HMS Speedy (1918)

HMS Speedy was an S-class destroyer which served with the Royal Navy during the First World War, Russian Civil War and the Greco-Turkish War. Speedy was one of a pair of destroyers ordered from Thornycroft with more powerful geared turbines and design changes like a raised forecastle that improved seakeeping. Launched on 1 June 1918, the vessel operated as part of the 12th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet for the last months the War. After the Armistice, the vessel joined the Mediterranean Fleet and took part in actions in the Black Sea and Sea of Marmara. It was during action there that the ship struck a tug on 24 September 1922. The collision sank the destroyer, killing ten sailors.

Sistership HMS Tobago in 1918
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Speedy
Ordered:	April 1917
Builder:	Thornycroft
Laid down:	May 1917
Launched:	1 June 1918
Commissioned:	14 August 1918
Out of service:	24 September 1922
Fate:	Sunk following collision in the Sea of Marmara
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 4 in (3.15 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 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes (1×1)

Design and development

Speedy 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 the similar Tobago.[1] The design was based on the R-class Rosalind built by the shipyard. Compared to the standard S-class vessels, the design, also known as Modified Rosalind, was longer, with a raised forward gun position and 18 in (457 mm) torpedo tubes moved to a new position, both of which improved seakeeping.[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]

Speedy had a long overall of 275 ft 9 in (84.05 m) between and a length of 266 ft 9 in (81.31 m) between perpendiculars. Beam was 27 ft 4 in (8.33 m) and draught 10 ft 4 in (3.15 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). Complement was 90 officers and ratings.[1]

Armament consisted of three QF 4in Mk IV guns on the ship's centreline.[4] One was mounted raised on the forecastle, one between the funnels and one 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 fitted in two twin rotating mounts aft with two 18 in (457 mm) fitted athwartships.[1] Fire control included a single Dumaresq and a Vickers range clock.[6]

Construction and career

Laid down in May 1917, Speedy was launched on 1 June 1918 and completed on 14 August that year.[7] For the remainder of the War, the destroyer served in the 12th Destroyer Flotilla.[8] Like many of the class the destroyer was moved to reserve at the end of the conflict.[1]

Speedy was recommissioned on 22 February 1919 and assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet under Blenheim.[9] As part of fleet led by Iron Duke, the ship was assigned to Constantinople to enforce British interests in the conflicts in the Black Sea.[10] To this end, the ship was sent to support the Volunteer Army fighting in the Southern Front of the Russian Civil War, including providing gunfire support during the attack on Mariupol.[11] Speedy was also involved in the evacuation of the High Commission for Southern Russia.[12]

The destroyer also formed part of a fleet that supported Greek forces during the Greco-Turkish War.[13] The action required the fleet to avoid casualties as much as possible, which meant that, for example, in the Gulf of Gemlik in July 1920, Speedy had to carefully provide support without firing on Turkish villages.[14] Later, while serving during the Chanak Crisis on 24 September 1922, the destroyer collided with a Turkish tug in the Sea of Marmara near the Gulf.[15][16] The damage was fatal and the ship sank taking ten crew. The survivors joined the slightly newer Thornycroft-built S-class destroyer Tourmaline under Lt. Cdr. Donal S. McGrath which was also serving in the area.[17][18]

Pennant numbers

Pennant Number	Date
G36	September 1918[18]

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. March 1966, p. 215.
8. "Destroyer Flotillas of the Grand Fleet". Supplement to the Navy List Showing Organisation of the Fleet, Flag Officers' Commands &c.: 12. July 1918. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
9. "Speedy". The Navy List: 866. April 1920. Retrieved 10 June 2020 – via National Library of Scotland.
10. Halpern 2019, p. 141.
11. Kettle 1992, p. 401.
12. Halpern 2019, p. 139.
13. Halpern 2019, p. 264.
14. Papoutsy 2008, p. 106.
15. Edwards 1939, p. 61.
16. Colledge & Warlow 2006, p. 379.
17. "Naval & Military Intelligence". The Times. 2 November 1922. p. 20.CS1 maint: date and year (link)
18. 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.
• Edwards, Kenneth (1939). The Grey Diplomatists. London: Rich & Cowan.
• 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.
• Kettle, Michael (1992). Churchill and the Archangel Fiasco. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-41508-286-0.
• March, Edgar J. (1966). British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892–1953. London: Seeley Service. OCLC 164893555.
• Papoutsy, Christos (2008). Ships of Mercy: The True Story of the Rescue of the Greeks : Smyrna, September 1922. Portsmouth NH: Peter E. Randall. ISBN 978-1-931-80766-1.
• Parkes, Oscar; Prendegast, Maurice (1920). Jane's Fighting Ships. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd.