D class destroyer (1913)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | John I. Thornycroft & Company |
| Preceded by: | Ardent class destroyer |
| Succeeded by: | River class destroyer |
| Built: | 1895–1899 |
| In commission: | 1896–1921 |
| Completed: | 10 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Destroyer |
| Displacement: | 355 to 370 tons |
| Length: | 210 ft (64 m) |
| Propulsion: | Triple expansion steam engines Coal-fired water-tube boilers 5,800 shp |
| Speed: | 30 kn (56 km/h) |
| Armament: | 1 × QF 12-pounder gun 5 × QF 6 pounder gun 2 × 18 in (460 mm) torpedo tubes |
The D class as named in 1913 was a heterogeneous group of torpedo boat destroyers (TBDs) built for the Royal Navy in the mid-1890s. They were constructed to the individual designs of their builder, J I Thornycroft of Chiswick, to meet Admiralty specifications. The uniting feature of the class was a top speed of 30 knots and that they all had two funnels. In 1913 all "30 knotter" vessels with 2 funnels (all built by Thornycroft) were classified by the Admiralty as the D class to provide some system to the naming of HM destroyers, while those with 3 funnels were classified as the C class and those with 4 funnels as the B class. All these vessels had a distinctive "turtleback" forecastle that was intended to clear water from the bow, but actually tended to dig the bow in to anything of a sea, resulting in a very wet conning position. They were better constructed than their A class forebears (the "26 knotter" and "27 knotter" groups), but still were poor seaboats unable to reach top speed in anything but perfect conditions.
They generally displaced 355 to 370 tons and had a length of 210 feet. All were powered by triple expansion steam engines for 5,800 shp and had coal-fired water-tube boilers. Armament was one QF 12 pounder on a bandstand on the forecastle, five QF 6 pounder (two sided abreast the conning tower, two sided between the funnels and one on the quarterdeck) and 2 single tubes for 18 inch torpedoes.
[edit] Ships
Desperate group (ordered under 1894-95 Programme);
- Desperate, launched 15 February 1896, built by J I Thornycroft, Chiswick, sold for breaking up 20 May 1920.
- Fame, launched 15 April 1896, built by J I Thornycroft, Chiswick, sold for breaking up 31 August 1921.
- Foam, launched 8 October 1896, built by J I Thornycroft, Chiswick, sold for breaking up 26 May 1914.
- Mallard, launched 19 November 1896, built by J I Thornycroft, Chiswick, sold for breaking up 10 February 1920.
Angler group (ordered under 1895-96 Programme);
- Angler, launched 2 February 1897, built by J I Thornycroft, Chiswick, sold for breaking up 20 May 1920.
- Ariel, launched 5 March 1897, built by J I Thornycroft, Chiswick, wrecked off Malta 19 April 1907.
Coquette group (ordered under 1896-97 Programme);
- Coquette, launched 25 November 1897, built by J I Thornycroft, Chiswick, mined and sunk in North Sea, 7 March 1916.
- Cygnet, launched 3 September 1898, built by J I Thornycroft, Chiswick, sold for breaking up 29 April 1920.
- Cynthia, launched 8 January 1898, built by J I Thornycroft, Chiswick, sold for breaking up 29 April 1920.
Stag (ordered under 1897-98 Programme);
- Stag, launched 18 November 1899, built by J I Thornycroft, Chiswick, sold for breaking up 17 March 1921.
[edit] Bibliography
- Destroyers of the Royal Navy, 1893-1981, Maurice Cocker, 1983, Ian Allan ISBN 0-7110-1075-7.
- The First Destroyers, David Lyon, 1996, Chatham Publishing ISBN 1-86176-005-1.
