HMS Legion (1914)

For other ships of the same name, see HMS Legion.
Career (United Kingdom)
Name: HMS Legion
Builder: William Denny and Brothers
Launched: 3 February 1914
Fate: Sold in 1921
General characteristics
Class and type:Laforey-class destroyer
Displacement:965-1,300 tons
Length:269 ft (82 m)
Beam:26 ft 9 in (8.15 m)
Draught:9 ft 6 in (2.90 m)
Propulsion:Water-tube boilers, Parsons steam turbines, 2 shafts, 24,500 shp
Speed:29 knots (54 km/h)
Complement:73
Armament:3 x QF 4-inch (101.6 mm) Mk IV guns, mounting P Mk. IX

1 x QF 2 pdr pom-pom Mk. II

2 x twin tubes for 21 in torpedoes[1]

HMS Legion was a Laforey-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. Launched prior to the outbreak of the First World War, she was attached to the Harwich Force and served in the North Sea. Legion saw action in several engagements, including the Battle off Texel.

Specifications

Legion was constructed by William Denny and Brothers and launched on 3 February 1914.

The ship's main gun armament consisted of three QF 4 in (102 mm) Mk IV guns on the ship's centreline, with 120 rounds per gun. The ship carried two twin 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes, and was fitted with rails to carry four Vickers Elia Mk IV naval mines, although these rails were never used.[1][2]

Service

Legion was severely damaged by a German mine on 10 November 1916. It was decided to convert Legion to allow use for minelaying while under repair. Rails were fitted to allow the carrying of up to 40 mines.[3][4]

Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Gardiner and Gray 1985, p. 76.
  2. ↑ Friedman 2009, p. 296.
  3. ↑ Smith 2005, p. 22.
  4. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WW1: HMS Legion". uboat.net. Retrieved 28 December 2014.

References