HMS Radstock (1916)

HMS Radstock was the first in a class of 62 R-class destroyers. The design differed from the preceding M-class primarily in the use of geared turbines, which gave better fuel efficiency. The ship was launched on 8 June 1916 and served with the Grand Fleet of the Royal Navy during World War I as in an escort and anti-submarine role. While escorting a convoy, the destroyer collided with the merchant ship Volute, but otherwise had an uneventful war. After the armistice, the vessel was recommissioned with reduced complement and then sold to be scrapped on 29 April 1927.

Two R class destroyers, sistership HMS Rob Rob in the foreground
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Radstock
Builder: Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend
Yard number: 1005
Laid down: 6 September 1915
Launched: 8 June 1916
Commissioned: 20 September 1916
Decommissioned: 29 April 1927
Fate: Sold to be broken up
General characteristics
Class and type: R-class destroyer
Displacement:
Length: 265 ft (80.8 m) p.p.
Beam: 26 ft 7 in (8.10 m)
Draught: 9 ft 8 in (2.95 m)
Propulsion:
  • 3 Brown-Curtis boilers
  • 2 geared Parsons steam turbines, 27,000 shp (20,000 kW)
Speed: 36 knots (41.4 mph; 66.7 km/h)
Range: 3,440 nmi (6,370 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h)
Complement: 82
Armament:
  • 3 × QF 4-inch (101.6 mm) Mark IV guns, mounting P Mk. IX
  • 1 × single 2-pounder (40-mm) "pom-pom" Mk. II anti-aircraft gun
  • 4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes (2×2)

Design and development

Radstock was originally ordered by the British Admiralty in May 1915 as part of the Sixth War Construction Programme as one of eighteen M-class destroyers.[1] However, the ship was equipped with two geared turbines and became the prototype for the R-class.[2] Comparative trials between sistership Romola and Norman showed a 15% saving in fuel at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) and 28% at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).[3]

The ship was 265 feet (80.77 m) long between perpendiculars, with a beam of 26 feet 7 inches (8.10 m) and a draught of 9 feet 8 inches (2.95 m). Displacement was 975 long tons (991 t) normal and 1,035 long tons (1,052 t) deep load. Power was provided by three Yarrow boilers feeding two Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines rated at 27,000 shp (20,000 kW) and driving two shafts, to give a design speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph).[4] Three funnels were fitted. 296 long tons (301 t) of oil were carried, giving a design range of 3,450 nautical miles (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).[5]

Armament consisted of three 4 in (100 mm) Mk IV QF guns on the ship's centreline, with one on the forecastle, one aft on a raised platform and one between the second and third funnels.[5] A single 2-pounder (40 mm) pom-pom anti-aircraft gun was carried, while torpedo armament consisted of two twin mounts for 21 in (533 mm) torpedoes.[4] Fire control included a single Dumaresq and a Vickers range clock.[6] The ship had a complement of 82 officers and ratings.[1]

Construction and service

Radstock was laid down by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson at Wallsend on the River Tyne on 5 September 1915 with yard number 1005 and launched on 8 June 1916.[7] The vessel was completed on 20 September that year.[1]

On commissioning, Radstock joined the newly created 15th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet.[8] The destroyer was soon in action, patrolling the North Sea for submarines.[9] Despite participating in a number of sweeps, the vessel did not sight the enemy.[10] Due to the continued submarine threat, the destroyer was transferred to escort duties and along with Northesk, was responsible for escorting the first southbound convoy to travel from Lerwick to Immingham on 29 April 1917.[11] Convoys often operated at night and in very difficult conditions, and accidents happened. The vessel was found jointly culpable for a collision with the merchant ship Volute, which was leading a convoy that Radstock and sistership Undine were escorting, on 12 April 1918.[12]

Radstock remained part of the 15th Destroyer Flotilla at the end of the war.[13] After the Grand Fleet was disbanded, the ship was recommissioned with Reduced Complement on 15 October 1919 and based at Port Edgar.[14] In 1923, the Navy decided to scrap many of the older destroyers, up to and including some of the R-class, in preparation for the introduction of newer and larger vessels.[15] The destroyer was retired and sold to Thos W Ward on 29 April 1927 to be broken up at Grays, despite being in service little over ten years.[16]

Pennant numbers
Pennant Number Date
G791916[17]
G761917[17]
G811918[17]
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References

Notes
  1. Friedman 2009, p. 310.
  2. Friedman 2009, p. 326.
  3. Brown 2007, p. 16.
  4. Gardiner & Gray 1985, p. 81.
  5. Parkes & Prendegast 1919, p. 107.
  6. "Fire Control in H.M. Ships". The Technical History and Index: Alteration in Armaments of H.M. Ships during the War. 3 (23): 31. 1919.
  7. "Swan, Hunter, & Wigham Richardson". Lloyd's Register of Shipping: 456. 1920.
  8. "Destroyer Flotillas of the Grand Fleet". The Navy List: 13. July 1916.
  9. Naval Staff Monograph No. 34 1933, pp. 92–93.
  10. Naval Staff Monograph No. 34 1933, pp. 105–107.
  11. Naval Staff Monograph No. 34 1933, pp. 375–376.
  12. Dewar 1989, p. 238.
  13. "Destroyer Flotillas of the Grand Fleet". The Navy List: 12. July 1918.
  14. "Radstock". The Navy List: 851. July 1920.
  15. Friedman 2009, p. 180.
  16. Colledge 1987, p. 329.
  17. Dittmar & Colledge 1972, p. 69.

Bibliography
  • Brown, David K. (2007). Atlantic Escorts: Ships, Weapons & Tactics in World War II. Barnsley: Pen and Sword. ISBN 978-1-78346-901-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Colledge, J.J. (1987). Ships of the Royal Navy : The Complete Record of All Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press.
  • Dewar, M.J. (1989). Collision at Sea – How?. Glasgow: Brown, Son and Ferguson. ISBN 978-0-85174-561-9.
  • Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 978-0-71100-380-4.
  • Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-049-9.
  • Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 978-0-85177-245-5.
  • March, Edgar J. (1966). British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892–1953; Drawn by Admiralty Permission From Official Records & Returns, Ships' Covers & Building Plans. London: Seeley Service. OCLC 164893555.
  • Monograph No. 34: Home Waters Part VIII: December 1916 to April 1917 (PDF). Naval Staff Monographs (Historical). XVIII. Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division. 1933.
  • Parkes, Oscar; Prendegast, Maurice (1919). Jane’s Fighting Ships. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd.
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