HMS Onslow (1916)

For other ships of the same name, see HMS Onslow.

History

United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Onslow
Builder:	Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan
Launched:	15 February 1916
Completed:	By 15 April 1916
Fate:	Sold for scrapping on 26 October 1921
General characteristics
Class & 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 Onslow 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 1916 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

Onslow was ordered under the Third War Programme in November 1914 and built by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company at Govan. The ship was launched on 15 February 1916 and completed in April 1916.^[3] Her first commander was John Tovey, (later Admiral of the Fleet). She saw action at the Battle of Jutland, where Onslow was badly damaged, with her speed reduced to 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). Nevertheless, Tovey pressed home the attack against first a cruiser and then a line of battlecruisers. Onslow was brought back to Aberdeen despite the damage, having been towed out of action by the destroyer HMS Defender, under heavy fire. The report on the battle by Admiral Beatty stated that:

Defender, whose speed had been reduced to 10 knots, while on the disengaged side of the battle cruisers, was struck by a shell which damaged her foremost boiler, but closed Onslow and took her in tow. Shells were falling all round them during this operation, which, however, was successfully accomplished. During the heavy weather of the ensuing night the tow parted twice, but was resecured. The two struggled on together until 1pm 1st June, when Onslow was transferred to tugs. I consider the performances of these two destroyers to be gallant in the extreme, and I am recommending Lieutenant-Commander J. C. Tovey of Onslow, and Lieutenant Commander Palmer of Defender, for special recognition...
— Admiral David Beatty^[4]

Both officers were awarded DSOs.

Onslow was sold for breaking up on 26 October 1921.

Notes

↑ Gardiner & Gray, p. 76
1 2 Friedman, p. 298
↑ Friedman, p. 308
↑ Admiral Beatty, The Beatty Papers, vol. 1, B.McL. Ranft, ed, Navy Records Society, 1989, p 323

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.

M-class destroyers

Royal Navy

Admiralty M class	Murray Myngs Matchless Milne Morris Moorsom Negro Mandate Mons Michael Marmion Marne Mystic Martial Milbrook Prince Pylades Maenad Mameluke Mindful Nessus Magic Minion Opal Manners Marvel Mary Rose Ossory Mischief Menace Moresby Opportune Munster Noble Napier Onslaught Nonsuch Nestor Oracle Narwhal Nepean Nicator Nomad Onslow Nereus Narborough Pigeon Plover Partridge Medina Pelican Norman Orestes Petard Paladin Nizam Penn Pasley Medway Orford Plucky Observer Peyton Pellew Nonpareil Peregrine Offa Orpheus Octavia Parthian Northesk Oriole Portia Norseman Osiris Oberon Orcadia Oriana Ophelia Pheasant Obedient North Star Phoebe Obdurate Nugent

Hawthorn M class	Mentor Mansfield

Thornycroft M class	Meteor Mastiff Patriot Patrician Rapid Ready

Yarrow M class	Miranda Minos Manley Moon Morning Star Mounsey Musketeer Nerissa Relentless Rival

Yarrow Later M class	Sabrina Strongbow Surprise Sybille Truculent Tyrant Ulleswater

Royal Canadian Navy

Thornycroft M class	Patriot Patrician

Preceded by: Laforey class
Followed by: R class

List of destroyers of the Royal Navy

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