Admiralty M-class destroyers

The Admiralty M were the first British (and world’s) mass-built destroyer class ever. They were an improvement of the L (Laforey) class but at the insistance of Winston Churchill, first lord of the admiralty, they were planned for 36 knots, forcing drastic changes in design. To the first six ordered in 1913, more orders followed, regular designs of the “admiralty” type, and many “specials” with proposed modifications by several destroyer specialist yards. The “Repeat M” ordered in batces later were simplified, notably lacking crusing turbines. When the last ship was completed in early 1917, 85 ships had been delivered and named already shifted to the N, O, P, and R. They were very active with the Harchich Flotilla and Dover patrols, took part in many Battles, screening Beatty’s battlecruisers, in addition to escort jobs and ASW patrols, with 12 losses. They were discarded and scrapped early postwar, worn out due to their ungalvanised steel hulls.

Development

The boats of the 1913-14 Programme were improved Laforeys, with 6kts more speed, at the insistence of the new First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill, fearing rumoured new German fast destroyers. For the first time also construction speed was all-important, as the Admiraltv clearly recognised that war was imminent, and Thornycroft, White and Yarrow were asked to accept two orders each, with the first payment to be made in April 1913, before contracts were signed (delivery was to be in March 1914). Thus when in March 1913 the Controller issued invitations to tender, the three boats building at Thornycroft and the two each at Yarrow and Hawthorn Leslie were “bought” as if they had been built on speculation.

Two orders planned for J S White were not placed, however, and Thornycroft were given a third order. Geared turbines were favoured, but the E-in-C wished to wat until the trials results with Leonidas and Lucifer were available before making the switch to the ‘all-geared” type. Similarly longitudinal framing would be examined after Ardent had finished her trials.

Aerial view of a M class in 1918

Excluding the seven stock boats already building, the final order was for only six, three from John Brown, two from Palmer and one from Swan Hunter, making 13 instead of the normal 20 for a full flotilla. The reason was that money for the Arethusa class light cruisers had used up funds in the current Estimates — a decision which was justified on the dubious grounds that they would take over many of the duties of destroyers. The lead boat, Miranda was begun in October 1912 and completed in August 1914, followed by her sisters in October-November. She made 33kts in deep load condition, whereas Minos in light condition made 36kts on a 6-hour trial. The M class were generally similar to the L class in appearance, but with the midships gun on the deck, not on a ‘bandstand” platform.

The Yarrow boats had two funnels and the bridge carried well back from the forecastle. The Hawthorn Leslie boats had four funnels. The Admiralty boats had short funnels, and the Thornycroft boats could be distinguished by three taller flat-sided funnels. The design proved most successful and, with only slight modifications, was used for mass-production in the war which followed. They served with the Harwich Force 1914-17, four being lent to Dover Patrol 1916-17; most went to Mediterranean 1917-18, then returned to Grand Fleet or Dover Patrol. In spite of serving for less than four years they were worn out, and were soon laid up in Reserve. Meteor Was converted 10 a minelayer 1917 for service with 20th Flotilla. Marksman, Menace and Monitor were projected for the 1914-15 Programme but were cancelled in favour of two Lightfoot class leaders.

Emergency War Construction Programme

At the outbreak of war, the Admiralty decided to submit an emergency shipbuilding programme on a specific design, hence the “Admiralty” denomination, largely based on the previous prewar class L. This was, in fact, a “superclass” counting several sub-classes:
-Six prewar “M” ships (which were lighter at 1010 tons and smaller) built at Palmers, Swan Hunter and John Brown;
-Sixteen “M” ordered in September 1914 (John Brown, Thornycroft, White, Fairfield, Swan Hunter)
-Nine other in November (some with “N” names) (same)
-Twenty-two late November (“N” and “O” names) (same)
-Sixteen February 1915 (“N”, “O” an “P” names) (same, but they had raking stems)
-Sixteen in May 1915 (“M” and “P” names) (same, but raking stems)

HMS Pasley, 1916 P class

Essential Characteristics

They were all largely based on preceding L class, all ships had three identical narrow circular funnels, a raised forecastle, three QF 4 in (102 mm) Mark IV guns, on mounting P Mk.IX, one forward, two aft, with the “Y” gun raised on a superstructure, and two twin banks of 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes. Anti-aircraft artillery was also present with two individual QF 2-pounder Bofors “pom-pom” Mk.II. Displacement was about 1000 tonnes (994 light, 1010 standard, 1059 fully loaded). These were propelled by three shafts in direct drive with steam turbines, 25,000 shp (18,642 kW). Top speed was 34 knots (39.1 mph; 63.0 km/h). These were sturdy ships fit for the North Atlantic and North Sea, with a sufficient range due to their 237–298 tons fuel oil carried. The pre-war sub-group only had cruising turbines, the idea was dropped for mass-production. Another difference was the second 4 inch-gun was mounted on a bandstand.

Development

Faifield’s special HMS Fortune of the Acasta class, that gave its preculiar hull shape to the Laforey and M class
The M class were based on the Laforeys, themselves based modified Acasta-class, specifically the late HMS Fortune which was given by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Eng. Co. in Govan, a new hull form. It was slightly longer and narrower than that of the Acastas and sported this caracteristic clipper bow. Apart few execption that had two funnels, the standard, both the for the Laforey and M class was three funnels of equal height. The middle funnel thicker compared to the fore and aft funnels. Another aspect was the armament standardized to two twin torpedo tubes, and a small searchlight platform between them, but the artillery remained unchanged with three QF 4-inch, albeit one was located forward amidship between funnels and had a reduced fire angle.

The Laforey class were laid down in late 1912, so by August 1914, many were already in service. The decision to use them as a template for a mass wartime production however, if it dated from the start of the war indeed, was based on a peacetime, follow-up design to the L class, logocally called the M class, discussed already in 1912. The final design was ready in early 1913, voted for the 1913 program. This was a limited batch of six ships, HMS Matchless, Murray, Myngs, Milne, Morris and Moorsom, the prototype being built at Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend on Tyne. She was laid down on 8 November 1913, the first of a long line of destroyers. Launched in October 1914, decision was already taken to mass-build these ships. Two more were ordered to Palmers, and three to John Brown at Clydebank.

HMS Oracle in 1915

Still, they were an admiralty design, meaning based on standardized specs, with less margins given to naval yards, and initially, the original intention was to order 20 destroyers for the 1913 program, albeit it was reduced to 16 vessels (two flotillas). Of this follow-up batch, three were ordered from Yarrow, two from Thornycroft, two from Hawthorn Leslie, then three further vessels projected under the Programme, Marksman, Menace and Monitor, cancelled before being contracted. Instead two Marksman-class flotilla leaders were ordered. The important point was the urge for extra speed. The admiralty led by Winston Chrchill wanted six more knots compared to the L class, hence the new hull shape and more powerful machinery.

These ships were pushed very hard in wartime, and because their hulls had not been galvanized, they were gradually fatigued, so by 1919 many went straight into reserve, and very few survived scrapping in 1921. This was true for their machinery, equally pushed very hard as skippers for the first time marvelled having a “sportscar” to play with compared to older destroyer. Churchill wanted true fleet screening destroyer capable of out-pacing its own battlecruisers, which was done with the M class By contrasts, older destroyer classes went given less glamorous escort work.

Design of the class

Hull and general design

The M class were “seemingly” smaller than the Laforeys (965–1,010 long tons) or even Acasta (934 tons) when fixed at 900 long tons (914 t) normal or standard, but 1,100 long tons (1,118 t) full load. In reality the “900 tonnes” seemed rather administrative. This diverged by yard. If there was a difference, the initial batch was perhaps a bit heavier due to their use of cruise turbines, omitted and not compensated by the addition of a bandstand in later batches. Their overall lenght however wa scertainly increase, notably to add extra space in the machinery, for an overall lenght of 273 ft 4 in (83.3 m) (versus 268 ft 10 in/81.94 m on the L class). However to reach the desired top speed, engineers hhad to trim down the beam (making for a better hull ratio), at 26 ft 8 in (8.1 m) versus 27 ft 8 in (8.43 m). For the same reason, draught was reduced, from 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m) on the L class to 8 ft 6 in (2.6 m). This was another caclculation between stability and buoyancy, trying to keep a moderate metacentric height while providing this desired extra speed.

As for the general design, the at least in the great lines, the M class was essentially a repeat of the Laforey, itself a repeat of the Acasta pattern. The crew however grew from 74 to 80, with officers, NCOs and ratings. The complicated clipper bow was actually rejected for a simpler, straight bow, but with a reworked stem angle and chin, and better flare. Seen from aboven the bow was still “rounded” rather than narrow. Th general proportions of the forecastle compared to the deck was still about the same, a little below 1/3 ratio. There was no wave breaker “A” gun tended to be wet, wrapped in canvas when not in use.

The forecastle sported two lines of portholes and the small bridge was located mid-way on a deck extension past the forecastle break. It did not sat directly above the lower deck albeit the cut commenced almost at its base. If yards models are to be believed, the deck was covered with serrated steel at the prow where the capstant and chain resided (two anchors), followed by a wooden covered section where “A” gun monunt was fixed, and serrated plating again around the bridge. The latter had the usual map room, a few portholes, and an open navigation bridge above, without any roof, but framing to put canvas on around and above.

HMS Melampus’s bridge (CC art)

It was accessible by two steep staircases and comprised the coxwain’s post with his steering wheel, a chadburn and a collection of voice pipe. Behind a bridge extension was located a raised platform on which was mounted the one-manned forward projector, well clear of the bridge’s roof. The two “pom-pom” 2-pounder were located abaft the rear of the bridge, setting on pillar-braced extensions of the forecastle deck, above the main deck. The transition cut comprised a solid extension below the pillars. The voice pipes ran enither directly below for direction, or ran to the machinery space, and stern backup steering gear. There was also a one-man platform for a searchlight at its rear.

The forward open structure was three-faceted with no wings, but this barebones bridge as delivered by the yard was soon beefed up and towards the end of the war, it was hardly comparable to what is started with. First off, over the wraparound barriers extra matress-like protection panels fitted, both for weather and bullet/scrapnel protection, acting as padded armour and often doubled with wood or iron when available. Then fixed winwows were mounted above, and the roof tarpaulin was reinforced and became permament. Plus the main guns were shielded. The foremast was raked and placed immediately aft of the bridge. Wireless cables went from the top yard to a half-mast aft.

The hull of had an unequal draught, lower forward, and sloping aft into a straight breakup aft, leaving space to the shafts. There were two counter-keels on the amidship bottom. The rudder was axial and rounded, like previous designs, still relatively small but a bit sized-up due to the extra speed to cope with. The two shafts had struts, the propellers were classic 3-bladed bronze single pitch model. Apart of the bridge, the three funnels were quite caracteristic as well: Like on the Laforey class, they were of unequal shape, but same height and raked and not completely heavenly spaced. But that was for the standard. Some had two (Yarrow ships) and some had four (Hawthorn ships).

The first immediately after the bridge and round in section and the smaller in diameter, the central one was the largest but same beam) and the aftermost was in-between in size. In between the second and third funnel was located the bandtstand, with a large wooiden-covered platform for N°2 gun. After these were main access hatches to the machinery space. One whaler on starboard, one yalw port, under davits. There was a small cutter resting also on deck below on starboard. The spaced was completed by large air intakes and scoops for the machinery ventilation.

The between-funnel position was usuall called the “Q” gun position. The bandstand seems to received low barriers with holders for ready rounds. So members of the gun crew had to mass on ammunition from below deck to refill these stacks. To clear the fire arc, the space between the mid-funnel and aft funnel was more important than between the mid-funnel and fore funnel. Immediately aft of the last funnel was located “A” torpedo tube bank, a twin mount. It was raised a bit on a platform unlike “B” torpedo bank, directly sitting on deck. These were without reloads, albeit there was a small gooseneck crane for both mounts for this task in port. Between them was located the second one-man searchlight platform.

There was no quarterdeck structure. Instead a small aft mast mostly intended to support wireless radio cables, access to the stern section and backup steering post. “X” gun aft sat well clear of the transitional rounded bow with flat sides. All three guns were unmasked as the ships were completed, receiving them later. Main navigation lights were placed at the head of the main mast and pole at the stern point. The entire main deck was covered in wood. As for general appearance, the ships were painted medium grey, and the hull black, with roman numerals indicated the draught fore and aft painted white. Due to the hull color, the ship had no waterline black band. Camouflage was also very rare.

Powerplant: Reaching 36 knots…

The key factor for the M class was Churchill’s insistence as first lord of the Admiralty in 1913, for them to be able to reach 6 knots more than the Laforey class. This was to ask a lot for the technologies of the time. Since the Laforey were able to reach 29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph), this means 35 knots for the new M class design, out of relatively similar types of steam turbines and boilers and not much more space (if any). But by forced heat on light load when trialled, 36 knots was reached, something rare at the time.

To play around inherent output limitations, engineers managed to create a longer, narrower, and lower hull (see above) at the expense of stability or metacentric height, that needed to be re-established through other ways, notably by a finer waterline. There was not much that could be done for the hardware, the steam tube design remained basically unchanged, but instead of the usual choice left to shipyards in the previous class or three or four boilers, the new class would have three shafts geared by a single turbine set each, coupled with a cruise turbine, fed by four boilers.

Different Arrangements

The admiralty specifically expressed its choice in that matter to Parsons steam turbines as standard, and Yarrow boilers as as standard. However, there were of course “local interpretations”, with the Milne sub-class (John brown ships) fitted with Brown-Curtis steam turbines. The Hawthorne Leslie specials and Thornycoft specials had instead two sets Parsons independent reduction steam turbines on two shaft. And there was the case of the Miranda sub-class (Yarrow specials) that were completed with two Brown-Curtis steam turbines (sao also two shafts) and three Yarrow boilers.

The ex-Greek Medea class (see later) were three-shafters, with Brown-Curtis steam turbines and fed by three Yarrow boilers. However Admirakty wishes for the “best athlete” each time was frustrated by the reality of production and manufacturing capabilities. Due to shortages and yard’s choices, the repeat-M diverged considerably. The wartime “repeat-M” was supposed to be equipped either from Parsons or Brown-Curtiss turbines to account for these shortages, and this was true for the boilers as well: If Yarrow was still strongly advises, some shops ended with White-Forster, or Babcock & Wilcox boilers boilers in some cases. However it was very clear that the three shaft/turbines, three boiler arrangement was to be canon. Yet again, some yards had their way like Yarrow with its own “specials”, with two shafts, but this was the exception that concerned “only” the six Moon class group, 1st emergency order. The best in town became HMS Miranda, which managed 33 knots fully loaded, and 36 knots on trials unladen, so 7 knots more than the Laforey.

Playing with the red lines

HMS Marmion in 1915, IWM.

Whatever the combination, these ships needed to reach the specified output and speed. The power gain was not enormous, modestly going from 24,500 to 25,000 hp compared to the previous Laforey, so a 500 hp gain only, that is from 18,300 kW to 18,642 kW. But despite this slight improvements, the hard work performed on the hulls enabled a gain of five knots, to 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph), with some surprises on trial for the “specials”.

Churchill accepted the “loss” of one knot for the standard design as engineers maintained this was just impossible without revising the powerplant entirely, and the insurance that boilers had some tolerance for working “over-pressure” for some time, in effect producting more steam pressure. The turbines also had structural limit before the blades would just be pulled apart and could be played with beyond the “red line” as well. But the “specials” proposed to Churchill by three Yards revised the powerplant and achieve the desired speed.

The Thornycroft ships managed the second best output of the series at 26,500 shp, the prize going to the Hatwhorne ships at 27,000 shp registered on trials, with the Yarrow specials only reaching 23,000 shp, while officially managing 35 knots on trials. Playing with the “red line” was discouraged in peacetime, but as these ships were completed in wartime, there was an “expandable” aspect which entered the equation and enabled more freedom in operation to push the engines hard for a limited time, if tactically sound, by common agreement between the CO and his chief engineer.

Range

Range was a secondary aspect, and yet the M class managed to do better than the L class. If wikipedia is to be believed even “3,710 nmi” at 15 knots, versus 1,720 nmi (3,190 km; 1,980 mi). In reality, they all should have in standard the same 278 tonnes compared to 268 tonnes for the Laforey, so the real figure was likely around 1,800 nautical miles at best, traduced as 3,300 km or 2,070 miles. Repeat-M class showed the same fuel storage ability, but the Admiralty design was revised down to “only” 266 tonnes, the Thornycroft specials even less at 254 tonnes and the Yarrow specials just a meagre 228 tonnes of fuel oil, likely for degraded range. Having less generous fuel tanks (and thus lower weight) was a way to reach the desired speed for the “specials”. However there were more detail accounts. One source states the admiratly M class could achieve as far as 1,890 nm at 14 knots, the Yarrow specials 1,862 nm, the Thornycroft specials 2,268 nm, still at 14, not 15 knots.

Armament

This was essentially a repeat of the Laforey, with the only change of having the “Q” now on a bandstand between funnels for a better fore arc, creating a sloped line in relative gun mount height from the prow to the stern, “Q” bandstand placing it mid-way in height and somewhat facilitating gunnery calculations. There were few alterations in waritme, apart gun shields added in general at completion, and the early batch was able to carry four Elia Mk IV mines. HMS Meteor was converted into a minelayer, loosing its aft 4-in/40 main gun and two twin torpedo tubes, with new rails installed to carry 60 mines. The ex-Greek Medea class swapped their original 4-in/41 QF Mk VII for 4-in/40 QF Mk IV instead, and received an extra 40/39 2pdr QF Mk II “pompom” AA gun knowing they were completed without. They also had an extra “built-in” weapon: The doubling on the stempiece. It was originally fitted as an emergency measure to the early ‘M’ class in wartime, bu was made standard to facilitate U-Boat ramming of U-boats. In that case it was now a single casting.

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. On the Laforeys they were called “A” (forecastle), “Q” (amidship) and “X” (aft deck). They used P. IX mountings as the preceding L class and last Acasta batch. Usual round provision was 120 rounds (per gun), with 36 common, 84 lyddite, 19 practice rounds, but no illumination rounds. If elevation was possible up to 20 degrees the sight onbly reached 15 degrees athough whereas the range dial only went to 12.5 degrees, that is the equivalent of 7,900 yards. Later, additional sight strips graduated to 10,200 yards were provided.

The midship “Q” gun was supplied with ammunition from the forward stores, so that the gun crew was larger for it, with extra loaders to make up for the distance. There was a deflection gearing corresponding to 2200 fps at 2000 yards and drift was corrected by 2 degrees correction. Each gun had a layer’s telescope, which sight line was 12.5 inches above the bore, 21.45 inches to its left and the trainer’s own 12.5 top, 17.4 in right respectively, with open sights 13.3 in above, 24.35 in (layer) or 20.3 in (trainer). In wartime some ships lost the “X” or aft gun to make room for depth charges.

Specifications

Mass: 2,750 pounds (1,250 kg) barrel & breech, barrel 160 inches (4.064 m) bore (40 cal.)
Breech: horizontal sliding-block
Elevation: P IX Mount: -10° to +20°. 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. The Medea were the only ones fitted with these as well.

⚙ 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 1.5-Pdr Mark I

Depending on the yard, these destroyers were armed with a pair of QF 1.5-pounder (37 mm) as standard, or later QF 2-pounder (40 mm) “pom-pom” anti-aircraft guns. They may have carried in some cases two 1-pdr H.A. guns, later to be replaced by 2-pdr. This was in complement of 4 mines on the upper deck. The very first six ships of the programme 1913 had H.A. pompoms, with the remainder having what was available. In 1916-1920 all had at least one 2-pdr pompom. The QF 1+1⁄2-pounder (often called “1-pdr”) was the first naval pom-pom adopted, later redesignated Mark I. It had a 37 mm (1.46 in) calibre with a barrel 43 calibres long. First tested the cruisers HMS Arethusa and Undaunted, but apparently never entered full service, replaced by the QF 2-pdr Mark II. If mounted, this was due to shortages of Mark IIs.
Photos

QF 2-Pdr pom-pom Mark II

Ubiquitous AA gun of the RN in WWI, still used in WW2 in many new versions. Two were usually placed abaft the bridge on the aft upper deck (forecastle extension). The issue with this position was their inability to cross-fire. Later designed tended to have them relocated on an amidship platform, where the “Q” gun was located. In many cases, ships ended 1919 with up to three of them, two close to the bridge and a third aft on deck.

⚙ 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

Like the Laforeys, the M class sported two twin mounts in the axis. They were called the D.R. [Double Revolving] Torpedo Mounting Mark III. The only difference with the Laforey’s Mark II mounts was they lacked guard rails around the training platform. They enjoyed 50° arcs either side. No reload was provided. In 1917, some were upgraded to the longer reach and faster Mark II**** and Mark II***** models.
The RGF Mk II 21-in torpedo had a Hardcastle heater to run at 50 kts (93 km/h; 58 mph) over 1000yds (910 m) or 12,000yds (11,000 m) at 30kts (56 km/h; 35 mph).
But if present, it was due to shortages. The standard Mark II* of the Laforeys started to be replaced on the M class by the Mark II**, described below:
The 2,500 psi pressure was the special setup, over the standard normal 2,350 psi. To reach the highest ranges, normal pressure was used to reduce consumption. The Mark II** was used as standard until 1918 as more recent Marks were preferrably assigned to more recent destroyers.

Some sources states that some destroyers of the repeat-M type were given single surplus 356 mm or 14 inches tubes at the beam, two in all, with limited traverse.

⚙ specifications Mark II** (1914)

Weight: 2,948 lb (1,337 kg)
Length: 22 ft (6.7 m)
Explosive charge: 400 lb (180 kg) TNT
Range and speed settings:
-44.5 knots to 4,500 yards (4,000 m) (High Speed)
-35 knots to 6,000 yards (5,500 m) (High Speed)
-23 knots to 15,000 yards (13,700 m) (Medium Speed)
-18 knots to 18,000 yards (16,500 m) (E.R.)

Depth Charges

-In July 1912, HMS Alarm (Acheron) was the first fitted for trials of an explosive sweep, mated with an 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. This became the new wartime standard for the Laforey as well.

Mines

HMS Meteor and Prince were the only one fitted for mine laying. Their quarterdeck gun and torpedo tubes were removed. Screens were erected aft of the after funnel, to provide protection for the stored mines. The screens were even painted with dummy torpedo tubes and a gun so to mask the real purpose of this ship in operations. It seems these were not the four initial Elia Mk IV mines placed either sides and launched sideways but more commin models (see below). The Elia mines were invented by Captain G. Elia of the Italian Navy, of a buoyant type with long lever. If triggered by a passing by hull, the lever rotated and detonated the mine.
Specs: Weight 448 lbs. (203 kg), charge 220 lbs. (100 kg) TNT. Diameter 32.9 in (83.6 cm).

Fire Control

By 1915 fixed voice pipes were added between decks 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 standard one-meter base rangefinder was supplied to all destroyers up to the “L” class. By the end of 1915 they received a range and order data system comparable to the Barr and Stroud patterns with a combined transmitter on the forebridge, combined receiver near the sightsetter at each gun. Ranges went up to 9900 yards with increments of 100 yards with illuminated indicators and red indicator for signalling a loss of power from the battery pack below decks.

From February 1916, every M class was fitted with a Waymouth-Cooke sextant rangefinder, a Vickers Range Clock, plus a Dumaresq range and deflection receiver at each gun. They were managed by two ratings trained on board. Due to shortages the last arrived by 1917. As for the proper directors, the first British Destroyer Director Firing System were installed from May 1918 onwards.
Torpedoes were directed by a single sighting position in the centre of the bridge. Many ships used pressure and/or mechanical equipment to relay orders and deflections, most of the time, with completely electrical systems.

1/750 Profile of a 4-funneled special Hawthorn Leslie variant

1/750 Profile of a M-class Miranda, Yarrow’s special 2 funneled variant.

1/750 Profile of a HMS Meteor before conversion to a minelayer.

M-class (1915 specifications)
Displacement	994t, 1,042t FL
Dimensions	82 x 8,4 x 3,2m (269 x 27 x 10ft)
Propulsion	3 shafts steam turbines, 3 boilers, 25,000 shp (18,642 kW)
Speed	34 knots (39.1 mph; 63 km/h), see notes
Range	c1800 nm, see notes
Armament	3x 4-in/47 (102 mm) Mark-IV QF, 2x 2-pdr (40 mm) AA, 2×2 21-in (533 mm) TT
Crew	80

1913 Admiralty Batch

Matchless was laid down at Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend on Tyne, launched on on 8 November 1913 and commissioned on 5 October 1914. Until the end of the year, she trained in local waters, after the usual shakedown and fixes. On 1 January 1915, as HMS Formidable was torpedoed by U-24 in the Channel, Matchless was diverted to look for the U-Boote but found nothing. She was then attached to the Harwich Force, 10th Flotilla, operating in the North Sea, reinforcing the Grand Fleet in the Channel if required. On 31 January 1915, she was sent to Sheerness for minelaying operations east of Dover straits, and escorting the minelayer Paris until 9 February. On 13 June she was sent to Avonmouth, South-West Approaches, covering troopships with the 13th Division to the Middle East. She then patrolled from Devonport, escorting troopships of the 12th division to Gallipoli until relieved in July and back to Harwich. On 16 August she escorted the minelayer Princess Margaret to the Arum Bank, stumbling upon five patrolling German destroyers. B98 torpedoed Mentor (she survived) and the operation was abandoned. On 30 October Matchless swept the German Bight, helping capturing the Swedish steamer Osterland, sent to the Humber for investigation.

On 8/9 November 1915, she escorted the minelayers Princess Margaret and Angora at Amrum Bank in poor weather under Admiral Reginald Tyrwhitt, and this degraded so much, her ordered them back to base. But while back, HMS Matchless struck a mine from UC-6 (laid 2 days ago) off Orfordness on 9 November (the channel was noted already swept clear). Her stern was blown off but pmiraculously she had no injury. She was towed to safety by HMS Murray to Harwich, repaired at Chatham. On 24 April 1916 her unit learned about the raid on Lowestoft and Yarmouth, albeit Seydlitz struck a mine. Radio traffic got room 40 to led the admiralty order light cruisers and five destroyers of the Harwich Force to scramble on 24/25 April. However when he arrived, Tyrwhitt, outnumbered, turned away to lure the Germans away from Lowestoft. The city was shelled anyway and the Germans moved to Yarmouth. Tyrwhitt, shadowing them, returned and engaged the light screening cruisers screening forcing the battlecruisers to abort the bombardment and engage the Harwich force. HMS Conquest and the DD Laertes were hit. Eventually the Germans retired to the East.

On the night of 22 July 1916, two light cruisers leadin four destroyers each sailed in patrol to prevent German torpedo boats based from Flanders pouncing on shipping to the Netherlands. She was no part of the Carysfort group, sent off the Mass estuary, but of Canterbury, to the North Hinder light vessel. Eight German destroyers of II Flotilla from Zeebrugge were previously sent to the North Hinder light vessel by night and so by 00:15 on 23 July Carysfort’s group spotted them. They turned away and escaped in a smoke screen and rain storm. But the Canterbury group sailed to Schouwen Bank to close the pincer. This was done and at 01:45, they were spotted. Matchless however could not keep up, lagging behind, left behind by Morris and Melpomene. The German however managed to return to Zeebrugge. On 26/27 July 1916, Matchless was damaged by a collision with TB 9 (sank) in thick fog, repaired until 19 August.
The 10th Flotilla was sent to Dunkirk on 19 January 1917 to bolster the Dover Patrol as attacks on the Dover Barrage and shipping were expected.

On 22 January, room 40 informed the admiralty about a sortie of the German VI TBF would be detached from the High Seas Fleet to reinforce Flanders. Matchless and five others was sent to stop the transfer soon joined by six light cruisers, two flotilla leaders and sixteen destroyers in several groups to cover all possible routes. Matchless was led by Nimrod east of the Schouwen Bank. V69 and G41 were heavily damaged but the remainder managed to escape. Nimrod’s group headed north-east to cut them offfrom the German Bight, but were ordered back so the Germans sneaked past the gap in British patrols apart a straggler, S50 on the same route, which ran into five destroyers patrolling west of the Schouwen Bank. S50 was hit but managed to torpedo HMS Simoom. Nimrod’s division spotted the figh and rushed there, but S50 escaped. Nimrod and Matchless tried to tow Simoom but she was scuttled by gunfire from Matchless.

On 10 February 1917, Matchless escorted a convoy from the Netherlands to Britain whe she spotted what was kikely SM UC-4, opening fire and dropping depth charges. Meteor and P.31 later spotted and attacked her but she escaped. On 9 April 1917, Matchless was transferred to the Dover Patrol. On 20 April with Nugent, Morris and Amazon she was on French side of the Channel led by Swift and Broke when that night, the was a German TB attack on the Channel, the Battle of Dover Strait. Six were to bombard Dover and the Dover Barrage, six more Calais and the southern barrage. Three more were sent to the Downs. While Matchless’s division spotted gunfire but never spotted the German ships. The second group damaged the French armed trawler Sabreur but their shelling of Dover did little damage, however on their return they were caught by Swift and Broke group. They sank G42 and G85. On 29 May, Matchless was rammed by Minos in fog, and badly damaged, towed to Dover, beached and later rcovered after patching and repaired for the remainder of 1917 and into 1914.

On 22 April 1918, she was mobilized for against Zeebrugge and Ostend. Matchless was part of the Ostend operation, which was a failure, but it was ordered to repeat it as soon as practicable, in the night of 9/10 May. This ended again as a failure, with the blockship Vindictive failing to block the main shipping channel. On 28/29 September 1918, Matchless took part in a bombardment of Belgian coast posittiosn tu support the allied advance. After the war ended she was, like her sisters, considered already worn-out. In May 1919, reserve at the Nore, she had a Care and Maintenance party from 9 February 1920 until was sold for scrap on 26 October 1921.

Murray was laid down at Palmers Shipbuilding & Iron Company, Hebburn on Tyne, 4 December 1913, launched on 8 August 1914 and commissioned in December 1914. She was assigned to the 10th flotilla, Harwich Force from the start, so her career very much mirrors that of her sisters, notably Matchless above. On 31 January 1915 she was sent to Sheerness to escort minelayers led by Paris until 4 February and then 16 February, relieved by the 3rd DF in between. By late March she patrolled off the Dutch coast. On 23 March 1915 she took part in a seaplane raid from HMS Empress to Norddiech, stopped due to heavy fog: Undaunted and destroyer Landrail collided, escorted by Murray back to Chatham. June–July 1915 saw her sent to the south-western approaches, covering troopships to the middle east. On 23 August 1915 she shelled Zeebrugge, attached to the Dover Patrol. On 30 October she was part of a sweep of the German Bight, helping capturing Osterland. On 8 November she was in support of Operation DZ in the German Bight, and while back she towed Matchless, which lost her stern to a mine. On 21 February 1916, Murray left Harwich for North Sea minelaying ops, but collided with Milne, and sent to Chatham for repair. She took part in another seaplane raid on 24–25 March 1916 with HMS Vindex against Hoyer in Schleswig-Holstein. Only two out of five seaplanes returned and reported the Zeppelin base at Tondern. Murray was in search for missing seaplanes and met two German patrol boats, the Braunschweig and Otto Rudolf, sank, picking up survivors. Laverock however rammed Medusa, taken in tow by Lightfoot, until scuttled in the severe weather. While back Cleopatra rammed and sunk G 194 but collided with another destroyer.

From 24 April 1916 she was sent to reinforce the Dover Patrol for Belgian coast mineling missions in front of Ostend and Zeebrugge. On 24 April off Zeebrudge, Murray, Milne, Medea and Melpomene engaged three torpedo boats, retreating. While in pursuit the British destroyers were greeted by German shore batteries and Murray was hit in the forecastle by a single 15 cm shell (dud), albeit Melpomene was hit and lost power. Milne attempted a towing but fouled her port propeller with the tow cable. Medea assist her when the three German torpedo boats came back and attacked. Medea was hit thrice but the British put a spirited defence and the nearby monitor Prince Eugene was called for help, sending a few volleys of 12-inch fire that were sufficient. Murray later joined the 6th DF, Dover Patrol from 5 June 1917 but collided with HMS Vehement on 14 January 1918, due to a navigation error of the later, and was repaired.
On 14/15 February 1918, while on patrol in The Downs with Attentive, DDs Crusader and Nugent, she was sent in interception of 7 German TBDs but missed them. They claimed one trawler, five drifters and one minesweeper. Murray was just transferred in November to the 21st DF at Rosyth in Scotland when the war ended. By February 1919, she was with the 6th Flotilla and in May, in reserve at Portsmouth, sold for BU on 9 May 1921.

Myngs was laid down at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne, laid down on 31 December 1913, launched on 24 September 1914 and commissioned in February 1915, first to be named after Vice-Admiral Sir Christopher Myngs (1625-1666), deployed in the Grand Fleet, 10th DF. She took part in flotilla exercises and escorted like RMS Aquitania and RMS Mauretania from Liverpool on 18 May and the ammunition ship from Queenstown on 14 June, remaining on this route, or from Canada. In October she was transferred to the Harwich Force. On 25 April 1916 she wa sinvolved in the interception of the German raid on Yarmouth and Lowestoft (no hits). On 14 August she covered a minelaying off the Ems. Next she sorties in the Strait of Dover and on10 February 1917 she detected and attacked but missed UC-4. On 21 April she took part in the Battle of Dover Strait, last deployed in the action. She wa slater transferred to the 6th DF. She made a sortie vs. German shipping on 20 March 1918, from Dover, but under the Allied command in Dunkirk, east barrage, another on 11 April with HMS Erebus and Terror attacking Zeebrugge on 18 April. On 11 September she torpedoed the burning monitor Glatton after an accidental explosion in Dover. After 11 November she was placed in reserve at the Nore until 5 January 1920, then in care and maintenance until stricken sold for BU on 9 May 1921.

Milne was laid down at John Brown & Company, Clydebank on 18 December 1913, launched on 5 October 1914 and commissioned in December 1914. Like her sisters, Milne was part of the 10th DF, Grand Fleet, Harwich Force. Milne sailed with the Harwich Force for the 24 January Battle of Dogger Bank. They spotted the armoured cruiser Blücher and reporting her and the fleets strength and course to leave Beatty’s battlecruisers coming into range. At 09:20 she was ordered for a torpedo attack, but signals confusion led to an eventual general withdrawal. On 31 January 1915 she was sent to Sheerness for a minelaying operations east of Dover and with the minelayer Paris until 9 February. On 28 March 1915 she made an anti-submarine sweep off the Dutch coast. On 13 June 1915 she was sent at Avonmouth and the South-West Approaches, escorting troopships. She latter looked for U-24. She was relieved from escorts in mid-July and on 23 August attached to the Dover patrol for an attack on Zeebrugge by Lord Clive, Sir John Moore and Prince Rupert. Later she was led by Nimrod to the Channel in search of U-24 again.

On 21 February 1916, she covered minesweeping operations in the North Sea but collided later with Murray, sent to Chatham for repair.From 24 April 1916 she was involved in more operations along the Belgian coast. On 24 April, TB activity on the nets off Zeebrugge led to an engagement with Milne, Murray, Medea and Melpomene. They were in pursuit until engaged by shore batteries and Murray was hit in the forecastle by a single 150 mm shell (dud). Melpomene was also hit; lost power and Milne attempted to tow her but fouled her port propeller with the tow cable, Medea replaced her. The three German TNs returned, Medea was hit again, but the monitor Prince Eugene saved the day. She also took part in the action of 22-23 July off the North Hinder light vessel. By 22/23 January 1917 she took part in another action west of the Schouwen Bank and on 29 January between Harwich and Lowestoft, and on 28 February off the Netherlands she sighted a periscope, missed by a torpedo, depth charged but missed. On 30 April she joined the 6th DF, Dover Patrol and on 9 May while on patrol she spotted UC-26. Her rudders jammed and, too slow to dive away she was rammed by Milne and depth charged. She rescued 8 survivors, but had her stem repaired later. In November she was deployed to the 21st DF. By February 1919 she was back to the 6th DF, then in reserve at the Nore until sold on 22 September 1921 and scrapped.

Morris was laid down at John Brown, Clydebank on 20 January 1914, launched on 19 November 1914, commissioned in December 1914. She was named after naval officer George Morris, commander in the Napoleonic wars. She entered the Grand Fleet, 10th DF. On 23 January 1915 she sreened battlecruisers at the Battle of Dogger Bank. Her and sisters were criticized as not be able to hold speed ahead of the main fleet. Next she escorted the telegraph steamer Alert, laying a minefield off the French coast on 9 February. She escorted merchant shipping in June and on 16 August escorted the minelayer Princess Margaret when the following night she clashed with German TBs, which fled. In October she was transferred to the Harwich Force. On 24 March 1916 she escorted the seaplane carrier Vindex for the raid on Hoyer and Tondern. At the Battle of Jutland on 31 May-1 June under Cdr. Edward S. Graham she joined the 13th DF with Moorsom, under Champion, screeninf Beatty’s BCs. She attacked German battlecruisers after the loss of Indefatigable and Queen Mary but became separated and later clashed with TBs led by V27. She later had an encounter with German capital ships but never was in position to torpedo them. On 23 July in a sorties she clashed with the German Second Flotilla, which her own gunfire drove away under a smoke screen.

On 22 January 1917 room 40 informed her unit the Germans wanted to reinforce the Flanders Fleet and she was sent in interception, off the Schouwen Bank but missed them. However, Morris approached Simoom damaged in the action, rescued 50 men and scuttled her with Matchless. She remained with the Dover Patrol, escorting their 13 monitors, in the 6th DF, at first held in reserve but on 20 March she escorted HMS Terror off Dunkirk, led by Botha. The TB A7 was sunk but Botha was damaged, Morris towed her to safety. On 11 May she escorted HMS Erebus, Marshal Soult, Sir John Moore and Terror off Ostend and then off Zeebrugge on 24 April 1918, Ostend on 9 May. On 15 October 1919 she was in reserve at Devonport until decommissioned on 8 November 1921, sold for BU.

Moorsom was laid down at John Brown, Clydebank on 15 January 1914, launched on 21 December 1914 and commissioned in February 1915, named after Admiral Sir Robert Moorsom (1760-1835), assigned to the Grand Fleet, 10th DF. She escorted many ships, including Mauretania on 9-10 June for the Gallipoli campaign. On 16 August she escorted Princess Margaret. Mentor was torpedoed by the German 2nd Flotilla, Moorsom believing they had entered a minefield and and escaped without harm. In October the joined the Harwich Force. At the Battle of Jutland she was in the 13th DF led by Champion, screening the 1st and 2nd BCs. She clashed like the others and was hit, forced to return to port with damaged oil tanks, likely by KMS Grosser Kurfürst. On 18 August she was attached to the 3rd BS and returned to the 10th DF in Dover. On 28 November she escorted Princess Margaret west of Borkum. She was led by Nimrod to Dunkirk on 19 January 1917 to protect the Dover Barrage and shipping. On 22 January she sortied east of the Schouwen Bank but in the fog she was nearly rammed by Starfish. She had a refit until 28 February and started to escort monitors as part of the 6th DF, for the bombardment of Ostend and on Zeebrugge on 23 April 1918, Ostend on 9 May. On 15 October 1919 she was in reserve at Devonport, decommissioned, stricken, sold for BU on 8 November 1921.

1913 Hawthorn Leslie Specials

Mentor (pennants H6A, H77, D54 468) was laid down at Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn in 1913, launched on 21 August 1914 and commissioned in 1915, entering the Harwhich Force. On 23 January 1915, Room 40 warned about a German BCs sortie, prompting Beatty’s Battlecruiser Force from Rosyth to which was added the Harwich Force under Tyrwhitt (Arethusa) and the 10th DF, leading to the 24 January Battle of Dogger Bank. Mentor made a torpedo attack on KMS Blücher but missee and she was finished off by shells and torpedoes at 12:10. On 23 March she escorted the seaplane carrier Empress for the raid on Norddeich, running in thick fog and collisions. She later towed the badly damaged Landrail back. On 28 March 1915 she made a sweep off the Dutch coast. On 13 June she was sent to Avonmouth, South-West Approaches, escorting troopships to the Middle East, notably the ocean liner Empress of Britain from Liverpool to the Dardanelles, first leg, followed by Aquitania on 3 July, and later spotted and attacked U-39. She rescued men from the Anglo-Californian from Canada. On 4–5 August she made a sweep off Terschelling. On 16 August she escorted Princess Margaret on the Arum Bank, sinking German trawlers, then met by the II Torpedo-Boat Flotilla near the Horns Reefs light vessel. Mentor was struck in the bow by a torpedo from B98, was left by herself, she made it back to Harwich and was repaired. On 25 December she was led by Nimrod looking for U-24. On 31 March/1 April she was sent off Cromer. On 25 April 1916 the raid on Lowestoft prompted the Harwich force but they missed them. On 23/24 July she was in the 1st Division pincer led by Carysfort, spotting three German destroyers and started a pursuit, but they escaped. On February 1917 she was in the Dover Patrol. On 17/18 March 1917 she was sent protecting the Dover Barrage, north entrance to the Downs, at Deal, but the Germans escaped unharmed. Same on 20/21 April, south side of the Dover straits. The leaders dispatched down G85 and G42 but Botha was badly damaged and assisted by Mentor. On 5 June she escorted Erebus and Terror off Ostend. On 27 October Mentor with Botha and 2 French destroyers she clashed with three German destroyers. In April 1918 she took part in the attacks on Zeebrugge and Ostend. In May 1919 she was in reserve at Devonport, sold for BU on 9 May 1921.

Mansfield (Pennants H1A, H70, D37, 469) was laid down at Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn in 1913, launched on 3 December 1914 and commissioned in 1915, named after Charles Mansfield, commander of HMS Minotaur at Trafalgar. She joined the Harwich Force, 10th DF, deployed to Milford Haven to protect shipping in the Southwest Approaches from June. She protect them to the Atlantic to and from Canada as well as troopships from Liverpool for the Dardanelles. and on 4 August, was deployed off Terschelling, then again on 31 October. On 26-27 February 1916 she wa sin a large exercise east of Shetland. On 24-26 March she escorted Vindex for the raid at Hoyer and co-sank the picket armed trawlers Braunschweig and Otto Rudolf. On 23 January 1917 while patrolling near Schouwen she clashed briefly in poor vibility with a flotilla of German destroyers. On 23 April 1918 she escorted HMS General Craufurd, Lord Clive, Marshal Soult and Prince Eugene for the attack on Zeebrugge and with Trident, towed the C1 and C3, the latter destroying the viaduct. She escorted later the protected cruiser Vindictive to Ostend as a blockship. Postwar she was in reserve at the Nore, and sold for BU on 26 October 1921.

1913 Thornycroft Specials

Meteor (Pennants H7A, H78, D84, 696), laid down at Thornycroft, Woolston, 1913, launched on 24.7.1914 and commissioned on 9.1914. She served with the Harwich Force until her conversion as minelayer in 1917. On 17 October 1914 she screened HMS Arethusa with Laforey, Lawford and Miranda on the Broad Fourteens after probably German radio signals received, and caught the German hospital ship Ophelia. She was seized and renamed SS Huntly. On 23 January 1915 she was scrambled for the battle of Dogger Bank on the morning of 24th. She was straddled by Blücher but reported the German fleet size and course. By 09:20 she took part in a defensive line and later took part in a torpedo attack against Blücher but she was hit by a shell in her forward boiler room (4 KiA, 2d wounded).

Meteor was towed back to the Humber by Liberty. After repairs she took part in the June 1915 minelayers actions with the 10th DF, notably the one of 10 September and the one with HMS Vindex on 25–25 March 1916. On 23/24 January 1917 she was scrambled to intercept German s TBs from Zeebrugge in which V69 was heavily damaged and later S50 sank the Simoom but escaped. She was transferred to the 6th DF, Dover Patrol by February 1917 after her conversion but struck a mine on 13 March 1917, repaired until back in action in July. On 13/14 July she laid mines off Ostend. Later she took part in minelaying operations off Cap Gris Nez in December 1917– January 1918. For the remainder of 1918 she laid magnetic mines off Ostend, 1082 mines total in this war. Place in reserve in 1919 she was sold for scrapping in May 1921.

Mastiff (pennant H3A, H72, D66) was laid down as n°697, Thornycroft, Woolston on 1913, launched on 5 September 1914, commissioned on November 1914. She joined the 10th DF, Harwich Force, reputed to be the fastest ship in service by 1915 at nearly 37 knots, under Lt Cdr James L. Forbes. She took part in the battle at the Battle of Dogger Bank led by HMS Arethusa and reportinh a hit on Blücher (not confirmed). On 24 March she took part of the seaplane attack on Højer and 4 days later hunted down an unknown German submarine, same on 31 March. On 22 July 1916 she was part of an intercept a flotilla of German TBs that failed. On 22 April 1918 she was mobilized for the against Zeebrugge and Ostend. Post Armistice, she was transferred to the Local Defence Flotilla, Firth of Forth, but place in reserve and sold for BU on 9 May 1921, with a model kept by National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.

1913 Yarrow Specials

Miranda (pennants HA0, H83, D24) was laid down at Yarrow, Scotstoun in 1912, launched on 27 May 1914 and commissioned in August 1914. No data. Scrapped 1921.

Minos (H9A, H81) was laid down at Yarrow, Scotstoun in 1912, launched on 6 August 1914 and completed in October 1914. No data, scrapped 1921.

Manly (pennants H0A, H69, D20) was laid down at Yarrow, Scotstoun in 1913, launched on 12 October 1914, in December 1914. On trials she was one of the slowest in class at 33 knots. She joined the Harwich Force on completion and took part in the sortie on 31 January 1915 to Sheerness for minelaying operations east of the Straits of Dover, then with the minelayer Paris until 9 February. On 28 March she made a sweep off the Dutch coast but was recalled when the German battlecruisers were about to sortie. On 13 June 1915 she was sent to Avonmouth, South-West Approaches to escort troopships for the Gallipoli campaign. On 2 July she sailed to Queenstown to refuel and escorted Aquitania.

On 16 August she escorted the minelayer Princess Margaret to the Arum Bank (abandoned, TB clash). She escorted a raid on Zeebrugge by 3 monitors. On 6 October 1915 she was sent off the Danish coast, captured 15 German fishing trawlers, sunk one on 7 October. On 25 December led by Nimrod she looked for U-24. On 24 March 1916 she escorted the raid of Vindex at Hoyer. On 23/24 July she protected shipping off the Netherlands, part of the 1st Division led by Carysfort. By December she was sent to Dunkirk and on 23 January, sent to intercept a flotilla of 11 German TBs from Germany (see above). She was transferred to the Dover Patrol on 8 May 1917, on 5 June escorted Erebus and Terror raiding Ostend, and the Raid on Zeebrugge on 23 April 1918 with the same, place in reserve by 1919, sold for BU 26 October 1921.

Medea class (Greek M)

Late in 1913, four destroyers were ordered for the Greek Navy, on the admiralty M class model, laid down early 1914 as Kriti and Lesvos at John Brown, Chios and Samos at Fairfield. The only difference compared to standard M class was their raised fore funnel and “Q” gun mount placed between No 1 and No 2 funnels. Internally their double boiler room was relocated next to the engine room and accommodations around reworked for Greek needs. They were requisitioned before launch between December 1914 and March 1915 and completed to British standards in the summer of 1915. During the war they were rearmed with the new 4-in/40 QF Mk IV, and had a single 2-pdr (40mm)/39 2pdr QF Mk II installed as well (none as completed). They were powered by three Brown-Curtis steam turbines fed by three Yarrow boilers and equal diameter funnels, for a total output of 25,000 shp (18,642 kW) and 32 knots.

Medea class
Dimensions	83.3 x 8,15 x 2,59
Displacement	1007-1040t, 1,200t FL
Propulsion	3 shafts steam turbines, 3 boilers: 25,000 shp (18,642 kW)
Speed	32 knots (38 mph; 55 km/h)
Armament	3x 4-in(102 mm)/41 Mk.VII, 2×2 21-in (533 mm) TT
Crew	80

Only HMS Medusa was sunk in action. Here are their story:

HMS Melampus (pennants H44, H75) was ordered in 1913 as Chios at Fairfield, Govan. She was laid down in early 1914, launched on 16 december, and completed in June 1915.

HMS Medea (Pennants H9C, H74) was originally ordered as Kriti, laid down at John Brown, Clydebank on April 1914, launched on 30 January 1915 and completed in June 1915.

Melpomene (pennants H09, H76, D50) was laid down at Samos, at Fairfield, Govan in 1914, launched on 1 February 1915 and commissioned on August 1915.

Medusa (Pennant H90) was laid down as Lesbos at John Brown, Clydebank in April 1914. She was launched on 27 March 1915, aand commissioned on July 1915.

Emergency War Construction Programme

When the war started, the admiralty ordered five batches of “repeat-M” as part of the War Emergency Programme. They were simplified, with the cruising turbines deleted, unless the pre-war sub-group (Matchless class). Funnel were raised also, and the N°2 4-in gun mount was also raised in place (still between funnels) but on on a bandstand, like earlier L-class. They also diverged in some aspects, like HMS Partridge, Norman, Maenad, Ophelia and Observer later fitted to carry a kite balloon.

All these ships were quite active during the war. HMS Marmion (1917), HMS Negro (1916), HMS Nessus (1918), HMS Narborough (1918), Narwhal (1916) were lost by collision with other ships or reefs, HMS Mary Rose by cruiser SMS Brummer and SMS Bremse off the Norwegian coast, the HMS Partridge by German destroyers in December 1917, the HMS North Star at Zeebrugge in 1918, HMS Pheasant (mine, 1917 off the Orkney Islands) and more famously the HMS Nestor and Nomad were sunk at the battle of Jutland. The remainder sold for scrap in 1921. During the war, Partridge, Norman, Maenad, Ophelia and Observer all received equipment to operate a kite balloon

There were also difference between groups:
-The Yarrow ‘specials’ were similar to the Miranda but were 0.3m longer on the waterline and had raked stems and sloping sterns.
-The Thornycroft ‘specials’ resembled the Admiralty boats but had flat-sided funnels and higher freeboard.
-Later Admiralty-designed boats the stem was raked and the bows were given more flare to improve seakeeping.

1st War Program

Mons was laid down at John Brown on 30 September 1914, launched on 1 May 1915, commissioned in July 1915.

Marne was laid down at John Brown on 30 September 1913, launched on 29 May 1915, commissioned in August 1916.

Michael was laid down at John I. Thornycroft & Company, Woolston in October 1914, launched on 19 May 1915 and commissioned in August 1915.

Milbrook was laid down at Thornycroft in November 1914, launched on 12 July 1915, commissioned in October 1915.

Minion was laid down at Thornycroft in November 1914, launched on 11 September 1915, commissioned on November 1915, the 4th named after this small cannon back to the 17th cent. She joined the 11th DF, Grand Fleet, and trained on 26-27 February 1916 east of Shetland with the Grand Fleet. On 17 March, she chased down U-48 off the Straits of Dover. In May she left Cromarty under Kempenfelt to meet with the 2nd Battle Squadron on 31 May for the Battle of Jutland. In the evening they fell on the German 2nd Scouting Group, creating a skirmish. She was back unharmed on 2 June. On 30 April 1917 led by Calliope and Comus, she was in ASW patrols when runing low on fuel, but could not be refuelled from Calliope. They had to return back at low speed. On 16 October she was part of an armada of 84 ships (54 destroyers) to protect convoys from Scandinavia. In 1918 she was deployed with the 4th DF, local defence, Devonport. After 11 November she continued to operate into 1919, but decommissioned and discarded on 8 November 1921, sold for BU.

Munster was laid down at Thornycroft on November 1914, launched on 24 November 1915, commissioned in January 1916.

Mystic was laid down at William Denny & Brothers, Dumbarton on 27 October 1914, launched on 20 June 1915, commissioned in 11 November 1915.

Maenad was laid down at Denny on 10 November 1914, launched on 10 August 1915, commissioned in 12 November 1915.

Magic was laid down at J. Samuel White & Company, Cowes on 1 January 1915, launched on 10 September 1915, commissioned in 8 January 1916.

Moresby was laid down at White on 14 January 1915, launched on 20 November 1915, commissioned in 7 April 1916.

Mandate was laid down at Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, Govan on 27 April 1915, launched on 13 August 1915.

Manners was laid down at Fairfield 15 June 1915, 21 September 1915 launched.

Marmion was laid down at Swan Hunter on 28 May 1915. Her name was chosen by Churchill (as many others) and referred to “A Tale of Flodden Field” a famous, poetic medieval romance by Sir Walter Scott. Her initial pennant H.C2 was changed to G04 in January 1917. She was part of the 11th DF, with her CO later becoming William Leveson-Gower, an uncle to the future Elizabeth II, until 25 May 1917. On 21 December 1916 while in exercises, the flotilla leader HMS Hoste collided with Negro, and Marmion quickly pulled alongside the stricken destroyer in an attempt of towing her to safety when the broken DD sunk with 5 officers and 45 ratings. She later too Hoste in tow, as well as Marvel, until abandoned after the crew was evacuated. Escort duties followed, but on 14 April 1917, she escorted RMS Olympic with Arthur Balfour on an important mission to the US, marred by heavy seas. By October 1917 she was on the Shetland-Norway route. On 20 October she escorted an outbound convoy for Bergen. At 1:30AM on 21 October, Marmion met a second convoy miles off north in poor visibility, unexpected, and as she close down, Tirade collided Marmion, with Tirade’s bow raised by a high swell, slicing Marmion in half, sinking her with all hands, 10 bodies were recovered. Almost as many M class destroyers were sunk by collision rather by combat in this war.

Martial was laid down at Swan Hunter on October 1914, launched on 1 July 1915 October 1915 Sold for breaking up 9 May 1921.

Mary Rose was laid down at Swan Hunter on 8 October 1915. She was sunk on 17 October 1917 by German cruisers SMS Brummer and SMS Bremse off the Norwegian coast.

Menace was laid down at Swan Hunter on September 1914, launched on 9 November 1915 and commissioned in April 1916.

2nd War Program

Mameluke was laid down at John Brown on 23 December 1914, launched on 14 August 1915, commissioned in October 1915.

Marvel was laid down at Denny on 11 January 1915, launched on 7 October 1915, commissioned in 28 December 1915.

Mindful was laid down at Fairfield on 24 August 1915, launched on 10 November 1915, commissioned in .

Mischief was laid down at Fairfield on 12 October 1915, launched on 16 December 1915, commissioned in .

Nonsuch was laid down at Palmers on 7 December 1915, launched on February 1916, commissioned in .

Negro was laid down at Palmers on 8 March 1915. Sunk after colliding with Hoste in the North Sea on 21 December 1916.

Nepean was laid down at Thornycroft on February 1915, launched on 22 January 1916, commissioned in March 1916.

Nereus was laid down at Thornycroft on March 1915, launched on 24 February 1916, commissioned in May 1916.

Nessus was laid down at Swan Hunter on 24 August 1915, launched on Sunk after colliding with HMS Amphitrite in the North Sea on 8 September 1916.

3rd War Program

Nestor was laid down at Swan Hunter on 22 December 1915. Sunk on 31 May 1916 at the Battle of Jutland.

Noble was laid down at Alexander Stephen & Sons, Linthouse on 6 February 1915, launched on 22 December 1915, commissioned on 15 February 1916.

Nomad was laid down at Stephen on 7 February 1916, she was launched. Sunk on 31 May 1916 at the Battle of Jutland.

Nizam was laid down at Stephen on 11 February 1915, launched on 7 February 1916, commisssioned on 29 June 1916.

Nonpareil was laid down at Stephen on 24 February 1915, launched on 7 February 1916; commissioned on 28 June 1916.

Norman was laid down at Palmers on 20 March 1916, launched on August 1916.

Northesk was laid down at Palmers on 5 July 1916 launched on October 1916.

North Star was laid down at Palmers on 9 November 1916. Sunk on 23 April 1918 at Zeebrugge.

Nugent was laid down at Palmers on 9 November 1916. Completed in April 1917.

Obedient was laid down at Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company Limited, Greenock 6 November 1916 February 1917. Sold for breaking up 25 November 1921.

Obdurate was laid down at Scotts on 21 November 1916, launched on March 1917. Sold for breaking up 15 November 1921.

Onslaught was laid down at Scotts on 21 November 1916.

Onslow was laid down at Fairfield on 15 February 1916, launched on 15 April 1916.

Opal was laid down at William Doxford & Sons, Sunderland on 11 September 1915.

Ophelia was laid down at Doxford on 13 October 1915, launched on May 1916.

Opportune was laid down at Doxford on 20 November 1915, launched on June 1916.

Oracle was laid down at Doxford on 23 December 1915, launched on August 1916. Sold for breaking up 31 October 1921. She joined the 13th DF, Grand fleet, at Scapa Flow and was sent in ASW patrols, with mixed results like the attack on 19 August 1916 with Penn on U-52, which sunk HMS Nottingham. On 18 January 1917 she was part of “high speed sweeps” in the North Sea using paravanes. On 12 August with Birkenhead and Yarmouth, she spotted a vessel on the horizon NW-W which proved to be the surfaced U-44, hastily disguised with a sail to recharge her batteries by day. She made a run at her, the U-Boote dived, rose, dived again bu was soon missed with gunfire and rammed between the CT and stern, sinking with all hands. She wa slater sent for convoys, more effective at ASW defence. Postwar she joined the Defence Flotilla at Portsmouth, placed in reserve after decommission on 1 February 1920, sold for BU on 30 October 1921.

Orestes was laid down at Doxford on 21 March 1916, launched on June 1916.

Orford was laid down at Doxford on 19 April 1916, launched on December 1916.

Orpheus was laid down at Doxford on 17 June 1916, launched on September 1916.

Octavia was laid down at Doxford on 21 June 1916, launched on November 1916.

Ossory was laid down at John Brown on 23 December 1914, launched on 9 October 1915, commissioned in November 1915.

4th War Program

Napier was laid down at John Brown on 24 March 1915, launched on 27 November 1915, commissioned in January 1916.

Narborough was laid down at John Brown on May 1915, launched on 2 March 1916.

Narwhal was laid down at Denny on 21 April 1915, launched on 3 February 1916, commissioned on 3 March 1916.

Nicator was laid down at Denny on 21 April 1915, launched on 3 February 1916, commissioned on 15 April 1916.

Norseman was laid down at Doxford on 15 August 1916, launched on November 1916.

Oberon was laid down at Doxford on 29 September 1916, launched on December 1916.

Observer was laid down at Fairfield on 1 June 1915, launched on 1 May 1916, commissoned on 15 June 1916.

Offa was laid down at Fairfield on 6 July 1915, launched on 7 June 1916, commissioned on 31 July 1916.

Orcadia was laid down at Fairfield on 24 June 1915, launched on 26 July 1916, commissioned on 29 September 1916.

Oriole was laid down at Palmers on 31 July 1916, November 1916 Sold for breaking up 9 May 1921.

Osiris was laid down at Palmers on 28 September 1916, launched on December 1916 Sold for breaking up 9 May 1921.

Paladin was laid down at Scotts on May 1915 (yard number 471), launched on 27 March 1916 (named after the knights of Charlemagne) and completed in May 1916. She joined the 13th DF, and in 1917, German minesweeper activity off the Heligoland Bight prompted on 16 October, a sortie of Paladin, led by Valentine, for naught. She screened the First Battle Squadron led by Revenge at the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight on 17 November. In 1918 she screened the 1st battlecruiser Sqn. until the end of the war. Placed in reserve, transferred to Nore on 14 January 1919 she was decommissioned and sold for BU on 9 May 1921.

Parthian was laid down at Scotts on July 1915, launched on 3 July 1916 September 1916 Sold for breaking up 8 November 1921.

Partridge was laid down at Swan Hunter on July 1915, launched on 4 March 1916 and commissioned on December 1916.

Pasley was laid down at Swan Hunter on July 1915, launched on 15 April 1916, commissioned on July 1916.

5th War Program

Medina (ex-Redmill) was laid down at White on 23 September 1915, launched on 8 March 1916, commissioned on 30 June 1916.

Medway (ex-Medora, ex-Redwing) was laid down at White on 2 November 1915, launched on 19 April 1916 and commissioned on 2 August 1916.

Pelican was laid down at William Beardmore & Company, Dalmuir on 25 June 1915, launched on 18 March 1916 and commissioned on 1 May 1916.

Pellew was laid down at Beardmore on 28 June 1915, launched on 8 May 1916 and commissioned on 30 June 1916.

Penn was laid down at John Brown on 9 June 1915, launched on 8 April 1916 and commissioned in May 1916.

Peregrine was laid down at John Brown on 9 June 1915, launched on 29 May 1916 and commissioned on July 1916.

Petard was laid down at Dennyon 5 July 1915, launched on 24 March 1916, commissioned on 23 May 1916.

Peyton was laid down at Denny on 12 July 1915, launched on 2 May 1916, commissioned on 29 June 1916.

Pheasant was laid down at Fairfield on 23 October 1916. Mined on 1 March 1917 off the Orkney Islands.

Phoebe was laid down at Fairfield on 20 November 1916, launched on 28 December 1916.

Pigeon was laid down at Hawthorn Leslie & Company, Hebburn on 14 July 1915, launched on 3 March 1916, commissioned on 2 June 1916.

Plover Hawthorn Leslie on 30 July 1915, launched on 3 March 1916, commissioned on 30 June 1916.

Plucky was laid down at Scottson 21 April 1916, launched on July 1916.

Portia was laid down at Scotts on 10 August 1916, launched on October 1916.

Prince was laid down at Stephen on 27 July 1915, launched on 26 July 1916 and commissioned on 21 September 1916.

Pylades was laid down at Stephen, Beardmore on 27 July 1915, launched on 28 September 1916 and commissioned on 30 December 1916.

Links:Src

Books

J.Gardiner’s Conway’s all the world fighting ships 1905-1921.
Cocker, Maurice (1983). Destroyers of the Royal Navy, 1893–1981. Ian Allan.
Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: Complete Record. Chatham Publishing.
Dittmar, Fred; Colledge, Jim (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. London: Ian Allan.
Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the ww1. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing.
Jane’s Fighting Ships, 1919, Jane’s Publishing.

Links

dreadnoughtproject.org
dreadnoughtproject.org Medea class
dreadnoughtproject.org Mark_II** torpedo
M-Class destroyers on wikipedia
ww1 British Destroyers on navypedia
navypedia: M class, Early batches
navypedia: Medea class
navypedia: Thornycroft specials and repeat M
Greenwhich coll. model of HMS Mastiff
Navypedia: General archive British WW1 DDs

Model Kits & 3D

1/72 WWI HMS Admiralty M class destroyer 3D Printed
scalemates: Mary Rose 1916 White Ensign Models 1:350, Combrig 1:700
Review of the 1:350 kit