, Chiswick 1 November 1905 18 March 1907 June 1907 Sank following collision in North Sea, 26 July 1916[9]
Greenfly TB 10 Thornycroft, Chiswick 2 November 1905 15 February 1907 May 1907 Mined in North Sea, 10 June 1915[7]

Mayfly Class (TB.11 to TB.12)

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General characteristics
TB.11 and TB.12
TypeCoastal destroyer (from October 1906, 1st Class torpedo boats)
Displacement
  • 264 t normal
  • ~291 t deep load
Length175 ft 9 in (53.57 m) overall, 172 ft 0 in (52.43 m) between perpendiculars
Beam18 ft 0 in (5.49 m)
Draught5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) (trials)
Propulsion2 Yarrow boilers, 3 Parsons turbines generating 4,000 shp (3,000 kW) on three shafts
Speed27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph) (trials)
Range23.8–39.5 t of oil
Complement39
Armament
Original
Name		 Number Builder Laid down Launched Completion Fate
1905–1906 Programme
Mayfly TB 11 Yarrow 23 November 1905 29 January 1907 May 1907 Mined in North Sea, 17 March 1916[7]
Moth TB 12 Yarrow 23 November 1905 15 March 1907 May 1907 Mined in North Sea, 10 June 1915[7]

TB.13 Class (TB.13 to TB.16)

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General characteristics
TB.13 to TB.36
(average of six builders' designs)
Type1st class torpedo boats
Displacement
  • 256 t normal
  • ~306 t deep load
Length185 ft (56 m) overall, 177 ft (54 m) between perpendiculars
Beam18 ft 0 in (5.49 m)
Draught6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Propulsion2 Yarrow boilers, 3 Parsons turbines generating 4,000 shp (3,000 kW) on three shafts
Speed26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph)
Complement39
Armament
Notesbuilt by six different builders
Number Builder Laid down Launched Completion Fate
1906–1907 Programme
TB 13 J. Samuel White 14 March 1907 10 July 1907 May 1908 Sank following collision in North Sea, 26 January 1916[7]
TB 14 J. Samuel White 18 March 1907 26 September 1907 May 1908 Sold 7 October 1920 to Philip, Dartmouth[7]
TB 15 J. Samuel White 20 March 1907 19 November 1907 May 1908 Sold 7 October 1920 to Thos. W. Ward[7]
TB 16 J. Samuel White 12 July 1907 23 December 1907 July 1908 Sold 7 October 1920 to Thos. W. Ward[7]
TB 17 Denny 4 April 1907 21 December 1907 April 1908 Sold 1919 at Gibraltar[7]
TB 18 Denny 4 April 1907 15 February 1908 June 1908 Sold 1920 at Gibraltar[7]
TB 19 Thornycroft, Woolston 13 March 1907 7 December 1907 2 June 1908 Sold 9 May 1921 to Thos. W. Ward, Grays[7]
TB 20 Thornycroft, Woolston 20 March 1907 21 January 1908 19 August 1908 Sold 9 May 1921 to Thos. W. Ward[7]
TB 21 Hawthorn 7 May 1907 20 December 1907 March 1908 Sold 7 October 1920 to Maden & McKee[7]
TB 22 Hawthorn 7 May 1907 1 February 1908 March 1908 Sold 7 October 1920 to Maden & McKee[7]
TB 23 Yarrow 10 February 1907 5 December 1907 19 February 1908 Sold 9 May 1921 to Thos. W. Ward[7]
TB 24 Palmers 2 April 1907 19 March 1908 June 1908 Wrecked off Dover, 28 January 1917[7]
1907–1908 Programme
TB 25 J. Samuel White 30 December 1907 28 August 1908 22 January 1909 Sold 9 May 1921 to Thos. W. Ward, Grays[7]
TB 26 J. Samuel White 30 December 1907 28 August 1908 February 1909 Sold 9 May 1921 to Thos. W. Ward, Rainham[7]
TB 27 J. Samuel White 2 February 1908 29 September 1908 March 1909 Sold 9 May 1921 to Thos. W. Ward, Rainham[7]
TB 28 J. Samuel White 27 February 1908 29 October 1908 8 April 1909 Sold 9 May 1921 to Thos. W. Ward, Rainham[7]
TB 29 Denny 20 February 1908 29 September 1908 November 1909 Sold 28 November 1919 at Malta[7]
TB 30 Denny 20 February 1908 29 September 1908 January 1910 Sold 28 November 1919 at Malta[7]
TB 31 Thornycroft, Woolston 8 February 1908 10 October 1908 February 1910 Sold 9 May 1921 to Thos. W. Ward, Rainham[7]
TB 32 Thornycroft, Woolston 9 February 1908 23 November 1908 March 1910 Sold 9 May 1921 to Thos. W. Ward, Rainham[7]
TB 33 Hawthorn 17 January 1908 22 February 1909 June 1910 Sold 24 August 1922 to Cashmore, Newport[7]
TB 34 Hawthorn 7 February 1908 22 February 1909 August 1910 Sold 9 May 1921 to Thos. W. Ward, Rainham[7]
TB 35 Palmers 4 February 1908 19 April 1909 August 1910 Sold 24 August 1922 to Cashmore, Newport[7]
TB 36 Palmers 20 March 1908 6 May 1909 September 1910 Sold 9 May 1921 to Thos. W. Ward, Rainham[7]

Notes

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  1. ^ A fore deck with exaggerated camber designed to throw off sea water at high speeds.[2]
  2. ^ 12 cwt refers to the weight of the gun in hundredweights

Citations

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  1. ^ a b Friedman 2009, pp. 110, 294
  2. ^ Gardiner & Lambert 1992, p. 188
  3. ^ a b Gardiner & Gray 1985, pp. 72–73
  4. ^ Brown 2003, p. 195
  5. ^ a b c Friedman 2009, p. 294
  6. ^ Friedman 2009, pp. 110–111
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai Dittmar, F. J. and J. J. Colledge. "SHIPS OF THE ROYAL NAVY, 1914–1919 – in ALPHABETICAL ORDER (Part 2 of 2)", British Warships 1914–1919. Naval-history.net. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  8. ^ HMS Spider Archived June 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Moore 1997, p. 315.

References

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  • Brown, D. K. (2003). Warrior to Dreadnought: Warship Development 1860–1905. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 1-84067-5292.
  • Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-049-9.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
  • Hythe, Viscount, ed. (1912). The Naval Annual 1912. Portsmouth, UK: J. Griffin & Co.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Lambert, Andrew, eds. (1992). Steam, Steel & Shellfire: The Steam Warship 1815–1905. Conway's History of the Ship. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-564-0.
  • Moore, John (1990). Jane's Fighting Ships of World War I. London: Studio Editions. ISBN 1-85170-378-0.
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