Acasta class Destroyer (1912)

The Acasta class (K class from 1913) were the subject of the 1911-12 Programme, followed the path of the Acheron and Acorn. They burned oil and were 25% larger than the previous class, and also based on standard Admiralty design (12 ships), with eight more being builders’ specials. They were three-funnelled, three short funnels and the foremost torpedo tube was sited between the second and third funnels. Dimensions and tonnage increase, the powerplant as well, with an armament fixed on three Mark IV QF 4-in guns and 2 pounders, but still single torpedo tubes. They were completed in 1912-13 (the last with diverse names) so their crews had time to train before the war broke out. In action, seven were lost: HMS Contest and Paragon torpedoed in 1917, HMS Shark and Sparrohawk as well as Ardent and Fortune in 1916 in combat actions at Jutland, and Lynx hit a mine in 1915. They saw plenty of action both as convoy escorts, fleet vanguards and escorts, until sold for BU in 1921-22, and a single one sold to Brazil, still active in WW2.

Development

A larger version of the Acherons

To understand the lineage we must go back to the original 1900s River class, and trials to reach 33 knots without VTE (vertical tubes boilers) but steam turbines before, trialling oil fired VTE and turbines arrangements. What brought to the table the River class were that all had forecastles. The Admiralty then reverted to VTE to obtain and more range than steam turbines, for the next Tribal class. The came the coal-burning Beagle class of the 1908–1909 shipbuilding programme. They were based on fears of the lack of fuel oil in vase of war.

The Admiralty then reverted to oil due to the drawbacks of coal, and a rapidly changing international situation. The next Acorn class had a smaller storage space, better optimized bunker age while being smaller and cheaper, saving space was for later improvements. More importantly, they were the first admiralty designs. For the first time, they were given a truly standardized hull design worked with the best naval engineers and private consultants Britain could offer, all validated by the DNT (Directorate of Naval Construction), with proposals approved in July 1909. The new process seemingly had many advantages.

Acheron class destroyers as part of the Harwich Force. Most fought at three major battles including Jutland but ended from 1916-17 in the Mediterranean, replaced by more modern destroyers.
Next came the Acheron class (‘I’ class from 1913), which had been ordered in the 1910-11 program as a repeat of the preceding Acorn class, but with some important differences, with HMS Acheron being one of the builders proposals and privately designed, proposed as an improvement over the standard Acorn class from John I. Thornycroft & Company, Woolston, which was endorsed by the admiralty. They had two short funnels (foremost thicker) and the 12-pounder guns mounted slightly further forward. But the admiralty needed an heavier armament, leading to a 25% increase in displacement, producing the new Acasta class. They were very close to the 1000-tons mark for the first time.

The 1911-12 Programme destroyers were an expansion of the Acherons, but for the first time the 12pdr gun was dropped, being too light to inflict serious damage. A uniform armament of 4in was no more expensive, in cost or weight. It had been hoped to raise speed to 32kts, but E-in-C felt that this might be beyond some builders. It was also felt that many of the problems encountered in recent years had been through asking for too high a speed on a small displacement, so the requirement for 29kts was a reasonable compromise. The selection of names had been made before the first boat, Shark, was launched in July 1912, but in 1913 it was decided to switch to alphabetical class-names, with each boat in the class having the same initial letter. It was proposed to rename all the older destroyers, and the ‘K’ names given in the table were allotted to the Acastas, but in accordance with a long-held superstition against changing a ship’s name after her launch, they were never used, and the ships retained the original names.

Acasta’s Design

The Acastas were larger and more heavily armed than the H (Acorn) and I (Acheron) classes by displacing about 25% more. Another crucial aspect was a mix of calibre now replaced by a uniform combination of QF 4-inch guns. This class was the first to introduce them. Previous 4-inch (102 mm) guns were of the older breech-loading (BL) type. So their rate of fire improved, with one on the forecastle, one at the stern as in the Acheron class, but a third on the centreline, between the two torpedo tubes, or in sub-designs, abaft. Whatever the builder, the design imposed three funnels, with a foremost funnel tall and narrow, second short and wide, third level with the second, but narrower, a sure way to distinguish the class. The foremost torpedo tube also was located between the second and third funnels, which was another distinctive feature of the Acastas.

In all there were twelve “standard” vessels built to a common Admiralty design plus eight as “builders’ specials” except for Garland. They all had a shorter and less beamy hull, see below for details. Five were Thornycroft specials with a more powerful machinery rated for 22,500 shp. (16,800 kW) and HMS Hardy was to be tested with newly built, giant diesel cruising motors, but they were never ready in time to be installed. HMS Garland came from Parsons and showcased semi-geared turbines to reach a speed of 31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph) on trials. The seventh was a Fairfield’s “special”, HMS Fortune, featuring a “clipper” bow (see later). The eighth “special” came from William Denny at Dumbarton, HMS Ardent. She was the first built by using longitudinal framing, rather than conventional transverse framing. This was seemingly a success, but such radical change was not adopted perhaps by fear of long-term issues and disruption of the construction plan. The RN would have to wait decades, until the J-class destroyers of the late 1930s, to return to this solution, and keep it.

Hull and general design

The Acasta were comparable, albeit larger than the Acheron, which were closer to the former Acorn class, both being smaller than the Beagle class. So the Acasta returned to that format.
-Average displacement was 934 to 984 tons normal and 1072-1300t DP (Acherons 750-790 long tons normal, 860-900 long tons full load). This was a massive increase.
-Average overall length was 267 ft 6 in (81.53 m) to 252 ft (76.8 m) versus 246ft (75 m) on previous designs.
-The beam remained constant to 26 ft 6 in (8.08 m), up to 26 ft 9 in (8.15 m) versus 26 feet (7.9) or 26 ft 9 in (8.15m) depending on the yard for the Acherons. This produced a better hull ratio, apt for better speeds.
-Draught varied between 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) to 9 ft (2.7 m)n versus up to 9 ft (2.7 m) for the previous Acherons.
Seaworthiness remained about the same, with a similar deck height and forecastle with little flare. Hull shapes were still the same, with a near-straight bow, rounded poop, single rounded aft rudder, same shafts struts attachments and propellers. The configuration remained the same on the “specials” apart Fortune, which tried a “moderate” clipper bow. Results were positive and it was adopted for the next Laforey class.

The crews were of 75-77 on average with variations, and in general, always had six-seven officers rotating on duty at the bridge. To evacuate them, these destroyers came out with two whalers under davits abaft the third funnel and a small cutter on the starboard side, close to the amidship funnel like for the previous class.
Apart to the funnels, proportions remained about the same, with a forecastle still about 1/4 of the hull’s lenght, but the bridge was moved forward unlike the Acherons and more like the Beagles instead of being mid-way between the forecastle’s end and lower deck. What did not change was a tall, raked mainmast and small pole aft mast aft as well as the same small quarterdeck structure on the main deck plus echeloned air intakes of various sizes along with deck access hatches. Overall, the Acastas looked like Acherons on which a new section with a single, tall and thin funnel was added immediately aft of the bridge.

The funnels were indeed all unequal in height and width, with a thin, tall fore funnel to evacuate smoke away from the bridge’s top, single boiler exhaust, and then two lower, thicker funnels after with truncated exhausts pipes for the next groups of boilers amidship and aft. They had moderate caps and were all raked. The Acastas also had two projectors on platforms, one sitting forward on top of the bridge, another aft of the rear funnel. There was an also spotting top on the forward composed mainmast.

The main bridge was not different from previous designs. It was minimalistic, fully open with canvas, no roof but framing late added during the war, with rigid panelling, windows and the top frame covered from the elements with optional canvas for Mediterranean service, as well as optional sandbags for combat operations (like at Jutland). The cabin below housed the map table. The aft steering wheel was located behind the aft mast with voice pipes. Chadburn, voice pipes, repeater, and indicators plus flag stowage bin were part of the open bridge.

Powerplant

Propulsion was much beefier on the Acastas compared to previous designs: The Standard K class combined two 2-shaft Parsons or Brown-Curtiss steam turbines still, with four Yarrow-type oil-fired boilers instead of three for previous designs. The extra space needed an increase length and extra funnel. But there were minor differences: Acasta, Achates, Ambuscade had two shaft Brown-Curtis steam turbines combined with Yarrow-type oil-fired boilers, for example. Top speed was around 29 knots (53.7 km/h) as standard, up to 32 kn (59.3 km/h) when forcing the machinery and sub-variants (specials). This was comparable to the previous Acastas. However, range improved as they carried 258 tonnes of fuel oil instead of 178 tonnes on the Acherons, which were capable of 2300 nm. at 13 knots. The Acastas were probably capable of 2800-3000 nm. at this speed.

Armament

The Acasta on this chapter, thanks to their longer hull, were a game changer as space was found for three instead of two 4-inch (102 mm) main guns. And compared to previous classes they were of a new type, not the older, slower-firing L/40 BL Mk VIII guns (forecastle, and poop), adding a third gun amidships, but depending on the ships, sometimes aft, not far from the stern gun. And these were of a new type, L/40 Mark IV. It seems however that due to shortages, Shark, Christopher, Acasta, Sparrowhawk, Cockatrice, Achates, Spitfire, Contest, Ambuscade, Lynx, Hardy, Midge, Porpoise, retained their Mark VIIIs.
Also, instead of two slow-firing two 12-pounder (76 mm) QF 12 cwt guns on the waist for the Acherons, the Acasta instead showcased a single, lighter QF 2-pounder pom-pom Mk. II for AA purposes. No change for the two twin 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes, still in axis with two reload torpedoes. These longer tubes accepted more modern torpedoes.

Wartime additions were limited to the following:
In 1917-1918, Acasta, Midge and Spifire, but also Garland, Paragon, Unity, Victor saw the conversion of a single 4-in (102mm)/40 BL with an AA mounts (likely the one amidship).
Most survivors also received a single 2-pdr pompom or 40mm/39 2pdr QF Mk II. They also all received depth charge racks as well as Y-guns (depth charge throwers).

4-in Mark IV/40 (101.6 mm)

The QF 4-inch gun Mk IV was introduced in 1911 as a faster-loading light gun, successor to the BL 4 inch Mk VIII. 1,141 were produced, and of these, 939 were still available in 1939. They evolved later into the XII and Mk XXII variants which armed British interwar and World War II submarines as deck guns. The Mark IV remained in service on all WWI destroyers as standard, but the late war V-W classes.
Mass: 2,750 pounds (1,250 kg) barrel & breech, barrel 160 inches (4.064 m) bore (40 cal.)
Breech: horizontal sliding-block
Elevation on P IX Mount: -10° to +20°, and on 1917 CP III Mount: +30°
Muzzle velocity: 2,370 feet per second (720 m/s), range 11,580 yards (10,590 m) at +30°.
Shell: Separate QF 31 pounds (14.06 kg) 4-inch (101.6 mm)

4-in Mark VII/40 (101.6 mm)

The Mark VII were designed in 1908 entered service on the HMS Swift, Tribals, Beagle, Acorns and Acherons as well as most of the Acastas as completed due to shortages.

⚙ specifications 4-in Mark VIII

Weight: 2,912 pounds (1,320 kg), Barrel lenght 159.2 inches (4.044 m) bore 40 calibres< Elevation/Traverse-10° to +20°, 360 Breech: Welin single-motion screw Muzzle velocity 2,287 feet per second (697 m/s), Range 10,210 yards (9,340 m) Round: 31 pds (14.06 kg) Common lyddite. Rate of Fire: 6-8 RPM Crew: 8

QF 2-Pdr pom pom Mark II

Unbiquious AA gun of the RN in WWI, still used in WW2 in many new versions. On the Acasta class, this was a single mount amidship.

⚙ specifications 2-pdr pompom

Mass: 850 lb (390 kg), length 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m).
Shell: 40×158mmR 40.4 mm (1.59 in) filling 71 g (2.5 oz)
Feed system: 14-round steel-link belt, 115 rpm, 732 m/s (2,400 ft/s)
Effective firing range 3,960 m (13,300 ft) A/A ceiling

21-in Torpedoes

The new RGF Mk II 21-in torpedo with the Hardcastle heater was adopted in this class. It ran at 5Okts (93 km/h; 58 mph) over 1000yds (910 m) or 12,000yds (11,000 m) at 30kts (56 km/h; 35 mph). Two spare torpedoes were carried. Instead of the “Short” Mark I they carried the “Long” Mark I at 23 ft 1.25 in (7.042 m) thanks to their longer tubes and then the Mark II. The Mark I long explosive charge was 200 lb (91 kg) of gun cotton, increased later to 225 lb (102 kg). The spare torpedoes were stowed either side at the foot of the searchlight platform on deck.
But the bead and breakfast of these ships in WWI was their Mark II introduced in 1914:

⚙ specs Mark II TORPEDO
Weight	1,6t
Dimensions	Diameter 534 mm, Length 681 cm
Propulsion	Wet Heater
Range/speed setting	5,500 yards (5,000 m)/30 knots
Warhead	280 lbs. (127 kg) wet gun-cotton

Depth Charges

In July 1912, HMS Alarm (Acheron) was the first fitted for trials of an explosive sweep, mated with electrically-fired charge. In May 1918, Nymphe combined a sweep gear with two depth charge throwers (Y-guns) and four stern chutes, 12 charges. In August, 1918, HMS Brisk was equipped with the standard, two depth charge throwers (DCT or Y guns) eight spares, one ‘runner” with 23 charges. They no longer carried Paravanes to compensate for this 7.5 tons increase and some even had to land their aft 4-in gun.

Fire Control

By 1915 fixed voice pipes were added between decks ending with flexible mouths, one for gunnery, one for torpedoes and linking the bridge with the guns, torpedo tubes and searchlights stations. There was a third fully flexible voice pipe from the bridge to the forward gun to pass information.
The Acorns had a one-meter base rangefinder, supplied to all destroyers of the “Tribal” class and delivered up to the “L” class of 1916.
In 1920 destroyers from the Acorn to Laforey classes had Wise Pressure Telegraphy Systems in place, in support of the fire control.
The main sighting position located high up in the centre of the bridge used a single set of firing pushes/keys and keys for operating a buzzer lighting at the forward torpedo mount and rattler at the aft mount. Data instruments were electrical with a Mark I deflection transmitter from the control post, separate order transmitters and keys (forward tube, aft tube) with each mount had been having a combined receiver for these electric signals.

⚙ Admiralty (J. Brown) specs.
Displacement	984 tons
Dimensions	267 ft 6 in x 26 ft 9 in x 9 ft 6 in (81.5 x 8.2 x 2.9 m)
Propulsion	2 shaft GST, 4 Yarrow-type water-tube boilers: 24,500 hp (18,270 kW)
Speed	32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph)
Range	c3000 nm/13 kts
Armament	3× QF 4 in L/40 Mark IV (mount P Mk. IX), 1× QF 2 pdr pom-pom Mk. II, 2× 21-in TTs
Crew	77

⚙ Thornycroft’s specials specs.
Displacement	892 tons standard, 1072 tons FL
Dimensions	267 ft 6 in x 27 ft x 10 ft 6 in (81.5 x 8.2 x 3.2 m)
Propulsion	2 Parsons steam turbines, 4* Yarrow-type water-tube boilers: 24,500 ihp (18,300 kW)
Speed	29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph)
Range	Unknown
Armament	Same
Crew	72

*3 Yarrow boilers, 1 turbine on HMS Ardent (2 funnels)

Construction

The Acasta class destroyers were built on *almost* similar plans. They were:
John Brown and Company: Acasta, Achates, Ambuscade
William Denny & Brothers:
Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, Govan: Fortune
R. W. Hawthorn Leslie & Company: Christopher, Cockatrice, Contest
Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson: Shark, Sparrohawk, Spitfire
Parsons, Wallsend: Garland (sub-contracted to Cammell Laird)
John I. Thornycroft & Company, Woolston: Hardy, Paragon, Porpoise, Unity, Victor
Hadland & Wolff, Govan: Lynx, Midge, Owl
William Denny & BR, Dumbarton: Ardent

Evaluation of the Acastas

Although the policy of building to a standard Admiralty design was continued, several novel features were tried in the ‘K’ class. Fortune was given a clipper bow and had the second 4in gun on a platform between No 2 and No 3 funnels, a layout which would be continued in the ‘L’ class. In Denny Bros. were allowed to try out their system of longitudinal framing, which gave much greater hull-strength while keeping weight down. She had only two funnels. With Hardy an attempt was made to install the first high-speed diesel engine in a destroyer. An 1800bhp Sulzer diesel was to be installed on a centre shaft, but when it became clear that it would not be ready, the ship was accepted without diesels. Garland was given semi-geared turbines. Although speed and sea keeping were an improvement over the Acorn and Acheron classes, their wide turning circle was a disappointment. This was cured by altering the rudder, cutting the diameter from nearly 1000yds to 700yds.

They joined the 4th Flotilla (led by Swift) on completion between November 1912 and June 1914 and joined the Grand Fleet on the outbreak of war. In the late summer of 1916 the flotilla moved to the Humber, then to Portsmouth at the end of the year, and to Devonport in spring 1917. At Portsmouth some boats joined the 6th DF and some were detached to the Dover Patrol. Ardent was sunk at Jutland; Contest was torpedoed by a U-boat in the Channel; Lynx was mined in the Moray Firth. Paragon was sunk by a German destroyer torpedo in a night action in the Straits of Dover. HMS Porpoise was sold to Thornycroft in March 1920 to be refitted and resold to Brazil as Alexandrino Dealenca; renamed Maranhao 1927. Shark was sunk by gunfire and torpedo during daylight action at Jutland; Sparrowhawk collided with Broke at Jutland and had to be sunk by gunfire.

The case of Maranhão

The only vessel in the Acasta class still active in WW2, two decades after all her sister ships were scrapped, was Alexandrino De Alencar, the former HMS Porpoise. In March 1920, Porpoise was sold back to Thornycroft as the Brazilian Navy sent a mission to Britain to purchase surplus ships. She was selected given her general state and sent for refurbishing to her initial builder, after being sold by the Government to Brazil, initially named “Alexandrino Dealanca”. She was commissioning on 9 December 1922. Likewise, she was also modified with a new armament ordered by the Brazilians, with the latest 4-inch guns and with two 47 mm (2 in) guns, and four 450 mm (18 in) torpedo tubes in two twin mounts from Armstrong Whitworth. Furthermore, she was later renamed Maranhão in 1927.

In 1930, she remained with the loyalists during the Revolution of 1930, against Getúlio Vargas. In 1931 she became a training ship for stokers. In 1935, she took part in the suppression of a Communist Rebellion. It seems she received also in between a new enclose bridge, but it’s unclear at what date. When Brazil declared war on Germany in 1942, Maranhão was deemed obsolete, but she was still used for convoy escort and patrols, trying to stem the U-Boat activity in the South Atlantic. She was also camouflaged at that stage, but had no radar. However, she received a modern sonar as well as two modern depth charge racks, plus three Oerlikon 20 mm cannon for AA protection. On 12 July 1943, U-172 sank the African Star with torpedoes and Maranhão rescued 86 survivors the next day. She was decommissioned on 13 September 1946, adding a second war patrolling against U-Boats to the Acasta’s book.

Career of the Acasta class

Acasta was ordered as HMS King to John Brown & Co., Clydebank, laid down on 1 December 1911, renamed and launched on 10 September 1912 and commissioned on November 1912. She joined the 4th Destroyer Flotilla. She joined the Grand Fleet, depot ship was HMS Hecla. On 16 December 1914 she was part of a force to prevent the Kaiserliches Marine an attack on the North Yorkshire coast. No logs until May 1916.
Battle of Jutland: The 4th Flotilla is attached to Admiral David Beatty’s Battlecruiser Fleet, Rosyth. Her unit was assigned to cover the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron, screening HMS Chester. Under Lieutenant Commander J. O. Barron, Acasta left Pentland Firth, evening of 30 May 1916, spotting German vessels at 5.40pm on 31 May. Shark, crippled by gunfire was offered assistance by the already damaged Acasta, but declined. She had been hit by two 5.9-inch (150 mm) shells from SMS Derfflinger, with six dead, one wounded, loosing steering. The distress signal was received by HMS Benbow at 6.40pm. Beatty’s reported later the disabled destroyer. At 6.47 Iron Duke, Grand Fleet’s flagship, passed the disabled destroyer whose crew lined cheer her as she passed. An observer of HMS Valiant reported how she was “badly holed”, HMS Galatea soon came to assist. After some emergency repairs for six hours, she tried to sail but broke down, taken in tow by HMS Nonsuch to Aberdeen two days after. In drydock the damage was so extensive she had to be almost rebuilt. She claimed a torpedo hit on SMS Lützow, never confirmed. The German Admiralty claimed her sunk.
She left the drydock on 2 August, and joined either 4th or 6th DF at the Channel bases of Portsmouth, Devonport or Dover. She would have a collision on 22 December 1917. On 6-8 August 1919 she attended the newly commissioned HMS Hawkins for her torpedo trials in Freshwater Bay. She was decommissioned and sold for scrap on 9 May 1921 to Ward, Hayle.

Achates was laid down at John Brown on 15 January 1912, launched on 14 November 1912 and commissioned in March 1913. In August 1914 she was in the 4th Flotilla, Grand Fleet, Scapa Flow, Orkney. On 25 October 1914, with Ardent, Ambuscade and Fortune, she escorted David Beatty’s 2ndBattlecruiser Squadron for an unsuccessful raid by seaplane carriers and the Harwich Force at Cuxhaven. The sighting of U-21 in the Irish Sea by late January 1915 forced to scramble their destroyers from the Harwich Force and Grand Fleet. Achates sailed there with Faulknor, Ambuscade, Owl and Hardy, in Milford Haven by 2 February and multiplying anti-submarine patrols. On 13 February, Achates patrolled the North Channel between Northern Ireland and Scotland and patrolled for a week.
She was refitted on 24 April 1916, and missed the Grand Fleet’s sortie after the raid on Yarmouth and Lowestoft. However, she was part of the 19 ships of the 4th Destroyer Flotilla present at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May/1 June 1916. In the 31 May/1 June night she clashed with the German battle fleet, notably cruisers at 22:30 hr. Tipperary was badly damaged (leading ship) and the formation launched nine torpedoes, none hit. Achates, refrained. Elbing, dodging some, was rammed by Posen, and she was latter scuttled. Spitfire collided with Nassau. Next, the flotilla led by HMS Broke, met the same German battleships and cruisers and Broke was badly damaged by Rostock and Westfalen, collided with Sparrowhawk, in turn rammed by Contest, and scuttled. Rostock was hit by a torpedo fired by Ambuscade or Contest, later scuttled. Achates restrained again, her commanding officer fearing to hit British cruisers he believed in the vicinity. She then took the lead of the flotilla, for a 3rd encounter with German battleships. Fortune was later sunk.
She survived the battle without a scratch.
Later to counter German minelayers and protect British minesweepers, in the North Sea, the 4th Flotilla was transferred to Immingham, Humber estuary by July 1916. Later back at Portsmouth. On 16 December she was patrolling with Owl and Contest off The Lizard when reported UB-38 off the Cornish coast. Explosive paravanes were deployed but no hit. On 20 December, they were ordered to patrol off Ushant against other U-boats. On 13 January 1917 in the Channel Islands, she met the Japanese steamer Hakata Maru, signalling being chased by a U-Boat, later estimated UC-18 or UC-38. She dived and was not found. On 24 May 1917 she was off Berry Head (Dorset) when gunfire was heard. She arrived to the fishing vessel Competitor, battling UB-38, whose crew just abandoned ship. Achates streamed explosive paravanes, both detonated but UB-38 escaped. Competitor’s crew re-boarded her. In May 1917, Achates escorted a convoy from Gibraltar to Britain and on 6 July 1918, she escorted the Atlantic convoy HH.4 from Hampton Roads. When the oiler SS Wabasha was torpedoed by UB-32 she went on the reported location and dropped ten depth charges, then four from Garland, but no kill. After 11 November 1918 she was disposed off, stored at the Nore in January 1919, reserve, reduced to Care and Maintenance status on 4 February 1920, stricken and sold on 9 May 1921.

Ambuscade was laid down at John Brown on 7 March 1912, launched on 25 January 1913 and commissioned in June 1913. She joined the 4th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet, Portsmouth and from August 1914, the Grand Fleet. On 15 December she sailed in support of Beatty’s Battlecruisers after the raid on Scarborough, Whitby and Hartlepool. At 05:15 on the 16th the lead ship HMS Lynx, spotted V155, part of the screen of the High Seas Fleet followed by a brief exchange. V155 hit Lynx twice, jammed her propeller, and hit Ambuscade below the waterline, creating heavy flooding. more damaged was inflicted on Lynx and Hardy, but this forced Admiral Friedrich von Ingenohl to withdraw. On 21 April 1916, the Grand Fleet made a sortie off the Danish coast as diversion for a Russian mine laying operation, seeing Ambuscade colliding with destroyers Ardent and Hardy, Ardent being severely damaged, so much she was towed stern first back to port. Australia and New Zealand, Neptune and a neutral merchant ship also collided.
Ambuscade took part in the Battle of Jutland on 31 May-1 June 1916 under Cdr. Gordon A. Coles, part of 19 ships, 4th DF with the Grand Fleet, port side of battleships, remaining unengaged. In the night they tried to torpedo the escaping German fleet starting at 23:30 hr, with flotilla leader Tipperary badly damaged by Westfalen, Spitfire colliding with Nassau, Elbing rammed by Posen. Nine torpedoes were fired, none hit. Broke took the lead but was badmy damaged by Rostock and Westfalen, collided with Sparrowhawk, rammed by Contest, later scuttled. Rostock was hit by a single torpedo, either from Ambuscade or Contest. Same at 00:10 hr, Fortune sunk, Porpoise damaged, five torpedoes fired, lasts, none hit. The 4th DF moved to the Humber in July 1916 to cover British minesweepers, to deter German minelayers.
After the Battle of Dover Strait, her unit was moved to the Channel, Portsmouth, for ASW operations. Ambuscade was transferred to the 6th Destroyer Flotilla, Dover Patrol on 21 November 1916. On the night of 25/26 February 1917, A German raid was launched on the Dover Barrage and Allied shipping in the Dover Straits and Kent coast. Ambuscade was sent to protect shipping anchored in the Downs. They were sent in interception but failed to find the German force. The same happened on 17/18 March 1917 with multiple attacks (Paragon sunk, Llewellyn torpedoed as well as SS Greypoint) off the Downs, shelled Ramsgate and Broadstairs and withdrew, spotted underway by TB 4 calling for help, but Ambuscade and the others arrived too late.
On 4 April 1917 she was back in the 4th Flotilla, Devonport, for convoy escort duties. On 14 May 1918 on patrol with Christopher and Cockatrice she had a hydrophone contact, depth charged it, no kill. In August, she was in the Northern Patrol Force; Dundee. By June 1919, she was placed in reserve at Devonport. Sold for breaking up 6 September 1921.

Christopher was laid down at Hawthorn Leslie & Co., Newcastle, on 16 October 1911, launched on 29 August 1912 and commissioned in November 1912. To not repeat what was said above about her unit, the 4th Flotilla, Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow, here are a few facts: In February 1915, she escort merchant ships carrying troops of the 1st Canadian Division from Avonmouth to St Nazaire. On 13 February with Owl, Hardy and Contest she nearly collided in Barrow harbour, there to refuel on the way back to Scotland, grounded to avoid a ship leaving the harbour. She was repaired on the Clyde. On 8 August 1915 while patrolling off Moray Forth she received a signal from the steamer Glenravel, attacked by U-17. She arrive just as she was sinking, spotted U17 while close to another merchant ship, Malmland. She opened fire on the surfaced submarine, which dived away but Malmland took a torpedo and went down in between. On 23 September, she collided with the armed boarding steamer King Orry. On 3 January 1916 she escorted the battleship Africa from Belfast to Scapa in poor weather forcing them into Stornoway. Africa went on without escort.
At the Battle of Jutland with Shark, Acasta and Ophelia she escorted the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron. Christopher fired 30 shells and remained undamaged, with one injury.
In November 1916 she was based in Portsmouth, then Devonport in spring 1917. She then started convoy operations, North Atlantic route began from July 1917 to the Western Approaches. Postwar she was decommissioned and sold for breaking up 9 May 1921.

Cockatrice was laid down at Hawthorn Leslie on 23 October 1911, launched on 8 November 1912 and commissioned on March 1913. She was part of the 4th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet, Portsmouth and in 1914, Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow. She was damaged during a severe storm in December 1914. She was not part of the flotilla section sent to take part in May 1916 Battle of Jutland since she was in refit. She was based in the Humber in July 1916, then Portsmouth for ASW operations in the Channel and by March 1917 to Devonport. On 13-14 May 1918 while on patrol with Christopher and Ambuscade, she attacked a possible submarine contact. In November she was in the Northern Patrol Force in Dundee for escort work. Sold for breaking up 9 May 1921 to Thos W. Ward of Hayle.

HMS Contest was laid down at Hawthorn Leslie on 26 December 1911, launched on 7 January 1913 and commissioned on June 1913. She was part of the 4th Destroyer Flotilla on commissioning and on 24 June 1913, helped escort Courbet hosting President Raymond Poincaré to Portsmouth mid-Channel. She was in the Grand Fleet, Scapa Flow when the war started and by February 1915, escorted merchant ships carrying troops of the 1st Canadian Division to St Nazaire. On 13 February with Christopher, Hardy and Owl she was grounded while entering Barrow harbour to avoid a ship leaving the harbour and later repaired on the Clyde. On 2 January 1916 she was to escort Saint Vincent and the battleship Africa to Scapa but the weather was too heavy. At the Battle of Jutland she was on the port side of the battleships (unengaged side) but this became hotted in the night, clashing with the German 7th Torpedo Boat Flotilla. She suffered damage to her bow and was limited to 20 knots (23 mph; 37 km/h) while back.
In July 1916, the 4th Flotilla losses led to the creation of the 14th Destroyer Flotilla and she was transferred in the Humber. She countered minelaying operations, protecting RN ones. By November 1916 she was based in Portsmouth for ASW patrols in the Channel. On 28 November with Cockatrice and Spitfire she was sent to investigate a contact by the drifter Sailor King. On 16 December, UB-38 was signalled attacking the schooner Englishman off Cornwall, driven off by the armed yacht Venetia so Contest, Achates and Owl, off The Lizard, were sent there and deployed explosive paravanes, but no kill. On 20 December, same, off Ushant. By March 1917 she was in Devonport. On 2 May 1917, UC-48 sank Snack and Contest just picked up survivors whe spotting the Uboat surfacing 2,000 yd (1,800 m) away. She fired, UC-48 dived, she dropped four depth charges but the U-Boat escaped. On 18 September 1917 she escorted a America-bound convoy out of Plymouth, when City of Lincoln was hit by a torpedo but remained afloat. She assisted her until tugs arrived. At 18:15, she was hit by a torpedo by the same unknown U-Boat causing her depth charges and aft magazine to explode, severing the whole stern. Unable to steer she collided with City of Lincoln and started slowly sink. The crew abandoned ship and she lost 35 of her crew.

HMS Lynx was laid down at Harland & Wolff, Govan on 18 January 1912, launched on 20 March 1913 and commissioned on January 1914. She wa sin the 4th flotilla, left Cromarty with two half-divisions on 15 December 1914 after the German bombardment of Scarborough. At 05:15 on 16 December 1914 she spotted SMS V155, summoned her to investigate, followed by a brief skirmish in which Lynx was hit several times by German shells, but sustained only minor damage to a propeller, forward magazine was flooded but just one injury. However her steering gear jammed and since she was in the lead, her flotilla followed her, and ended the pursuit. On 9 August 1915 she struck a mine off the Moray Firth, laid by the German raider SMS Meteor causing her to sink rapidly, bringing down some 63 men were lost, including her captain, but 4 officers and 22 ratings survived.

HMS Midge (initially Keitloa) was laid down at Harland & Wolff, Govan on 1 April 1912, launched on 22 May 1913 and commissioned in March 1913. She was in the 4th flotilla, Grand Fleet based at Scapa Flow when the war broke out. She took part in a sub hunt on Kinnaird Head on 8 August 1915, leading to the discovery of a fresh minefield which claimed Lyxn (see above). On 24 April 1916, she was deployed to intercept German raiders raiding Yarmouth and Lowestoft. But in choppy sea thei speed was not enough to catch them. She was present at the Battle of Jutland, screening cruisers of the Second Cruiser Squadron and in the night of 31 May, took part in several engagements starting 22:30 hours, fired torpedoes, no hit and along with Hardy, Mischief and Owl, she remained with the cruisers unscathed. Next she faile dto join in time the armoured cruiser Hampshire, sunk by a German mine off the Orkney, sailing to Russia without escort with the secretary of state for war Lord Kitchener. Only 13 men made it. Next she was transferred to Immingham on the Humber, July 1916, then Portsmouth in November. Next she escorted £4,000,000 of gold from Cherbourg and resumed ASW patrols. In 1917 she patrolled the Bay of Biscay, notably posing a threat to the troopships carrying Portuguese troops to France. On 30 January she escorted a a convoy of three ships, on 1 February she was back in Plymouth after a hunt off Cornwall. On 26 May she attacked, but missed UC-41. After 11 November 1918 she was transferred to reserve at The Nore, Care and Maintenance status from 4 February 1920, until sold to Granton on 5 November 1922.

Owl was laid down at Harland & Wolff, Govan on 1 April 1913, launched on 7 May 1913 and commissioned on April 1914. Also 4th DF. In February 1915 she was deployed to the Irish Sea hunting for U-21. Next back to Scapa, on 13 February with Hardy, Contest and Christopher she ran aground to avoid a ship while steaming in Barrow harbour to refuel. Next she was in Aberdeen drydock to have her propellers replaced and back in action on the 26th. At the Battle of Jutland she screened the armoured cruisers of the 2nd Cruiser Squadron, seeing not much action.
On 5 June 1916 the Secretary of State for War, Lord Kitchener left for a military mission to Russia on HMS Hampshire, which struck a mine and quickly sank, so Owl was dispatched to look for survivors, only found 12 survivors washed ashore. 650 men, including Lord Kitchener went down. Next she was sent to the Humber, then Portsmouth and was sent to invesigate after UB-38 off the Cornish coast. On 20 December same off Ushant, then to Lisbon, Bay of Biscay, escorting Portuguese troopships and until March 1917. Next she was in convoy missions in the North Atlantic route from July 1917, to the Western Approaches. After the war ended she was sold for scrap on 5 November 1921.

HMS Shark was laid down at Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend on 18 October 1911. She wa slaunched on 30 July 1912 and commissioned on 3 April 1913. She was part of the 4th Flotilla, Grand Fleet, Scapa Flow in Orkney. After the German raid on Scarborough on 15 December 1914, and based on radio intercepts, she screened the battlecruiser squadron (David Beatty) and Second Battle Squadron (VADM Sr George Warrender) in opposition. At 05:15 on 16 December HMS Lynx in the lead spotted V155 the latter V155 hit both Lynx and Ambuscade. Next Shark and Hardy encountered HMS Hamburg. After Hardy was badly damaged, Shark and others resumed screening the battlecruisers until stumbling upon five German destroyers at 06:03, and chased them away, then at 06:50 they spotted the armoured cruiser Roon screened by destroyers, shadowed them, reporting them by radio. Shark attempted to lead the division in a torpedo attack until spotting also Stuttgart and Hamburg and break off the attack. Both sides lost contact in poor visibility.
Next she was present at the Battle of Jutland, covering the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron. At 6 pm she led an unsuccessful torpedo attack on the German 2nd Scouting Group, and she fired two torpedoes. She was soon taken in a crossfire and crippled, with her fuel pipes broken and steering gear wrecked, forecastle gun blown away. Commander Loftus Jones, declined an offer of assistance from Acasta as it was too dangerous, but this sealed her fate. She lost also her aft 4-inch gun and bridge. With the remaining gun she managed to sink V48. The German destroyers closed in for the final blow, in which Cdr Jones lost a leg. At 7 pm he ordered abandoned ship. Only 30 men, made it on the rafts. 7 were later picked up by a Danish ship. In total 86 men were lost. She was finished off by S54 by a torpedo. By March 1917, Jones was mentioned in the dispatched having a posthumous Victoria Cross.

Sparrowhawk was laid down at Swan, Hunter on 25 October 1911, launched on 12 October 1912 and completed on 2 May 1913. She served with the 4th Destroyer Flotilla as part of the Grand Fleet and took part in similar operations. Fate: she collided with HMS Broke at Battle of Jutland and torpedoed (scuttled) by HMS Marksman 1 June 1916. How it happened: At around 23.40 part of the flotilla were formed up under Commander Walter Allen of destroyer (half-flotilla) leader HMS Broke.

He wanted to press on the attack against German ships nearby. Suddenly she was lighted up by SMS Westfalen, attempted to fire torpedoes, but this was so short at 150 yards (140 m), the German battleship opened fire first, and she was instantly wrecked. 50 crew were killed, 30 injured, all guns disabled, bridge severed, funnels and pipes destroyed, helmsman killed at the wheel, and when dying his body turned the wheel to port so she rammed HMS Sparrowhawk.

Sub-Lieutenant Percy Wood saw Broke turning towards his ship at 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph), shouted warnings to the crew to get clear, then knocked over by the impact. This was so violent he was catapulted from the bridge and ended lying on the deck of HMS Broke. It was nevertheless decided to take on board the crew of Broke, but in between his XO estimated Sparrowhawk doomed to sink and ordered the reverse, c20 men from Sparrowhawk evacuated to Broke, 15 of Broke still crossed to Sparrowhawk causing confusion.

In between, HMS Contest steamed into Sparrowhawk, stopped dead and impacted her stern 6 feet (1.8 m) but was unharmed and continued. Broke and Sparrowhawk remained wedged together for 30 min. (fortunately in between the Germans had disappeared) until machineries could be turned full steam, and they could be disentangled. Broke got underway, taking 30 men from Sparrowhawk and if the latter still had engine power and the flooding was somewhat controllable, her rudder was jammed.

Not far they could see the burning destroyer, Tipperary. At 0200 luck turned when a German torpedo boat approached up to 100 yards (91 m) before turning away, seeing activity on the destroyer. Seeing the destroyer, a few men manned the gun, including the captain, in the hope to deter the destroyer to come closer and it worked. Tipperary sank in between so the scene became dark. At around 0330, Sparrowhawk sighted a German cruiser, but she was apparently listing badly and later analysed as SMS Elbing, torpedoed and abandoned, so basically a Mary Celeste at this point.

At 06:10 a raft approached with 23 men from Tipperary, 3 already dead, and 5 more died after arriving on board, mostly from burns. An hour later, three British destroyers arrived. HMS Marksman sent two hawsers to Sparrowhawk and tried to tow her to safety but in high seas, the ropes parted away. With reports of German submarines nearby, it was decided to abandon and scuttled Sparrowhawk. Marksman fired 18 shells at her waterline and this was enough. Her wreck was located in August 2016 by the Bournemouth and Sea War Museum Jutland.

Spitfire was laid down at Swan, Hunter on 20 December 1911, launched on 23 December 1912 and completed on 19 June 1913. She was also attached to the 4th DF, Grand Fleet. At the Battle of Jutland she narrowly escaped the fate of Sparrowhawk. There was at some point a “duel” between Spitfire and the German battleship Nassau. She evaded an attempt by Nassau to ram her but they still collided, Spitfire being seriously damaged, while blast from the battleships’s guns, furing above, was enough to completely flatten her upperworks. When colliding however the ripped off a 20 feet (6.1 m) section of her side plating. Both survived and returned to port. Only notable action afterwards was the rescue of survivors from the hospital/evacuation ship Rhodesia torpedoed 160 miles off Fastnet by the German submarine U-82 on 12 September 1918.
She was sold for breaking up 9 May 1921.

K-class Builders’ specials:

HMS Ardent was laid down at William Denny & Br., Dumbarton on 9 October 1912, launched on 8 September 1913 and completed on February 1914 Sunk by secondary gunfire from German dreadnought SMS Westfalen at Battle of Jutland 1 June 1916. To be completed in a next update.

Fortune Fairfield, Govan on 24 June 1912, launched on 17 May 1913 and completed on December 1913. Sunk by secondary gunfire from German dreadnought SMS Westfalen at Battle of Jutland on night of 31 May / 1 June 1916. To be completed in a next update.

Garland was laid down at Parsons Turbine, Wallsend (hull sub-contracted to Cammell Laird, Birkenhead) on 15 July 1912, launched on 23 April 1913 and completed on December 1913. Sold for breaking up 6 September 1921. To be completed in a next update.

Hardy was laid down at Thornycroft, Woolston on 13 November 1911, launched on 10 October 1913 and completed on September 1913. Sold for breaking up 9 May 1921. To be completed in a next update.

Paragon was laid down at Thornycroft on 14 March 1912, launched on 21 February 1913 and completed on December 1913. Torpedoed and sunk by German destroyer in action in the Straits of Dover 18 March 1917. To be completed in a next update.

Porpoise was laid down at Thornycroft on 14 March 1912, launched on 21 July 1913 and completed on January 1914. Sold 23 February 1920 back to Thornycroft for resale to Brazil; became Brazilian Alexandrino Deaenca, later Maranhao. To be completed in a next update.

Unity was laid down at Thornycroft on 1 April 1912, launched on 18 September 1913 and completed on March 1914. Sold for breaking up 25 October 1922. To be completed in a next update.

Victor was laid down at Thornycroft on 1 April 1912, launched on 28 November 1913 and completed on June 1914. Sold for breaking up 20 January 1923. To be completed in a next update.

Read More/Src

Books

Brown, David K. (2010). The Grand Fleet: Warship Design and Development 1906–1922. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing.
Cocker, Maurice (1983). Destroyers of the Royal Navy, 1893-1981. Ian Allan.
Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. Shepperton, UK: Ian Allan.
Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Barnsley, UK
Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway’s All The World’s Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Conway MP.
Manning, T.D. (1961). The British Destroyer. London: Putnam.
Smith, Peter C. (2005). Into the Minefields: British Destroyer Minelaying 1916–1960. Barnsley, UK: Pen & Sword Maritime.
Moore, John (1990). Jane’s Fighting Ships of World War I. London: Studio.

Links

https://www.navypedia.org/ships/uk/brit_dd_acasta.htm
https://www.navypedia.org/ships/uk/brit_dd_australian_i.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acasta-class_destroyer
https://www.naval.com.br/ngb/M/M022/M022.htm

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