Difference between revisions of ""R" Class Destroyer (1916)"

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There was a mix of Admiralty design vessels (39) and a diverse set of builder's specials (12 ships).  Feedback on the performance of the early units led to the final 11 being adapted into the '''Modified "R" Class''', which had slightly different armament, a bridge placed further aft, and an altered arrangement of boiler rooms that permitted two of the the three funnels to be trunked together.{{Conways1906|pp. 76-77, 79-80}}
 
There was a mix of Admiralty design vessels (39) and a diverse set of builder's specials (12 ships).  Feedback on the performance of the early units led to the final 11 being adapted into the '''Modified "R" Class''', which had slightly different armament, a bridge placed further aft, and an altered arrangement of boiler rooms that permitted two of the the three funnels to be trunked together.{{Conways1906|pp. 76-77, 79-80}}
  
==Performance==
+
<div name=fredbot:ships>
The ships' capacity for 300 tons of fuel, delivered the following endurance.<ref>''Battlecruiser Force Signal Orders (1 August, 1918)'', {{TNA|ADM 137/2135}}</ref>
+
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" border=2 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 style="margin: 0 0 1em 0.5em; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse;" align=center;
 
+
===Admiralty R===
+
 
+
{|border=1
+
!Knots!!Tons / hour!! Endurance<br>(hours)!!radius (nm)
+
 
|-
 
|-
|14||1.7||170||2,380
+
! colspan=6 align=left|Overview of 62 vessels
 
|-
 
|-
|16||2.0||142||2,272
+
| colspan=6 align=left|<small>Citations for this data available on individual ship pages</small>
 
|-
 
|-
|18||2.6||110||1,980
+
! align=center | Name
|-
+
! align=center | Builder
|20||3.4||80||1,600
+
! align=center | Laid Down
|-
+
! align=center | Launched
|22||4.5||63||1,386
+
! align=center | Completed
|-
+
! align=center | Fate
|24||5.5||50||1,200
+
|- align=left
|-
+
| {{Template:UK-Radstock}}
|26||7.2||40||960
+
|[[Swan Hunter]]
|-
+
|
|28||9.0||30||840
+
|3 Jun, 1916
|-
+
|
|30||11.5||24||720
+
| 29 Apr, 1927
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Raider}}
 +
|[[Swan Hunter]]
 +
|
 +
|17 Jul, 1916
 +
|
 +
| 29 Apr, 1927
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Romola}}
 +
|[[John Brown & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|14 May, 1916
 +
|
 +
| 13 Mar, 1930
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Rowena}}
 +
|[[John Brown & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|1 Jul, 1916
 +
|
 +
|Handed over 21 Jul, 1937
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Restless}}
 +
|[[John Brown & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|12 Aug, 1916
 +
|
 +
|Handed over 23 Nov, 1936
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Rigorous}}
 +
|[[John Brown & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|30 Sep, 1916
 +
|
 +
| 5 Nov, 1926
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Rocket}}
 +
|[[William Denny & Brothers]]
 +
|
 +
|2 Jul, 1916
 +
|
 +
| 16 Dec, 1926
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-RobRoy}}
 +
|[[William Denny & Brothers]]
 +
|
 +
|28 Aug, 1916
 +
|
 +
| 13 Jul, 1926
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Redgauntlet}}
 +
|[[William Denny & Brothers]]
 +
|
 +
|23 Nov, 1916
 +
|
 +
| Jul, 1927
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Redoubt}}
 +
|[[William Doxford & Sons]]
 +
|
 +
|28 Oct, 1916
 +
|
 +
| 13 Jul, 1926
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Recruit}}
 +
|[[William Doxford & Sons]]
 +
|
 +
|9 Dec, 1916
 +
|
 +
|Mined 9 Aug, 1917
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-1Sturgeon}}
 +
|[[Alexander Stephen & Sons]]
 +
|
 +
|11 Jan, 1917
 +
|
 +
| 16 Dec, 1926
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-1Sceptre}}
 +
|[[Alexander Stephen & Sons]]
 +
|
 +
|18 Apr, 1917
 +
|
 +
| 16 Dec, 1926
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-1Salmon}}
 +
|[[Harland & Wolff]]
 +
|
 +
|7 Oct, 1916
 +
|
 +
|Handed over 28 Jan, 1937
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Sylph}}
 +
|[[Harland & Wolff]]
 +
|
 +
|15 Nov, 1916
 +
|
 +
| 16 Dec, 1926
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Sarpedon}}
 +
|[[Hawthorn Leslie & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|1 Jun, 1916
 +
|
 +
| 13 Jul, 1926
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Sable}}
 +
|[[J. Samuel White]]
 +
|
 +
|28 Jun, 1916
 +
|
 +
| Aug, 1927
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Setter}}
 +
|[[J. Samuel White]]
 +
|
 +
|18 Aug, 1916
 +
|
 +
|Collision 17 May, 1917
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Sorceress}}
 +
|[[Swan Hunter]]
 +
|
 +
|29 Aug, 1916
 +
|
 +
| 29 Apr, 1927
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-1Satyr}}
 +
|[[William Beardmore & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|27 Dec, 1916
 +
|
 +
| 16 Dec, 1926
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Sharpshooter}}
 +
|[[William Beardmore & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|27 Feb, 1917
 +
|
 +
| 29 Apr, 1927
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-2Simoom}}
 +
|[[John Brown & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|30 Oct, 1916
 +
|
 +
|Torpedoed 23 Jan, 1917
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Skate}}
 +
|[[John Brown & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|11 Jan, 1917
 +
|
 +
| 4 Mar, 1947
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-1Starfish}}
 +
|[[Hawthorn Leslie & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|27 Sep, 1916
 +
|
 +
| 21 Apr, 1928
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Stork}}
 +
|[[Hawthorn Leslie & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|15 Nov, 1916
 +
|
 +
| 7 Oct, 1927
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Skilful}}
 +
|[[Harland & Wolff]]
 +
|
 +
|3 Feb, 1917
 +
|
 +
| 13 Jul, 1926
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Springbok}}
 +
|[[Harland & Wolff]]
 +
|
 +
|9 Mar, 1917
 +
|
 +
| 16 Dec, 1926
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Tancred}}
 +
|[[William Beardmore & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|30 Jun, 1917
 +
|
 +
| 17 May, 1928
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Tarpon}}
 +
|[[John Brown & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|10 Mar, 1917
 +
|
 +
| 4 Aug, 1927
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Telemachus}}
 +
|[[John Brown & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|21 Apr, 1917
 +
|
 +
| 26 Jul, 1927
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Tempest}}
 +
|[[Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company]]
 +
|
 +
|26 Jan, 1917
 +
|
 +
|Handed over 28 Jan, 1937
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Tetrarch}}
 +
|[[Harland & Wolff]]
 +
|
 +
|20 Apr, 1917
 +
|
 +
| 28 Jul, 1934
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Tenacious}}
 +
|[[Harland & Wolff]]
 +
|
 +
|21 May, 1917
 +
|
 +
| 26 Jun, 1928
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Thisbe}}
 +
|[[Hawthorn Leslie & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|8 Mar, 1917
 +
|
 +
| 31 Aug, 1936
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Thruster}}
 +
|[[Hawthorn Leslie & Company]]/[[C. A. Parsons & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|10 Jan, 1917
 +
|
 +
| 1937
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Tormentor}}
 +
|[[Alexander Stephen & Sons]]
 +
|
 +
|22 May, 1917
 +
|
 +
| 19 Nov, 1929
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Tornado}}
 +
|[[Alexander Stephen & Sons]]
 +
|
 +
|4 Aug, 1917
 +
|
 +
|Mined 23 Dec, 1917
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Torrent}}
 +
|[[Swan Hunter]]
 +
|
 +
|26 Nov, 1916
 +
|
 +
|Mined 23 Dec, 1917
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Torrid}}
 +
|[[Swan Hunter]]
 +
|
 +
|10 Feb, 1917
 +
|
 +
|Handed over 27 Jan, 1937
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Rosalind}}
 +
|[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|14 Oct, 1916
 +
|
 +
| 13 Jul, 1926
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Radiant}}
 +
|[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|25 Nov, 1916
 +
|
 +
| 21 Jun, 1920
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Retriever}}
 +
|[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|15 Jan, 1917
 +
|
 +
| 26 Jul, 1927
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Taurus}}
 +
|[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|10 Mar, 1917
 +
|
 +
| 18 Feb, 1930
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Teazer}}
 +
|[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|21 Apr, 1917
 +
|
 +
| 6 Feb, 1931
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Sabrina}}
 +
|[[Yarrow & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|24 Jul, 1916
 +
|
 +
| 5 Nov, 1926
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-1Strongbow}}
 +
|[[Yarrow & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|30 Sep, 1916
 +
|
 +
|Sunk 17 Oct, 1917
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Surprise}}
 +
|[[Yarrow & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|25 Nov, 1916
 +
|
 +
|Mined 23 Dec, 1917
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Sybille}}
 +
|[[Yarrow & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|5 Feb, 1917
 +
|
 +
| 5 Nov, 1926
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Truculent}}
 +
|[[Yarrow & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|24 Mar, 1917
 +
|
 +
| 29 Apr, 1927
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Tyrant}}
 +
|[[Yarrow & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|19 May, 1917
 +
|
 +
| Apr, 1938
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Ulleswater}}
 +
|[[Yarrow & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|4 Aug, 1917
 +
|
 +
|Torpedoed 15 Aug, 1918
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Ulster}}
 +
|[[William Beardmore & Company]]
 +
|
 +
|10 Oct, 1917
 +
|
 +
| Apr, 1928
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Undine}}
 +
|[[Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company]]
 +
|
 +
|22 Mar, 1917
 +
|
 +
| Apr, 1928
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Tower}}
 +
|[[Swan Hunter]]
 +
|
 +
|5 Apr, 1917
 +
|
 +
| 17 May, 1928
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Trenchant}}
 +
|[[J. Samuel White]]
 +
|
 +
|23 Dec, 1917
 +
|
 +
| 15 Nov, 1928
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Tristram}}
 +
|[[J. Samuel White]]
 +
|
 +
|24 Feb, 1917
 +
|
 +
| 9 May, 1921
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Tirade}}
 +
|[[Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company]]
 +
|
 +
|21 Apr, 1917
 +
|
 +
| 15 Nov, 1921
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Ursula}}
 +
|[[Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company]]
 +
|
 +
|2 Aug, 1917
 +
|
 +
| 19 Nov, 1929
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Ulysses}}
 +
|[[William Doxford & Sons]]
 +
|
 +
|24 Mar, 1917
 +
|
 +
|Collision 29 Oct, 1918
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Umpire}}
 +
|[[William Doxford & Sons]]
 +
|
 +
|9 Jun, 1917
 +
|
 +
| 7 Jan, 1930
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Urchin}}
 +
|[[Palmer Shipbuilding and Iron Company]]
 +
|
 +
|7 Jun, 1917
 +
|
 +
| 7 Jan, 1930
 +
|- align=left
 +
| {{Template:UK-Ursa}}
 +
|[[Palmer Shipbuilding and Iron Company]]
 +
|
 +
|23 Jul, 1917
 +
|
 +
| 13 Jul, 1926
 
|}
 
|}
 +
</div name=fredbot:ships>
 +
==Performance==
 +
The ships' capacity for 300 tons of fuel, delivered the following endurance.<ref>''Battlecruiser Force Signal Orders (1 August, 1918)'', {{TNA|ADM 137/2135}}</ref>
  
===Modified "R"===
 
 
The Modified "R" delivered much the same endurance.  It's actually surprising that someone thought it worthwhile documenting them separately, given the variance between individual ships.
 
The Modified "R" delivered much the same endurance.  It's actually surprising that someone thought it worthwhile documenting them separately, given the variance between individual ships.
  
 
{|border=1
 
{|border=1
!Knots!!Tons / hour!! Endurance<br>(hours)!!radius (nm)
+
!Knots!!Tons / hour
 +
! Endurance<br>(hours)
 +
!radius (nm)
 +
|-
 +
|colspan=4 align=center|<small><small>Where Modified "R" differs, data<br>is displayed as "R" / Modified "R"</small></small>
 
|-
 
|-
 
|14||1.7||170||2,380
 
|14||1.7||170||2,380
Line 42: Line 470:
 
|18||2.6||110||1,980
 
|18||2.6||110||1,980
 
|-
 
|-
|20||3.6||80||1,600
+
|20||3.4/3.6||80||1,600
 
|-
 
|-
|22||4.4||64||1,408
+
|22||4.5/4.4||63/64||1,386/1,408
 
|-
 
|-
|24||5.8||50||1,200
+
|24||5.5/5.8||50||1,200
 
|-
 
|-
|26||7.5||38||988
+
|26||7.2/7.5||40/38||960/988
 
|-
 
|-
 
|28||9.0||30||840
 
|28||9.0||30||840
 
|-
 
|-
|30||11.0||26||780
+
|30||11.5/11.0||24/26||720/780
 
|}
 
|}
 
  
 
==Machinery==
 
==Machinery==
Line 63: Line 490:
  
 
===4-in Guns===
 
===4-in Guns===
Three 4-in Q.F. Mark IV guns on P. IX mountings, as in the preceding [["M" Class Destroyer (1914)#4-in Guns|"M" class destroyers]].
+
Modified "R" class (11 ships):
 
+
* three {{Gun|4-in Q.F. Mark V|UK}}s on {{Mount|C.P. III|UK}}s capable of 30 degree elevation, increasing extreme range by 20%.<ref>''Technical History and Index'', Vol 4, Part 34.  pp. 12-13.</ref>{{UKDirectorFiringDestroyers1918|p. 55}}
While the 51 "R" class ships had three 4-in Q.F. Mark IV guns on P. IX mountings as in the preceding [["M" Class Destroyer (1914)#4-in Guns|"M" class destroyers]], the eleven modified "R" class ships had three 4-in Q.F. Mark V guns on C.P. II mountings capable of 30 degree elevation, increasing extreme range by 20%.{{March|p. 190.  N.B.: ''Technical History and Index'', Vol 4, Part 34.  pp. 12-13. indicates the mountings were C.P. III}}
+
Others (51 ships):
 +
* three {{Gun|4-in Q.F. Mark IV|UK}}s on {{Mount|P. IX|UK}}s, as in the preceding [["M" Class Destroyer (1914)#4-in Guns|"M" class destroyers]].
  
 
===Other Guns===
 
===Other Guns===
Line 71: Line 499:
  
 
===Torpedoes===
 
===Torpedoes===
<!--
+
* two double revolving 21-in torpedo tubes on the centreline
As in the preceding class, they had two twin 21-in tubes on the centre line (4x2) enjoying 50 degree arcs centered on the beam.{{March|Plate 18/B}}
+
 
-->
+
These, along with those in {{UK-1Fearless}} may have been among the first A.W. tubes built with screw plugs to permit the alteration of range and depth and perhaps gyro angle to be adjusted, the stop and charging valve to be access, and the collision head to be filled while the torpedo was in the tube.{{ARTS1911|p. 48}}{{ARTS1912|p. 36}}
 +
 
 +
In 1917, at least some of these ships were using {{Torp|21-in Mark II***|UK}}es and {{Torp|21-in Mark II*****|UK}}es.{{ARTS1917|p. 61}}
 +
 
 +
In mid-1920, it was ordered that the "R" class should use {{Torp|21-in Mark II**|UK}}es through {{Torp|21-in Mark II*****|UK}}es.{{ARTS1920|pp. 6-7. (G. 10141/20-6.8.1920)}}
  
 
===Other Weapons===
 
===Other Weapons===
  
 
==Fire Control==
 
==Fire Control==
<!--
 
By 1915, at least, these ships also had fixed voice pipes installed between decks with the last lengths being flexible (one voice pipe for gunnery, one for torpedoes) fitted between bridge and guns, torpedo tubes, and searchlights.  A third voicepipe, entirely flexible, ran from bridge to the forward gun.<ref>''Manual of Gunnery, Vol. III., 1915.'', p. 150.</ref>
 
-->
 
<!--
 
===Instruments===
 
  
===Rangefinders===
+
===Mid-1916 Outfit===
 +
Experiments from February with two Grand Fleet destroyers employing [[Dumaresq|dumaresqs]] and [[Vickers Range Clock]]s and voicepipes showed definite advantages over ships using unaided spotting and voicepipes, even when the crews had no special training in the new equipment.  Tests were also conducted to find a rangefinder suitable to the lively and cramped platform that destroyers provided.  This led to an order on 3 April, 1916 that each T.B.D. of [["M" Class Destroyer (1914)|"M" class]] and later should be equipped with:{{UKTH23|p. 31}}{{UKProgressInNavalGunnery1914-1918|p. 35}}
 +
* one [[Waymouth-Cooke Rangefinder|Waymouth-Cooke sextant rangefinder]]
 +
* one [[Vickers Range Clock]]
 +
* one Dumaresq
 +
* range and deflection receivers at each gun
 +
 
 +
Two ratings, trained before coming aboard, were added to the crew to work the equipment.  The clocks and rangefinders were issued in the following three months, and the dumaresqs a few months later.  The data instruments did not become available in numbers until 1917.  By mid-1917, the whole system was broadly in place in the destroyers of the Grand Fleet and in the [[Harwich Force]].{{UKTH23|pp. 31, 32}}
  
 
===Directors===
 
===Directors===
 +
The first installations of the [[British Destroyer Director Firing System]] were being effected in May 1918.{{UKTH23|p. 12}}  The 1918 handbook on the destroyer directors indicates that these ships carried them.{{UKDirectorFiringDestroyers1918|p. 55}}
 +
 +
In 1918, it was ordered that those destroyers with director installations were to additionally receive:{{ARTS1918|p. 376. (C.I.O. 1081/18, G. 24486/15)}}
 +
* a voice pipe from {{TS}} to director
 +
* a fire gong at director worked from existing push in {{TS}}
 +
* a fire gong push on fore bridge to be added, wired in parallel to that in the {{TS}}
 +
* the repeat receivers on the fore bridge were to be positioned so as to be visible to the director sightsetter.
  
 
==Torpedo Control==
 
==Torpedo Control==
-->
+
[[File:ARTS1917Plate84.jpg|thumb|300px|'''Electrical Torpedo Control Instruments'''{{ARTS1917|Plate 84}}<br>found in most or all "R" class destroyers]]
 +
A single sighting position was located high up in the centre of the bridge, thus requiring only a single set of firing pushes or keys as well as keys for operating a buzzer at the forward torpedo mount and a rattler at the aft mount.{{ARTS1917|p. 211}}
 +
 
 +
The control position had a single Mark I deflection transmitter and separate order transmitters and keys for the forward and aft tubes.  Each torpedo mount had a combined receiver for these signals.{{ARTS1917|p. 211, Plate 84.  (C.I.O. 439/17.)}}
 +
 
 +
In 1921, it was approved that all "R" class destroyers should land their [[Torpedo Deflection Sight Mark II]]s so they could be replaced by replaced by [[Torpedo Deflection Sight Mark III]]s.{{ARTS1921|p. 137.  V.W.O. 11/21}}
 +
 
 
==Alterations==
 
==Alterations==
By November 1918, those ships operating with the [[Twentieth Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)|Twentieth Destroyer Flotillas]], {{UK-Telemachus}}, {{UK-Tarpon}} and {UK-Venturous}}, were fitted to carry 44 mines.  The torpedo tubes and guns removed when the mines were shipped could be placed back aboard with enough notice.{{ARTSMining1917-18|p. 11. Plate 7}}
+
By November 1918, those ships operating with the {{UK-DF|20}}, {{UK-Telemachus}}, {{UK-Tarpon}} and {{UK-Venturous}}, were fitted to carry 44 mines.  The torpedo tubes and guns removed when the mines were shipped could be placed back aboard with enough notice.{{ARTSMining1917-18|p. 11. Plate 7}}
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
{{WP|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R_class_destroyer_(1916)}}
+
{{refbegin}}
 +
{{WP|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R-class_destroyer_(1916)}}
 +
{{refend}}
  
 
==Footnotes==
 
==Footnotes==
Line 150: Line 599:
 
name=Romola
 
name=Romola
 
pend=G.83 (1916)<br>G.18 (Jan 1918)<br>G.15 (Apr 1918){{DittColl|p. 70}}
 
pend=G.83 (1916)<br>G.18 (Jan 1918)<br>G.15 (Apr 1918){{DittColl|p. 70}}
builder=[[John Brown]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
+
builder=[[John Brown & Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
 
order=Jul 1915 (6th Order){{Conways1906|p. 81}}{{March|p. 184}}
 
order=Jul 1915 (6th Order){{Conways1906|p. 81}}{{March|p. 184}}
 
laid=
 
laid=
Line 196: Line 645:
 
name=Rocket
 
name=Rocket
 
pend=G.82 (Jan 1917)<br>G.88 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 69}}
 
pend=G.82 (Jan 1917)<br>G.88 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 69}}
builder=[[Denny]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
+
builder=[[William Denny & Brothers]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
 
order="
 
order="
 
laid=
 
laid=
Line 229: Line 678:
 
name=Redoubt
 
name=Redoubt
 
pend=F.56 (Jan 1917)<br>F.57 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 69}}
 
pend=F.56 (Jan 1917)<br>F.57 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 69}}
builder=[[Doxford]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
+
builder=[[William Doxford & Sons]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
 
order="
 
order="
 
laid=
 
laid=
Line 253: Line 702:
 
name=Sturgeon
 
name=Sturgeon
 
pend=F.49 (Jan 1917)<br>G.17 (Jan 1918)<br>F.47 (Apr 1918){{DittColl|p. 70}}
 
pend=F.49 (Jan 1917)<br>G.17 (Jan 1918)<br>F.47 (Apr 1918){{DittColl|p. 70}}
builder=[[A. Stephen]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
+
builder=[[Alexander Stephen & Sons]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
 
order="
 
order="
 
laid=
 
laid=
Line 299: Line 748:
 
name=Sarpedon
 
name=Sarpedon
 
pend=G.19 (Jan 1917)<br>G.21 (Apr 1918)<br>G.14 (Sep 1918){{DittColl|p. 70}}
 
pend=G.19 (Jan 1917)<br>G.21 (Apr 1918)<br>G.14 (Sep 1918){{DittColl|p. 70}}
builder=[[Hawthorn Leslie]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
+
builder=[[Hawthorn Leslie & Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
 
order="
 
order="
 
laid=
 
laid=
Line 310: Line 759:
 
name=Sable
 
name=Sable
 
pend=G.91 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 70}}
 
pend=G.91 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 70}}
builder=[[J. S. White]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
+
builder=[[J. Samuel White]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
 
order="
 
order="
 
laid=
 
laid=
Line 345: Line 794:
 
name=Satyr
 
name=Satyr
 
pend=F.51 (Jan 1917)<br>F.59 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 70}}
 
pend=F.51 (Jan 1917)<br>F.59 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 70}}
builder=[[Beardmore]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
+
builder=[[William Beardmore & Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
 
order=Dec 1915 (7th Order){{Conways1906|p. 81}}{{March|p. 184}}
 
order=Dec 1915 (7th Order){{Conways1906|p. 81}}{{March|p. 184}}
 
laid=
 
laid=
Line 367: Line 816:
 
name=Simoom
 
name=Simoom
 
pend=F.57 (Jan 1917){{DittColl|p. 70}}
 
pend=F.57 (Jan 1917){{DittColl|p. 70}}
builder=[[John Brown]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
+
builder=[[John Brown & Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
 
order="
 
order="
 
laid=
 
laid=
Line 373: Line 822:
 
comm=
 
comm=
 
fate=Torpedoed
 
fate=Torpedoed
fate2=by {{DE-S.50}}
+
fate2=by {{DE-S50}}
 
fatedate=23 1 17{{DittColl|p. 70}}
 
fatedate=23 1 17{{DittColl|p. 70}}
 
}
 
}
Line 391: Line 840:
 
name=Starfish
 
name=Starfish
 
pend=F.60 (Jan 1917)<br>F.64 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 70}}
 
pend=F.60 (Jan 1917)<br>F.64 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 70}}
builder=[[Hawthorn Leslie]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
+
builder=[[Hawthorn Leslie & Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
 
order="
 
order="
 
laid=
 
laid=
Line 435: Line 884:
 
name=Tancred
 
name=Tancred
 
pend=F.85 (Jan 1917)<br>G.08 (Jan 1918)<br>G.07 (Apr 1918){{DittColl|p. 70}}
 
pend=F.85 (Jan 1917)<br>G.08 (Jan 1918)<br>G.07 (Apr 1918){{DittColl|p. 70}}
builder=[[Beardmore]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
+
builder=[[William Beardmore & Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
 
order=Mar 1916 (8th Order){{Conways1906|p. 81}}{{March|p. 184}}
 
order=Mar 1916 (8th Order){{Conways1906|p. 81}}{{March|p. 184}}
 
laid=
 
laid=
Line 447: Line 896:
 
name=Tarpon
 
name=Tarpon
 
pend=F.72 (Jan 1917)<br>F.22 (Jan 1918)<br>F.79 (Sep 1918){{DittColl|p. 70}}
 
pend=F.72 (Jan 1917)<br>F.22 (Jan 1918)<br>F.79 (Sep 1918){{DittColl|p. 70}}
builder=[[John Brown]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
+
builder=[[John Brown & Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
 
order="
 
order="
 
laid=
 
laid=
Line 469: Line 918:
 
name=Tempest
 
name=Tempest
 
pend=F.76 (Jan 1917)<br>F.72 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 70}}
 
pend=F.76 (Jan 1917)<br>F.72 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 70}}
builder=[[Fairfield]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
+
builder=[[Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
 
order="
 
order="
 
laid=
 
laid=
Line 503: Line 952:
 
name=Thisbe
 
name=Thisbe
 
pend=F.82 (Jan 1917)<br>F.75 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 70}}
 
pend=F.82 (Jan 1917)<br>F.75 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 70}}
builder=[[Hawthorn Leslie]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
+
builder=[[Hawthorn Leslie & Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
 
order="
 
order="
 
laid=
 
laid=
Line 514: Line 963:
 
name=Thruster
 
name=Thruster
 
pend=F.74 (Jan 1917)<br>F.76 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 70}}
 
pend=F.74 (Jan 1917)<br>F.76 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 70}}
builder=[[Hawthorn Leslie]]/[[Parsons]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
+
builder=[[Hawthorn Leslie & Company]]/[[C. A. Parsons & Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
 
order="
 
order="
 
laid=
 
laid=
Line 525: Line 974:
 
name=Tormentor
 
name=Tormentor
 
pend=F.68 (Jan 1917)<br>G.06 (Jan 1918)<br>G.11 (Apr 1918){{DittColl|p. 70}}
 
pend=F.68 (Jan 1917)<br>G.06 (Jan 1918)<br>G.11 (Apr 1918){{DittColl|p. 70}}
builder=[[A. Stephen]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
+
builder=[[Alexander Stephen & Sons]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
 
order="
 
order="
 
laid=
 
laid=
Line 580: Line 1,029:
 
name=Rosalind
 
name=Rosalind
 
pend=G.95 (Jan 1917)<br>G.89 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 71}}
 
pend=G.95 (Jan 1917)<br>G.89 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 71}}
builder=[[Thornycroft]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
+
builder=[[John I. Thornycroft & Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
 
order=July 1915 (6th Order){{Conways1906|p. 81}}{{March|p. 184}}
 
order=July 1915 (6th Order){{Conways1906|p. 81}}{{March|p. 184}}
 
laid=
 
laid=
Line 640: Line 1,089:
 
name=Sabrina
 
name=Sabrina
 
pend=G.79 (Jan 1917)<br>G.92 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 68}}
 
pend=G.79 (Jan 1917)<br>G.92 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 68}}
builder=[[Yarrow]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
+
builder=[[Yarrow & Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 81}}
 
order=July 1915 (6th Order){{Conways1906|p. 81}}{{March|p. 184}}
 
order=July 1915 (6th Order){{Conways1906|p. 81}}{{March|p. 184}}
 
laid=
 
laid=
Line 728: Line 1,177:
 
name=Ulster
 
name=Ulster
 
pend=F.91 (Jan 1917)<br>F.17 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 71}}
 
pend=F.91 (Jan 1917)<br>F.17 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 71}}
builder=[[Beardmore]]{{Conways1906|p. 82}}
+
builder=[[William Beardmore & Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 82}}
 
order=Mar 1916 (8th Order){{Conways1906|pp. 81-2}}{{March|p. 184}}
 
order=Mar 1916 (8th Order){{Conways1906|pp. 81-2}}{{March|p. 184}}
 
laid=
 
laid=
Line 739: Line 1,188:
 
name=Undine
 
name=Undine
 
pend=G.97 (Jan 1917)<br>G.79 (Apr 1918){{DittColl|p. 71}}
 
pend=G.97 (Jan 1917)<br>G.79 (Apr 1918){{DittColl|p. 71}}
builder=[[Fairfield]]{{Conways1906|p. 82}}
+
builder=[[Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 82}}
 
order="
 
order="
 
laid=
 
laid=
Line 762: Line 1,211:
 
name=Trenchant
 
name=Trenchant
 
pend=G.96 (Jan 1917)<br>G.78 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 71}}
 
pend=G.96 (Jan 1917)<br>G.78 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 71}}
builder=[[J. S. White]]{{Conways1906|p. 82}}
+
builder=[[J. Samuel White]]{{Conways1906|p. 82}}
 
order="
 
order="
 
laid=
 
laid=
Line 771: Line 1,220:
  
 
{ship
 
{ship
name=Tristam
+
name=Tristram
 
pend=F.89 (Jan 1917)<br>F.25 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 71}}
 
pend=F.89 (Jan 1917)<br>F.25 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 71}}
 
builder="
 
builder="
Line 784: Line 1,233:
 
name=Tirade
 
name=Tirade
 
pend=F.81 (Jan 1917)<br>G.80 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 71}}
 
pend=F.81 (Jan 1917)<br>G.80 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 71}}
builder=[[Scott]]{{Conways1906|p. 82}}
+
builder=[[Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 82}}
 
order="
 
order="
 
laid=
 
laid=
Line 806: Line 1,255:
 
name=Ulysses
 
name=Ulysses
 
pend=F.80 (Jan 1917)<br>G.96 (Jan 1918)<br>G.77 (Apr 1918){{DittColl|p. 71}}
 
pend=F.80 (Jan 1917)<br>G.96 (Jan 1918)<br>G.77 (Apr 1918){{DittColl|p. 71}}
builder=[[Doxford]]{{Conways1906|p. 82}}
+
builder=[[William Doxford & Sons]]{{Conways1906|p. 82}}
 
order="
 
order="
 
laid=
 
laid=
Line 830: Line 1,279:
 
name=Urchin
 
name=Urchin
 
pend=F.95 (Jan 1917)<br>F.04 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 71}}
 
pend=F.95 (Jan 1917)<br>F.04 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 71}}
builder=[[Palmer]]{{Conways1906|p. 82}}
+
builder=[[Palmer Shipbuilding and Iron Company]]{{Conways1906|p. 82}}
 
order="
 
order="
 
laid=
 
laid=
Line 852: Line 1,301:
  
 
data -->
 
data -->
 +
 +
[[Category:Featured Ship Classes]]

Latest revision as of 12:26, 25 April 2018

A total of 62 destroyers of the "R" Class were completed in 1916-1917 as part of the War Emergency Programme.

There was a mix of Admiralty design vessels (39) and a diverse set of builder's specials (12 ships). Feedback on the performance of the early units led to the final 11 being adapted into the Modified "R" Class, which had slightly different armament, a bridge placed further aft, and an altered arrangement of boiler rooms that permitted two of the the three funnels to be trunked together.[1]

Performance

The ships' capacity for 300 tons of fuel, delivered the following endurance.[2]

The Modified "R" delivered much the same endurance. It's actually surprising that someone thought it worthwhile documenting them separately, given the variance between individual ships.

Knots Tons / hour Endurance
(hours)
radius (nm)
Where Modified "R" differs, data
is displayed as "R" / Modified "R"
14 1.7 170 2,380
16 2.0 142 2,272
18 2.6 110 1,980
20 3.4/3.6 80 1,600
22 4.5/4.4 63/64 1,386/1,408
24 5.5/5.8 50 1,200
26 7.2/7.5 40/38 960/988
28 9.0 30 840
30 11.5/11.0 24/26 720/780

Machinery

Generators

In 1916, it was stated that "new destroyers" have two 26.25 kw dynamos arranged in parallel.[3] It is likely that this applied to this class.

Armament

4-in Guns

Modified "R" class (11 ships):

Others (51 ships):

Other Guns

By 1920, some or all had one 2-pdr pom-pom for air defence.[6]

Torpedoes

  • two double revolving 21-in torpedo tubes on the centreline

These, along with those in Fearless may have been among the first A.W. tubes built with screw plugs to permit the alteration of range and depth and perhaps gyro angle to be adjusted, the stop and charging valve to be access, and the collision head to be filled while the torpedo was in the tube.[7][8]

In 1917, at least some of these ships were using 21-in Mark II*** torpedoes and 21-in Mark II***** torpedoes.[9]

In mid-1920, it was ordered that the "R" class should use 21-in Mark II** torpedoes through 21-in Mark II***** torpedoes.[10]

Other Weapons

Fire Control

Mid-1916 Outfit

Experiments from February with two Grand Fleet destroyers employing dumaresqs and Vickers Range Clocks and voicepipes showed definite advantages over ships using unaided spotting and voicepipes, even when the crews had no special training in the new equipment. Tests were also conducted to find a rangefinder suitable to the lively and cramped platform that destroyers provided. This led to an order on 3 April, 1916 that each T.B.D. of "M" class and later should be equipped with:[11][12]

Two ratings, trained before coming aboard, were added to the crew to work the equipment. The clocks and rangefinders were issued in the following three months, and the dumaresqs a few months later. The data instruments did not become available in numbers until 1917. By mid-1917, the whole system was broadly in place in the destroyers of the Grand Fleet and in the Harwich Force.[13]

Directors

The first installations of the British Destroyer Director Firing System were being effected in May 1918.[14] The 1918 handbook on the destroyer directors indicates that these ships carried them.[15]

In 1918, it was ordered that those destroyers with director installations were to additionally receive:[16]

  • a voice pipe from T.S. to director
  • a fire gong at director worked from existing push in T.S.
  • a fire gong push on fore bridge to be added, wired in parallel to that in the T.S.
  • the repeat receivers on the fore bridge were to be positioned so as to be visible to the director sightsetter.

Torpedo Control

Electrical Torpedo Control Instruments[17]
found in most or all "R" class destroyers

A single sighting position was located high up in the centre of the bridge, thus requiring only a single set of firing pushes or keys as well as keys for operating a buzzer at the forward torpedo mount and a rattler at the aft mount.[18]

The control position had a single Mark I deflection transmitter and separate order transmitters and keys for the forward and aft tubes. Each torpedo mount had a combined receiver for these signals.[19]

In 1921, it was approved that all "R" class destroyers should land their Torpedo Deflection Sight Mark IIs so they could be replaced by replaced by Torpedo Deflection Sight Mark IIIs.[20]

Alterations

By November 1918, those ships operating with the Twentieth Destroyer Flotilla, Telemachus, Tarpon and Venturous, were fitted to carry 44 mines. The torpedo tubes and guns removed when the mines were shipped could be placed back aboard with enough notice.[21]

See Also

Footnotes

  1. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. pp. 76-77, 79-80.
  2. Battlecruiser Force Signal Orders (1 August, 1918), The National Archives. ADM 137/2135
  3. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1916. p. 120.
  4. Technical History and Index, Vol 4, Part 34. pp. 12-13.
  5. Director Firing For Flotilla Leaders and Destroyers. p. 55.
  6. Technical History and Index, Vol 4, Part 34, p. 16.
  7. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1911. p. 48.
  8. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1912. p. 36.
  9. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1917. p. 61.
  10. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1920. pp. 6-7. (G. 10141/20-6.8.1920).
  11. The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 23. p. 31.
  12. Progress in Naval Gunnery, 1914-1918. p. 35.
  13. The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 23. pp. 31, 32.
  14. The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 23. p. 12.
  15. Director Firing For Flotilla Leaders and Destroyers. p. 55.
  16. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1918. p. 376. (C.I.O. 1081/18, G. 24486/15).
  17. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1917. Plate 84.
  18. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1917. p. 211.
  19. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1917. p. 211, Plate 84. (C.I.O. 439/17.).
  20. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1921. p. 137. V.W.O. 11/21.
  21. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, Mining Appendix, 1917-18. p. 11. Plate 7.

Bibliography


"R" Class Destroyer
Admiralty Design
Radstock Raider Romola Rowena Restless
Rigorous Rocket Rob Roy Redgauntlet Redoubt
Recruit Sturgeon Sceptre Salmon Sylph
Sarpedon Sable Setter Sorceress Satyr
Sharpshooter Simoom Skate Starfish Stork
Skilful Springbok Tancred Tarpon Telemachus
Tempest Tetrarch Tenacious Thisbe Thruster
  Tormentor Tornado Torrent Torrid  
Thornycroft Specials
Rosalind Radiant Retriever Taurus Teazer
Yarrow Specials
Sabrina Strongbow Surprise Sybille Truculent
  Tyrant Ulleswater  
Modified "R" Class
Ulster Undine Tower Trenchant Tristram
  Tirade Ursula Ulysses  
  Umpire Urchin Ursa  
<– Talisman Class Destroyers (UK) "V" Class –>