HMS Hydra (1912)

HMS Hydra was one of 20 Acheron-class destroyers built for the Royal Navy in the 1910s. Completed in 1912, the ship participated in World War I and was sold for scrap in 1921.

For other ships with the same name, see Hydra (disambiguation) § Military vehicles.

Hydra during World War I
History
United Kingdom
Name: Hydra
Builder: John Brown & Company, Clydebank
Yard number: 406[1]
Laid down: 7 February 1911
Launched: 19 February 1912
Commissioned: June 1912
Fate: Sold for scrap, 9 May 1921
General characteristics
Class and type: Acheron-class destroyer
Displacement: 778 long tons (790 t)
Length: 246 ft (75 m)
Beam: 25 ft 8 in (7.8 m)
Draught: 8 ft 9 in (2.7 m)
Installed power:
Propulsion: 2 shafts; 1 steam turbine
Speed: 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)
Range: 1,620 nmi (3,000 km; 1,860 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement: 70
Armament:

Design and description

The Acheron class was a repeat of the preceding Acorn class. The Admiralty provided general specifications, but each shipyard did their own detailed design so that ships often varied in size.[2] The Acherons had an overall length of 246 feet (75 m), a beam of 23 feet 8 inches (7.2 m), and a draught of 8 feet 9 inches (2.7 m). The ships displaced 778 long tons (790 t) at deep load and their crew numbered 70 officers and ratings.[3]

Hydra was powered by a single Brown-Curtis steam turbine that drove both propeller shafts using steam provided by three Yarrow boilers. The engines developed a total of 13,500 shaft horsepower (10,100 kW) and were designed for a speed of 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph). The ship reached a speed of 28.1 knots (52.0 km/h; 32.3 mph) from 14,710 shp (10,970 kW) during her sea trials.[4] The Acherons had a range of 1,620 nautical miles (3,000 km; 1,860 mi) at a cruising speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).[3]

The primary armament of the ships consisted of a pair of BL 4-inch (102 mm) Mk VIII guns in single, unprotected pivot mounts fore and aft of the superstructure. They were also armed with two single QF 12-pounder (3-inch (76 mm)) guns, one on each broadside abreast the bridge. The destroyers were equipped with a pair of single rotating mounts for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes amidships and carried two reload torpedoes.[5]

Construction and career

Hydra was ordered under the 1910–1911 Naval Programme from John Brown & Company. The ship was laid down at the company's Clydebank shipyard on 7 February 1911, launched on 19 February 1912 and commissioned in June.[6]

The Battle of Dogger Bank

Hydra was with the First Destroyer Flotilla at the Battle of Dogger Bank[7] on 24 January 1915.

The Battle of Jutland

She was present at the Battle of Jutland[8] on 31 May 1916. Along with the rest of the flotilla, she was transferred to the 3rd Battle Squadron, based at Portsmouth.[9]

She collided with a merchant ship on the night of 11 February 1917 in the English Channel. The captain of Hydra was held liable for the collision because, although the other ship showed him a light, he did not perceive that it was on a crossing course.[10]

Mediterranean Service

From 1917 the Third Battle Squadron was deployed to the Mediterranean. Hydra was present at the entry of the Allied Fleet through the Dardanelles on 12 November 1918.[11] On 9 February 1921, Hydra collided with the Royal Navy torpedo boat Z 3 in the Weilingen Channel and sank. Z 3 rescued all 72 of Hydra′s crew.[12] The ship was sold on 9 May 1921 to Thos W Ward of Portishead for scrap.[13]

Pennant Numbers
Pennant Number[13]FromTo
H506 December 1914  1 January 1918
H431 January 1918Early 1919
H94Early 19199 May 1921

References
  1. "HMS Hydra at the Clyde-built database". Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2009.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. Gardiner & Gray, p. 75
  3. Friedman, p. 295
  4. March, pp. 116-109
  5. Friedman, pp. 119, 295
  6. Friedman, p. 306
  7. "Battle of Dogger Bank - Order of Battle (World War 1 Naval Combat website)". Retrieved 8 March 2009.
  8. "Battle of Jutland - Order of Battle (World War 1 Naval Combat website)". Retrieved 8 March 2009.
  9. "HMS Hydra at Battleships-Cruisers website". Retrieved 27 February 2009.
  10. "Combat Immunity and the Duty of Care - James Rowley judgement (extract)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2009.
  11. S E Brooks. "The Entry of the Allied Fleet through the Dardanelles". Oxford University. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
  12. "Warships in collision". The Times (42643). London. 12 February 1921. col D, p. 9.
  13. "Arrowsmith List: Royal Navy WWI Destroyer Pendant Numbers". Retrieved 1 July 2008.
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