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R class destroyer (1916)
Encyclopedia
The first R class were a class
of 62 destroyers built between 1916 and 1917 for the Royal Navy
. They were an improvement, specifically in the area of fuel economy, of the earlier M-class
destroyers. The most important difference was that the Admiralty R class had two shafts and geared turbines, compared with the three shafts and direct turbines of the Admiralty M class, but in appearance the R class could be distinguished from its predecessors by having the after 4-inch gun mounted in a bandstand. The Admiralty ordered the first two of this class of ships in May 1915. Another seventeen were ordered in July 1915, a further eight in December 1915, and a final twenty-three in March 1916 (of which eleven were to a slightly modified design).
As well as these fifty ships to the standard 'Admiralty' design, twelve more R class were designed and built by the two specialist builders Yarrow Shipbuilders
and John I. Thornycroft & Company
to their own separate designs. Three were ordered from Thornycroft and four from Yarrow in July 1915, and two from Thornycroft and three from Yarrow in December 1915.
They were the last three-funnelled destroyers ordered by the Royal Navy (although HMS Bristol
commissioned in 1973 had three funnels, these were not all on the centreline). All of these ships saw extensive service in World War I
. Some saw service as minelayer
s. Eight R-class ships were sunk during the war and all but two of the surviving ships were scrapped in the 1920s and 1930s. One Admiralty R-class vessel, HMS Skate, survived to see service in World War II
as a convoy escort, making her the oldest destroyer to see wartime service with the Royal Navy. A second, HMS Radiant was transferred to the Royal Siamese Navy
as Phra Ruang in September 1920 and survives to this day as a hulk.
, Wallsend on Tyne; launched 3 June 1916; sold for breaking up 29 April 1927., built by Swan Hunter; launched 17 July 1916; sold for breaking up 29 April 1927.
Seventeen ships ordered in July 1915., built by John Brown & Company
, Clydebank
; launched 14 May 1916; sold for breaking up 13 March 1930., built by John Brown; launched 1 July 1916; delivered for breaking up 27 January 1937., built by John Brown; launched 12 August 1916; delivered for breaking up 23 November 1936., built by John Brown; launched 30 September 1916; sold for breaking up 5 November 1926., built by William Denny and Brothers
, Dumbarton; launched 2 July 1916; sold for breaking up 16 December 1926., built by Denny; launched 29 August 1916; sold for breaking up 13 July 1926., built by Denny; launched 23 November 1916; sold for breaking up July 1927., built by William Doxford & Sons
, Sunderland; launched 28 October 1916; sold for breaking up 13 July 1926., built by Doxford; launched 9 December 1916; torpedoed in the North Sea by 9 August 1917., built by J. Samuel White
, Cowes; launched 28 June 1916; sold for breaking up August 1927., built by White; launched 18 August 1916; sunk in collision with off Harwich 17 May 1917., built by Harland and Wolff
, Govan; launched 7 October 1916; renamed Sable in December 1933, sold for breaking up (delivered) 28 January 1937., built by Harland and Wolff, Govan; launched 15 November 1916; sold for breaking up 16 December 1926, but stranded while under tow en route to breakers 28 January 1927 and broken up at Aberavon., built by R. & W. Hawthorn, Leslie and Company
, Hebburn on Tyne; launched 1 June 1916; sold for breaking up 13 July 1926., built by Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson, Wallsend on Tyne; launched 29 August 1916; sold for breaking up 29 April 1927., built by Alexander Stephen and Sons
, Linthouse, Govan; launched 11 January 1917; sold for breaking up 16 December 1926., built by Stephens; launched 18 April 1917; sold for breaking up 16 December 1926.
Eight ships ordered in December 1915., built by William Beardmore and Company
, Dalmuir; launched 27 December 1916; sold for breaking up 16 December 1926., built by Beardmore; launched 27 February 1917; sold for breaking up 29 April 1927., built by John Brown; launched 30 October 1916; torpedoed bu German torpedoboat S.50 in the North Sea 23 January 1917., built by John Brown; launched 11 January 1917; sold for breaking up 4 March 1947., built by Harland and Wolff, Govan; launched 3 February 1917; sold for breaking up 13 July 1926., built by Harland and Wolff, Govan; launched 9 March 1917; sold for breaking up 16 December 1926., built by Hawthorn Leslie; launched 27 September 1916; sold for breaking up 21 April 1928., built by Hawthorn Leslie; launched 15 November 1916; sold for breaking up 7 October 1927.
Twenty-three ships ordered in March 1916, of which twelve were to the same design as the previous batch., built by Beardmore; launched 30 June 1917; sold for breaking up 17 May 1928., built by John Brown; launched 10 March 1917; sold for breaking up 4 August 1927., built by John Brown; launched 21 April 1917; sold for breaking up 26 July 1927., built by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company
; launched 26 January 1917; sold for breaking up (delivered) 28 January 1937., built by Harland and Wolff, Govan; launched 21 May 1917; sold for breaking up 26 June 1928., built by Harland and Wolff, Govan; launched 20 April 1917; sold for breaking up 28 July 1934., built by Hawthorn Leslie; launched 8 March 1917; sold for breaking up (delivered) 31 August 1936., built by Hawthorn Leslie; launched 10 January 1917; sold for breaking up 1937., built by Stephen; launched 22 May 1917; sold for breaking up 19 November 1929, but wrecked off South Wales while under tow en route to breakers 13 December 1929., built by Stephen; launched 4 August 1917; mined in the North Sea 23 December 1917., built by Swan Hunter; launched 26 November 1917; mined in the North Sea 23 December 1917., built by Swan Hunter; launched 10 February 1917; sold for breaking up 27 January 1937, but wrecked off Falmouth while under tow en route to breakers 16 March 1937.
These ships had two funnels., built by White; launched 23 December 1916; sold for breaking up 15 November 1928., built by White; launched 24 February 1917; sold for breaking up 9 May 1921., built by Scott's; launched 21 April 1917; sold for breaking up 15 November 1921., built by Swan Hunter; launched 5 April 1917; sold for breaking up 17 May 1928., built by Beardmore; launched 10 October 1917; sold for breaking up April 1928., built by Doxford; launched 24 March 1917; sunk in collision with SS Ellerie in the Clyde 29 October 1918., built by Doxford; launched 9 June 1917; sold for breaking up 7 January 1930., built by Fairfield; launched 22 March 1917; sold for breaking up April 1928, wrecked off Horse Fort en route to breakers, wrecked sold 27 August 1928., built by Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company
; launched 7 June 1917; sold for breaking up 7 January 1930., built by Palmers; launched 23 July 1917; sold for breaking up 13 July 1926., built by Scott's; launched 2 August 1917; sold for breaking up 19 November 1929.
, Woolston, launched 14 October 1916. Sold for breaking up 13 July 1926., built by Thornycroft; launched 25 November 1916; sold back to Thornycroft 21 June 1920, who then sold her to the Thai Navy in September 1920. She was renamed Phra Ruang and was the last of the R class to survive, being scrapped in 1957., built by Thornycroft; launched 15 January 1917; sold for breaking up 26 July 1927., built by Thornycroft; launched 10 March 1917; sold for breaking up 18 February 1930., built by Thornycroft; launched 21 April 1917; sold for breaking up 6 February 1931.
were sometimes classified as the Yarrow Later M-class destroyer
. These ships had two funnels.
Four vessels were ordered in July 1915: - Laid down August 1915, launched 24 July 1916, completed September 1916. Sold for breaking up 5 November 1926. - Launched 30 September 1916 and completed late 1916. Sunk by gunfire from German cruisers Bremse and off Norway, 17 October 1917. - Launched 25 November 1916 and completed 1916, torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat
off Maas light ship on night of 22 December/23 December 1917. - Laid down August 1915, launched 5 February 1917, completed February 1917. Sold for breaking up 5 November 1926.
Three vessels were ordered in March 1916: - Laid down March 1916, launched 24 March 1917, completed May 1917. Sold for breaking up 29 April 1927. - Laid down March 1916, launched 19 May 1917, completed July 1917. Sold for breaking up April 1938. - Launched 4 August 1917 and completed 1917, torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat
UC-17
off Dutch coast
15 August 1918.
Ship class
A ship class is a group of ships of a similar design. This is distinct from a ship-type, which might reflect a similarity of tonnage or intended use. For example, the is a nuclear aircraft carrier of the Nimitz class....
of 62 destroyers built between 1916 and 1917 for the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. They were an improvement, specifically in the area of fuel economy, of the earlier M-class
Admiralty M class destroyer
The M class, more properly known as the Admiralty M class, were a class of 85 destroyers built for the Royal Navy that saw service during World War I...
destroyers. The most important difference was that the Admiralty R class had two shafts and geared turbines, compared with the three shafts and direct turbines of the Admiralty M class, but in appearance the R class could be distinguished from its predecessors by having the after 4-inch gun mounted in a bandstand. The Admiralty ordered the first two of this class of ships in May 1915. Another seventeen were ordered in July 1915, a further eight in December 1915, and a final twenty-three in March 1916 (of which eleven were to a slightly modified design).
As well as these fifty ships to the standard 'Admiralty' design, twelve more R class were designed and built by the two specialist builders Yarrow Shipbuilders
Yarrow Shipbuilders
Yarrow Limited , often styled as simply Yarrows, was a major shipbuilding firm based in the Scotstoun district of Glasgow on the River Clyde...
and John I. Thornycroft & Company
John I. Thornycroft & Company
John I. Thornycroft & Company Limited, usually known simply as Thornycroft was a British shipbuilding firm started by John Isaac Thornycroft in the 19th century.-History:...
to their own separate designs. Three were ordered from Thornycroft and four from Yarrow in July 1915, and two from Thornycroft and three from Yarrow in December 1915.
They were the last three-funnelled destroyers ordered by the Royal Navy (although HMS Bristol
HMS Bristol (D23)
HMS Bristol is a Type 82 destroyer, the only vessel of her class to be built for the Royal Navy. Originally intended as the first of a class of new large destroyers to escort the CVA-01 aircraft carriers projected to come into service in the early 1970s, Bristol turned out to be a unique ship...
commissioned in 1973 had three funnels, these were not all on the centreline). All of these ships saw extensive service in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Some saw service as minelayer
Minelayer
Minelaying is the act of deploying explosive mines. Historically this has been carried out by ships, submarines and aircraft. Additionally, since World War I the term minelayer refers specifically to a naval ship used for deploying naval mines...
s. Eight R-class ships were sunk during the war and all but two of the surviving ships were scrapped in the 1920s and 1930s. One Admiralty R-class vessel, HMS Skate, survived to see service in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a convoy escort, making her the oldest destroyer to see wartime service with the Royal Navy. A second, HMS Radiant was transferred to the Royal Siamese Navy
Royal Thai Navy
The Royal Thai Navy is the navy of Thailand and part of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, it was established in the late 19th century. Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartiwongse is "The Father of Royal Thai Navy". Similar to the organizational structure of the United States, the Royal Thai Navy includes the...
as Phra Ruang in September 1920 and survives to this day as a hulk.
Admiralty R-class ships
, built by Swan Hunter & Wigham RichardsonSwan Hunter
Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which...
, Wallsend on Tyne; launched 3 June 1916; sold for breaking up 29 April 1927., built by Swan Hunter; launched 17 July 1916; sold for breaking up 29 April 1927.
Seventeen ships ordered in July 1915., built by John Brown & Company
John Brown & Company
John Brown and Company of Clydebank was a pre-eminent Scottish marine engineering and shipbuilding firm, responsible for building many notable and world-famous ships, such as the , the , the , the , the , and the...
, Clydebank
Clydebank
Clydebank is a town in West Dunbartonshire, in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. Situated on the north bank of the River Clyde, Clydebank borders Dumbarton, the town with which it was combined to form West Dunbartonshire, as well as the town of Milngavie in East Dunbartonshire, and the Yoker and...
; launched 14 May 1916; sold for breaking up 13 March 1930., built by John Brown; launched 1 July 1916; delivered for breaking up 27 January 1937., built by John Brown; launched 12 August 1916; delivered for breaking up 23 November 1936., built by John Brown; launched 30 September 1916; sold for breaking up 5 November 1926., built by William Denny and Brothers
William Denny and Brothers
William Denny and Brothers Limited, and often referred to simply as Denny, were a Scottish shipbuilding company.-History:The Company was founded by Peter Denny in 1840 and based in Dumbarton, on the River Clyde. Although the Denny yard was situated near the junction of the River Clyde and the River...
, Dumbarton; launched 2 July 1916; sold for breaking up 16 December 1926., built by Denny; launched 29 August 1916; sold for breaking up 13 July 1926., built by Denny; launched 23 November 1916; sold for breaking up July 1927., built by William Doxford & Sons
William Doxford & Sons
William Doxford & Sons Ltd, often referred to simply as Doxford, was a British shipbuilding company.-History:The Company was established by William Doxford in 1840. From 1870 it was based in Pallion, Sunderland, on the River Wear in Northeast England. The Company was managed by William Doxford's...
, Sunderland; launched 28 October 1916; sold for breaking up 13 July 1926., built by Doxford; launched 9 December 1916; torpedoed in the North Sea by 9 August 1917., built by J. Samuel White
J. Samuel White
J. Samuel White was a British shipbuilding firm based in Cowes, taking its name from John Samuel White . It came to prominence during the Victorian era...
, Cowes; launched 28 June 1916; sold for breaking up August 1927., built by White; launched 18 August 1916; sunk in collision with off Harwich 17 May 1917., built by Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland....
, Govan; launched 7 October 1916; renamed Sable in December 1933, sold for breaking up (delivered) 28 January 1937., built by Harland and Wolff, Govan; launched 15 November 1916; sold for breaking up 16 December 1926, but stranded while under tow en route to breakers 28 January 1927 and broken up at Aberavon., built by R. & W. Hawthorn, Leslie and Company
Hawthorn Leslie and Company
R. & W. Hawthorn Leslie and Company, Limited, usually referred to as Hawthorn Leslie, was a shipbuilding and locomotive manufacturer. The Company was founded on Tyneside in 1886 and ceased building ships in 1982.-History:...
, Hebburn on Tyne; launched 1 June 1916; sold for breaking up 13 July 1926., built by Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson, Wallsend on Tyne; launched 29 August 1916; sold for breaking up 29 April 1927., built by Alexander Stephen and Sons
Alexander Stephen and Sons
Alexander Stephen and Sons Limited, often referred to simply as Alex Stephens or just Stephens, was a Scottish shipbuilding company based in Linthouse, Govan in Glasgow, on the River Clyde.-History:...
, Linthouse, Govan; launched 11 January 1917; sold for breaking up 16 December 1926., built by Stephens; launched 18 April 1917; sold for breaking up 16 December 1926.
Eight ships ordered in December 1915., built by William Beardmore and Company
William Beardmore and Company
William Beardmore and Company was a Scottish engineering and shipbuilding conglomerate based in Glasgow and the surrounding Clydeside area. It was active between about 1890 and 1930 and at its peak employed about 40,000 people...
, Dalmuir; launched 27 December 1916; sold for breaking up 16 December 1926., built by Beardmore; launched 27 February 1917; sold for breaking up 29 April 1927., built by John Brown; launched 30 October 1916; torpedoed bu German torpedoboat S.50 in the North Sea 23 January 1917., built by John Brown; launched 11 January 1917; sold for breaking up 4 March 1947., built by Harland and Wolff, Govan; launched 3 February 1917; sold for breaking up 13 July 1926., built by Harland and Wolff, Govan; launched 9 March 1917; sold for breaking up 16 December 1926., built by Hawthorn Leslie; launched 27 September 1916; sold for breaking up 21 April 1928., built by Hawthorn Leslie; launched 15 November 1916; sold for breaking up 7 October 1927.
Twenty-three ships ordered in March 1916, of which twelve were to the same design as the previous batch., built by Beardmore; launched 30 June 1917; sold for breaking up 17 May 1928., built by John Brown; launched 10 March 1917; sold for breaking up 4 August 1927., built by John Brown; launched 21 April 1917; sold for breaking up 26 July 1927., built by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company
Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company
The Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Limited was a British shipbuilding company in the Govan area on the Clyde in Glasgow. Fairfields, as it is often known, was a major warship builder, turning out many vessels for the Royal Navy and other navies through the First World War and the...
; launched 26 January 1917; sold for breaking up (delivered) 28 January 1937., built by Harland and Wolff, Govan; launched 21 May 1917; sold for breaking up 26 June 1928., built by Harland and Wolff, Govan; launched 20 April 1917; sold for breaking up 28 July 1934., built by Hawthorn Leslie; launched 8 March 1917; sold for breaking up (delivered) 31 August 1936., built by Hawthorn Leslie; launched 10 January 1917; sold for breaking up 1937., built by Stephen; launched 22 May 1917; sold for breaking up 19 November 1929, but wrecked off South Wales while under tow en route to breakers 13 December 1929., built by Stephen; launched 4 August 1917; mined in the North Sea 23 December 1917., built by Swan Hunter; launched 26 November 1917; mined in the North Sea 23 December 1917., built by Swan Hunter; launched 10 February 1917; sold for breaking up 27 January 1937, but wrecked off Falmouth while under tow en route to breakers 16 March 1937.
Admiralty Modified R-class ships
The remaining eleven ships ordered in March 1916 were of the Admiralty Modified R class with a slightly increased breadth of 27ft, a draught of 11ft, and a tonnage of 1,085.These ships had two funnels., built by White; launched 23 December 1916; sold for breaking up 15 November 1928., built by White; launched 24 February 1917; sold for breaking up 9 May 1921., built by Scott's; launched 21 April 1917; sold for breaking up 15 November 1921., built by Swan Hunter; launched 5 April 1917; sold for breaking up 17 May 1928., built by Beardmore; launched 10 October 1917; sold for breaking up April 1928., built by Doxford; launched 24 March 1917; sunk in collision with SS Ellerie in the Clyde 29 October 1918., built by Doxford; launched 9 June 1917; sold for breaking up 7 January 1930., built by Fairfield; launched 22 March 1917; sold for breaking up April 1928, wrecked off Horse Fort en route to breakers, wrecked sold 27 August 1928., built by Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company
Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company
Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company Limited, often referred to simply as Palmers, was a British shipbuilding company. The Company was based in Jarrow, in Northeast England and also had operations in Hebburn and Willington Quay on the River Tyne....
; launched 7 June 1917; sold for breaking up 7 January 1930., built by Palmers; launched 23 July 1917; sold for breaking up 13 July 1926., built by Scott's; launched 2 August 1917; sold for breaking up 19 November 1929.
Thornycroft R-class ships
, built by John I. Thornycroft & CompanyJohn I. Thornycroft & Company
John I. Thornycroft & Company Limited, usually known simply as Thornycroft was a British shipbuilding firm started by John Isaac Thornycroft in the 19th century.-History:...
, Woolston, launched 14 October 1916. Sold for breaking up 13 July 1926., built by Thornycroft; launched 25 November 1916; sold back to Thornycroft 21 June 1920, who then sold her to the Thai Navy in September 1920. She was renamed Phra Ruang and was the last of the R class to survive, being scrapped in 1957., built by Thornycroft; launched 15 January 1917; sold for breaking up 26 July 1927., built by Thornycroft; launched 10 March 1917; sold for breaking up 18 February 1930., built by Thornycroft; launched 21 April 1917; sold for breaking up 6 February 1931.
Yarrow R-class ships
These seven ships built by Yarrow ShipbuildersYarrow Shipbuilders
Yarrow Limited , often styled as simply Yarrows, was a major shipbuilding firm based in the Scotstoun district of Glasgow on the River Clyde...
were sometimes classified as the Yarrow Later M-class destroyer
Yarrow Later M class destroyer
The Yarrow Later M class were a class of seven destroyers built for the Royal Navy that saw service during World War I. They were based on the preceding and successful Yarrow M class with minor alterations; notably reduced beam to compensate for increased displacement and a sloping stern...
. These ships had two funnels.
Four vessels were ordered in July 1915: - Laid down August 1915, launched 24 July 1916, completed September 1916. Sold for breaking up 5 November 1926. - Launched 30 September 1916 and completed late 1916. Sunk by gunfire from German cruisers Bremse and off Norway, 17 October 1917. - Launched 25 November 1916 and completed 1916, torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
off Maas light ship on night of 22 December/23 December 1917. - Laid down August 1915, launched 5 February 1917, completed February 1917. Sold for breaking up 5 November 1926.
Three vessels were ordered in March 1916: - Laid down March 1916, launched 24 March 1917, completed May 1917. Sold for breaking up 29 April 1927. - Laid down March 1916, launched 19 May 1917, completed July 1917. Sold for breaking up April 1938. - Launched 4 August 1917 and completed 1917, torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
UC-17
SM UC-17
SM UC-17 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the Kaiserliche Marine in World War I. She was ordered on 29 August 1915 and launched on 29 February 1916...
off Dutch coast
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
15 August 1918.