HMS Ossory (1915)

History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Ossory
Builder:	John Brown & Company, Clydebank
Laid down:	23 December 1914
Launched:	9 October 1916
Completed:	November 1915
Fate:	Sold for scrap, 8 November 1921
General characteristics
Class and type:	Admiralty M-class destroyer
Displacement:	971 long tons (987 t)
Length:	273 ft 4 in (83.31 m) o/a
Beam:	26 ft 8 in (8.13 m)
Draught:	9 ft 8 in (2.95 m)
Installed power:	25,000 shp (19,000 kW) 4 × Yarrow boilers
Propulsion:	3 Shafts; 3 steam turbines
Speed:	34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph)
Range:	2,100 nmi (3,900 km; 2,400 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement:	76
Armament:	3 × QF 4-inch (102 mm) Mark IV guns 2 × QF 1.5-pounder (37 mm) or QF 2-pounder (40 mm) "pom-pom" anti-aircraft guns 2 × twin 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes

HMS Ossory was an Admiralty M-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy during the First World War. She took part in the Battle of Jutland in 1918 and was sold for scrap in 1921.

Description

The Admiralty M class were improved and faster versions of the preceding Laforey-class destroyer.^[1] They displaced 971 long tons (987 t). The ships had an overall length of 273 feet 4 inches (83.3 m), a beam of 26 feet 8 inches (8.1 m) and a draught of 9 feet 8 inches (2.9 m). They were powered by three Parsons direct-drive steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by four Yarrow boilers. The turbines developed a total of 25,000 shaft horsepower (19,000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph). The ships carried a maximum of 237 long tons (241 t) of fuel oil that gave them a range of 2,100 nautical miles (3,900 km; 2,400 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). The ships' complement was 76 officers and ratings.^[2]

The ships were armed with three single QF 4-inch (102 mm) Mark IV guns and two QF 1.5-pounder (37 mm) anti-aircraft guns. These latter guns were later replaced by a pair of QF 2-pounder (40 mm) "pom-pom" anti-aircraft guns. The ships were also fitted with two above water twin mounts for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes.^[2]

Construction and service

Ossory was ordered under the Third War Programme in November 1914 and built by John Brown & Company at Clydeside. The ship was laid down on 23 November 1914, launched on 9 October 1915 and completed in November 1915.^[3] She served in the 11th Destroyer Flotilla in the Grand Fleet at the Battle of Jutland. Philip Vian was appointed first lieutenant of the ship in 1917. The ship was decommissioned following the First World War and was sold for scrap in November 1921.

Notes

Bibliography

• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8. OCLC 67375475. 
• Dittmar, F.J. & Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. Shepperton, UK: Ian Allen. ISBN 0-7110-0380-7. 
• Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-049-9. 
• Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal (1985). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.