HMS Tobago (1918)

HMS Tobago was an S-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during the Greco-Turkish War. Launched by Thornycroft on 15 July 1918, the vessel followed a design typical of the yard by being faster than the majority of the class, and also had better seakeeping properties thanks to a raised forecastle. The destroyer operated as part of the Grand Fleet for the last few weeks of the First World War, and, after the Armistice, joined the Mediterranean Fleet based in Malta. While serving in off the coast of Turkey, the ship hit a mine on 15 July 1920, exactly two years after being launched. Despite the relative youth of the vessel, the damage was deemed irrepairable and so Tobago returned to Malta and was sold for scrap on 9 February 1922.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Tobago.

HMS Tobago in 1918
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Tobago
Ordered:	April 1917
Builder:	Thornycroft
Laid down:	May 1917
Launched:	15 July 1918
Commissioned:	October 1918
Decommissioned:	15 December 1920
Fate:	Sold for scrap in Malta on 9 February 1922
General characteristics
Class and type:	S-class destroyer
Displacement:	1,087 long tons (1,104 t) standard 1,240 long tons (1,260 t) deep load
Length:	266 ft 9 in (81.3 m) between perpendiculars
Beam:	27 ft 4 in (8.3 m)
Draught:	10 ft 6 in (3.20 m)
Propulsion:	3 Yarrow boilers 2 geared Brown Curtis steam turbines, 29,000 shp
Speed:	36 knots (41 mph; 67 km/h)
Range:	3,450 nautical miles (6,390 km) at 20 knots (37 km/h)
Complement:	90
Armament:	3 × QF 4 inches (102 mm) Mark IV guns 1 × single 2-pounder (40 mm) "pom-pom" Mk. II anti-aircraft gun 4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes (2×2) 2 × 18 in (457 mm) torpedo tubes (1×1)

Design and development

Main article: S-class destroyer

Tobago was one of two S-class destroyers ordered by the British Admiralty from Thornycroft in April 1917 as part of the Eleventh War Construction Programme alongside Speedy.[1] The design was based on the R-class destroyer Rosalind built by the shipyard. Compared to the standard S-class vessels, the vessels, also known as Modified Rosalinds, were longer, with a raised forward gun position and provision for triple torpedoes.[2] In a similar way to previous designs, Thornycroft also installed more powerful machinery which gave increased speed. This also enabled a more stable hull design with a greater beam and a metacentric height of 2 ft 10 in (0.86 m).[3]

With an overall length of 275 ft 9 in (84.05 m) and a length of 266 ft 9 in (81.31 m) between perpendiculars, Tobago had a beam of 27 ft 4 in (8.33 m) and a draught of 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m).[4] Displacement was 1,087 long tons (1,104 t) normal and 1,240 long tons (1,260 t) full load. Three Yarrow boilers fed steam to two sets of Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines rated at 29,000 shaft horsepower (22,000 kW) and driving two shafts, giving a design speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) in light load and 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph) at full load. Two funnels were fitted, the forward one larger in diameter. 250 tons of oil were carried, giving a design range of 3,450 nautical miles (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph). This ship's complement was 90 officers and ratings.[1]

Tobago's armament consisted of three QF 4in Mk IV guns on the ship's centreline.[4] One was mounted on the raised forecastle, while another was positioned between the second and third funnels and the last was located aft.[5] The ship also mounted a single 2-pounder (40 mm) pom-pom anti-aircraft gun for air defence. Four 21 in (533 mm) torpedoes were launched from two twin rotating mounts located aft with two 18 in (457 mm) mounts fitted athwartships.[1] Fire control included a single Dumaresq and a Vickers range clock.[6]

Construction and career

Laid down in May 1917, Tobago was launched on 15 July 1918 and completed on 2 October that year.[7] The destroyer joined the Fourteenth Destroyer Flotilla just before the end of the First World War.[8] After the Armistice, the Grand Fleet was dissolved. Tobago was recommissioned on 22 February 1919 and assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet under Blenheim.[9] The ship was assigned to Malta to support of British interests in the Greco-Turkish War. While on patrol on 15 July 1920, Tobago hit a mine 10 miles (16 km) off the coast from Trabzon.[10] The damage was deemed uneconomic to repair and, on 15 December 1920, the ship was paid off.[11] The destroyer returned to Malta and was sold for scrap on 9 February 1922.[12]

Pennant numbers

Pennant Number	Date
G61	September 1918[13]

References

Citations

1. Gardiner & Gray 1985, p. 85.
2. Friedman 2009, p. 211.
3. March 1966, p. 220.
4. Parkes & Prendegast 1920, p. 91.
5. Friedman 2009, p. 163.
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. Friedman 2009, p. 311.
8. "Destroyer Flotillas of the Grand Fleet", Supplement to the Navy List Showing Organisation of the Fleet, Flag Officers' Commands &c., p. 12, October 1918, retrieved 10 June 2020 – via National Library of Scotland
9. "Tobago", The Navy List, p. 875, April 1920, retrieved 10 June 2020 – via National Library of Scotland
10. Halpern 2019, p. 132.
11. "Tobago", The Navy List, p. 875, January 1921, retrieved 10 June 2020 – via National Library of Scotland
12. Colledge & Warlow 2006, p. 408.
13. Dittmar & Colledge 1972, p. 75.

Bibliography

• 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. ISBN 978-1-85367-566-9.
• 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 First 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.
• Halpern, Paul (2019). The Mediterranean Fleet, 1919-1929. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-91142-387-4.
• March, Edgar J. (1966). British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892–1953. London: Seeley Service. OCLC 164893555.
• Parkes, Oscar; Prendegast, Maurice (1920). Jane’s Fighting Ships. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd.