HMS Druid (1911)

HMS Druid
Career (UK)
Name: HMS Druid
Builder: William Denny & Brothers, Dumbarton[1][2]
Yard number: 936[2]
Laid down: 8 November 1910[2]
Launched: 4 December 1911[3]
Fate: Sold 9 May 1921[3]
General characteristics
Class and type:Acheron-class destroyer
Displacement:990 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)
Propulsion:
  • Three Parsons Turbines
  • Three Yarrow boilers (oil fired)
  • Three shafts
Speed:27 kn (50 km/h)
Complement:70
Armament:
For other ships of the same name, see HMS Druid.

HMS Druid was an Acheron-class destroyer of the Royal Navy that served during World War I and was sold for breaking in 1921. She was the sixth Royal Navy ship to be named Druid, after the Druids of Celtic polytheism.

Construction

She was built under the 1910-11 shipbuilding programme to an Admiralty design by William Denny & Brothers of Dumbarton[1] and was launched on 4 December 1911.[4]

Pennant Numbers

Pennant Number[3]FromTo
H336 December 19141 January 1918
H301 January 1918Early 1919
H92Early 19199 May 1921

Career

Pre-War

Druid served with the First Destroyer Flotilla from 1911 and, with her flotilla, joined the British Grand Fleet in 1914 on the outbreak of World War I.

The Battle of Heligoland Bight

She was present with First Destroyer Flotilla on 28 August 1914 at the Battle of Heligoland Bight, led by the light cruiser Fearless.[5] Druid suffered one man wounded during the action[6] and shared in the prize money for the engagement.[7]

The 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.[8] Her battle ensign from the engagement is preserved at the Ceiriog Memorial Institute in Wales.[9] Her crew shared in the Prize Money for the German armoured cruiser Blücher.[7]

Mediterranean Service

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.[10]

Disposal

Acheron-class destroyers laid-up post-World War I.

In common with most of her class, she was laid up after World War I, and on 9 May 1921 she was sold to Ward of Briton Ferry for breaking.[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906-1921. London: Conway's Maritime Press. 1985. p. 75. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "HMS Druid at Clyde Built Database". Retrieved 2009-03-05.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 ""Arrowsmith" List: Royal Navy WWI Destroyer Pendant Numbers". Retrieved 2008-06-30.
  4. ↑ "Battleships-Cruisers.co.uk website - Acheron Class". Retrieved 2008-06-30.
  5. ↑ "Battle of Heligoland Bight - Order of Battle (World War 1 Naval Combat website)". Retrieved 2009-03-08.
  6. ↑ "Hansard, Written Answers, 25 November 1914". Retrieved 2009-04-08.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "An Index of Prize Bounties as announced in the London Gazette 1915 - 1925". Retrieved 2008-09-28.
  8. ↑ "Battle of Dogger Bank - Order of Battle (World War 1 Naval Combat website)". Retrieved 2009-03-08.
  9. ↑ "Ceiriog Valley and Ceiriog Memorial Institute". Retrieved 2009-04-08.
  10. ↑ S E Brooks. "The Entry of the Allied Fleet through the Dardanelles". Oxford University. Retrieved 2009-11-11.