HMS Hydra was one of 20 Acheron-class destroyers built for the Royal Navy in the 1910s. Completed in 1912, the ship participated in World War I and was sold for scrap in 1921.
.jpg) Hydra during World War I
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Hydra |
| Builder | John Brown & Company, Clydebank |
| Yard number | 406[1] |
| Laid down | 7 February 1911 |
| Launched | 19 February 1912 |
| Commissioned | June 1912 |
| Fate | Sold for scrap, 9 May 1921 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Acheron-class destroyer |
| Displacement | 778 long tons (790 t) |
| Length | 246 ft (75 m) |
| Beam | 25 ft 8 in (7.8 m) |
| Draught | 8 ft 9 in (2.7 m) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | 2 shafts; 1 steam turbine |
| Speed | 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph) |
| Range | 1,620 nmi (3,000 km; 1,860 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Complement | 70 |
| Armament |
|
Design and description
editThe Acheron class was a repeat of the preceding Acorn class. The Admiralty provided general specifications, but each shipyard did their own detailed design so that ships often varied in size.[2] The Acherons had an overall length of 246 feet (75 m), a beam of 23 feet 8 inches (7.2 m), and a draught of 8 feet 9 inches (2.7 m). The ships displaced 778 long tons (790 t) at deep load and their crew numbered 70 officers and ratings.[3]
Hydra was powered by a single Brown-Curtis steam turbine that drove both propeller shafts using steam provided by three Yarrow boilers. The engines developed a total of 13,500 shaft horsepower (10,100 kW) and were designed for a speed of 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph). The ship reached a speed of 28.1 knots (52.0 km/h; 32.3 mph) from 14,710 shp (10,970 kW) during her sea trials.[4] The Acherons had a range of 1,620 nautical miles (3,000 km; 1,860 mi) at a cruising speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).[3]
The primary armament of the ships consisted of a pair of BL 4-inch (102 mm) Mk VIII guns in single, unprotected pivot mounts fore and aft of the superstructure. They were also armed with two single QF 12-pounder (3-inch (76 mm)) guns, one on each broadside abreast the bridge. The destroyers were equipped with a pair of single rotating mounts for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes amidships and carried two reload torpedoes.[5]
Construction and career
editHydra was ordered under the 1910–1911 Naval Programme from John Brown & Company. The ship was laid down at the company's Clydebank shipyard on 7 February 1911, launched on 19 February 1912 and commissioned in June.[6]
The Battle of Dogger Bank
editHydra was with the First Destroyer Flotilla at the Battle of Dogger Bank[7] on 24 January 1915.
The Battle of Jutland
editShe was present at the Battle of Jutland[8] on 31 May 1916. Along with the rest of the flotilla, she was transferred to the 3rd Battle Squadron, based at Portsmouth.[9]
She collided with a merchant ship on the night of 11 February 1917 in the English Channel. The captain of Hydra was held liable for the collision because, although the other ship showed him a light, he did not perceive that it was on a crossing course.[10]
Mediterranean service
editFrom 1917 the Third Battle Squadron was deployed to the Mediterranean. Hydra was present at the entry of the Allied Fleet through the Dardanelles on 12 November 1918.[11] On 9 February 1921, Hydra collided with the Royal Navy torpedo boat Z 3 in the Weilingen Channel and sank. Z 3 rescued all 72 of Hydra′s crew.[12] The ship was sold on 9 May 1921 to Thos. W. Ward of Portishead for scrap.[13]
Pennant numbers
edit| Pennant Number[13] | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| H50 | 6 December 1914 | 1 January 1918 |
| H43 | 1 January 1918 | Early 1919 |
| H94 | Early 1919 | 9 May 1921 |
References
edit- ^ "HMS Hydra at the Clyde-built database". Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2009.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Gardiner & Gray, p. 75
- ^ a b Friedman, p. 295
- ^ March, pp. 116-109
- ^ Friedman, pp. 119, 295
- ^ Friedman, p. 306
- ^ "Battle of Dogger Bank - Order of Battle (World War 1 Naval Combat website)". Retrieved 8 March 2009.
- ^ "Battle of Jutland - Order of Battle (World War 1 Naval Combat website)". Retrieved 8 March 2009.
- ^ "HMS Hydra at Battleships-Cruisers website". Retrieved 27 February 2009.
- ^ "Combat Immunity and the Duty of Care - James Rowley judgement (extract)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2009.
- ^ S E Brooks. "The Entry of the Allied Fleet through the Dardanelles". Oxford University. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
- ^ "Warships in collision". The Times. No. 42643. London. 12 February 1921. col D, p. 9.
- ^ a b "Arrowsmith List: Royal Navy WWI Destroyer Pendant Numbers". Retrieved 1 July 2008.