HMS Hydra (1912)


HMS Hydra during World War I
Career (United Kingdom)
Name: HMS Hydra
Builder: John Brown & Company, Clydebank
Yard number: 406[1]
Launched: 19 February 1912[2]
Fate: Sold 9 May 1921[2]
General characteristics
Class and type: Acheron-class destroyer
Displacement: 770 tons
Length: 75 m (246 ft)
Beam: 7.8 m (26 ft)
Draught: 2.7 m (8.9 ft)
Installed power: 13,500 shp (10,100 kW)[1]
Propulsion:
  • Two Brown-Curtis Turbines
  • Two Yarrow boilers (oil fired)
  • Two shafts
Speed: 28 knots (52 km/h)[1]
Complement: 72
Armament:

HMS Hydra was an Acheron-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1912, fought throughout World War I and was sold for breaking in 1921.

Contents

Pennant Numbers

Pennant Number[2] From To
H50 6 December 1914   1 January 1918
H43 1 January 1918 Early 1919
H94 Early 1919 9 May 1921

Construction

She was built by John Brown & Company, Clydebank to an Admiralty design, under the 1910–11 programme. She (and her sisters Hind and Hornet) differed from the standard Admiralty I-class destroyer in only having two shafts instead of three. They had two Brown-Curtis type turbines, and twin boilers.[3] Capable of 28 knots (52 km/h), she carried two 4-inch (100 mm) guns, other smaller guns and two 21-inch (530 mm) torpedo tubes and had a complement of 72 men. She was launched on 19 February 1912.

Operational history

The Battle of Dogger Bank

Hydra was with the First Destroyer Flotilla at the Battle of Dogger Bank[4] on 24 January 1915.

The Battle of Jutland

She was present at the Battle of Jutland[5] on 31 May 1916. Along with the rest of the flotilla, she was transferred to the 3rd Battle Squadron, based at Portsmouth.[6]

Collision with a merchant vessel

She was in collision with a merchant ship on the night of 11 February 1917 in the English Channel. The captain of Hydra was held liable for the collision because, although the other ship showed him a light, he did not perceive that it was on a crossing course.[7]

Mediterranean Service

From 1917 the Third Battle Squadron was deployed to the Mediterranean. Hydra was present at the entry of the Allied Fleet through the Dardanelles on 12 November 1918.[8]

Decommissioning and fate

She was sold on 9 May 1921 to Ward of Portishead[2] for scrap.

References