S class destroyer (1916)

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For the S class of destroyers built in 1942–43 see S and T class destroyer
HMAS Success
HMAS Success
Class overview
Operators: Naval flag of United Kingdom Royal Navy
Naval flag of Australia Royal Australian Navy
Flag of Canada Royal Canadian Navy
Succeeded by: Admiralty V class leader
Planned: 69
Completed: 67
Cancelled: 2
Lost: 5 wrecked or sunk
2 constructive total loss
1 captured (later returned)
General characteristics
Type: Destroyer
Displacement: 1,075 tons
Length: 276 ft (84 m) o/a
Beam: 26 ft 9 in (8.2 m)
Draught: 10 ft 10 in (3.3 m)
Propulsion: Brown-Curtis, steam turbines, 2 shafts, 27,000 shp
Speed: 36 knots
Range: 250-300 tons of oil
Complement: 90
Armament: 3 × Quick-firing 4 in L/40 Mark IV, mount P Mk. IX
1 × QF 2 pdr Mark II "pom-pom"
4 × Lewis Guns
2 × twin tubes for 21 in torpedoes
2 × fixed 14 in tubes for torpedoes (later removed)

The S class were a class of 67 destroyers built from 1917 for the Royal Navy. The design was based on the Admiralty modified R class and all ships had names beginning with S and T.

They were built in three discrete groups; the Admiralty S class comprised 55 vessels (excluding two that were cancelled) built in two batches that were ordered in May and June 1917 respectively, while 7 vessels were built to a distinct design by Yarrow and 5 more to another distinct design by Thornycroft. All ships had 2 funnels, a long fo'c'sle and a tall bridge which, unusually, was located behind the break in the main deck. Most of these ships commissioned after World War I, but only eleven survived to serve in World War II. The remainder were scrapped in the mid to late 1930s.

Contents

[edit] Admiralty S class ships

24 vessels were ordered in April 1917.

33 vessels were ordered in June 1917.

[edit] Thornycroft S class ships

These five vessels were built to Thornycroft's own design; they were slightly larger than the Admiralty design and had engines of 29,000 shp. The first two were ordered in April 1917 and the last three in June 1917.

  • Speedy, built by J. I. Thornycroft and Company, Woolston, laid down May 1917, launched 1 June 1918, and completed August 1918. Sunk in collision with a merchant ship in the Sea of Marmara 24 September 1922.
  • Tobago, built by Thornycroft, laid down July 1917, launched 15 July 1918, and completed October 1918. Damaged by mine 12 November 1920 in the Black Sea and declared constructive total loss, sold for breaking up at Malta 9 February 1922.
  • Torbay, built by Thornycroft, laid down November 1917, launched 6 March 1918, and completed July 1919. Transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy in March 1928 and renamed Champlain, broken up 1937.
  • Toreador, built by Thornycroft, laid down November 1917, launched 7 December 1918, and completed April 1919. Transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy in March 1928 and renamed Vancouver, broken up 1937.
  • Tourmaline, built by Thornycroft, laid down January 1918, launched 14 April 1919, and completed 1919. Sold for breaking up 28 November 1931.

[edit] Yarrow S class ships

These seven vessels were built to Yarrow's own design; they were slightly smaller than the Admiralty design and had engines of only 23,000 shp. All ordered in April 1917; the orders for Torch and Tomahawk replaced previous orders for two Admiralty W class destroyers previously ordered from Yarrow in December 1917 (Wayfarer and Woodpecker).

[edit] Australian ships

Five of the above Admiralty S class were transferred to the Royal Australian Navy in June 1919. The ships were all commissioned on 27 January 1920 although they spent much of their careers in reserve. None of these ships served in World War II, having been scrapped in 1937.

[edit] Canadian ships

Two of the Thornycroft S class were transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy in March 1928. Neither of these ships served in World War II, having been scrapped in 1937.

[edit] Bibliography

  • Warships of Australia, Ross Gillett, Illustrations Colin Graham, Rigby Limited, 1977, ISBN 0-7270-0472-7

[edit] See also