HMS Menace was an Admiralty M-class destroyer which served in the Royal Navy during the First World War. The M class was an improvement on those of the preceding L class, capable of higher speed. Menace was launched in 1915 and joined the Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet. During the Battle of Jutland in 1916, the destroyer attacked battleships and light cruisers of the German High Seas Fleet but recorded no hits. The vessel subsequently participated in the unsuccessful search for the armoured cruiser Hampshire, lost along with the Secretary of State for War, Field Marshal Lord Kitchener. The destroyer ended the war with the Third Destroyer Flotilla. After the Armistice that ended the war, Menace was initially put in reserve until being sold in 1921 to be broken up.
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| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Menace |
| Ordered | September 1914 |
| Builder | Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend |
| Laid down | 17 November 1914 |
| Launched | 9 November 1915 |
| Completed | April 1916 |
| Out of service | 9 April 1921 |
| Fate | Sold to be broken up from 8 February 1924 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Admiralty M-class destroyer |
| Displacement | 971 long tons (987 t) (normal) |
| Length | |
| Beam | 26 ft 8 in (8.1 m) |
| Draught | 8 ft 11 in (2.7 m) |
| Installed power | 3 Yarrow boilers, 25,000 shp (19,000 kW) |
| Propulsion | Brown-Curtiss geared steam turbines, 3 shafts |
| Speed | 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph) |
| Range | 2,530 nmi (4,690 km; 2,910 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Complement | 80 |
| Armament |
|
Design and development
editMenace was one of the sixteen Admiralty M-class destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty in September 1914 as part of the First War Programme at the start of the First World War.[1] The M class was an improved version of the earlier L-class, required to reach a higher speed in order to counter rumoured new German fast destroyers. The remit was to have a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) although ultimately the destroyers fell short of that ambition in service. It transpired that the German warships did not exist, but the extra performance that Menace achieved was valued by the navy.[2]
The destroyer had a length of 265 ft (80.8 m) between perpendiculars and 273 ft 4 in (83.3 m) overall, with a beam of 26 ft 8 in (8.1 m) and draught of 8 ft 11 in (2.7 m). Displacement was 971 long tons (987 t) normal.[3] Power was provided by three Yarrow boilers feeding steam to Brown-Curtiss geared steam turbines rated at 23,000 shaft horsepower (17,000 kW), driving three shafts and exhausting through three funnels. Design speed was 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph).[4] A total of 228 long tons (232 t) of oil was carried. Design range was 2,530 nautical miles (4,690 km; 2,910 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph), but actual endurance in service was less; sister ship Murray had a range of 2,240 nautical miles (4,150 km; 2,580 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).[3]
Menace had a main armament consisting of three single QF 4-inch (102 mm) Mk IV guns on the centreline, with one on the forecastle, one aft on a raised platform and one between the middle and aft funnels. Torpedo armament consisted of two twin torpedo tubes for 21 in (533 mm) torpedoes located aft of the funnels.[5][6] Two single 1-pounder 37 mm (1.5 in) "pom-pom" anti-aircraft guns were carried.[7] The anti-aircraft guns were later replaced by 2-pdr 40 mm (1.6 in) "pom-pom" guns.[3] The ship had a complement of 80 officers and ratings.[7]
Construction and career
editLaid down by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson on 17 November 1914 at Wallsend, Menace was launched on 9 November the following year and completed six months later in April 1916.[8] The vessel was the first of the name in service with the Royal Navy and was deployed as part of the Grand Fleet, joining the Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla based at Scapa Flow.[9][10][11]
On 30 May, the destroyer sailed with the Grand Fleet to confront the German High Seas Fleet in what would be the Battle of Jutland, forming part of the Second Division of the Flotilla that included sister ship Nonsuch.[12] The vessel was deployed in action against the German light cruisers.[13] However, as the destroyers approached, the first division, already being attacked by enemy gunfire, turned into their path and so Menace had to manoeuvre out of the way.[14] The cruisers then pounced on Menace and Nonsuch, which were at the rear of the flotilla. The attack was so close that Menace narrowly avoided being rammed but escaped unharmed.[15] The flotilla then redeployed and, observing the battleships of the High Seas Fleet ahead, sped into action. In the ensuing fight, Menace made a series of unsuccessful attacks, although the pre-dreadnought Pommern was sunk by Onslaught.[16] It proved to be the final engagement of the battle.[17]
The flotilla returned to Scapa Flow on 2 June.[18] A few days later, Menace joined the unsuccessful search for the armoured cruiser Hampshire, sunk by a German mine off the coast of Mainland, Orkney.[19] Hampshire had been sailing to Russia without escort with the Secretary of State for War, Field Marshal Lord Kitchener, but had sunk after hitting a mine and only 13 individuals, which did not include the Secretary of State, survived.[20] The destroyer remained part of the Twelfth Destroyer Flotilla on 19 August.[21] The flotilla subsequently took part in a large exercise with other flotillas and fleets of the Grand Fleet, led by the dreadnought battleship Iron Duke, between 22 and 24 November.[22]
On 15 October 1917, Menace formed part of a large-scale operation, involving 30 cruisers and 54 destroyers deployed in eight groups across the North Sea in an attempt to stop a suspected sortie by German naval forces. The vessel, along with fellow destroyer Noble, was despatched from the flotilla to operate with the Third Light Cruiser Squadron.[23] Despite these measures, the German light cruisers Bremse and Brummer managed to attack the regular convoy between Norway and Britain two days later, sinking nine merchant ships and two destroyers, Mary Rose and Strongbow, before returning safely to Germany.[24] At the end of the war, Menace was part of the Third Destroyer Flotilla.[25]
After the Armistice that ended the war, the Royal Navy returned to a peacetime level of strength and both the number of ships and personnel needed to be reduced to save money.[26] The destroyer was transferred to reserve at Nore[27] However, the harsh conditions of wartime operations, exacerbated by the fact that the hull was not galvanised, meant that the ship was worn out.[28] Menace was retired, and, on 9 April 1921, was sold to Ward of Grays, and broken up from 8 February 1924.[29]
Pennant numbers
edit| Pennant number | Date |
|---|---|
| H7C | August 1915[30] |
| G30 | January 1918[31] |
| G6A | June 1918[32] |
| G34 | January 1919[31] |
References
editCitations
edit- ^ McBride 1991, p. 44.
- ^ Friedman 2009, p. 132.
- ^ a b c Friedman 2009, p. 296.
- ^ Parkes & Prendergast 1969, p. 109.
- ^ Preston 1985, pp. 76, 80.
- ^ March 1966, p. 174.
- ^ a b Preston 1985, p. 76.
- ^ Friedman 2009, p. 308.
- ^ Manning & Walker 1959, p. 294.
- ^ "Destroyer Flotillas of the Grand Fleet". Supplement to the Monthly Navy List: 12. April 1916. Retrieved 15 August 2023 – via National Library of Scotland.
- ^ Brooks 2016, p. 155.
- ^ Brooks 2016, pp. 417–419.
- ^ Brooks 2016, p. 422.
- ^ Corbett 1920, p. 404.
- ^ Corbett 1920, pp. 408–409.
- ^ Corbett 1920, p. 411.
- ^ Newbolt 1928, p. 1.
- ^ Newbolt 1931, p. 151.
- ^ Newbolt 1931, pp. 153–157.
- ^ "Destroyer Flotillas of the Grand Fleet". Supplement to the Monthly Navy List: 12. October 1918. Retrieved 15 August 2023 – via National Library of Scotland.
- ^ Moretz 2002, p. 79.
- ^ "V Vessels in Reserve at Home Ports and Other Bases". The Supplement to the Monthly Navy List: 16. July 1919. Retrieved 15 August 2023 – via National Library of Scotland.
- ^ Preston 1985, p. 80.
- ^ Colledge & Warlow 2006, p. 222.
- ^ Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 78.
- ^ a b Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 63.
- ^ Bush & Warlow 2021, p. 68.
Bibliography
edit- Brooks, John (2016). The Battle of Jutland. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-15014-0.
- 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, James Joseph; Warlow, Ben (2006). Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of All Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy. London: Chatham Press. ISBN 978-1-93514-907-1.
- Corbett, Julian S. (1920). Naval Operations: Volume III. History of the Great War. London: Longmans, Green and Co. OCLC 1049894619.
- Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the First World War. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-049-9.
- Manning, Thomas Davys; Walker, Charles Frederick (1959). British Warship Names. London: Putnam. OCLC 780274698.
- March, Edgar J. (1966). British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892–1953; Drawn by Admiralty Permission From Official Records & Returns, Ships' Covers & Building Plans. London: Seeley Service. OCLC 164893555.
- McBride, Keith (1991). "British 'M' Class Destroyers of 1913–14". In Gardiner, Robert (ed.). Warship 1991. London: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 34–49. ISBN 978-0-85177-582-1.
- Monograph No. 32: Lowestoft Raid: 24th – 25th April, 1916 (PDF). Naval Staff Monographs (Historical). Vol. XVI. The Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division. 1927.
- Monograph No. 33: Home Waters: Part VII: From June 1916 to November 1916 (PDF). Naval Staff Monographs (Historical). Vol. XVII. Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division. 1927.
- Moretz, Joseph (2002). The Royal Navy and the Capital Ship in the Interwar Period. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-71465-196-5.
- Newbolt, Henry (1928). Naval Operations: Volume IV. History of the Great War. London: Longmans, Green and Co. OCLC 1049894132.
- Newbolt, Henry (1931). Naval Operations: Volume V. History of the Great War. London: Longmans, Green and Co. OCLC 220475309.
- Parkes, Oscar; Prendergast, Maurice (1969). Jane's Fighting Ships 1919. Newton Abbott: David & Charles. OCLC 907574860.
- Preston, Antony (1985). "Great Britain and Empire Forces". In Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal (eds.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 1–104. ISBN 978-0-85177-245-5.