S-class destroyer (1916)

Class overview
Operators:  Royal Navy
 Royal Australian Navy
Canada Royal Canadian Navy
Preceded by: Admiralty Modified R class
Succeeded by: Admiralty V class leader
In commission: 1918 - 1945
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 (8.15 m)
Draught:10 ft 10 in (3.30 m)
Propulsion:Brown-Curtis, steam turbines, 2 shafts, 27,000 shp
Speed:36 knots
Range:250-300 tons of oil
Complement:90
Armament:3 × QF 4-inch (101.6 mm) Mark IV guns, mount P Mk. IX

1 × QF 2-pounder (40-mm) Mark II "pom-pom"
4 × Lewis Guns
2 × twin tubes for 21-inch (530 mm) torpedoes

2 × single 18 in tubes (on several, 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 or 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 seven vessels were built to a distinct design by Yarrow and five more to another distinct design by Thornycroft. All ships had two 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 were 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, in order to comply with the limit on total destroyer tonnage imposed by the London Treaty of 1930.

Admiralty S-class ships

24 vessels were ordered in April 1917.

33 vessels were ordered in June 1917.

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.

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 1916 (Wayfarer and Woodpecker). Their design was weakened in order to optimize speed, which explains the early disposal of these vessels.

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.

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.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 1.30 1.31 1.32 1.33 1.34 1.35 1.36 1.37 1.38 1.39 1.40 1.41 1.42 1.43 1.44 1.45 1.46 1.47 1.48 1.49 1.50 1.51 Friedman 2009, p. 311.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Whitley 2000, p. 83.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 3.26 3.27 3.28 3.29 Dittmar and Colledge 1972, p. 74.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 Friedman 2009, p. 312.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 Dittmar and Colledge 1972, p. 75.
  6. ↑ Gardiner and Gray 1985, p. 85.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 Dittmar and Colledge 1972, p. 76.

Bibliography

See also

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