Marksman-class flotilla leader (1915)

The Marksman class (or Lightfoote class) were seven flotilla leaders of the Royal Navy ordered by pairs for 1913–14, 1914–15 and 1914 Emergency War Programme. They all served extensively in World War I but most were BU postwar. Significantly larger than the typical destroyers as they needed to accomodate the flotilla staff (“Captain (D)” and extra signalling gear, they were however considered somehwat under-armed for their size with just four QF 4 inch guns (3 on a standard 1914-15 destroyer). Two were fitted as fast minelayers and Nimrod, Kempenfelt were later rearmed with extra AA QF 12 pdr (3 in/76 mm) 18 cwt guns. Lightfoot had a training-only director firing system for flotilla leaders from March 1917, tested until August, after which it was decided to equip 203 other destroyers. They all took part in many engagements, including the battle of Jutland, leading their respective squadrons.

HMS Ithuriel underway

Development

Leading the M and L class DD Flotillas

The need for destroyer leaders was established early on, some authors says the first “Tribal” class were already large enough for the task and some served as such, albeit they had never been designed for this. However the first destroyer leaders were almost born by accident: In 1912 the Chilean Navy ordered four large destroyers to British shipyards, that turned out to be requisitioned while still on slip by the government in September 1914, and standardized, completed as RN vessels. They were the largest destroyers built in Britain after the one-off HMS Swift (pet project of Admiral a FLA Jackie Fisher) in 1906. This class became the “Faulknor class” and they turned out to be easily convertible into flotilla leaders.

However as far back as 1912, well before the war broke out, with the unsuccessful Swift and disappointing result of light scouting cruisers in terms of speed, the Admiralty came back to the solution of the great flotilla destroyers. The Admiralty wanted seven ships, to lead the current seven most recent flotillas, existing or planned. The RN wanted at least 7 flotilla of 8 destroyer each of the L class and M class in particular, to start with.

A conference of the admiralty took place in 1912 to determine exactly their characteristics. It was followed by another conference of the War Staff in October 1913 in which was proposed that a ‘Tribal’ class (Crusader, Maori or Zulu, or Swift herself) should be given Poulsen long-range wireless (150nm range) radio set, and have the bridge enlarged, to accommodate the additional Captain (D)’s staff, for which specifications were revised.

The Controller instructed the DNC to prepare a documents for a leader not exceeding 1800t, with a speed of 33-34kts, four 102mm guns four ‘anti-airship pom-poms’. The final accommodations comprised the Captain (D) own cabin, an extra Lieutenant, a WO for signal duties plus 8 extra staff NCOs and their own cabins. The mess was common for officers however. The design also was to be equipped with a machinery similar to the ‘M’ class, the latest.

In the end, it was agreed upon an enlarged and revised version of the “Tribal“, with a larger structure in order to accommodate officers and signalling gear to communicate orders to the flotilla as well as a consequent AA firepower to also provide air protection to the flotilla as a whole, which was far-sighted in 1912.

The first rough draft was prepared by the DNC (Director of Naval Construction) also based on a reasonable top speed (33 knots, which was greatly exceeded in later tests, almost 36 knots in some instances, making the fastest British destroyers) and machinery derived from the M class destroyers as seen above, just pushed further with more boilers.

Order and Construction:

Poscrard, HMS Gabriel, colorized – Ebay

Although three were proposed, only two were approved, one each for the 1st and 3rd DF, as well as a scout cruiser for the slower Acorn class (2nd DF) and Swift was assigned to lead the 4th DF, all in the 1st Fleet. The design was approved in December 1913. It was suggested that their names conform to the new initial letter of each flotilla to lead. In April 1914, tenders were put our for two more, Kempenfelt and Nimrod, under the 1914-15 Estimates.

So the first two were first approved in 1913 (Marksmann and Nimrod), then two others (Kempenfelt and Lightfoote), eventually launched in April-May 1915. Three more (Abdiel, Gabriel and Ithuriel) were approved after the start of the war, launched in October and December 1915, and the last one in March 1916, programmed for 1913-14 and 1914-15 as well as the general emergency program. Construction was spread out between seven shipyards:
J. Samuel White, Cowes: Lightfoot.
Hawthorn Leslie and Company, Newcastle upon Tyne: Marksman.
William Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton: Nimrod.
Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, which invested in new slipways built all the others: Kempenfelt, Abdiel, Ithuriel, and Gabriel.

About the naming:

HMS Marksman, HMS Talisman and HMS Termagant moored at the Hawthorn Leslie shipyard, Hebburn, 5 November 1915 (TWAM ref. 4471/3). On the right is Marksman class destroyer HMS ABDIEL, minelaying flotilla leader; on the left is Arethusa class cruiser HMS AURORA. Both ships are carrying mines towards the stern, shielded behind canvas screens. The shipyard of R. & W. Hawthorn Leslie at Hebburn built many fine warships. During the First World War the firm built 2 light cruisers, 3 destroyer leaders and 25 torpedo boat destroyers. The firm also built machinery and boilers for 2 battleships, and a further 3 light cruisers. These and other warships built by Hawthorn Leslie before the War, are remembered in this set. ‘Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums’ archives@twmuseums.org.uk

The first two ships, Lightfoot and Marksman, were intended to lead the 1st and 3rd Destroyer Flotillas, with names to match the L and M-class destroyers that would equip these flotillas. The named were likely chosen by FLA Winston Churchill, and relatively self-explanatory, albeit here they are:
A “Lightfoot” originated from northern England, especially Cheshire as a nickname for a messenger or for a fast runner, from Middle English lyght ‘light, nimble, quick’ (Old English līoht) + fote ‘foot’.
A “Marksman” was “one skillful in shooting with a bow or gun, one who readily hits the mark,” from the 1650s mark (n. 1) in Middle English sense of “target” + man;

“Kempenfelt” has its historical roots in the region of Flanders, in the Dutch and Flemish languages believing to derive from kempen (low-lying area or marshland) combined with felt, field or open land. However in that case, it was for rear-admiral Richard Kempenfelt (1718-1782) best known for his victory at the Battle of Ushant in 1781 and dying on HMS Royal Georges in Portmsmouth in 1782. She was the first ship bearing that name, later given to a C-class flotilla leader, that became the Canadian Assiniboine, then to a W-class destroyer.

“Nimrod” was the son of Cush, great-grandson of Noah, King in the land of Shinar in Lower Mesopotamia, and means “rebel” in old semitic. A biblical figure, later to be echoed by other ships in class (the angels). The name was sported by a captured ex-French 8-gun 1799 sloop, a 1812, 18-gun Cruizer-class brig-sloop a 1828 20-gun sloop, an 1839 iron paddle gunboat, a 1856 wood screw gunboat, the ship here, and it was last given to a 1940 shore establishment at Campbeltown, Argyll as main Asdic training school.

“Abdiel” was a seraph in Milton’s Paradise Lost. after being the present Marksman-class destroyer (ex-HMS Ithuriel, renamed before being launched) the name was resurrected for M39 namesake minelayer and N21, exercise minelayer and mine countermeasures support ship (1967-1988).

“Ithuriel” after an angel in John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost and only also sported by a requsitioned destroyer for the Turkish Navy in 1939, sunk 1942. Never reused.

“Gabriel” after the angel Gabriel, sported also by a 1410-1413 ship purchased by the “Navy” at the time for a specific mission, then a 1417 balinger, 1575 discovery, then the present destroyer, then an Algerine-class minesweeper (1943, cancelled 1944), so not many RN ships.

Design of the class

Hull and general design

Extract from kombrig kit 70630. see src below

These ships were significantly larger than typical destroyers, in order to accommodate the flotilla staff (“Captain (D)” proper to the RN practice, with all the necessary additional signalling gear in the bridge, which was not veyr large (see below). They were remarkable also for their four funnels, for four boilers, with the foremost being taller, and later cut down on Nimrod and Abdiel. This mirrored the ex-Chilean ships. They were also armed with four QF 4 inch guns, not a lot, as V-W destroyers of 1918 sported the same, while being smaller. They were on the forecastle, two between the first three funnels and one on a bandstand on the quarterdeck, which means one more than common DDs of the time, like if she had been stretched to add a new section, complete with extra gun and extra funnel.

Greenwhich Plans, src below

The ship had a hull generally identical to the Tribal class, but mixing some elements of the L and M class in general layout to stay up to date in 1913-14, with the last changes in 1915 as construction still proceeded for the late ships. However this was an admiralty design, so dimensions remained consistent: The Marksman-class all were required to make no more or les than 324 feet 10 inches (Just 99 meters) long overall, but 324 feet short at the waterline, 315 feet (96.01 meters) between perpendiculars. This was for a beam of 31 feet 9 inches (9.68 meters) and a draught of 12 feet (3.66 meters). Design displacement was 1,440 long tons (1,460 t) normal, and 1,700 long tons (1,700 t) full load. It rose with additions and was by 1919 1607 long tons (1,633 t) for Lightfoot for example.

As the general design was concerned, they were completed with a classically shaped hull, she stem was perfectly straight, but the hull had a rounded chin below, and the hull had no streight flanks but curved at the waterline to procure the best, more refine hull lines forward, and a light tumblehome was present from the forecastle to the aft quarterdeck structure. The sten was rounded, but with a concave cresent profile in order to break poop’s seawater spray. There were two small propeller guards welded to the freeboard aft. The pforecastle represented 1/4 of the total lenght and had a well flared shape to protect “A” gun in front of which was the backup capstan and two steam-driven regular ones for two anchors and their chains, the bollards and hooks. Pine decks all along.

Extract from page 100, Jane’s fighting ships 22nd, 1919.

Superstructures were limited to a bridge that only comprised a small map table and helmsman’s post, with a few portholes. Above was the main open deck bridge, with beam-wide wings attached by struts to the deck, the front part, protected by canvas only, was later modified to incroporate a windowed face against seaspray, later framed in order to add extra canvas on top, notably for the summer. The part comprised a main chadburn and repeater, voice pipes, and pintles for lookout’s binoculars. There were two signal masts however either side of it. Aft, on top of the bridge, was the forward searchlight platform.

Another was located on the rear quartedeck house along wioth the AA gun. Another was located on a platform between the 2nd and 3rd funnel, whereas “Q” gun was between the first and second, and “R” between the third and fourth. There was one composed mainmast behind the bridge, anhored on the forecastle cut, and supporting a smal lookout post, crossed by three yards and supporting wireless radio cables down small mast aft, connected to the radio man post. Two boats were located under davits aft of the 4th funnel on either side and a third starboard of the quartedeck house. Two lift rafts were installed on either side of the bridge, easier to launch. There were two reload cranes for the torpedo tubes banks aft amidship.

Powerplant

These ships all had three sets of steam tubines (varied) fed by four (varied) three-drum boilers, for a total rating of 36,000 shaft horsepower (27,000 kW), procuring a top speed of 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph) as contracted. The two cruising turbines were fitted to the outer shafts, and the main HP turbines on the central shaft. There were thus three bronze, fixed-pitch 3-bladed propellers fitted on struts and an axial rudder. Four funnels with in some ships, the forefunnel raised. They carried up to 515 tons of oil fuel for a range of 4,290 nautical miles (7,950 km; 4,940 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph), but this differs in some sources. Now for the details:

-Kempenfelt, Abdiel, Gabriel, Ithuriel: three Parsons steam turbines, four Yarrow boilers,
-Lightfoot: three Parsons steam turbines, four White-Forster boilers,
-Marksman, Nimrod: three Brown-Curtis steam turbines, four Yarrow boilers

Protection

A profile of Nimrod compared to the W class below, HMS Wild Swan showing the advances in design between 1913 and 1917. Pinterest, origin unknown.

The ships were protected like standard destroyers, meaning a limited double hull, no deep flanks. A torpedo hit amidship was likely to at best, flood the machinery spaces up to the bulkheads. they had at least from 1916, two 26.25 kw dynamos arranged in parallel and an additional 9 kw oil-fired set for emergency use and for the local electric system. But steam activated the main pumps, so the crew was back to manual ones in case of a machinery hit. Internal bulkheads, apart the four machinery spaces (each had a boiler) and separate turbine spaces, closed by longitudinal bulkheads, the forward section (forecastle), and stern sections also have one. Apart this, the crew could combat fire hazards by several points for hoses fed by seawater thhrough pumps and rapid-filling cocks in the ammunitions rooms.

Armament

This main gun armament was light, initially made of four QF 4-inch (102 mm) Mk IV guns on the centreline, with the two amidship constrained for their fire arc, but all able to perform a large fire arc broadside. The anti-aircraft armament was limited to two 1-pounder (37 mm) “pom-pom” autocannons. During construction, they were sent to the frontline so instead, two 2-pounder (40-mm) “pom-pom”s were installed instead, for an increase of firepower. Torpedo armament was limited to two twin 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes aft amidship. No reload.

They also had likely the range and order data system as on the “M” class and Faulknor class. From 1917 it was agreed all should receiv (except Abdiel) the British Destroyer Director Firing System but they were never mounted and instead, they get Small Type Training Receivers of pattern N°20 on “A”, “Q” and “R”, then pattern 21 on” X”. Rangefinders were only mounted postwar (see below).

QF 4-inch QF naval gun Mark IV

Essentially a masked destroyer gun, the same as used on the L and M classes, but on CP III mountings if not the P.IX. 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. In order they were called “A” (forecastle), “Q” and “R” (amidship) and “X” (aft deck). They used P. IX mountings. 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 only reached 15 degrees 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.

⚙ Specs

2,750 pounds (1,250 kg) barrel & breech, barrel 160 in (4.064 m) bore, 40 cal.
Shell: Separate QF, 4-inch (101.6 mm) 31 pounds (14.06 kg
MV: 2,370 feet per second (720 m/s)
Horizontal sliding-block, elevation PIX Mount -10° to +20°.
Max range: 11,580 yards (10,590 m) at +30°

QF 3-inches/45 Mark II 20 cwt

When fitted in place of a 2-pdr.

⚙ Specs

Mass: 2,240 lb (1,020 kg), gun and breech, Bore 11 ft 4 in (3.45 m), 11 ft 9 in (3.58 m) overall.
Crew: 11
They fired a Fixed 16 lb (7.3 kg) QF HE 76.2 × 420 mm
Semi-automatic sliding-block betech for 16-18 rpm.
Elevation was up tp 90° with a muzzle velocity of 2,000 ft/s (610 m/s)
range 16,000 ft (4,900 m) effective, 22,000 ft max.

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

Torpedo Tubes

Two twin banks were aft. Cranes for reload but no spares. They were likely of the 21″ (53.3 cm) Mark II quadruple or five star type entering service in 1915 and 1916, possibly later upgraded to the Mark III or IV in 1917-18. At least UIthuriel was confirmed to have the Mark II-5 star.

⚙ Specs Mark II****

Weight 2,950 lb (1,340 kg), Length: 22 ft (6.7 m), warhead 400 lb (180 kg) TNT
Range and speed: 18,000 yd (16,000 m) at 18 kn (33 km/h), 15,000 yd (14,000 m) at 23 kn (43 km/h), 6,000 yd (5,500 m) at 35 kn (65 km/h), 4,500 yd (4,100 m) at 44.5 kn (82.4 km/h).

⚙ Specs Mark II*****

Weight: 2,953 lb (1,339 kg); Length: 22 ft (6.7 m), warhead 400 lb (180 kg) TNT
Range and speed: 18,000 yd (16,000 m) at 19 kn (35 km/h), 15,000 yd (14,000 m) at 24 kn (44 km/h), 6,000 yd (5,500 m) at 35 kn (65 km/h), 4,500 yd (4,100 m) at 45 kn (83 km/h).

Sensors

They were likely equipped with early hydrophones in 1917-18. In research.

Wartime and Postwar Upgrades

General Upgrades

In August 1914, twelve 1-pdr out of the total ordered for the thirteen ‘M’ class and for the first two leaders, were all transferred to the Army, to be used on lorries close to the frontline in France, defending artillery position notably against reconnaissannce and strafing aircraft. So the design was altered in order to used instead 11.2-pdr guns. By February 1915 this changed again, with Vickers 2-pdr pom-poms substituted. HMS Nimrod and Kempenfelt later received QF 12 pounder (3 inch or 76 mm) 18 cwt anti aircraft guns in place of their QF 2-pounder. In 1917, Lightfoot and Nimrod lopw one twin 450mm T tubes to save weight and regained stability. In 1917-1918, Kempenfelt, Lightfoot, Marksman had their 76mm/45 20cwt QF Mk II removed.

Minelaying Conversions

HMS Abdiel showing her mines. (IWM)

Abdiel and Gabriel were taken in hands for a conversion as fast minelayers. The after 4 inch gun was removed, as the torpedo tubes. They were screened by canvas panels, from the fourth funnel down to the stern to shelter 60-80 mines on rails either side. The 1915 conversion of Abdiel saw the eventual removal of two 4-in/40, guns. The rails were modified to carrry up to 80 mines of a smaller type. In 1918 she carried 40 “M” type sinkers. The conversion was done on Gabriel in 1918, but she only carried 60 mines of the “M” sinkers. Their guns and torpedo tubes should be mounted back under a short notice of needed.

Fire Control Trials

In March 1917, the trend to install director firing on smaller ships of resources allowed, led to chose HMS Lightfoot among all destroyers selected to be a test-bed for the Royal Navy’s new training-only director firing system. It was believed that each flotilla leaders could have these. In August 1917, so aft a long campaign, in active combat areas, firing drills and real life fire, enough positive results were reported as to earn a favourable review by the Admiralty. It was decided to equip that way at first all other leaders, and the destroyers of the L class onwards, including those of the V-W planned or in construction. By 1921, leaders had a 9ft F.Q. 2 on an M.Q. 1, M.Q. 9 or M.Q. 12 mount on their fore bridge.

Author’s old 1:700 72 dpi illustration. New one in HD planned.

⚙ specifications
Displacement	1,440 long tons (1,460 t) normal, 1,700 long tons (1,700 t) deep load
Dimensions	324 ft x 31 ft 9 in x 12 ft (98.8 x 9.68 x 3.7 m)
Propulsion	3 shafts Parsons* steam turbines, Yarrow boilers**: 36,000 shp
Speed	34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph)
Range	oil 515t, c2500-4500 nm/15 kts
Armament	4× 4 in/, 2× 2 pdr A, 2×2 21 in TTs, see notes
Sensors	Hydrophones (1917-18).
Crew	106 (regular) 116 (full staff “D”)

*Brown-Curtis for Kempenfelt
**White-Forster for Lightfoote

Career of the Marksman class

Lightfoot — built by J. Samuel White, Cowes, laid down 9 June 1914, launched 28 May 1915, completed 29 May 1915. In October 1915 she joined the 9th Destroyer Flotilla, Harwich Force, as second leader, in place of HMS Tipperary. On 30 October she followed the Harwich Force for a German Bight sweep. She arrested the Swedish merchant ship Osterland laden with Iron Ore, order to the Humber. On 10 February, there was clash between German torpedo boats and the 10th Sloop Flotilla in minesweeping operations (Arabis sunk) so the Harwich Force (4 light cruisers, 18 destroyers) sortied from Harwich at 2am on 11 February, soon to be back, too late. Arethusa (flagship Cdr. Reginald Tyrwhitt) struck a mine off Harwich and Lightfoot attempted to take her in tow. She later ran aground, broke in two.

24–26 March 1916 her force was escorting the seaplane carrier Vindex for the air raid on a German Zeppelin base believed in Hoyer in Schleswig-Holstein, until proved it was at Tondern. Lightfoot and Nimrod were sent in search for three overdue seaplane, but they were never found. Lightfoot spotted two German patrol boats and prompty sank them by gunfire. Later Laverock collided with Medusa and the latter was taken in tow by Lightfoot, back home at 12 knots in deteriorated weather, so the tow line parted, never to be restored. Medusa’s crew were taken off and she was scuttled. On 24 April 1916 was the raid on Lowestoft and Yarmouth.

Later, Seydlitz struck a mine, radio traffic warned the British and the Harwich Force departed on 24/25 April but Tyrwhitt turned away to lure the German away from Lowestoft. Tyrwhitt seen returned in pursuit, engaged light cruisers and eventually the Germans aborted their bombardment on Yarmouth and engaged the Harwich force but Lightfoot was undamaged. On 29 June off the Belgian coast Lightfoot spotted a surfaced submarine, opened fire, then depth charged it until it dived. On 19 August the raid on Sunderland prompred the Harwhich Force via Room 40, alongside the Grand Fleet from Scapa Flow. Lightfoot spotted the main German Fleet but came back undamaged.

Lightfoot was newt sent to English Channel with three destroyers on 6 September aftrer U-Boote activity was signalled. There was patrol off Start Point on 9 September, and more patrols until 20 September. On the 29th Harwich Force escorted Vindex for a planned ops with Coastal Motor Boats when she was damaged by a collision of a seaplane with Landrail on landing. Lightfoot took it under tow but it later sank. On 28 October after the Battle of Dover Strait, Lightfoot was deployed with three destroyers to Dover. On 10 November Legion was patrolling the Dover Barrage when stricking a mine and she was hemped by Lightfoot back to Dover. Lightfoot sailed with the Harwich Force to interept TBs from Zeebrugge back to Germany (missed). Eventually her unit, the 9th DF was disbanded in March 1917, Lightfoot joined the 10th DF.

On 10 May 1917, while returning from a convoy escort to the Netherlands with the cruisers Centaur, Carysfort and Conquest in support, German TBs were spotted off the North Hinder light vessel, coming from Zeebrugge. They sailed back after a short exchange. The British were in pursuit until more TBs came out and turned back to engage DDs, until Lightfoot’s gropup arrived to save the day. On 5 June, monitors of the Dover Patrol bombarded Ostend with the Harwich Force in patrol NE of Ostend. Lightfoot spotted two German TBs, S20 and S15 returning to base after a patrol and she stopped dead (engine room hit) with a British cruiser, later finished off. S15 was badly damaged but escaped.

In September 1917 Lightfoot transferred to the 6th DF, Dover Patrol. She ercorted the First Ostend Raid on 23/24 April 1918 from Dunkirk with monitors. On April 1918 she transferred to the 11th DF, Grand Fleet. In July–August, she was refitted at Partick, Glasgow and was retraining on September to 11 November, then reassigned to the Southern Patrol Force. Laid up in reserve at Chatham in March 1919, she was laid up in February 1920 at Portsmouth with a reduced crew for care, until stricken and sold for scrap on 9 May 1921.

Marksman — built by Hawthorn Leslie and Company, Newcastle upon Tyne, laid down 20 July 1914, launched 28 April 1915, completed 18 November 1915, joined the new 12th Destroyer Flotilla (DF), Grand Fleet as leader. In May 1916, with Faulknor being preferred, Marksman became second in command. She took part that way in the Battle of Jutland on 31 May-1 June 1916. That night the flotilla, still largely intact, followed by Opal, Menace, Munster and Mary Rose were engaged from 01:43 when Faulknor spotted German battleships. They manoeuvred for torpedo attack, but Faulknor making a full turn closed on Marksman and her destroyers and Marksman had to dodge her, loosing sight of her unit, only later 02:15 or 02:25 GMT meeting HMS Champion and the 13th Flotilla.

At 03:25 she had a brief exchange with four German destroyers, torpedoes fired, G40 badly damaged by Champion and Marksman picking up a single survivor. Later she towed the badly damaged HMS Sparrowhawk but failed and she was scuttled. By mid-July rom 40 warned about a probable German riad so in response a large force was sent in ambush, with Marksman and Gabriel patrolling the Fair Isle channel (Orkney-Shetland gap) on 11-13 July. She was transfered to the 6th DF, Dover Patrol on 26 August 1917.

Her task was to protect the Dover Barrage, West and East Barrage Patrol. The night of 14/15 February 1918, with HMS Swift she patrolled the West Barrage Patrol when seven German torpedo boats attacked, sank one trawler, seven drifters and badly damaging others, and managed to get away. On 23 March, Marksman joined the Grand Fleet, 11th DF. In July she was transferred to the Northern Patrol. On 12 July she was sent to find and intercept the German cruiser submarine U-151 in the Shetland-Faeroe gap and indeed detected her by hydrophones, and forced near the island of Suðuroy, depth charged with HMS Beagle twice, but she escaped. On 1 November she collided with the Naval trawler Charles Hammond off Kirkcaldy in Scotland (sank) and rescued her crew. Herself was under repair at Leith until 31 December 1918. She wa skept in reserve until was paid off at Devonport, 25 November 1919, stricken, sold for scrap on 8 November 1921 (BU in Germany).

HMS Kempenfelt was laid down at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead on 2 October 1914, launched 1 May 1915, completed 20 August 1915. On 14 August under sea trials in Liverpool Bay she reported sighting possibly U-38. On 21 August she was assigned to the 11th DF, Scapa Flow, Grand Fleet, as leader. On 6 January 1916 when HMS King Edward VII in severe weather, struck a mine near Cape Wrath and this was reported back to Scapa Flow, Kempenfelt and 12 destroyers were sent to guard her from U-Boat, beloeved at forst she was already torpedoed. Kempenfelt arrived with a tug to take her in two, but the towline parted. The battleships was abandoned, crew taken off by several DDs and she later sank. Kempenfelt led her unit at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May–1 June 1916 but survived the battle without damage. By September 1917 she was reassigned to the 6th DF, Dover Patrol, on 15 September. The admirakty wanted larger ships to deal with German TBs attacking the barrage. She served there until 2 April 1918, and was back to the 11th Flotilla until V-Day and afterwards. By March 1919, she was placed in reserve at Portsmouth, then sold for scrap on 9 May 1921, BU from August 1921.

Nimrod was laid down at William Denny and Bros. Dumbarton on 9 October 1914, launched 12 April 1915, and completed 25 August 1915. She joined the 10th DF, Harwich Force, as Second leader. On 10/11 September 1915 she escorted a major minelaying operation near the Amrum Bank, North Sea with the 5th Cruiser Squadron, posted to the south. The minelayers Princess Margaret, Angora and Orvieto led 1450 mines and a German trawler was spotted and sunk. On 6 October, she was part of a sweep to Hanstholm in Denmark, capturing 16 German trawlers, 15 sent to Britain, one sunk, as short of fuel. By December 1915 Nimrod she led eight destroyers in the Channel and Western Approaches after reports of U-24.

On 14–15 March 1916 she ecorted the minelayer Biarritz in the Heligoland Bight. On 24–26 March, she escorted Vindex for the raid on Hoyer and later took part in the searc for missing seaplanes, but did took part in the sinking of two patrol boats. On 24 April in the raid on Lowestoft and Yarmouth she was part of the Harwich Force under Tyrwhitt trying to attack and lure away the battlecruisers, managing to avoid the bombardment of Yarmouth. Nimrod was undamaged.

Then she was called for “Beef Runs” (convoys to and from The Netherlands) and on 7 September escorted a convoy back to England when a U-Boat hit Lance, retaliating with depth charges. On 9 September in another she shelled a German submarine off the Meuse estuary, attempted to ram her, and dropped two depth charges but she escaped unharmed. On 22 December she was ordered to Dunkirk, guarding against a possible TB raid. On 22 January 1917 the German 6th TBF (11 torpedo boats) left Helgoland for the Flanders in reinforcement of the Belgian ports but this was decoded by Room 40 and the Harwich Force was deployed in interception, ressulting in a clash on 22/23 January.

Nimrod led six destroyers east of the Schouwen Bank and later headed north-east to cut-off the TBs return route to the Bight, but were ordered back to station. S50 was spotted by another group while the others German TBs went through, off the Schouwen Bankleading, leading to a fire exchange. S50 was damaged but still managed to torpedo Simoom. Nimrod’s division came up from the east, opened fire on S50 but ran into the other DD group and narrowly avoided collision so S50 escaped in the confusion.

On 12 March 1917 Skate was torpedoed by UC-69 near the Maas light vessel while in an east-bound convoy to the Netherlands and Nimrod, leading the escort of the west-bound convoy, took her under tow back to Harwich. On 22 May, the Dover Patrol carried shelled Zeebrugge with the monitors Erebus, Terror and Marshal Soult escorted by Nimrod and Lightfoot plus twelve destroyers. On 25 July she covered a minelaying barrage off the Belgian coast (Nieuport-Zeebrugge). In October 1917 she took part in a large sweep across the North Sea to stop a suspected sortie. Bremse and Brummer managed to evade patrols, and attacked a convoy between Norway and Britain. In February 1918, Nimrod was versed to the 11th DF, Grand Fleet. In March she joined the new 3rd Destroyer Flotilla, Grand Fleet until the end of the war. In March 1919she became a tender to the depot ship Woolwich. By June she was placed in reserve at Portsmouth until stricken, sold for scrap on 5 December 1926.

Abdiel as a minelayer, note the short funnels and fake torpedo tubes and guns painted on the light blie canvas as a deception…

Wartime Career

Abdiel was ordered from Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, and laid down 6 May 1915, launched 12 October 1915, and completed 26 March 1916, joining the Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow under Commander Berwick Curtis. Her first mission was a night-time minelaying at Heligoland Bight and Horns Reef. She was also present at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May/1 June 1916 but on disengaged side of Jellicoe’s battleships. She was ordered to lay a minefield in the probable path of the retreating German fleet, northwest of Sylt. This was done between 01:24 and 02:04 an later claimed SMS Ostfriesland on 4 May, blowing a hole 12.2 m × 4.9 m (40 ft × 16 ft) so she was in repairs until 26 July.
Her minelaying operations went on in 1917-1918, and after solo missions she took part in more complex operations like by February 1918, with the 20th Destroyer Flotilla (a specialist minelaying flotilla from Immingham, Humber) with her commander as leader as flagship, to mine the newly swept channels in existing minefields.

On 27 March 1918 on minefield A34, 70 nmi (81 mi; 130 km) north-west of Heligoland, Abdiel, Legion, Telemachus, Vanquisher, Ariel and Ferret made short work of just spotted three armed German trawlers, Polarstern, Mars and Scharbentz. 72 men were captured. In July 1918, Abdiel had her first refit since the start of the war. On 1 August she led the 20th Flotilla on the minefield A67 when crossing an unreported, new German minefield. Vehement and Ariel stroke mines. Ariel sank (49 lost) but Abdiel took Vehement in tow (bow blown off, 48 killed) but this proved unsuccessful, and she was scuttled. Abdiel con,tinued her missions and laid 6,293 mines until V-Day. This success prompring the naming of a new class of dedicated minelayers planned in 1936 as an homage.

Interwar Career

Abdiel remained the 20th Flotilla leader postwar, and it sent to the Baltic for minelaying support for the British intervention in the Russian Civil War. Cdr. Curtiss was still in overall command, now since 1916, three years at its head. The Flotilla arrived in the Baltic by late June 1919, but sent back on 12 July home to escort a flotilla of eight Coastal Motor Boats (CMBs) from Osea Island in Essex to Biorko, Finland. On CMBs sank under tow, the other seven arrived. Her unit also supported by the minelayer Princess Margaret, laied minefields to contain the Bolshevik Baltic Fleet. On 31 August, Abdiel and Vittoria were in patrol off Seskar Island when spotting the Bolshevik submarine Pantera, firing two torpedoes and hitting, sinking Vittoria. Abdiel rescued all but 8 of her crew. Pantera escaped to Kronstadt. By mid-September, Abdiel remained in the Baltic and on 8 October as pro-Baltic German forces of Pavel Bermondt-Avalov attempted to seize Riga. Abdiel, on the Dvina river, came under heavy fire on 10 October and was forced away. The attack was repelled by the Latvians and on 26 October, the Flotilla was relieved, set out back home.

Abdiel contined service alongside later a brand new ship, HMS Adventure, but was still refitted at Chatham in March–April 1920 and then placed in the Reserve Fleet, still having exercises at Portland Harbour by July and in August, placed in reserve at the Nore, but had agaon drills, at Torbay by the summer 1924. In 1926 she had a deeper refit, her machinery was completely overhauled, her boilers retubed. She also was modified for a larger mine payload, running almost all the way to the forecastle. Thanks to this, she was still able to reach 31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph) in her 1924 sea trials, recommissioned on 30 September. By January 1927, she was back in reserve, crew reassigned to HMS Tyrian. She remained so at Sheerness, and from August 1927 at Chatham, until she was stricken for good on 1936 as the last survivor of her class. On 30 July she was sold for scrap to Rees for £6,755 and BU.

HMS Gabriel was ordered from Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, laid down on 12 January 1915, launched on 23 December 1915, and completed on 1 July 1916, joining the 13th DF, Grand Fleet as leader with the cruiser HMS Champion, escort for the the Battle Cruiser Force. In July 1916 room 40 reported a German Merchant raider trying to make its way in the Atlantic, and the interception force comprised 14 cruisers, 13 armed merchant cruisers, 18 destroyers. Gabriel and Marksman patrolled the Fair Isle channel (Orkneys-Shetland) on 11-13 July but she escaped. On 18 March 1917, Gabriel detected and depth charges a U-Boat (no kill). She then depth charged another suspected German submarine on 30 April and by May her unit, the 13th DF, was moved to Rosyth. In October she was part in another large operation (30 cruisers, 54 destroyers) to intercept a suspected German sortie. Gabriel was close to the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron on 17 October, but none culd spot the cruiser Bremse and Brummer which later rampaged a convoy from Norway on 17 October.

In mid-1918, Gabriel in turn, like Abdiel, very successful so far, was converted as a minelayer, and the design was revised so she could lay 80 mines, and she was fitted with minesweeping paravanes as protection against mines when penetrating enemy minefields, a conversion lasting until July 1918. She joined the 20th DF led by Abdied. She was based at Immingham and her first mission was to lay mined in the Heligoland Bight, through recently swept minefield channels. Gabriel was leader for the “Slow Division” (older destroyers) while Abdiel led the “Fast Division”. The 28 September mission was a success, followed by more on 30 September and on 2 October for a total of 850 mines by her alone until November 1918. She was sent to the Baltic in July–August 1919 (Russian Civil War) based from Reval (now Tallinn) in Estonia as well as Libau (Liepāja) in Latvia. The goal was to block the path of the Soviet Baltic Fleet and protect British anchorages from Soviet attacks. On 23 August 1919, she was redeployed to Queenstown, Ireland to have her defective boiler tubes replaced, being relieved by HMS Seymour. More work was at hand but it was stopped by October and instead she was laid up at Devonport. Unlike her sister Abdiel, her career ended, as she was stricken and sold to T. W. Ward , BU from 20 October 1922.

Ithuriel was ordered from Cammell Laird, Birkenhead and laid down on 14 January 1915, then launched on 12 March 1916, completed on 2 August 1916. She joined the 14th DF as secondary leader with the Faulknor-class Botha, for the Grand Fleet. From 15 June 1917 she took part in Operation BB, a massive sweep against German submarines: 53 destroyer, 17 submarines in offensive patrols on known transit routes. She was sent around the Orkney and Shetland Islands and Western Approaches. She led eight destroyers of the 14th DF west of Shetland, but Heavy seas forced them to take shelter in St Magnus Bay on 22 June.

There was one spotting and on 23 June, one attack by HMS Mons (U-55 or U-61), however a grand total of 61 sightings were made until 24 June, with 12 attacks, no confirmed kill or even damage. By October she was part of another large ASW operation, this time targeting U-Bootes returning to port, passing east of the Dogger Bank through a miles long array of mine nets. Ithuriel however again had to take shelter due to heavy seas in Aberdeen, then Peterhead on 4 October. This was cut short after 10 days. Room 40 believed three U-boats were sunk.

In October, she was detached frim the 14th DF for the 13th Submarine Flotilla, Grand Fleet. This was a unique concept of an all-steam driven fleet of K-class submarines. But the concept proved flawed and this class ended truly cursed. On the night of 31 January 1918, Ithuriel was leading K11, K12, K14, K17 and K22 together with the 12th SF (Fearless, K3, K4, K6 and K7) out from Rosyth for exercises at night, moonless sky, and with fog,, all running without lights. The result was predictable: K14 altered course to minesweepers, her rudder jammed, she was rammed by K22, soon overtaken by the heavier units. K22 was rammed by the battlecruiser Inflexible but she and the other managed to remain afloat, albeit sending distress signals.

Commander E. Leir on Ithuriel decided to turn back and assist K14 and K22, but this placed them on a collision course with the rest of the fleet and the 12th Submarine Flotilla. Ithuriel nearly was rammed by battlecruiser Australia, cutting through the 12th Flotilla. Fearless collided with K17 which sank. K4, behind Fearless, pulled out of line and nearly collided with K17 and Fearless, but was sliced into by K6, and also rammed K7 (103 killed). Ithuriel remained leader of her unit until V-Day, which became the 1st Submarine Flotilla from April 1919, until relieved by the HMS Inconstant from October 1919. She spent time in Rosyth, then Portsmouth,, then placed in care and maintenance status from 1 December 1919. By February 1921, stricke,n she was placed on the disposal list, until sold to Slough Trading Co. on 8 November, scrapped in Germany from 22 March 1923.

Read More/Src

Books

Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006). Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of All Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy… Chatham Publishing.
Dittmar, F. J.; Colledge, J. J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. Ian Allan.
Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-081-8.
March, Edgar J. (1966). British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892–1953. Seeley Service.
Preston, Antony (1985). “Great Britain and Empire Forces”. In Gray, Randal (ed.). Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1906–1921.
The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in HM Ships. Technical History Branch, Admiralty. 1919. CB 1515 (23). National Archives. ADM 275/19

Links

dreadnoughtproject.org Lightfoot class
Grand Fleet Destroyers Part I: Flotilla Leaders And V/W Class Destroyers
Marksman class on navypedia (archived)
gwpda.org
Greenwhich plans
harwichanddovercourt.co.uk
worldnavalships.com/
Only for shipbucket profiles
en.wikipedia.org
11th Flotilla

Videos

None.

Model Kits

scalemates: Kombrig 1/700 kit