HMS Sorceress (1916)

HMS Sorceress was an R-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during World War I. Launched on 29 August 1916, the vessel operated as part of the Grand Fleet until it was disbanded in 1919. The destroyer was sold to be broken up on 29 April 1927.

Sistership HMS Thisbe
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Sorceress
Builder: Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend
Yard number: 1013
Laid down: 13 November 1915
Launched: 29 August 1916
Commissioned: 14 December 1916
Decommissioned: 29 April 1927
Fate: Broken up
General characteristics
Class and type: R-class destroyer
Displacement:
  • 975 long tons (991 t) normal
  • 1,035 long tons (1,052 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 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
Main article: R-class destroyer

Sorceress was one of seventeen R-class destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty in July 1915 as part of the Sixth War Construction Programme.[1] The ship was laid down by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson at Wallsend on the River Tyne in November 1915 and launched in August 1916.[2]

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).[3] 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 shaft horsepower (20,000 kW) and driving two shafts, to give a design speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph).[1] 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).[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. 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.[1] Fire control included a single Dumaresq and a Vickers range clock.[4] The ship had a complement of 82 officers and men.[3]

Service

On commissioning, Sorceress joined the 15th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet.[5] The vessel was credited with bounty for the German auxiliary cruiser Konprinz Willhelm on 2 November 1917 along with Parker, Ready, Rigorous, Rocket, Rob Roy and Trenchant.[6] After the Grand Fleet was disbanded, the ship was recommissioned on 19 November 1919.[7] Sorceress was decommissioned and sold to Thos W Ward of Sheffield to be broken up on 29 April 1927.[8]

Pennant numbers
Pennant Number Date
G931917[9]
G941918[9]
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References
  1. Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. p. 81. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
  2. Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the First World War. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. p. 310. ISBN 978-1-84832-049-9.
  3. Parkes, Oscar; Prendegast, Maurice (1918). Jane’s Fighting Ships. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd. p. 107.
  4. "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.
  5. "Destroyer Flotillas of the Grand Fleet". The Navy List: 12. January 1917. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  6. "List of Prize and Salvage Awards". The Navy List: 2410. October 1920. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  7. "Sorceress". The Navy List: 865. April 1920. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  8. Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006). Ships of the Royal Navy: A Complete Record of All Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy From the 15th Century to the Present. London: Chatham. p. 376.
  9. Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. Shepperton: Ian Allan. p. 70. ISBN 0-7110-0380-7.

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.
  • 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, eds. (1985). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 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.
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