HMS_Druid_(1911)

HMS <i>Druid</i> (1911)

HMS Druid (1911)

Destroyer of the Royal Navy

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Druid.

HMS Druid was one of 20 Acheron-class destroyers built for the Royal Navy during the 1910s. Completed in 1912 the ship served during World War I and was sold for scrap in 1921.

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Design and description

The 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.[3] The Acherons had an overall length of 246 feet (75 m), a beam of 23 feet 8 inches (7.2 m), and a deep 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.[4]

The destroyers were powered by a single Parsons steam turbine that drove three 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). Druid reached a speed of 28.3 knots (52.4 km/h; 32.6 mph) from 15,014 shp (11,196 kW) during her sea trials.[5] 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).[4]

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.[6]

Construction and career

Druid, the sixth ship in the Royal Navy of that name,[7] was ordered under the 1910–1911 Naval Programme from William Denny & Brothers. The ship was laid down at the company's Dumbarton shipyard on 8 November 1910, launched on 4 December 1911 and commissioned in April 1912.[8]

Battle of Heligoland Bight

She was present with the First Destroyer Flotilla on 28 August 1914 at the Battle of Heligoland Bight, led by the scout cruiser Fearless.[9] Druid suffered one man wounded during the action[10] and shared in the prize money for the engagement.[11]

Battle of Dogger Bank

On 24 January 1915 the First Destroyer Flotilla, including Druid, were present at the Battle of Dogger Bank, led by the light cruiser Aurora.[12] Her battle ensign from the engagement is preserved at the Ceiriog Memorial Institute in Wales.[13] Her crew shared in the prize money for the German armoured cruiser Blücher.[11]

From 1917 the Third Battle Squadron was deployed to the Mediterranean. Druid was present at the entry of the Allied fleet through the Dardanelles on 12 November 1918.[14]

In common with most of her class, she was laid up after World War I, and on 9 May 1921 she was sold to Thos. W. Ward of Briton Ferry for breaking.[2]

Pennant numbers

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References

  1. [1]
    "HMS Druid at Clyde Built Database". Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. [2]
    ""Arrowsmith" List: Royal Navy WWI destroyer pendant numbers". Retrieved 30 June 2008.
  3. [3]
    Gardiner & Gray, p. 75
  4. [4]
    Friedman, p. 295
  5. [5]
    March, pp. 116–117
  6. [6]
    Friedman, pp. 119, 295
  7. [7]
    Colledge, p. 103
  8. [8]
    Friedman, p. 306
  9. [9]
    "Battle of Heligoland Bight - Order of Battle (World War 1 Naval Combat website)". Retrieved 8 March 2009.
  10. [10]
    "Hansard, Written Answers, 25 November 1914". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 25 November 1914. Retrieved 8 April 2009.
  11. [11]
    "An Index of Prize Bounties as announced in the London Gazette 1915 - 1925". Retrieved 28 September 2008.
  12. [12]
    "Battle of Dogger Bank - Order of Battle (World War 1 Naval Combat website)". Retrieved 8 March 2009.
  13. [13]
    "Ceiriog Valley and Ceiriog Memorial Institute". Archived from the original on 23 October 2008. Retrieved 8 April 2009.
  14. [14]
    S E Brooks. "The Entry of the Allied Fleet through the Dardanelles". Oxford University. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
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