HMS Sable (1916)

HMS Sable was a R-class destroyer that served with the Royal Navy during the First World War. The R class were an improvement on the previous M class with geared steam turbines to improve efficiency. Laid down by J. Samuel White at East Cowes on the Isle of Wight, the destroyer was launched in November 1916 and joined the Grand Fleet. Service during the war was mostly uneventful, apart from a collision with fellow R class destroyer Salmon. After the War, the destroyer was placed in reserve and decommissioned, being sold to be broken up in August 1927. In a twist of fate,Salmon was renamed Sable in 1933.

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

Two R-class destroyers, sister ship HMS Rob Roy nearest
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Sable
Namesake: Sable
Ordered: July 1915
Builder: J. Samuel White, East Cowes
Yard number: 1477
Launched: 28 June 1916
Completed: 30 November 1916
Out of service: August 1927
Fate: Broken up
General characteristics
Class and type: R-class destroyer
Displacement:
Length: 276 ft (84.1 m) (o.a.)
Beam: 26 ft 8 in (8.13 m)
Draught: 9 ft (2.7 m)
Installed power:
Propulsion: 2 geared Parsons steam turbines
Speed: 36 knots (66.7 km/h; 41.4 mph)
Range: 3,450 nmi (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement: 82
Armament:

Design and development
Main article: R-class destroyer

Sable was one of seventeen R-class destroyer delivered to the British Admiralty as part of the Sixth War Construction Programme.[1] The design was generally similar to the preceding M class, but differed in having geared turbines, the central gun mounted on a bandstand and minor changes to improve seakeeping. The destroyer had an overall length of 276 feet (84.12 m), with a beam of 26 feet 8 inches (8.13 m) and a draught of 9 feet (2.74 m). Displacement was 975 long tons (991 t) normal and 1,173 long tons (1,192 t) deep load. Power was provided by three Yarrow boilers feeding two Parsons 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).[2] During trials, the vessel achieved a speed of 35.2 knots (65.2 km/h; 40.5 mph).[3] 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) due to the enhanced efficiency of the geared machinery.[2] The ship had a complement of 82 officers and ratings.[4]

Armament consisted of three 4-inch (102 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.[4] A single 2-pounder (40 mm) pom-pom anti-aircraft gun was carried on a platform between two twin mounts for 21 in (533 mm) torpedoes.[2] Fire control included a single Dumaresq and a Vickers range clock.[5]

Construction and career

Ordered in July 1915, Sable was laid down by J. Samuel White at East Cowes on the Isle of Wight with the yard number 1477, and launched on 28 June the following year.[6] The vessel was the first of the name, recalling the species of Marten.[7] The destroyer was completed on 30 November 1916 and was deployed as part of the Grand Fleet, joining the Fifteenth Destroyer Flotilla, remaining until the end of the war.[8][9][10]

The destroyer was soon on active service and, on January 29, 1917, joined a flotilla led by leader Grenville that sought to engage German destroyers in a sweep of the English Channel.[11] On 14 April, the destroyer formed part of the escort for RMS Olympic, which transported Arthur Balfour on a mission to the US to procure additional destroyers for the fleet. The mission encountered heavy seas that caused substantial damage, but was a success.[12] The ship later undertook anti-submarine patrols.[13] Also during the year, the ship collided with sister ship Salmon, sustaining damage to the bridge.[14] Both ships made it successfully back to port.[15]

After the Armistice, Sable helped to escort the surrendered German fleet to its internment and subsequent scuttling at Scapa Flow.[3] The vessel was then allocated to the torpedo school at Portsmouth attached to Vernon.[16] During 1919, the ship was moved to Plymouth and reduced to reserve.[17] However, in 1923, the Navy decided to scrap many of the older destroyers in preparation for the introduction of newer and larger vessels.[18] Sable was one of the destroyers chosen for retirement.[19] During August 1927, Sable was sold to Hughes Bolckow of Blyth, Northumberland and subsequently broken up.[20] The name was subsequently taken in 1933 by the very Salmon that had collided with the destroyer earlier in her career.[7]

References

Citations
  1. Friedman 2009, p. 310.
  2. Gardiner & Gray 1985, p. 81.
  3. Williams & Sprake 1993, p. 39.
  4. Parkes & Prendergast 1969, p. 107.
  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. Williams & Sprake 1993, p. 86.
  7. Manning & Walker 1959, p. 386.
  8. Williams & Sprake 1993, p. 36.
  9. "Destroyer Flotillas of the Grand Fleet". Supplement to The Monthly Navy List. January 1917. p. 12. Retrieved 28 December 2020 – via National Library of Scotland.
  10. "Destroyer Flotillas of the Grand Fleet". Supplement to The Monthly Navy List. October 1918. p. 12. Retrieved 28 December 2020 – via National Library of Scotland.
  11. Naval Staff Monograph No. 34 1933, p. 106.
  12. Naval Staff Monograph No. 34 1933, p. 369.
  13. Naval Staff Monograph No. 35 1939, p. 165.
  14. Dawson 1935, p. 199.
  15. Dawson 1935, p. 121.
  16. "Local Defence and Training Establishments, Patrol Flotillas, Etc". Supplement to The Monthly Navy List. October 1919. p. 704. Retrieved 28 December 2020 – via National Library of Scotland.
  17. "III – Local Defence and Training Establishments, Patrol Flotillas, Etc". Supplement to The Monthly Navy List: 704. January 1920. Retrieved 28 December 2020 – via National Library of Scotland.
  18. Friedman 2009, p. 180.
  19. "More Destroyers to be Scrapped". The Times (44073). 22 September 1925. p. 7.
  20. Colledge & Warlow 2010, p. 350.

Bibliography
  • 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.
  • Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the First World War. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-049-9.
  • Dawson, Lionel (1935). Flotillas: A Hard-Lying Story. London: Rich & Cowan Ltd. OCLC 38668304.
  • 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.
  • Kemp, Paul K. (1956). Destroyer. London: Herbert Jenkins. OCLC 464448265.
  • Manning, Thomas Davys; Walker, Charles Frederick (1959). British Warship Names. London: Putnam. OCLC 780274698.
  • Monograph No. 34: Home Waters Part XIX: December 1916 to April1917. Naval Staff Monographs (Historical). XIX. Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division. 1933.
  • Monograph No. 35: Home Waters Part IX: 1st May 1917 to 31st July 1917. Naval Staff Monographs (Historical). IX. Naval Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division. 1939.
  • Parkes, Oscar; Prendergast, Maurice (1969). Jane's Fighting Ships 1919. Newton Abbott: David & Charles. OCLC 907574860.
  • Williams, David L.; Sprake, Raymond F. (1993). White's of Cowes : "White's-built, well-built!". Peterborough: Silver Link. ISBN 978-1-85794-011-4.
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