HMS Rowena (1916)

HMS Rowena was an R-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during World War I. Launched on 1 July 1916, the ship operated as part of the Grand Fleet as part of a destroyer flotilla hunting for German vessels that were attacking convoys in the North Sea. Although there were many reported sightings, no submarines were sunk. After the conflict, the vessel was transferred to the Navy’s establishment at Portland to help in the development of anti-submarine warfare, which ultimately helped in the Battle of the Atlantic. Rowena did not, however, see the fruit of this labour. After twenty years of service, the destroyer was retired and sold to be broken up on 27 January 1937.

Sistership HMS Romola and two other R-class destroyers
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Rowena
Builder: John Brown & Company, Clydebank
Yard number: 450
Laid down: 25 August 1915
Launched: 1 July 1916
Commissioned: 29 September 1916
Decommissioned: 27 January 1937
Fate: Broken up
General characteristics
Class and type: R-class destroyer
Displacement:
  • 975 long tons (991 t) normal
  • 1,173 long tons (1,192 t) deep load
Length: 265 ft (80.8 m) p.p.
Beam: 26 ft 9 in (8.15 m)
Draught: 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m)
Propulsion:
  • 3 Yarrow boilers
  • 2 geared Brown-Curtis 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
Main article: R-class destroyer

Rowena was the second R-class destroyer ordered by the British Admiralty in July 1915 as part of the Sixth War Construction Programme. A development of the preceding M-class, the design differed primarily in utilising geared turbines to improve fuel consumption.[1]

The destroyer was 265 feet (80.77 m) long between perpendiculars, with a beam of 26 feet 9 inches (8.15 m) and a draught of 9 feet 10 inches (3.00 m).[2] Displacement was 975 long tons (991 t) normal and 1,173 long tons (1,192 t) deep load.[3] Power was provided by three Yarrow boilers feeding two Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines rated at 27,000 shaft horsepower (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).[4] The ship had a complement of 82 officers and ratings.[2]

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.[2] 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.[5]

Construction and career

Rowena was laid down by John Brown & Company at Clydebank on the River Clyde in 25 August 1915 and launched in 1 July 1916, leaving the yard on 29 September that year. The destroyer was allocated the yard number 450.[6] The build took 310 days and fitting out 90 days.[7]

On commissioning, Rowena joined the 15th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet,[8] and served there until 1919.[9] The Flotilla was involved in supporting the convoys that crossed the North Sea, including running anti-submarine patrols between 15 and 24 June 1917. Although sixty-one sightings of submarines and twelve attacks were reported during that operation, no submarines were sunk.[10] On 24 April 1918 the Flotilla was called to intercept the High Seas Fleet on what was to prove the last major expedition by the German Navy of the War. The ships returned without making contact.[11]

After the War, Rowena was sent to Gibraltar along with sistership Romola, arriving on 8 May 1920.[12] The vessel joined the Anti-Submarine Flotilla in Portland on 1 July 1926.[13] For the next ten years, Rowena was used to refine anti-submarine weapons and techniques such as ASDIC.[14] ASDIC went on to prove invaluable in the Battle of the Atlantic.[15] On 27 January 1937, the destroyer was given to Thos W Ward of Sheffield in exchange for RMS Majestic and was subsequently broken up at Milford Haven.[16]

Pennant numbers
Pennant Number Date
G811917[17]
G901918[17]
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References

Citations
  1. Friedman 2009, p. 310.
  2. Parkes & Prendegast 1919, p. 107.
  3. McCaid, John (2012). "Rowena 1916 HMS – Destroyer". Clydemarine. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  4. Gardiner & Gray 1985, p. 81.
  5. "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.
  6. Johnston 2014, p. 198.
  7. Johnston 2014, p. 14.
  8. "Destroyer Flotillas of the Grand Fleet". The Navy List: 13. July 1917. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  9. "Destroyer Flotillas of the Grand Fleet". The Navy List: 12. January 1919. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  10. Newbolt 1931, pp. 54–56.
  11. Newbolt 1931, pp. 237–238.
  12. "Movements of Ships". The Times. 11 May 1920. p. 21.
  13. "Portland". The Navy List: 268. January 1933.
  14. Hackmann 1984, p. 186.
  15. Friedman 2012, p. 60.
  16. Colledge & Warlow 2010, p. 346.
  17. Dittmar & Colledge 1972, p. 70.

Bibliography
  • Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2010). Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy. Havertown: Casemate. ISBN 978-1-93514-907-1.
  • 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.
  • Friedman, Norman (2012). British Destroyers & Frigates: The Second World War & After. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-015-4.
  • 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.
  • Hackmann, Willem (1984). Seek & Strike: Sonar, Anti-Submarine Warfare and the Royal Navy 1914-54. London: HMSO. ISBN 978-0-11290-423-6.
  • Johnston, Ian (2014). A Shipyard at War: Unseen Photographs of John Brown & Co. Ltd, Clydebank, 1914-18. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-216-5.
  • Newbolt, Henry (1931). Naval Operations: Vol. V. History of the Great War. London: Longmans, Green and Co.
  • Parkes, Oscar; Prendegast, Maurice (1919). Jane’s Fighting Ships. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd.
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