HMS Raider (1916)

HMS Raider was the second of a class of sixty two R-class destroyers operated by the Royal Navy. Launched on 17 July 1916, the vessel served with the Grand Fleet during World War I. The destroyer was built as part of the preceding M-class but was equipped with geared turbines which improved efficiency and increased range. The ship was involved in anti-submarine patrols, but did not sink any German submarines. After the war, the destroyer initially moved to Harwich and was briefly stationed in Ireland after the Irish Civil War. In 1923, the Navy decided to retire the older destroyers in the fleet and, although initially spared, Raider was decommissioned and sold to be broken up on 29 April 1927.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Raider.
Two R-class destroyers, sister ship Rob Roy in the foreground
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Raider
Builder: Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend
Yard number: 1007
Laid down: 25 October 1915
Launched: 17 July 1916
Completed: October 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:
Speed: 36 kn (41.4 mph; 66.7 km/h)
Range: 3,440 nmi (6,370 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h)
Complement: 82
Armament:

Design
Main article: R-class destroyer

Raider 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] Instead, the ship was equipped, as had sister ship Radstock, with geared steam turbines and so became the second prototype for the R-class.[2] The new engines proved to be more efficient, providing a greater range for a given quantity of fuel. Comparative trials between the destroyers Romola and Norman showed a 15% saving in fuel oil at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) and 28% at 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 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 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 fuel 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 in P Mk IX mounts on the ship's centreline, with one on the forecastle, one aft on a raised platform and one between the central and aft funnels. A single 2-pounder (40 mm) pom-pom Mk II 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.[5]

Service

Raider was laid down by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson at Wallsend on the River Tyne in October 1915 and given the yard number 1007.[7] The ship was launched on 17 July 1916 and completed in October.[1] On commissioning, Raider joined the newly created Fifteenth Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet.[8] The Flotilla took part in anti-submarine patrols east of the Shetland Islands during June 1917, but Raider was unsuccessful in sighting any enemy boats.[9] The vessel remained part of the Fifteenth Destroyer Flotilla until the end of the war.[10]

After the Grand Fleet was disbanded, the ship was recommissioned with Reduced Complement on 20 November 1919 and based at Harwich.[11] The destroyer was briefly sent to Derry and Lough Swilly between 11 and 13 July 1923 at the end of the Irish Civil War.[12] During that year, the Navy decided to scrap many of the older destroyers in preparation for the introduction of newer and larger vessels.[13] Raider was initially spared, being refitted and transferred to the Portland Anti-Submarine Flotilla, arriving on 3 July 1925.[14] Ships of the class were fitted with ASDIC and used to train crews in anti-submarine warfare.[15] However, it was instead decided that Raider be scrapped.[16] The destroyer was therefore sold to G Cohen on 29 April 1927 to be broken up at Grays.[17]

Pennant numbers
Pennant Number Date
G811916[1]
G851917[1]
G821918[18]

References

Citations
  1. Friedman 2009, p. 310.
  2. Friedman 2009, p. 326.
  3. Brown 2007, p. 16.
  4. Gardiner & Gray 1985, p. 81.
  5. Parkes & Prendegast 1969, 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: 12. October 1916. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  9. Naval Staff Monograph No. 35 1939, p. 167.
  10. "Destroyer Flotillas of the Grand Fleet". The Navy List: 12. July 1918. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  11. "Raider". The Navy List: 851. July 1920. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  12. "Movements of Ships". The Times (43394). 16 July 1923. p. 17.
  13. Friedman 2009, p. 180.
  14. "Movements of Ships". The Times (44006). 6 July 1925. p. 22.
  15. Franklin 2004, p. 47.
  16. "More Destroyers to be Scrapped". The Times (44073). 22 September 1925. p. 7.
  17. Colledge & Warlow 2010, p. 329.
  18. 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.
  • Colledge, J.J. & Warlow, Ben (2010). Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of All Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy. Haverhill: 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.
  • Franklin, George (2004). Britain's Anti-submarine Capability 1919-1939. London: Taylor and Francis. ISBN 978-1-1357-7429-5.
  • 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.
  • Monograph No. 35: Home Waters Part IX: 1st May 1917 to 31st July 1917. Naval Staff Monographs (Historical). XIX. Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division. 1939.
  • Parkes, Oscar & Prendegast, Maurice (1969). Jane’s Fighting Ships 1919. Newton Abbott: David & Charles. OCLC 907574860.
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