H.M.S. Inconstant (1914)

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H.M.S. Inconstant (1914)
Pendant Number: 5A (1914)
73 (Jan 1918)
77 (Apr 1918)[1]
Builder: William Beardmore & Company[2]
Ordered: Sep, 1912[3]
Laid down: 3 Apr, 1914[4]
Launched: 6 Jul, 1914[5]
Commissioned: Jan, 1915[6]
Sold: 9 Jun, 1922[7]
Fate: to Cashmore[8]

H.M.S. Inconstant was completed in early 1915 and fought at the Battle of Jutland as part of the First Light Cruiser Squadron.

Torpedoes

In mid-1920, her sisters were to start using 21-in Mark II***** torpedoes, but Inconstant alone would retain her 21-in Mark IV S.L. torpedoes.[9]

Service

At the Battle of Jutland, she was part of the First Light Cruiser Squadron, screening the battlecruisers under the command of Captain Bertram S. Thesiger.[10]

In September, 1917, she completed a refit to be a minelayer, capable of carrying 70 (or 74) mines.[11] She was able to conduct up to six minelaying operations per month, with an operational radius of 1270 miles.[12] She conducted five operations and laid 370 mines in total.[13]

Inconstant recommissioned on 27 October, 1919. By the end of 1920, she was serving as a submarine depot ship.[14]

Alterations

Inconstant was fitted with a director in March, 1918. This alteration required her pole mast to be replaced with a tripod mast for greater rigidity.[15]

In 1915 or 1916, she trialled a Wise Pressure Telegraphy System Type A for torpedo control.[16] As a result of this trial, in 1917 she was to have her system upgraded to the Type C standard.

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

See Also

Footnotes

  1. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 47.
  2. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 47.
  3. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 47.
  4. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 55.
  5. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 47.
  6. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 55.
  7. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 47.
  8. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 47.
  9. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1920. pp. 6-7. (G. 10141/20-6.8.1920).
  10. Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. pp. 33, 46.
  11. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 117.
  12. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, Mining Appendix, 1917-18. Plate 7.
  13. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 117.
  14. The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 791.
  15. The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 23. pp. 11-12.
  16. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1916. p. 30.
  17. The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 395j.
  18. Thesiger Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 472.
  19. Thesiger Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43. f. 472.
  20. Marten Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/90/85. f. 85.
  21. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 819.
  22. Marten Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/90/85. f. 85.
  23. Collins Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/348. f. 393.
  24. Collins Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/348. f. 393.
  25. The Navy List. (December, 1920). p. 791.
  26. Talbot Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/120. f. 65.
  27. Talbot Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/49/120. f. 65.

Bibliography

  • Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. London: Ian Allan.
  • Gray, Randal (editor) (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. (on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk).
  • Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1918). Handbook of Captain F. C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables, 1918. C.B. 1456. Copy No. 10 at Admiralty Library, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
  • Admiralty, Technical History Section (1919). The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in H.M. Ships. Vol. 3, Part 23. C.B. 1515 (23) now O.U. 6171/14. At The National Archives. ADM 275/19.


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